A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council was held on Monday, 7 September 2015 at 7.30 pm at Biggin Village Hall.
Present: J Brindley, J Coles, D Prince, J Griffiths, J Bonsall and the clerk, Mrs Hampson.
There were 7 members of the public also in attendance.
15.9.1 Apologies
No apologies had been received in time for the meeting.
15.9.2 Declaration of personal/prejudicial interest of councillors
None of the members present at the meeting declared an interest in any of the agenda items.
15.9.3 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 DP)
15.9.4 Matters arising from pre-meeting
Matters were covered by the agenda.
15.9.5 Public speaking procedures document
The public speaking document was made available for any members of the public in attendance.
15.9.6 Public speaking
Some of the members of the public expressed concerns regarding a proposal document dated 2013 suggesting pony trekking, camping, sports fields etc produced for the owner of the former Barlow and Hodgkinson haulage yard. The members of the public enquired about the parish council’s opinion on such proposals. The parish council members confirmed that no formal application had been received including these aspects and until such time as a formal application is received comments could not be made. Members of the public were also advised that they could also submit comments if an application is made.
Allocation of affordable properties to rent was also raised. The clerk had made enquiries with Dales Housing and the Rural Housing Enabler from Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) in advance of the meeting regarding the allocation of rental properties. The clerk read the statements to the members of the public which seemed to confirm their statements that the tenants in Percival Close Flats have to be over 39 years old. The legal process involved in applying this age limit was questioned. Dales Housing manage their own waiting lists. All affordable homes in the parish managed by a housing association are advertised through Home Options. It was suggested that the MP could be contacted. Members stated that the flats had been previously occupied by people under the age of 39 year based on the condition that they would move if elderly people required the accommodation.
15.9.7 PCSO update
Following the report from Mrs Coles at the previous meeting regarding the discovery of empty ampoules of unknown content the clerk had reported these to the PCSO. The PCSO had reported to the clerk that she had subsequently visited the village but there was no further evidence found. The PCSO had a prior engagement and could not attend the meeting. There were no other matters to report to the PCSO.
15.9.8 County and District Councillor updates
Neither the County nor District Councillor attended the meeting.
15.9.9 Highway issues and village pavements
Following a recent inspection, the highways inspector stated that although the footpath along Drury Lane is scabby in places, it is still serviceable with no actionable defects found. The Highways inspector believes that as there are numerous vehicular accesses along the length of the pavement this may mean that pedestrians are experiencing a rise and fall sensation as they walk across these access points. The issues could be addressed if the footway was reconstructed but unfortunately, under the current financial climate Derbyshire County Council (DCC) state this is unlikely. Mrs Bonsall reported the poor condition of the footpath from Cardlemere Lane to Newhaven. This is very overgrown but the end of the path at Newhaven ends in an abrupt stop and is not lowered to accommodate disabled people, parents with baby buggies/prams or cyclists.
Resolved: The clerk to report the condition of the Newhaven footpath to DCC.
15.9.10 Planning applications and planning sub-committee
An application for a Certificate of Lawfulness at High Peak Harriers had been received from the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). Such an application is dealt with by the Legal Team at PDNPA rather than planning officers but still requires consultation from the parish council. Comments had been prepared by some members. Members discussed the preparation of plan. Members of the public were advised that they too could forward comments.
Resolved: To submit comments from parish council members regarding historical knowledge and information related to the site.
Resolved: A plan produced by Mrs Bonsall and Mrs Griffiths to be included with the comments.
15.9.11 New website and content including the Transparency Code
The clerk had compiled text to include on the new parish council website. Members had viewed this during the summer recess. A few additions/amendments were noted.
Resolved: The clerk to submit the information to the website company to upload.
Resolved: A resident to submit photographs to the clerk for onward transmission to the website company.
15.9.12 Cemetery, memorials and wheeled bins
Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) had advised the clerk that an inspector had visited the cemetery to check the wheeled bins being paid for by the parish council. The parish council is presently paying for 2 x 660 litre wheeled bins but there are in fact 3 bins present (1 x 660l plus 2 x 360l bins). The parish council pays £22.60 per week for the wheeled bins and not £26.30 for the 3 bins. DDDC also reported that the church is entitled to one free, small wheeled bin but has never requested one. Mrs Brindley reported that the Parochial Church Council is investigating obtaining the free wheeled bin.
The groundsperson had advised the clerk that he uses the two small bins and can just fit one complete mowing of our cemetery in these two bins. He does not use the large green 660 litre bin. He usually has one wheeled bin in the cemetery because someone keeps taking the second small bin towards the bottom end of the old churchyard. At the moment he has been instructed to put the two small bins inside our cemetery. The groundsperson had reported to the clerk that he had witnessed a resident filling the large green bin with grass cuttings from his own property.
Resolved: The clerk to request that the large 660 litre bin be removed and the direct debit adjusted accordingly.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to obtain signs (invoiced to the parish council) from Acres Signs to stick to the two smaller bins to request the bins paid for by the parish council are returned to the parish council cemetery for use by the grounds person.
The monumental mason, referred to in previous minutes, had been in contact with the Chairman following the request to lower a memorial as it exceeds the approved height. He was abusive to the Chairman, therefore, the clerk had contacted Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) for advice. DDDC confirmed that the parish council is within their rights to prevent the person concerned from operating in the cemetery. He should lower the memorial as he has not complied with the approved height. Reference to any other memorial presently in the cemetery is also irrelevant. If a ban is enforced a notice can be placed to advise bereaved families that an unnamed monumental mason can no longer operate in the cemetery to ensure he no longer receives requests to supply headstones. The clerk had prepared a letter detailing information from DDDC. A site meeting may be necessary if the person concerned fails to comply with instructions contained in the letter.
Resolved: The clerk’s letter was approved.
Resolved: The clerk to forward the letter to the monumental mason concerned.
Members also reported further incidences of dog fouling in the cemetery. A member of the public identified one dog concerned. Members thought that that the dog fouling was probably the result of dogs escaping from properties rather than being allowed to foul during the presents of adults in the cemetery with dogs on leads.
Resolved: The clerk to contact DDDC for additional dog fouling notices.
Resolved: The cemetery to be an agenda item in October.
15.9.13 Rabbits in the parish council cemetery
Mrs McCurrach was not in attendance but had liaised with the pest controller regarding a possible source of the rabbits. Some members reported that the rabbits were everywhere in the cemetery whilst others had not seen any evidence.
Resolved: To revisit the item in October
15.9.14 Noticeboard
Mr Prince reported that he had seen the Chairman of the Biggin Village Hall Committee and he had no objections to a wall mounted noticeboard being affixed to the Hall building but this had not been to committee. The clerk had spoken to another member of the committee who advised that the next meeting was on 28th September. Some members questioned whether people would see the noticeboard if fixed to the village hall or would make the effort to walk to it.
The clerk had obtained quotes for a wall mounted noticeboard and a noticeboard mounted on posts made of artificial or plastic wood. These were approximately £1200 and £1400 + VAT respectively but would last for many years without maintenance. Members discussed whether a hardwood noticeboard would initially be cheaper to purchase but would require subsequent maintenance and would not last as long. Members discussed the possibility of a contribution towards the chosen noticeboard from the Village Hall Committee as previously have had the benefit of using 50% of the space.
Resolved: The clerk to forward details of the cost of the plastic noticeboard quote to the village hall committee to ask for consideration of a donation.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to approach a named joiner for a quote for a hardwood noticeboard.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to approach another named joiner for a quote for a hardwood noticeboard
15.9.15 Defibrillator
Some concerns were expressed regarding the justification of having two defibrillators in Biggin and none in the other outlying areas of the parish.
Resolved: To remove the item from subsequent agendas for a period of time until such time as further discussions become necessary.
15.9.16 Items of account, salaries and HMRC
Cq 840 S Hampson Reimbursement of 2 months’ expenses £22.03
Cq 841 S Hampson September net salary £174.24
Cq 842 G Tilson September net salary £96.83
Cq 843 DDDC Recharging election fees 7.5.15 £169.04
Cq 844 Shelter Maintenance Bus Shelter Cleaning £20.04
Cq 845 Grant Thornton Annual return 2015 fee £120.00
15.9.17 Correspondence and communication
Included: DALC circulars, DDDC Area Forums, DCC grit refills (£100.37 for standard bin, £90.87 for a small bin). Peak Park Parishes Day. Mr Prince reported that a village seat had been vandalised and damaged.
15.9.18 Items for the next agenda
The cemetery, rabbit, dog fouling in cemetery and cemetery bins, parish council website, new noticeboard, damaged village seat. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
15.9.19 Date of next meeting
Resolved: The date of the next meeting – 5 October 2015
Apologies received in advance from J Brindley
Part 2 –Confidential Information
There was no confidential information to discuss.
The meeting was declared closed at 9.45 pm
Mrs S Hampson,
Clerk to the parish council
7th September 2015
©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting.