Present

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

158. Public Forum on Planning Matters

Mr Mike Wood of 4 Longacre Road addressed Members and made comments regarding planning application 01403/FL for the development of housing to the rear of 10 Longcroft Road.

He considered this proposal to be backland development and thought that the erection of two storey houses would be detrimental in an area of predominantly bungalows or dormer designed houses. The access to the site would be via a long narrow driveway with the access for the first twenty metres being only three metres wide, which would cause problems for delivery or emergency vehicles. He thought that if this proposal went ahead, it may set a precedent for future backland development, which, in turn would lead, to a reduction in choice of housing in the area.

He quoted various aspects of North East Derbyshire District Council’s Local Plan to support his submissions and finished by asking the Town Council to object to this application when they considered it further in the meeting.

 

159. Apologies

RESOLVED That apologies be received and accepted from Councillor Mrs P England.

 

160. Youth Matters

None raised.

 

161. Police Matters

The police had submitted apologies for non-attendance due to pressure of work and weather related incidents, but had also submitted the usual schedule of crime figures comparing January 2003 with January 2002.

 

 

	2003	2002
Burglary non dwelling	15	15
Burglary dwelling	9	17
Theft of motor vehicle	2	5
Theft from motor vehicle	24	34
Assault	11	3
Damage	14	41
Other	28	33
	103	148

 

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

 

162. Council Minutes

Members considered the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 6^th January 2003.

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

 

163. Matters Arising

None.

 

164. Planning Matters

RESOLVED That the following comments, concerns, observations or objections be reported to the Planning Authority of North East Derbyshire District Council.

RESOLVED Members requested that North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to send further information regarding the sizes and precise locations of these proposed signs which are adjacent to Listed Buildings and the Conservation Area.

1. That North East Derbyshire District Council conduct a site visit prior to any decision being reached.
2. That Dronfield Town Council objects strongly to this application on the grounds that it is backland development and may set a precedent for further similar applications. The proposal is not consistent with the current streetscene and that the narrow access could cause a potentially dangerous traffic hazard.

RESOLVED That the above applications be objected to unless the trees in question are dangerous or diseased.

RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council objects to this application because the site is within, or nearby, the Green Belt and would lead to over commercialisation of the area. The adjacent area is an area of natural beauty abundant in local wildlife and the installation of floodlights may harm the ecology of the area. The access road would lead to potentially dangerous traffic hazards at this junction of the road on a bad bend.

Planning Decisions

RESOLVED That the schedule be received and noted.

158. Code of Conduct

Members were reminded that they must register any changes to their Declaration of Interest, details of which were given in the NALC leaflet contained at agenda item 14 of the Town Council agenda for the meeting on 4^th March 2002. Members were further advised of an Amendment Order 2002 relating to the Model Code of Conduct, as advised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted that that no further amendments were made by Members to the existing register.

 

159. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

Members considered a progress report of various Council activities including the completion and commissioning of the new Gosforth Lodge.

A progress report on the Civic Hall was considered which informed Members that attendance at the Cinema were improving and that the ongoing problem with wall and floor tiling had now been resolved satisfactorily.

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

 

160. Reports from Dronfield Town Council Representatives and other information

None.

 

161. Grant Aid

Members considered a request for financial assistance for the year commencing April 2004 from Chesterfield Community Transport in order for them to continue to offer their services.

RESOLVED That Chesterfield Community Transport be invited to a future meeting of this Council to give a brief presentation of their needs.

 

162. Working Groups of the Town Council

No written or verbal reports were given.

 

163. Courses and Conferences

Members considered a schedule of courses and conferences.

RESOLVED That the Clerk be authorised to attend the Clerk’s Training Day to be held at Hulland Ward Village Hall on Saturday, 22^nd February 2003 at a cost of £15.00.

 

164. District Parish Liaison Group Meeting

Members considered correspondence from North East Derbyshire District Council advising that the next meeting of the District Parish Liaison Group Meeting would be held on Wednesday, 5^th March 2003. Any items Members wished to raise at the meeting had to be submitted by Friday, 14^th February.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

165. Civic Sunday

Members were advised from Churches Together in Dronfield and District suggesting that Sunday, 29^th June 2003 may be the most suitable date for this event.

RESOLVED That Civic Sunday be confirmed as Sunday, 29^th June 2003.

 

166. Derbyshire Village of the Year

Members considered correspondence from Derbyshire Rural Community Council advising that the Derbyshire Building Society, who sponsor the Derbyshire Village of the Year Competition, would be unable to continue their sponsorship. An interregnum would take place whilst other possibilities for future sponsorship be investigated.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

167. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered a schedule of payments on the bought ledger in the sum of £23,761.14, and the cash book in the sum of £28,839.68.

RESOLVED That the schedule of payments on the bought ledger in the sum of £23,761.14 and the schedule of payments on the cash book in the sum of £28,839.68 be received and approved.

 

168. Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 3)

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of December 2003 in the sum of £12,078.06.

RESOLVED That the schedule of payments in the sum of £12,078.06 be received and noted.

 

169. Public Forum

No items raised.

 

170. 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

 

171. Staffing Matters

RESOLVED That this report be received and noted and the actions of the Town Clerk be approved.