HARTINGTON NETHER QUARTER PARISH COUNCIL
A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council was held on Monday, 1 June 2015 at
7.30 pm at Biggin Village Hall.
Present: J Brindley, J Coles, D Prince, Mrs J Griffiths and the clerk, Mrs Hampson. There were no members of the public also in attendance.
15.6.1 Apologies
Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mrs S McCurrach.
15.6.2 Declaration of personal/prejudicial interest of councillors
None of the members present at the meeting declared an interest in any of the agenda items.
15.6.3 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been forwarded to all members in advance of the meeting and had been displayed on the noticeboard.
Resolved: The minutes were accepted as a true record of proceedings (Prop JG Sec JC)
15.6.4 Matters arising from pre-meeting
Poor quality repairs on Back Lane were referred to. See agenda item 15.6.9 (Highways).
15.6.5 Public speaking procedures document
There were no members of the public in attendance.
15.6.6 Public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance.
15.6.7 PCSO update
The PCSO was not in attendance.
15.6.8 County and District Councillor updates
Neither the County nor District Councillor attended the meeting.
15.6.9 Highway issues
Derbyshire County Council (DCC) had advised the clerk that pot holes on Back Lane, Biggin had been repaired and that further tar patching would take place later in the year. Members reported that the repairs to the pot holes on Back Lane were of poor quality.
15.6.10 Cemetery and memorials
The clerk had reported the serial numbers of the two smaller bins to DDDC to clarify their size; the clerk reported that the parish council is being charged for two 660 litre bins and believes the bins are not of this size. This was also supported by Mrs Brindley. The clerk had reported serial numbers from the bins to Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) to clarify the volume of each bin but DDDC had not provided the information required. Mrs Coles referred to the size of wheeled bins at the local surgery for comparison. The location of the bins in the cemetery and the church yard was also discussed.
Resolved: Mrs Coles/Mrs Brindley to check the size of bins at the surgery and to report findings to the clerk.
Resolved: The clerk to use the information supplied to clarify if the parish council is paying the correct fee for the volume of waste being collected
Resolved: The clerk to ask the grounds person to confirm that the bins being paid for by the parish council are being stored in the parish council cemetery and not in the church yard.
In connection to the previous minutes, Mr Prince advised that he had lowered the mound on his late son’s grave. The additional memorial had been moved to the plinth of the headstone. Mr Prince stated he had not yet contacted the monumental mason regarding the height of the memorial which exceeded the approved height permitted in the cemetery. Mr Prince reported that his son had contacted DDDC regarding the fees but had been incorrectly advised. The clerk read out again the rules clearly stated by DDDC regarding double fees and readvised Mr Prince of the correct fee relating to the additional memorial.
15.6.11 Voles in the parish council cemetery
The pest controller had advised that had completed work in the cemetery with regard to the removal of voles in the cemetery. The invoice had not been received in time for the meeting.
15.6.12 Noticeboard
The existing parish council noticeboard is becoming unsafe. The clerk reported that the glass nearly falls out when the door is opened. Members also discussed the type and possible location for a noticeboard in the parish council cemetery. Members had viewed the catalogue from a company called Greenbarnes and also discussed using a local joiner to make a noticeboard.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to approach a local joiner with designs to contain at least 6 x A4 sheets of paper in order to obtain quotes for consideration at the next meeting.
15.6.13 Defibrillator
Mrs Coles had kindly prepared a number of posters to advertise the names of people trained to use the village defibrillator.
Resolved: To display the posters in various places around the village.
The clerk had contacted DCC regarding the possibility of obtaining an electricity supply from the Drury Lane bus shelter for the purpose of enabling a heat source to a defibrillator cabinet. DCC reported that a cabinet could not be fixed to the shelter but could possibly be free standing on a post near the shelter. At this stage, DCC would not give permission to use an electricity supply without further investigation. Their main concern about providing a supply would be a responsibility for ongoing maintenance and possible accidents.
15.6.14 Heathcote Mere
The Countryside and Maintenance Team (CMT) had advised the clerk that they do not have a roller suitable for rolling the perimeter of the mere. All members agreed that Heathcote Mere looks beautiful and is being very well cared for. Members remained concerned, however, about people who park on the grass or cut the corner but appreciated that visitors parking on the road may cause issues.
15.6.15 Website
Members discussed possible website providers for a parish council website which will be required shortly to meet the requirements of the new Transparency Code. The clerk advised of a company called 2Commune which would charge an annual fee of £250 to provide a website. Mrs Coles provided details of an alternative company, Forbes who supply website facilities to the local surgery. Mrs Coles thought Forbes’ Website costs were lower than 2Commune. She also provided some details of their provision.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to contact Forbes to obtain accurate supply costs and details of the provision available to the parish council including a website address.
15.6.16 New pension regulations update if received
The Pension Regulator had advised the clerk that the staging date for compliance with pension regulations is June 2016. The clerk had contacted the grounds person to confirm interest in a pension but a response had not been received in time for the meeting.
15.6.17 Council vacancy and co-option
The clerk had placed a co-option notice on the noticeboard and had advised Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC). The deadline for submission falls just after the meeting date on 4th June. A written response had been received from one eligible candidate on 1st June.
Resolved: To invite the candidate and any other candidates who may apply between 1st and 4th June to attend the July meeting.
15.6.18 Review of policies, financial regulations and code of conduct
The clerk had prepared for adoption and/or review copies of the DDDC Code of Conduct, Financial Regulations and Standing Orders.
Resolved: Members adopted the DDDC Code of Conduct.
Resolved: Members reviewed and accepted the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders.
Resolved: To review the above documents regularly.
15.6.19 Planning applications and planning sub-committee
An application had been received for the demolition of existing outbuilding and erection a new building consisting of a garage, stable, tack room, WC and office at Birdsgrove, Main Street, Biggin.
Resolved: Members supported the application. Clerk to advise Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) accordingly.
Plans had been granted for the garage, drive and access at Four Winds, Newhaven.
Members discussed building works at High Peak Harriers (former Barlow and Hodgkinson’s yard). Members had not received planning applications to cover some of the work and it appeared to member to be more than any possible permitted development.
Resolved: The clerk to contact planning officers at PDNPA regarding the development at High Peak Harriers.
15.6.20 Items of account, salaries and HMRC, internal audit of accounts for the year ending 31 March 2015.
Cq 826 S Hampson June net salary
Cq 827 G Tilson June net salary
Cq 828 HMRC Quarter 1 income tax
Cq 829 Brian Wood Internal audit fee
Cq 830 S Hampson Reimbursement of expenses
Outcome of the internal audit.
The internal auditor advised that the clerk’s premises allowance should be £150 per year not £120 from 2015. He also recommended that the parish council contribute at least £100 towards the provision of a laptop for the clerk or share the cost with another parish council for which the clerk is also clerk to. There were no issues to bring before the council, only the need to review policies, financial regulations, risk assessments, asset register and code of conduct annually. The parish council has regularly reviewed such items.
15.6.21 Correspondence and communication
PDNPA’s planning officer had advised that an application had been made via the Camping and Caravan Club who may grant a licence for the site which will mean that the owners would not need any further planning for the site if they operate within the terms of any licence they get. The officer reported that PDNPA has formally objected to the application and advised that residents and the parish council could submit comments or concerns directly to the caravan club as soon as possible. There has been no formal planning application made by the owners to the parish council.
Resolved: To not submit any comment to the Camping and Caravan Club regarding the proposed site at Heathcote in view of PDNPA’s submission.
Other correspondence included: DALC circulars, £7.36 per elector is now the new limit for Section 137 expenditure.
15.6.20 Items for the next agenda
Defibrillator(s), the cemetery and cemetery bins, parish council website, new noticeboard and renovations to existing noticeboard. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
15.6.21 Date of next meeting
Resolved: The date of the next meeting –6 July 2015
Part 2 –Confidential Information
The meeting was declared closed at 9.35 pm
Mrs S Hampson,
Clerk to the parish council
2 June 2015
©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting.