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

Prior to the meeting the Mayor reported on the sad loss over the past Civic Year of two serving Members of Council and three past Mayors of the town. He requested a minute’ silence to remember Councillor Jack Goodhand, Councillor David Steele and Brian Cooper, Lol Giles and Peter Stinson.

235. Apologies

RESOLVED That apologies be received and accepted from Councillor Mrs M C Foster (work) and Councillor J Gilbert for the reason stated.

 

236. Youth Matters

None raised.

 

237. Police Matters

Crime statistics for Dronfield had been circulated which showed comparisons between April 2002 with April 2001, together with a further schedule detailing crime figures for all wards in North East Derbyshire.

It was noted that vehicle crime in Dronfield remains relatively high with Dronfield North and South suffering quite badly for certain crimes. The police advice continues to be to keep all valuables (cameras, briefcases and laptop computers) out of sight and locked in the boot.

Co-operation between Derby Police and South Yorkshire Police is proving to be successful with some good results stemming from this cross border initiative.

 

238. Council Minutes

Members considered the Minutes of Council held on Monday, 8^th April 2002 (pages 136 – 150).

RESOLVED That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th April 2002 (pages 136 – 150) be approved as a true record and that the Mayor be authorised to sign them as such.

239. Matters Arising

Page 139-140 – item 219

The Deputy Convenor for Finance and Policy reported that talks between Derbyshire County Council and North East Derbyshire District Council had taken place with a proposal to re-site Dronfield Sports Centre at the Gosforth School site which would safeguard the green areas around that site. This proposal had received all party support and would be a welcome addition to facilities in the town. The existing Sports Centre was now over thirty years old and was becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.

 

240. Planning Matters

1. Planning Applications

RESOLVED That subject to the following observations the schedule be received and noted.

That further details be sought from North East Derbyshire District Council as to why so many trees needed felling at this site; ash trees are a valuable asset. If these trees do require to be felled then a condition is imposed that the same number be replanted as part of the conservation procedure.

Members strenuously objected to this application on the following grounds.

1. Public perception that these installations could constitute a health hazard for local residents.
2. Sited adjacent to conservation and green belt areas and would cause visual intrusion in a rural setting.
3. The applicant has not shown proof that ‘mast sharing’ with other operators has been investigated or considered.
4. That just because Sheffield City Council has imposed a moratorium on allowing such installations on its buildings or land, and due to several high rise flats being demolished which housed these installations, operators are now looking at the green belt area adjacent to Sheffield to replace those installations and causing visual intrusion to the rural scene in Dronfield.

Members objected to this application on the following grounds.

1. The street scene would be adversely affected by a double storey extension and would be incongruous to surrounding properties.
2. The proposals would result in over-development of this residential area.

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That this Council is dismayed to learn that a telecommunications determination for the erection of a 15m mast at Dore and Totley Golf Club had been granted due to a ‘timing error’ by the Planning Authority.

1. Notice of Appeals

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That this Council’s objection to the proposal at Hyde Park Inn is reaffirmed to the Planning Inspectorate appointed by the Secretary of State.

235. Model Code of Conduct

Members considered the standing item of the agenda whereby they were reminded to notify of any change to their Regulation of Interests.

RESOLVED That the Regulations be received and noted.

 

236. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

1. That the report concerning the near completion of the four EMDA financed projects be received and noted.
2. That the report on Outside Services projects be received and noted.
3. That subject to satisfactory third party insurance liability being in place, the Dronfield Contact Cricket Club be granted permission to erect a portable building to be used as a tea-room on the Council’s land at Stonelow Recreation Ground, and that the club be authorised to install mains water and electricity to the building.
4. That the report concerning bus shelters and timetable frames be received and noted.
5. That the final accounts and balance sheets for the year ending 31^st March 2002 and circulated to all Members be approved, and that the Mayor be authorised to sign them on behalf of Dronfield Town Council.
6. That the report on the District Valuation Service concerning all the Council’s fixed assets be received and noted.
7. That the Town Clerk attend a meeting on ‘Internal Audit Procedure’ which had been convened for all clerks at North East Derbyshire District Council on 23^rd May 2002. The Clerk would report back to Council with further details and recommendations.
8. The schedule of publications available for inspection at the Town Clerk’s Office was received and noted.

235. Reports from Dronfield Town Council Representatives

It was reported that a follow up meeting with Derbyshire County Council and Groundwork Cresswell had taken place with EMDA with a view to submitting a draft bid for further funding from EMDA. The project would be called "The Heart of Dronfield" alluding to the people of the town and not a geographical location.

Environmental, heritage, tourism and sports facilities would all be examined and a joint bid submitted to EMDA when the feasibility studies had been completed.

 

236. Grant Aid

Members considered a schedule of requests for grant aid from local organisations.

RESOLVED That under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Dronfield Access Group and the Dronfield Guide Division be awarded a grant of £100.00.

237. Working Groups of the Town Council

Members considered the notes of the Properties Working Group held on Thursday, 2^nd May 2002 which outlined the negotiations concerning Gosforth Lodge and details of how the Cinema in the Civic Hall would operate, with times, prices and types of performances.

RESOLVED That the Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 2^nd May 2002 be received and noted.

 

238. Chesterfield Action for Access

RESOLVED

1. That the correspondence be received and noted.
2. That Denis Langham be invited to a future meeting of Dronfield Town Council to give a brief presentation.

235. Interbuild 2002 – Exhibition

Members considered an invitation from Interbuild 2002 to attend an exhibition to be held between 9^th – 13^th June 2002.

RESOLVED That the invitation be received and noted.

 

236. Miners Pension Scheme

1. That the information be received and noted.
2. That Dronfield Town Council continues to support the miners in their quest for a better deal.

235. Economic Development Unit Newsletter

Members considered a copy of the North East Derbyshire District Council’s Economic Development Unit Newsletter.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

236. The Local Community and the Modern Army

Correspondence had been received from the Army Presentation Team advising Members that a presentation on the ‘Army for Today’ would be held at The Winding wheel, Chesterfield on 30^th May 2002.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

237. Neighbourhood Watch

1. That the information be received and noted.
2. That free use of the Civic Hall be granted for the proposed meeting on 12^th June 2002.

235. Hire of Cricket Pitches 2002 Season

Members considered the schedule for the application for hire of cricket pitches for the 2002 season.

RESOLVED That the schedule be received and noted.

236. NEDDC – Forward Plan

Members considered North East Derbyshire District Council’s Forward Plan for 1^st May to 31 August 2002.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

237. NALC National Conference and Exhibition

Members considered correspondence from the National Association of Local Councils, which invited the Council to send a delegate to the National Conference and Exhibition between 14^th and 16^th June 2002.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

238. Association of Larger Local Councils

Members considered correspondence from the Association of Larger Local Councils giving details of a reception to be held at the Palace of Westminster where it was intended to promote the work of the Association.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

239. Format of Town Council Meetings

1. That the Town Council meetings continue to start at 7.30 pm.
2. That a "public forum for planning matters only" be placed on the agenda prior to Members considering planning matters with a time limit of 15 minutes for the public to participate.
3. That the usual public forum at the end of each meeting be retained for general views and comments.

235. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered the schedule of payments in the sums of £250,047.40 and £33,910.94 for the period March and April 2002.

RESOLVED That the schedule of payments in the sums of £250,047.40 and £33,910.94 be received and approved.

 

236. Schedule of Receipts

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of March 2002 in the sum of £206,065.29.

RESOLVED That the schedule of receipts in the sum of £206,065.29 for the month of March 2002 be received and noted.

 

237. Public Forum

Jock Keay welcomed the Council’s decision to retain the Public Forum on general matters at the end of the agenda.

 

238. 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

 

239. Gosforth Lodge

Members were appraised of the results of the negotiations that had taken place with the lowest tendered (L Swift & Son) for the rebuilding of Gosforth Lodge on an amended specification.

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted, and that it also be noted that the final cost of Gosforth Lodge would now be within the budgeted figure of £300,000.

 

240. Derbyshire County Council Pension Scheme

1. That employees of Dronfield Town Council will not be considered for early retirement unless exceptional circumstances arise or prevail, and only then by a decision of this Council. If no circumstances will the award of added years service be considered.
2. That employees of Dronfield Town Council who suffer long term sickness and who are considered by the Council’s medical practitioner to be unfit to fulfil his/her duties be offered early retirement, by way of sickness, after due consideration by Dronfield Town Council.