Present

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

97. Public Forum for Planning Matters

99. Apologies

RESOLVED That apologies be received from Councillors Mrs P England, Mrs M C Foster and Mrs K Marr.

 

100. Youth Matters

None raised.

 

101. Police Matters

1. Communities Against Drugs

Members had considered the above report and it was agreed that this Council had given its wholehearted support to the initiatives outlined in the report, and wished to thank the Police for their excellent surveillance and successful results in this field.

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

2. Other Police Matters

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

99. Council Minutes

Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Monday, 7^th October 2002 (Pages 50-58).

RESOLVED That the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Monday, 7^th October 2002 (pages 50-58) be received as an accurate record of events and that the Town Mayor be authorised to sign them as such.

 

100. Matters Arising

1. With reference to Minute 82(a), it was reported that the Developer had been contacted and had intimated that he would be in agreement to a meeting but wished for notice of any questions.

RESOLVED That a meeting between Dronfield Town Council, Derbyshire County Council and the Developer be convened as soon as possible.

2. Minute 88 – Coal Aston Bowling Club.

RESOLVED That the Coal Aston Bowling Club (Ladies Team) be granted permission to use the green on Thursday evenings.

99. Planning Matters

1. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

RESOLVED

1. That the schedule be received and noted.
2. That North East Derbyshire District Council be asked to explain why the oak tree at Hallowes Lane required felling?

1. Schedule of Planning Decisions

Members considered a schedule of planning decisions submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council.

RESOLVED That the schedule be received and noted.

 

2. NED (No 220) Tree Preservation Order 2002 – Tree at 70 Hill Top Road, Dronfield

Members were informed that North East Derbyshire District Council had created the above Tree Preservation Order on 14^th October 2002.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

3. Planning Appeal : Holly Tree Cottage, 2-4 Dyche Lane, Coal Aston

RESOLVED That notice of the above planning appeal be received and noted.

99. Model Code of Conduct

No changes to the register were recorded by Members.

 

100. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

1. Civic Hall
2. Gosforth Lodge
3. Outside Services
4. Representatives of Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society.

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That Mrs Jean Goodhand is offered the Council’s thanks for her diligence and hard work in representing this Council on the Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society.
3. That Councillor N R Foster be delegated to represent Dronfield Town Council on the Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society.

99. Reports from Town Council Representatives

1. Councillor Furniss reported that he had attended a recent meeting of the Police Consultative Group. He stated that the meeting had been well attended by local residents, scholars and staff of schools, Holmesfield and Unstone representatives, Churches Together and Guides to listen to the results of two surveys carried out by Churches Together and the Youth Service of young people congregating in groups in Dronfield Civic Centre.

A further meeting would be convened to investigate the setting up of a committee to gain funding and premises for youth groups and young individuals who needed other interests than the scouts and youth clubs could offer. It was suggested that a meeting place was required where they could just meet and ‘chill out’. Funding may be available from police initiatives. If this project progresses it could be very worthwhile for Dronfield.

2. Councillor Foster reported that he had attended the Annual General Meeting of the 2000 Round Dronfield Walk Committee and they were looking forward to making plans for the Town Mayor to officially open the scheme.

99. Grant Aid

Members considered a request for grant aid from the Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living.

RESOLVED That the Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living be granted the sum of £100 under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

100. Unstone Parish Council – Community Group

RESOLVED

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That Dronfield Town Council would be interested in any further events to be organised, and looks forward to further information.

99. Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk

1. That the correspondence be received and noted.
2. That due consideration to this request would be given at budget making time.

99. North East Derbyshire District Council Local Plan Review

Members considered the Local Plan Review 2001-2011 that is the key document applying local, regional and national guidance at the local level for North East Derbyshire. This review seeks to update the existing plan until the year 2011.

Councillor Foster gave a brief outline of the review by saying that the Green Belt areas were established fifty years ago, and North East Derbyshire District Council were duty bound to consider the merits again.

Consultation meetings had been convened in Dronfield and had been well attended. This initial draft deposit of the plan needs to be looked at in general purposes and gives a broad idea of what planners have in mind. The County Council had intimated that more housing is required in North East Derbyshire as very little new building had taken place over the past ten years. This review states that ninety seven new houses will be built over the plan’s life of ten years. These could be build in the ‘old town’ without taking the Shakespeare Crescent plot out of the green belt.

The review also proposes to extend the Callywhite Lane commercial area which will require part of the green belt. Employment opportunities would be created and the work migration of young people would be curtailed.

Following much serious debate, mainly about the Callywhite Lane proposals, by many Members of the Council, two motions were submitted for approval.

Resolution 1

Dronfield Town Council recognises the increasing need for both housing and employment opportunities in North East Derbyshire. It further recognises the need to balance these demands with the protection of the Green Belt surrounding Dronfield and believes that any encroachment into the Green Belt should only be made after both careful consideration of all alternatives and a clearly demonstrated need.

The Council therefore, believes that the proposal to "safeguard" the land between Shakespeare Crescent and Chesterfield Road is no longer necessary because potential sites to satisfy the additional housing requirements have been found within the existing town boundaries. Further it believes that the majority of this housing should be affordable housing directed towards younger families and single persons.

Resolution 2

The Council continues to support the regeneration of the industrial sites in Callywhite Lane and the related proposal to provide a second access to the estate. It believes that this regeneration offers the opportunity to provide new employment opportunities within the town, which should be linked, to both the change in the status of Dronfield School with technology status and the demonstrated need for starter units within a Business Centre development.

RESOLVED unanimously that resolution 1

Dronfield Town Council recognises the increasing need for both housing and employment opportunities in North East Derbyshire. It further recognises the need to balance these demands with the protection of the Green Belt surrounding Dronfield and believes that any encroachment into the Green Belt should only be made after both careful consideration of all alternatives and a clearly demonstrated need.

The Council therefore, believes that the proposal to "safeguard" the land between Shakespeare Crescent and Chesterfield Road is no longer necessary because potential sites to satisfy the additional housing requirements have been found within the existing town boundaries. Further it believes that the majority of this housing should be affordable housing directed towards younger families and single persons.

A second motion

The Council continues to support the regeneration of the industrial sites in Callywhite Lane and the related proposal to provide a second access to the estate. It believes that this regeneration offers the opportunity to provide new employment opportunities within the town, which should be linked, to both the change in the status of Dronfield School with technology status and the demonstrated need for starter units within a Business Centre development.

was put to Members and an amendment was proposed and seconded by adding the words –

‘providing that this does not entail a significant incursion into the green belt’.

This amendment was voted AGAINST.

A further amendment by the proposer of the original motion was then proposed and seconded that the following words be added to the substantive motion.

‘provided that they keep any incursion into the green belt to a minimum’.

This amendment was CARRIED by a majority of the Members.

 

RESOLVED That this amendment be received and accepted.

100. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered a schedule of payments in the sum of £64,413.03 (Bought Ledger) and £15,504.23 (Cashbook).

RESOLVED That the schedule of payments in the sum of £64,413.03 (Bought Ledger) and £15,504.23 (Cashbook) be received and approved.

 

101. Schedule of Receipts

Members considered the schedule of receipts for the month of September 2002 in the sum of £19,003.23.

RESOLVED That the schedule of receipts for the month of September 200 in the sum of £19,003.23 be received and noted.

 

102. Public Forum

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 9.25 pm