A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council
was held on Monday, 1st March 2021 at 7.30pm
in Biggin Village Hall.
The meeting took place under social distancing and hygiene legislation due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Present: J Coles, D Currington, S McCurrach, P Tapping, S Griffiths, M Heathcote and the clerk,
S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.
Part 1 non-confidential information
21.3.1 Apologies
There were no apologies.
21.3.2 Declaration of personal/prejudicial interest of councillors
Mrs Coles declared an interest in the confidential section concerned with mowing contracts.
21.3.3 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. There had been no meeting since October 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic
Resolved: To accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings (Prop: JC, Sec: PT)
21.3.4 Ratification of precept and budget (2021-22)
The budget for 2021-2022 had been sent to members in advance of the meeting and had formed the basis of the decision to reduce the precept for the year 2021-22. This was in part due to the increased income from the cemetery administered by the parish council received during the previous financial year. The precept documentation had been required by Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) in advance of the meeting but required ratification during a formal meeting.
Resolved: to approve the precept figure of £5,000 plus £500 reimbursable expenditure to off set mowing costs in the cemetery.
21.3.5 Planning applications, planning sub-committee
A number of planning applications had been received and were considered as follows:
Application Number – NP/DDD/0221/0200
Site address – Aspindle House, Heathcote
Development Description – Removal of shipping container and wooden stables and replacement with garages with storage/office above.
Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council members supported this application as it will look more visually appealing than the existing stable block and container; however, a concern was that it is a very large building for garages and with storage/office above and this will appear more imposing than the existing stables and container on this site.
Application Number – NP/DDD/0121/0083
Site address –Plot of land near to Chapel Farm, Heathcote
Development Description – Erection of local needs dwelling
Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council members supported this application for an affordable dwelling to meet local needs and considered the proposal to be quite a conservative building for the plot. Members would; however, like consideration to be given for a local occupancy clause to fulfil the proposed objective here.
Application Number – NP/DDD/0121/0086
Site address –Homestead Yard, Main Street, Biggin
Development Description – Conversion of former transport depot to 8 holiday lets
Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council members objected to this application for a number of reasons. Wood cladding is not a finish seen within the village of Biggin and its appearance would, therefore, look out of place.
There are already two houses called the Homestead, sharing the same post code on Main Street, within the village of Biggin and to call this development area by the same name would lead to yet further confusion. This plot has never been called the Homestead before and members questioned the applicant’s reasoning for this name.
The parish council members are concerned about the history of the applicant failing to finish existing projects, some of which could be considered an eyesore. Members would like to request that previous projects are concluded prior to any more permissions being granted.
The planning application for holiday lets, makes reference to the local economic benefit – due to the minimal number of facilities, shops and eating establishments within the parish, there is little, notable, economic benefit from this proposal.
Some members considered there is already sufficient holiday accommodation within the village and perhaps local housing for families at this location would be more beneficial for both the village and primary school.
Application Code Number : NP/DDD/1020/0920
Erection of steel portal framed building for use as E(g)(i) Office and change of use of 722sq m of agricultural land to E(g)(i) Office and associated parking and manoeuvring space.
Land West Of A515, Unnamed Section Of A515 From Main Road To Back Lane, Biggin,
OS Grid Reference: 416334 358888
Hartington Nether Parish Council objected to this application as it is essentially for retail space which is not in keeping with open agricultural land and a proposal for a building where none exists would be totally out of character here. The proposed building is too large for its location and there will be inadequate space for the proposed screening trees. The application has been amended, to say “to provide adequate business space/operations for the company “Age Care Bathrooms”. The word “showroom” was in the original application. Also of concern to the parish council is an increasing amount of ‘scrap’ at this location.
21.3.6 Items of account, salaries, grounds person, HMRC, Section 137, maintenance
| Cq 1225 | S Hampson | November internet allowance | £10.00 |
| Cq 1226 | S Hampson | Reimb of expenses November | £21.30 |
| Cq 1227 | S Hampson | November clerk’s salary | £191.42 |
| Cq 1228 | B Coles | Final mowing contract | £411.43 (VAT £68.57) |
| Cq 1229 | Festive Lights | Christmas Lights | £25.48 (VAT £4.25) |
| Cq 1230 | Poppy Appeal | Remembrance Day wreath | £17.00 |
| Cq 1231 | S Hampson | December clerk’s salary | £191.62 |
| Cq 1232 | S Hampson | December internet allowance | £10.00 |
| Cq 1233 | S Hampson | January clerk’s salary | £191.42 |
| Cq 1234 | S Hampson | January internet allowance | £10.00 |
| Cq 1235 | HMRC | Quarter 3 income tax | £163.40 |
| Cq 1236 | S Hampson | Reimb. of expenses | £5.10 |
| Cq 1237 | Shelter Maintenance | Bus shelters cleaning | £21.43 (VAT £3.57) |
| Cq 1238 | S Hampson | February clerk’s salary | £191.62 |
| Cq 1239 | S Hampson | February internet Allowance | £10.00 |
| Cq 1240 | S Hampson | September clerk’s salary | £191.62 |
| Cq 1241 | S Hampson | March internet Allowance | £10.00 |
| Cq 1242 | S Hampson | Reimb of expenses | £20.74 |
| Cq 1243 | HMRC | Quarter 4 income tax | £143.60 |
| Cq 1244 | Hartington Community Group | News and Views | £150.00 |
Part 2 Confidential information
21.3.7 Mowing contract 2021-2022
The clerk had invited four contractors to submit tenders for 2 mowing seasons, 2021-2022. One had declined to submit a quote. The other three had responded.
B Coles quote for 2021 and 2022 the same £2400 + VAT
D Wood quote for 2021 and 2022 the same £2640 (No VAT)
P Lownds quote for 2021 £960 (No VAT
P Lownds quote for 2022 £1008 (No VAT)
Mrs Coles did not participate in this part of the meeting due to a declared interest in this item and left the meeting. The remaining five members of the parish council discussed the mowing quotes and the duration of the contract. They also discussed how satisfied they had been with the quality of work undertaken by Mr Coles during the previous year’s contract. They acknowledged that one quote was significantly cheaper than the others and gave consideration to this; however, questioned whether the standard required for the parish council mowing contract could be achieved for this figure. The parish council is not required to accept the cheapest quote. One member thought it better not to have a succession of different contractors performing the work. Members took a vote on the tenders.
Resolved: unanimously to exclude the most expensive tender.
Resolved: to appoint Mr Coles for the two season mowing contract. This decision was reached by a majority vote, in comparison to the cheapest quote.
21.3.21 Date of the next meeting
Monday, 17th May 2021 (parish annual meeting followed by the annual parish council meeting) subject to Coronavirus permissions at this time. There will not be a parish council meeting in April.
The meeting was declared closed at 8.10 pm
Mrs S Hampson, Clerk
1st March 2021
©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting