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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF DRONFIELD CIVIC HALL

ON MONDAY 7th JANUARY 2002 AT 7.30 pm

 

Present

Councillors G Baxter : M Brader : D Cheetham : M Emmens : Mrs P A England : Mrs M C Foster : N R Foster : T Furniss (Town Mayor) : J Gilbert : F Higgins : Mrs K Marr : W I Pryce : Mrs C A Smith : Mrs M Taylor : Mrs W M Temple : J Williams : M R Wing.

 

  1. Mayor’s Announcements

    1. Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Mayor informed Members that Town Council Staff had made a donation of £66 to St John Ambulance in lieu of sending Christmas cards.

    2. The Mayor gave details of a temporary road closure to take place between 14th January 2002 to 25th January 2002 at Holmley Lane, Dronfield from its junction with Holmley Bank to its north and south junctions with the B6057 Sheffield Road. This was to facilitate a new sewer connection.

      3. RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

    3. The Mayor announced that Harry Barnes MP would be asked to give a report following Youth Matters as a special agenda item.

RESOLVED That it be agreed to allow Harry Barnes MP to give a report.

 

  1. Apologies

    2. None, all Members present.

     

  2. Youth Matters

    3. None raised.

     

  3. Police Matters

    1. Police Surgery

      2. Members noted correspondence received from a local resident to Council asking the police to consider the provision of a Police Surgery.

      PC Dave Crook advised the meeting that Drop in Centres had proved to be popular in areas where there was no police station, but these had not proved successful in areas such as Dronfield where the local police station was manned between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday each week. He went on to state that an incentive to provide mobile police stations was to be provided in rural areas.

      RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

    2. Fireworks

Correspondence had been received from a local resident expressing concern at the misuse of fireworks. It was stated that this was an ongoing situation, which was developing into an all year round problem.

RESOLVED

  1. That the correspondence be received and noted.

  2. That the Town Council supports Harry Barnes MP, the Police and Environmental Health in their efforts to enforce existing, and to support new legislation regarding explosives.

    1. Other Police Matters

PC Dave Crook supplied Members with crime figures, as follows, for the period 1st December 2001 to 31st December 2001.

 

2001

2000

Burglary – non dwelling

11

10

Burglary – dwelling

21

12

Theft of motor vehicle

3

8

Theft from motor vehicle

52

19

Assault

3

7

Damage

31

20

Other

23

33

Total

144

109

The Police Officer advised of a wave of thefts of motor vehicles. Dronfield, Sheffield and Eckington had been targeted for a particular method of theft, which was largely preventable. PC Wilson, Crime Prevention Officer for Dronfield was liaising with local radio to advise the public to keep their car keys out of sight and away from the front door, thus discouraging thieves from breaking into homes for the purpose of stealing car keys.

All Members expressed serious concern and sorrow at the death of the young man, tragically killed on the railway during December 2001. The County Councillor for Dronfield North had written to the British Transport Police, Harry Barnes MP, the Minister for Transport, North East Derbyshire District Council, Dronfield Town Council and the Dronfield Police seeking their support in preventing any further accidents by erecting security fencing.

The Police Officer was asked to investigate a series of vandalism at Rawlins Court, Dronfield where youths were snowballing local residents, bending aerials and generally causing a nuisance.

Concern was expressed at the spate of burglaries, which had taken place on Egerton Road, Dronfield. This information would be passed to the Pentagon burglary squad based in Chesterfield who was assimilating information to identify any pattern. The Police Officer agreed to investigate this matter.

RESOLVED That this information be received and noted.

 

  1. Parliamentary Report

Harry Barnes MP gave a parliamentary report on activities relating to the North East Derbyshire area during 2001 and specifically Dronfield where appropriate. He initially expressed his sympathy at the death of three recent Council Members during 2001. He expressed the Government’s disappointment at the turn-out during the General Election and hoped that this could be reversed.

He reported on the loss of jobs at the northern end of his constituency. Hundreds of jobs had been lost at Biwaters, Dema Glass and Chesterfield Cylinders, and funding was not as good as it could be since the funding loss of Objective 2.

Since the outbreak of foot and mouth on 20th February 2001 certain areas of North East Derbyshire had been experiencing serious problems with loss of tourism, and no compensation/funding had been available as the area had not suffered directly with foot and mouth. Animal carcasses had been burnt at Erin Void during the summer causing considerable distress to the local residents owing to the obnoxious smell. He felt that the community should be compensated for their distress and was pursuing the claim.

Mr Barnes also expressed concern at the problem of fireworks, which had got worse over recent time. (Minute 153(b)). Extra legislation was required to control this matter, and a Private Members’ Bill was shortly to be introduced. At present the Police, Trading Standards and Environmental Health have powers to restrict their use.

He expressed sympathy for the family of the youth who had been killed on the railway line at Dronfield. Mr Barnes advised Members that he had been in touch with the authorities connected with the railway. Railtrack lease the station to Arriva trains and the train involved with the incident had been operated by Midland Mainline.

He informed the meeting that there are plans to make a single site school at Dronfield on the Fanshaw Site and the Rt. Hon Stephen Tums was to visit the School in the near future.

RESOLVED

  1. That the report be received and noted.

  2. That Dronfield Town Council supports Mr Barnes in his endeavours for the legislation of the sale and use of fireworks.

  3. That the Town Council supports the plans for a single site Dronfield School on the Fanshaw site.

 

  1. Council Minutes

    2. Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Monday, 3rd December 2001. (Pages 79 – 93)

    RESOLVED That the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Monday 3rd December 2001 (Pages 79 – 93) be received and noted as a true record.

     

  2. Matters Arising

    3. None raised.

     

  3. Planning Matters

    1. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

Members considered the schedule of planning applications as set out at Appendix 1.

RESOLVED That subject to the following the schedule of planning applications as submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council be received and noted.

 

  1. Application 01/01099/RM – Approval of Reserved Matters for the construction of a Food Retail Store/Supermarket with associated access servicing car parking and landscaping (Conservation Area/Major Development) (amended plans) for Geo Jowitt & Sons Ltd/St James Securities

    2. Members reiterated their concerns concerning the access/exit locations on the plans submitted. Correspondence had been received from Derbyshire County Council accepting the proposals as submitted, but Members considered that the proposals would result in serious traffic problems at this notorious junction and that the proposed pedestrian access areas would lead to pedestrian/traffic conflicts and would be dangerous.

  2. Application 01/01047/OL – Erection of one dwelling (Outline Application) (Amended Plans) at land adjacent 24 Lea Road, Dronfield for Royal Bank of Scotland (Minute 106(f) refers)

    3. Members expressed serious concern about this application. This is a very busy road and access/parking to this property would only exacerbate the problem at this notoriously busy area.

  3. Ref 01/1078/FL – Construction of one 4-bedroomed house with attached garage (Amended Scheme) at plot 2 (amended plans) at land between 217 Holmley Lane and Whitegates, Pighills Lane.

Members discussed this amended application and opposed the development at Pighills Lane.

 

    1. Schedule of Planning Decisions

      2. RESOLVED That the schedule of planning decisions as submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council be received and noted.

       

    2. Planning Appeal

      3. Members were notified of a Planning Appeal by Mr & Mrs P Barlow regarding 51 Highfields Road, Dronfield.

      RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

       

    3. Proposed Development at Newleaf Nursery, Dyche Lane, Coal Aston for Pople Landscapes

Correspondence had been received from North East Derbyshire District Council (Minute 106©) and Members were informed that this application had since been withdrawn.

RESOLVED That this information be received and noted.

 

  1. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

Members considered the Town Clerk’s Progress Report.

    1. Civic Hall

      2. RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

    2. Outside Services

      3. It was reported that Derbyshire County Council had filled the salt and grit bins owned by the Town Council during December and that they would be re-filled during January 2002.

      RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

       

    3. Dronfield Junior School

      4. Councillor Mrs W M Temple declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item and took no part in the discussion.

      Correspondence had been received from Dronfield Junior School advising Members that the School was bidding for money from ‘New Opportunities Fund’, enabling the School to build a new Sports Hall and requesting that the Council submit a letter of support for the School’s bid.

      RESOLVED That a letter of support be submitted to Derbyshire LEA.

       

    4. Dog and Litter Bins

      5. Correspondence had been received from North East Derbyshire District Council stating that they could not empty any new dog or litter bins for some months.

      RESOLVED That this information be received and noted.

       

    5. Model Code of Conduct

      6. RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council adopts the model code as advised by the Standards Board and NALC.

       

    6. East Midlands Development Agency – Market Towns Initiative

      7. Councillor N R Foster gave an update on the state of the four bids for funding. Estimates for the CCTV work had been received and would be incorporated into the bid to be completed in early January 2002.

      It was further reported that it might be possible for shops to access the movement of the cameras should they experience any problem at their premises on payment of a fee.

      The bid for the Library Garden improvements had been completed and sent to EMDA. The final two bids for Cinema funding in the Civic Hall and for the Cyber Café in Gosforth Lodge were awaiting final quotes from companies, which would be submitted in early January.

      RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

       

    7. Publications received

RESOLVED That these be received and noted.

 

  1. Reports from Dronfield Town Council Representatives and other information

Councillor Brader advised Members that it was hoped to amalgamate the split site of the Dronfield School and to make a single site school on the Fanshaw site. Petition forms had been drawn up.

RESOLVED That

  1. This information be received.

  2. Those petition forms be available at the Town Council’s facilities for members of the public if they wish to support the plans for a single site school.

 

  1. Grant Aid

    2. Members considered correspondence from the 7th Dronfield (Gosforth Valley) Scout Group thanking the Council for its grant of £75.00.

    RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

     

  2. Courses and Conferences

    3. Details of courses run by St John Ambulance had been circulated to all Members.

    RESOLVED That the details be received and noted.

     

  3. Derby and Derbyshire Joint Structure Plan

    4. Derbyshire County Council had confirmed that the Written Statement concerning the above had been published and was available for inspection at the Town Clerk’s Office.

    RESOLVED That the information be received and noted and that the Town Clerk completes the feedback questionnaire, which accompanied the Statement.

  4. Derbyshire Rural Community Council – Community Transport

Correspondence had been received from Elspeth Mallowan, NED Rural Transport Partnership Officer outlining the aims of the Transport Partnership and requesting the opportunity to address Members at some future meeting.

RESOLVED

  1. That the information be received and noted.

  2. That Elspeth Mallowan be invited to address Members at their meeting to be held on 4th February 2002.

 

  1. Derbyshire Association of Local Councils – Local Government White Paper

Members were advised that the above document could be viewed at http://www.local-regions.dtlr.gov.uk/s11/index.htm but Chapter 9, which specifically dealt with parish/town councils, was circulated to all Members.

RESOLVED

  1. That the information be received and noted.

  2. The Town Council welcomed the Government’s initiative to give a standard amount of £30,000 per year to Best Value Councils to cover audit costs and the corporate costs of carrying out work relating to Best Value.

 

  1. Budget 2002/2003

Members had received a copy of the draft budget for 2002/2003 where it was proposed to precept North East Derbyshire District Council in the sum of £550,000, an increase of 12.25% over 2001/2002. Councillor N R Foster gave a report, and the budget incorporating the precept of £550,000 was proposed and seconded.

Councillor W I Pryce moved the following amendment.

"That the precept be £550,000 and that the expenditure of £4,000 for Bus Shelters, £1,000 for Seats/ Signs and Noticeboards and £2,500 for Christmas Lights be deleted from the budget and the money remain in balances"

On being put to the meeting the amendment was LOST.

Councillor G Baxter then moved the following amendment, which was incorporated, into the main resolution.

"That expenditure on the items identified in the previous amendment takes place in the second six months into the financial year and before any spending on these items takes place the Council reaffirms that expenditure"

On being put to the meeting the amendment was CARRIED.

RESOLVED

  1. That Dronfield Town Council’s precept for the year 2002/2003 be £550,000.

  2. That no expenditure on Bus Shelters, Seats/Signs or Noticeboards or Christmas lighting takes place during the first six months of the financial year and any spending after that time only takes place with the approval of Council.

 

  1. Draft Community Strategy for Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire

    2. Members had been circulated with the above document and any comments had to be received by CHART by the end of January 2002.

    RESOLVED That in the section ‘Regenerate all of our town centres’, item 2 be amended to include Dronfield. Also that Callywhite Lane regeneration area be incorporated into the document.

     

  2. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

    3. Members were circulated with a schedule of payments from the Cashbook in the sum of £37,504.94 and the No 1 Ledger in the sum of £24,229.75.

    RESOLVED That the schedule of payments from the Cashbook in the sum of £37,504.94 and the No 1 Ledger in the sum of £24,229.75 be approved.

     

  3. Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 3)

    4. Members were circulated with a schedule of receipts for the month of November 2001 in the sum of £6,591.37.

    RESOLVED That the schedule of receipts for the month of November 2001 in the sum of £6,591.37 be received and noted.

     

  4. Pubic Forum

    • Frank Fisher advised Members that members of the public were taking buckets of grit from the grit bins and were emptying them very rapidly.

    • He advised Members that two charity boxes had been stolen from his shop and advised them to be aware of the problem in the town.

    • He stated that during the time he had CCTV cameras over his shop on the High Street he had suffered no damage to or break in at his shop, and reiterated the Council’s belief that CCTV cameras really do work.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25 pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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