A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council
was held on Monday, 07 February 2022 at 7.30pm
in Biggin Village Hall.

Present: P Tapping, J Coles, M Heathcote, S McCurrach, D Currington and the clerk, S Hampson. There were 6 members of the public in attendance for part of the proceedings.

Part 1 non-confidential information  
22.2.1 Apologies  
Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mr Griffiths.

22.2.2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been displayed on the noticeboard and forwarded to the members and the parish council’s website, in advance of the meeting.

Resolved: To accept the minutes as true record of proceedings. Mr Tapping duly signed the minutes.

22.2.3 Matters arising and pre-meeting
There were no matters arising.

22.2.4 Public Speaking Procedures Document
This was not present.

22.2.5 Public speaking
There were 6 members of the public in attendance who had primarily attended to hear points raised from the professional invited to attend, to discuss planning proposals associated with the former crushing plant and POW camp. Unfortunately, on the day of the meeting, apologies had been received and the gentleman was unable to attend.

The clerk had forwarded some personal questions to the agent, raised by Mr Tapping, but responses had not been received. Concerns were again expressed about unfinished projects and highway access near the bridge.

During the public speaking section, Mr Tapping provided information regarding 2 recent Speedwatches which had taken place. He reported that over these 2 occasions only 3 people were doing over 40 mph and these were delivery drivers, not local people. Advisory letters had been sent.

22.2.6 Planning applications, planning sub-committee
As referred to in public speaking, a planning application had been received for land at The Rocks, Biggin and also for a change of use of land to a campsite including use of the former calcite crushing plant as a shop and tea rooms and rebuilding of former WWII POW barracks to provide amenity units.

A member of the public provided some interesting historical background information on the buildings, their former use and connection to historical occupations in Biggin such as the Home Guard.

Mr Tapping advised that the protected species form accompanying the planning application was invalid and a formal protected species survey is necessary. Mrs Coles reported that the wall that had been rebuilt near the POW camp followed existing lines, with the exception of a small portion adjacent to the road. Mr Tapping did not agree with this opinion and considered that the wall may not originally have been in this position prior to its reconstruction and considered that the entrance may have been widened without permission. He advised that PDNPA has arial footage to make a comparison of the location of the walls.

RT3 reference – The campsite element of the application is not supportive of the local environment or economy. There are already at least 6 such sites in the parish. It is entirely outside of the village environs. Mr Tapping considered that some local site owners are concerned over loss of business to a new site and the only local business within walking distance is the one public house. All members considered there to be sufficient campsites in the area and therefore, objected to this aspect.

Some members did not object to the car park and toilets; one member did not object to the café. One member commented on the impact on neighbours regarding unnecessary noise/traffic. Some commented on the proximity of the concealed access to the adjacent bridge and potential vehicular hazards.

A lack of shelter and screening was also commented on together with its visibility from the trail. Members would like to see other projects finished but appreciated that that is not a material comment related to this particular application.

Resolved: to object, overall, to this proposal but not to the aspects of the toilets and car parking, reporting comments/opinions detailed above.

22.2.7 Church path
It was reported to the parish council that the condition of the paths approaching the church are in need of attention. One small path is at the side of the church, accessed from the grass verge on Main Street; the other path is accessed through the main church gates of Drury Lane. The small path does not need to have a tarmac surface but was reported that a number of people use this path due to ease of access to parking on Main Street. Biggin PCC had also requested that there be some type of stone flags across the verge on Main Street to meet with the entrance to the path in the curtilage of the church grounds. Mrs McCurrach suggested that a working party could be formed to attend to the small path.

The majority of members agreed that the main path from the church gates was the most important one for future repair. The clerk had contacted Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) (as the burial authority) regarding the main path as it also provides access to the parish council cemetery. It was acknowledged that some damage may be occurring by grave diggers driving down the main path with machinery such as micro diggers to assist with digging graves. The parish council has previously been advised by DALC that it cannot financially support the church as it has access to its own sources of funding.

Resolved: The clerk to contact DALC for further clarification about the possibility of contributing to the maintenance of the paths and to place the maintenance of church paths on the next agenda.

22.2.8 Attendance/Update from Burston Estates’ Representative
Unfortunately, apologies had been received on the day of the meeting. (Also see public speaking).

22.2.9 Phone box
A resident had kindly brought a number of photographs of interest for the parish council members to view. Mrs McCurrach reported that she too had a number of photographs of the previous jubilee which could be considered for use with the project. Members discussed whether consideration should be given to the use of photographs of local buildings or celebrations. Mr Tapping reported that poor weather had prevented him from carrying out some minor painting works to the phone box. It was suggested that a sub-group be formed to lay-out and consider photographs to be used.

Resolved: Mrs Coles and Mrs McCurrach to liaise, prior to the March meeting, regarding the photographs and also to contact the designer for any necessary advice.

22.2.10 Stile and bench
PDNPA advised that the Ranger Service will create a new bench seat, adjacent to the trail bridge, before Easter but will have no responsibility for the verge in front.

The stile referred to in previous minutes has been rebuilt and is now more accessible. Mrs McCurrach pointed out that whilst this particular stile has been addressed the stile at the end of the next field has similar accessibility issues.

Mr Tapping has kindly restored another village bench and was thanked for his hard work. Mr Tapping reported that a memorial bench in the cemetery has collapsed and he had moved it out of the way for health and safety reasons. The family concerned had previously been approached about this. Members discussed writing a letter to the family.

Resolved: Mr Tapping to visit the family regarding the unsafe bench.

22.2.11 Queen’s Jubilee
A member of the public reported that, due to the pandemic, VE day celebrations had been unable to take place; however, money had been raised and not spent. She asked for consideration of a recognised memorial for VE day eg a stone in the church yard. The parish council had no involvement with monies raised for VE day. Another member of the public suggested a Covid memorial. The parish council had previously pledged to meet village hall hire costs for events to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.

22.2.12 Grit boxes
The clerk had contacted DCC’s Highways Hub team to request grit refills at Greenhead Crescent, Main Street and Heathcote. Job references had been received yet the grit boxes remain empty. Members discussed the need for another grit bin to be placed near the trail bridge as motorists can frequently experience difficulties at this location.

Resolved: Mr Tapping to forward the most suitable location to place a new grit bin to the clerk.
Resolved: The clerk to subsequently obtain a price and order a new bin for the identified location from DCC.
Resolved: the clerk to chase up the orders of grit previously requested.

22.2.13 The website
There have been past issues with the parish council’s website where enquiries had not linked to the clerk’s email address. The website had acknowledged the issue. Mr Tapping also advised that he believes the website may not be complying with the latest accessibility statement eg links cannot be just a change of colour.

Resolved: the clerk to contact the website provider requesting a technical response for enquiries not linking to the clerk’s email address and to ask for a statement on accessibility compliance.

22.2.14 Articles for News and Views
Articles to be received by 15th February 2022.

Resolved: Mrs Coles to advise the editor that the stile near Percival Close flats has been completed; a seat will be installed near the trail bridge; village benches have been refurbished; the phone box will hopefully be remodelled in time for the jubilee celebrations.

22.2.15 Items of account, salaries and HMRC, mowing contract

As previously agreed, a request had been received from Biggin PCC for the parish council to meet the cost of paying for the church clock service by donating the sum to Biggin PCC but as the fee had already been paid by Biggin PCC this meant that the VAT portion will not be able to be reclaimed.

Resolved: To request that Biggin PCC ask the servicing company to directly invoice the parish council next year to enable the VAT to be reclaimed.

The bank account – it was acknowledged that it would be desirable to increase the number of authorised signatories.

Resolved: To place the parish council’s bank account requirements on the next agenda.

22.2.16 Highways, street lighting, flytipping
The clerk had reported faulty street lights to DCC. The no fly tipping sign has yet to be installed at Heathcote but the majority of flytipped waste has now been cleared. Some time ago, DCC had informed the clerk that replacement 30 mph signs would be installed; however, the old signs have yet to be replaced.

Resolved: Mr Heathcote to install the new flytipping warning signs at Heathcote.
Resolved: The clerk to chase DCC regarding the installation of the new 30 mph signs within the village.

22.2.17 Correspondence, electronic communication, Biggin Community Facebook
The following items, not already covered by the agenda, were reported to members in advance of the meeting and included: mobile library service, R & N Bulletins, The Peaks Tour 22, PDNPA Parishes Bulletin (Mr Tapping reported these should now be more ‘user-friendly’, Commonwealth Games baton bearers, Health and Well-Being content calendar, Rural bulletins, DCC Community News, Rural Crime event, Covid Vaccine and Transport, DCC council tax, Landscape review, Parishes Day 2022, Police and Crime Commissioner’s budget consultation, bin collections.

22.2.18 Items for the next agenda
Phone box, parish council’s website, Queen’s jubilee, grit bins, benches, church path, war memorial trees, banking. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.

22.2.19 Date of the next meeting
Monday, Monday, 7th March 2022

Future meeting dates: 4th April, 9th May (AGM), 6th June and 4th July 2022

Part 2 Confidential information
22.2.20 Parish Council Mowing Equipment
Mrs Coles had been able to confirm with the bank that the tender for the mowing equipment had been received in the sum of £235. This was the highest bid of 3 bids received for the disposal of the parish council’s mowing equipment.

Resolved: Mr Tapping to confirm with the successful applicant to now remove all the parish council’s mowing equipment.

The meeting was declared closed at 9.05 pm
Mrs S Hampson,
Clerk
10th February 2022

©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting