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

Prior to the start of the meeting it was explained that Mrs Elspeth Mallowan, Rural Transport Partnership Officer had telephoned to offer her apologies, stating that she could not attend the meeting due to personal difficulties.

211. Apologies

RESOLVED That apologies for non-attendance be received and noted from the undermentioned Members for the reasons stated.

Councillor Mrs M Foster (Work)

Councillor Mrs K Marr (Illness of brother)

Councillor Mrs W Temple (Other business)

 

212. Youth Matters

None raised.

 

213. Police Matters

1. Parish Council Liaison Meeting

RESOLVED That correspondence advising of the Parish Council Liaison Meeting to be held on 20^th August 2002 be received and noted.

2. Communities Against Drugs

1. That correspondence from Derbyshire Constabulary, which advised of the Bolsover, Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire Crime and Disorder Partnerships, be received and noted.
2. That Dronfield Town Council appreciates these initiatives and hopes they continue to be successful in reducing drug related crime.

1. Members were informed of a meeting to be held at Coal Aston Village Hall on Wednesday, 17^th April 2002 to discuss local crime and related issues.
2. PC Phuller attended and presented the crime statistics for the previous month with comparisons for one year ago. He reported that youth crime and vandalism was being positively and actively dealt with.

	2002	2001
Burglary non-dwelling	18	14
Burglary dwelling	13	7
Theft of motor vehicle	5	3
Theft from motor vehicle	28	38
Assault	5	3
Damage	35	34
Other	20	11
Total	124	110

 

3. The new boundary changes have taken effect, but Dronfield Police Station will remain open as now, and an Inspector will be based in Dronfield. A meeting will shortly be held when more details concerning these boundary changes will be offered to Members and the general public.
4. Car crime in parts of Dronfield continue to be higher than average and the police advice is to ensure all doors and car windows are closed and locked, particularly now that warmer weather is upon us. The improved CCTV system in the Civic Centre will be most helpful in detecting car crime with prosecutions to follow due to the excellent quality of the pictures captured for evidence.

211. Council Minutes

Members considered the Minutes of Council held on Monday, 4^th March 2002 (Pages 123 – 135).

RESOLVED That the Minutes be received and accepted as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be authorised to sign them as such.

 

212. Matters Arising

None.

 

213. Model Code of Conduct

RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.

214. Planning Matters

1. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

RESOLVED That the following observations be submitted to North East Derbyshire District Council.

• 00235/FL – Relaxation of condition 3 on NED 998/622 to allow use of workshop unit 1 to Class B8 (storage) and retail use, use of first floor above warehouse for retail use, and relaxation of condition 9 to allow Sunday opening for retail uses.

That this application be objected to because –

1. Relaxation of Sunday trading hours would lead to disruption for local residents.
2. Would create traffic and road hazards due to the road being narrow with no pedestrian pavement.
3. Would cause disruption and congestion caused by indiscriminate parking.

• 00224/TCN – Telecommunications determination in respect of a 12.5 high pole mast and 2 equipment cabinets (amended siting) (Conservation Area) at land adjacent 3 Cross Lane.

That this application be objected to because –

1. Sited too close to adjacent residential properties.
2. There is a perception of hazard from such installations.
3. That the applicant has not proven that consultation concerning mast sharing has taken place.
4. Intrusive structure to the adjacent conservation area.

That this application be objected to because –

1. Sited too close to adjacent residential properties.
2. There is a perception of hazard from such installations.
3. That the applicant has not proven that consultation concerning mast sharing has taken place.
4. Intrusive structure to the adjacent conservation area.
5. Intrusive structure to the nearby green belt area.

• 00371/FL – Change of use of garage to beauty therapy room at 8 Stubley Drive

That this application be objected to because –

1. Would create parking problems for neighbouring properties.
2. Would detract from the residential nature of the existing street scene.
3. Would create disruption and traffic problems for local residents.
4. Could lead to road safety hazards for pupils attending local schools who use this highway.

1. Schedule of Planning Decisions

RESOLVED That the schedule be received and noted.

1. Garden Centres

211. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

1. That the Properties Working Group convene to consider more fully the means and methods of showing films in the Civic Hall.
2. That the Properties Working Group consider how best to get a broader group of residents involved, particularly the youth and older age groups.
3. That the report be received and noted.

211. Reports from Dronfield Town Council Representatives and other information

1. Members considered a verbal report from Councillor Brader advising that the Dronfield School had been successful in being awarded funding of £3.3m for single site status.

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That Ms Estelle Morris be sent a letter of appreciation from Dronfield Town Council.
3. That Councillor Martin Brader be formally thanked for all his hard work and commitment in helping to secure such a welcome solution to the school’s problems.

1. EMDA

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

211. Grant Aid

1. That the Derbyshire LEA Lifelong Learning Division (Cheerleading Group for Sheffield Football Club) be awarded a grant of £100 under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
2. That Churches Together (Jubilate Singers) be awarded a grant of £100 under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
3. That a decision upon the application from Dronfield Sports Contact Club be deferred until such time as the applicant formally applies to this Council for permission to erect the structure on land owned by Dronfield Town Council.
4. That the Winged Fellowship be informed that it is the policy of Dronfield Town Council to only award grants to local community groups within the town.

211. Working Groups of the Town Council

Members considered the notes of the Best Value Working Group held on Thursday, 28^th March 2002 and the Properties Working Group held on Thursday, 28^th March 2002.

RESOLVED That the notes of the Best Value Working Group and the Properties Working Group held on 28^th March 2002 be received and noted.

 

212. Hire of Cliffe Park

1. That the applicant be informed that Dronfield Town Council has no objection to such an event being staged in Cliffe Park.
2. That if such an event is held, then the facilities for ice cream sales be from the Dronfield Town Council kiosk only.

211. Gosforth Lodge

1. That any electrical or gas equipment not be disposed of due to health and safety issues.
2. That notices be posted detailing what is surplus to requirements and local residents, or community groups, be given first refusal.

211. Statutory Instrument No 2002/305 – The Local Government (Best Value)

Performance Plans and Reviews Amendment and Specified Dates Order 2002

Members considered correspondence received from the DTLR, which advised that the above Statutory Instrument came into force on 8^th March 2002.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

212. Twinning

1. Members considered an invitation from Sindelfingen for the Town Mayor and three others to attend the 2002 Strassenfest between 21^st June until 23^rd June. The event would be preceded by a Partnership Evening on Thursday, 20^th June.

1. That the Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor, Deputy Chair of Finance and Policy and the Town Clerk be delegated to represent the town at the Strassenfest.
2. That the Town Clerk asks Sindelfingen if additional civic representatives would be able to attend.

1. Gyor

1. That Philip Whitehead MEP be contacted to ascertain if any European Funds may be available for such events.
2. That enquiries be made to see if any local organisation may wish to offer sponsorship to local youngsters who wished to be considered for the event.

211. Parish and Town Council Vibrancy – The Facts

RESOLVED

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That the Town Clerk investigates whether the grants mentioned are applicable to Dronfield Town Council.

211. East Midlands Regional Assembly – Boosting the Region’s Profile

Members had been circulated with details of the comprehensive marketing initiative for the region.

RESOLVED That the details be received and noted.

 

212. Local Government Pension Scheme

Prior to this item being discussed, Councillor Mrs C A Smith declared a non-pecuniary interest and did not vote or speak thereon but left the meeting whilst discussions took place.

Members considered correspondence from Derbyshire County Council which advised that the Employer’s Contribution in respect of the Local Government Pension Scheme would increase by 19% over 2002/03 and by 38% between April 2003 and March 2005.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

213. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered a schedule of payments on the No 1 Bought Ledger in the sum of £50,680.64 and £19,342.12 on the No 1 Cashbook.

RESOLVED That the schedules of payments in the amount of £50,680.64 and £19,342.12 be noted and approved.

 

214. Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 3)

Members considered a schedule of receipts in the amount of £6,257.21 for the month of February 2002.

RESOLVED That the schedule of receipts for the month of February 2002 in the sum of £6,257.21 be received and noted.

 

215. Public Forum

No points raised.

 

216. Exclusion of the Press and Public

RESOLVED That in accordance with the provision of S1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings Act 1960, as amended by S100 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council do now exclude the press and the public for the remaining items of the agenda by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, since publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest

 

217. Town Council Facilities (Appendix 4)

Members considered a schedule of charges and fees in respect of Town Council facilities.

RESOLVED That the amendments to charges and fees in the schedule, appendix 4, be agreed and that they become operative on 1^st May 2002.

 

218. Gosforth Lodge

RESOLVED That subject to the Council’s architects consulting the lowest tendered to ascertain what the quotation encompasses, and subject to the Quantity Surveyor affecting some reduction to the original specification, that L Swift & Son (Builders) Ltd be awarded a contract, initially bid at £327,968. This would be subject to a pro-rata fall in price relative to a reduction in specification for certain items.