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

Present: P Tapping, J Coles, M Heathcote, S Griffiths and the clerk, S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.

Part 1 non-confidential information 

22.3.1 Apologies
Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mrs S McCurrach and Mrs D Currington. Apologies had also been received from the PCSO and the representative from the Burston Estates.

22.3.2 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.

22.3.3 Matters arising and pre-meeting
It was reported that the parish council’s mowing equipment had now been disposed of and collected by the successful bidder. The memorial bench which had been reported as unsafe has been removed.

22.3.4 Public Speaking Procedures Document
The document was available for those members of the public in attendance.

22.2.5 Public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance

22.2.6 Planning applications, planning sub-committee
An application had been received for Aspindle House at Heathcote to replace stables.

Resolved: To support the above application.

22.2.7 Church path
Information had again been sought from DALC and Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) regarding support for the maintenance of paths at the church. As previously minuted, the main path connects to the cemetery administered by the parish council.

A response had been received from DALC advising that the previous advice given by the clerk was correct that the parish council should not be providing funds to the church but their response also included an ambiguous statement from the Church of English Funding Guide 13 which DALC reported could not be considered lawful. DALC advised that the church seek Heritage Lottery funding. Immediately prior to the meeting, a further communication had been received from the Parochial Church Council (PCC). DDDC had been chased again for a response regarding a contribution to the main path but this was not received in time for the meeting. An approach to local quarries to supply materials to assist with the side church path had been suggested by the PCC. Members expressed some concern about the church’s insurance to cover any working party involvement.

Resolved: to forward the PCC communication to DALC, DDDC and the District Councillor.
Resolved: to contact DCC Highways regarding the enquiry to slab across the grass verge to meet the entrance of the side church path.

22.3.8 Attendance/Update from Burston Estates’ Representative
Unfortunately, apologies had been received again for attendance at the meeting. However, Mr Tapping had made phone contact in advance of the meeting. From the conversation, Mr Tapping reported that Sycamore House works will become a priority; High Peak Harriers is awaiting involvement from planners; it is expected that Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) will reject proposals for a campsite; there was no information on the cottages but it has been heard that these have been sold; the former POW camp has no historical value but it won’t be knocked down without an alternative proposal for it – a past reference was for a pony trekking centre.

22.3.9 Phone box
A replacement cheque had been sent to the designer. Mrs Coles and Mrs McCurrach had liaised together since the last meeting to view photographs. Some of the relevant photographs were discussed by the members at the meeting.

Resolved: Mrs Coles to send some of the selected photographs to the designer for his professional opinion on the quality of reproduction for the side of the phone box.

22.3.10 Parish Council’s Bank Account
The parish council’s bank will not allow the clerk and responsible finance officer to even order cheque books and paying in books, despite these being registered for postal delivery to the clerk.

The clerk had prepared a letter to be signed by two authorised signatories to give permission for the clerk to order these items.

Resolved: two authorised signatories to sign the document and to place the bank account on the next agenda to commence the process to obtain more authorised signatories.

22.3.11 Queen’s Jubilee
As previously reported, the parish council will meet hire costs of the village hall to provide some celebrations.

22.3.12 Grit boxes
A reference 82021636 had been received for the new grit box ordered by the clerk for placement near the Tissington Trail bridge; this has been sent for assessment of suitability for the chosen site. The clerk had also chased the previous orders for grit to replenish the existing boxes.

22.3.13 The website
The clerk had contacted the website provider for a statement regarding previous issues and the accessibility status. A response had been received.

The provider stated that the fault was not with the website but with Hotmail processing the forwarded emails. They recommended using paid for emails with a guarantee and ability to trace the delivery but these typically cost at least £5 per month, providing a different connection path through Cloudflare protecting against malware. The parish council’s website has a small email volume.

Regarding the accessibility, the parish council’s website conforms to the WCAG standards. The website is a responsive design, and adapts to the viewer needs whether on a PC, Smartphone or Tablet and adapts when viewed with accessibility tools and screen readers – they will not see the same on the site as members do, such as colours, contrast or backgrounds as they will appear differently or not at all.

22.3.14 War Memorial Trees
It was reported some trees had been damaged in the recent storm.

Resolved: to place the item on the next agenda.

22.3.15 Affordable Housing (Peak Park Parishes Forum – PPPF)
PPPF had forwarded an email regarding the floor areas for the construction of affordable housing. Members discussed that if only small houses are constructed with 56m2 floor area then this would discourage young families to remain in the area.

Resolved: to support the agreement of PPPF to reject the floor area above for affordable housing construction

22.3.16 Articles for News and Views
This will not be required until the April meeting.

22.3.17 Items of account, salaries and HMRC, mowing contract

22.3.18 Highways, street lighting, flytipping
Unfortunately, the flytipping sign at Heathcote had not been erected as a mechanical digger would be required to dig the hole. Mr Tapping had forwarded photographs to DCC of holes now in the 30 mph signs which are awaiting replacement. There are multiple pot holes developing along the A515. The condition of the road surface at Dampy’s Pinch was raised again. This has previously been reported.

Resolved: to report Dampy’s Pinch once again and make reference to the increasing number of pot holes on the A515.

22.3.19 Correspondence, electronic communication, Biggin Community Facebook
Citizens Advice Bureau Energy and Cost of Living invitation; waste and recycling independent review; parish members of PDNPA; DCC ref 82021636 order for new grit bin and grit, Rural Bulletins; DCC News; policing priorities in Derbyshire Dales; food waste collections paused; Derbyshire and Derby minerals local plan; RSN rural funding digest; change of account manager at Zurich Insurance. A resident had forwarded a letter about a neighbour plan for the parish and a COVID memorial. Mr Tapping and the clerk provided some background information about neighbourhood plans.

Mr Tapping advised that the protective tubing had now been removed from the tree saplings planted in the parish council cemetery. 21 trees have so far survived.

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

22.3.19 Date of the next meeting
Monday, 4th April 2022

Part 2 Confidential information
There was no confidential information to discuss

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

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