Present

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

79. Public Forum on Planning Matters only

Several residents of Holmesfield and Dronfield had attended to express concern about a proposed crisp factory at Cartledge Grange Farm

Mr Don Moss and Ms Barbara Wood spoke and expressed reservations about the scheme, saying that there could be a severe problem of smell and odour being a nuisance to Dronfield residents due to the prevailing winds. The applicant’s advisors state that there ‘should be no smell or noise pollution emanating from the site’, but the residents reported that the odour is nauseous and sickly in nature.

Several Members of Dronfield Town Council stated that they had received letters concerning this application that, although in the parish of Holmesfield, will have pollution implications for residents of Dronfield Woodhouse and Gosforth Valley.

It was agreed that Dronfield Town Council would submit a letter supporting the residents’ objections to this proposal to North East Derbyshire District Council.

 

80. Apologies

RESOLVED That apologies for non-attendance be accepted from Councillor Hodd due to him having other business.

 

81. Youth Matters

None raised.

 

82. Police Matters

1. Members considered correspondence from the Chief Constable in response to this Council’s earlier request for a dedicated beat officer.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

2. PC Mellish was in attendance to give a brief report on the latest crime statistics for the town. PC Mellish reported that a new initiative had been undertaken to crack down on car related crimes. Members expressed concern that the statistics for assaults being doubled was a worrying factory. PC Mellish agreed that greater use of CCTV cameras is helpful in detecting criminals but also useful as a major deterrent.

Offence	Total 2003	Total 2002
Burglary – Non Dwelling	16	18
Burglary Dwelling	6	15
Theft of Motor Vehicle	5	6
Theft from Motor Vehicle	28	28
Assault	8	8
Damage	18	15
Other	26	27
Total	107	117

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

79. Council Minutes

Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Monday, 1^st September 2002 (Pages 38 – 57).

RESOLVED That with the alteration in paragraph 3 on page 39 from PC Dave Hill to PC Dave Crookes, then the Minutes be agreed as a true and accurate record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

 

80. Matters Arising

None.

 

81. Planning Matters

1. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

Members considered a schedule of planning applications submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for comment and consultation.

Councillor Stocks declared a non-pecuniary interest in applications 03/01031/FL and 03/01032/FL in respect of the Green Dragon on Church Street, Dronfield, and did not speak or vote thereon.

Reference 03/01031/FL and 03/01032/FL – Green Dragon Public House, Church Street, Dronfield. Installation of sunken bases for the support of parasols and underground wiring thereto and the installation of parasols (Listed Building/Conservation Area)

RESOLVED To request further information concerning this application and express concern about the visual impact of lighting and colour scheme on a Grade II listed building in the conservation area.

Reference 03/01060/FL – Two storey extension to side and rear, two storey extension to front and construction of conservatory to rear at 96 Longcroft Road, Dronfield Woodhouse

RESOLVED That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to supply further details of this proposal.

Reference 03/01072/FL – Construction of a bungalow on land to the east of Holly Tree Cottage, accessed from Shaw Street (revised scheme/conservation area) at land to rear of 18 – 20) at 18-20 Cunliffe Street, Coal Aston

RESOLVED That Dronfield town Council object to the above proposal due to the nature and scope of the development within the conservation area, together with hazardous access problems.

Reference 03/01052/TPO – Felling of one Robinia Locust tree and pruning of one Robinia Locust tree, one Cherry tree and two Rowan trees at 2 Birchen Close, Dronfield.

RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council reiterates its objections to trees being felled unless they are in a dangerous or diseased state.

Reference 03/01108/FL – Construction of agricultural building at the rear of the Coach and Horses Public House and Football Ground on Sheffield Road, Dronfield

RESOLVED That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to furnish more details of the size and scope of the proposed agricultural buildings.

Reference 03/01139/FL – Installation of solid security shutters (Conservation Area) at 33 Chesterfield Road, Dronfield

RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council object to the installation of solid security shutters at this location within the conservation area. That, whilst the Council sympathise with the applicant’s desire to increase safety and security for his premises, alternative, less intrusive methods of security shutters should be investigated.

2. Planning Decisions

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

RESOLVED That the schedule be received and noted.

 

3. Appeal Decision

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

79. Model Code of Conduct

Members were reminded that any changes to their Declaration of Interest should be recorded. No changes were recorded.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

80. Town Clerk’s Progress Report

1. Changing rooms at Cliffe Park.
2. Progress at Gosforth Lodge.
3. Horses and riders using Gosforth School playing fields.
4. Publications received and available for inspection.

RESOLVED

1. That the reports be received and noted.
2. That the local police and riding schools and stables be notified of the nuisance outlined in © above and that they be requested to remind horse-riders that school fields and grass verges adjacent to highways are not appropriate for them to use.

79. Reports from Outside Bodies

1. Dronfield Access Group

1. That the resignation of Mrs Jean Goodhand be accepted.
2. That Mrs Jean Goodhand be offered a vote of thanks for her years of commitment, dedication and hard work in representing this Council on the Access Group Committee.
3. That County Councillor Mrs Janet Hill be the Council’s representative on the Dronfield Access Group Committee, and that the Secretary of the Committee be duly notified.

1. Police/Parish Liaison Meeting

Members considered a report from Councillor Clive Gill following his attendance at the Police/Parish Liaison Meeting held on 25^th September 2003.

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

2. Dronfield Woodhouse Sports and Social Club

RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

79. Grant Aid

RESOLVED

1. That the Dronfield and District Group of Visually Impaired People be awarded a grant of £100 under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
2. That the correspondence from the Victim Support Group be considered at the next meeting of this Council.

79. Courses and Conferences

RESOLVED That the schedule of courses and conferences be received and noted.

 

80. Working Groups of the Council

1. That the Notes of the Meeting held on 24^th September 2003 be agreed and noted.
2. That due to the confidential nature of the report, the Notes of the Meeting held on 1^st October 2003 be considered in the absence of the public and press.

79. Proposed Closure of Coal Aston Post Office

1. That Dronfield Town Council object to the offhand manner of Post Office Counters Ltd in response to their letter of objection.
2. That residents be advised to write in and object to the closure of this facility.

79. The Shape of Elections To Come

Members considered an Executive Survey of the above publication.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

80. Derbyshire County Council Young Achievers Award

Members considered correspondence from Derbyshire County Council seeking nominations for the Young Achievers Award 2003.

RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council nominate Ms Anne Marie Ward of The Avenue as its young person who had recently gained occupation as the first female apprentice mechanic with a large local Volkswagen dealership.

 

81. Public Payphone – Civic Centre

Members considered correspondence from BT informing that they were to remove one of the two payphones adjacent to the Civic Hall.

RESOLVED That the correspondence be received and noted.

 

82. Town Twinning

Members considered correspondence from the Town Twinning Federation informing them that seventy musicians were to visit Dronfield in early November as guests of the NED Music Centre and would be performing at the Civic Hall on 2^nd November 2003.

RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

83. Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered a schedule of payments from the Council’s No 1 current account in the amount of £45,267.99 for the period July – August 2003.

RESOLVED That the schedule of payments in the sum of £45,267.99 be received, noted and approved.

 

84. Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 3)

Members considered a schedule of receipts paid into the Council’s No 2 Deposit Account for the period of August 2003 in the sum of £15,009.21.

RESOLVED That the schedule of receipts for August 2003 in the sum of £15,009.21 be received, noted and approved.

 

85. Public Forum

Mr Dave Harper of Cliffe Park Bowling Club informed Members that they were fund-raising in order to provide matched funding for when the Council agree to provide a Bowls Pavilion at Cliffe Park.

Mr Hardcastle of Half Acre Lane outlined his concerns about North East Derbyshire District council’s proposals in its consultation document concerning extending the green belt at Callywhite Lane, and gave several opinions of why objections should be made. He was reminded that Dronfield Town Council had considered this matter at the previous meeting and resolved to receive and note the report.

 

86. 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

 

87. The Barn, High Street

RESOLVED That Dronfield Town Council thank Sainsbury’s for its offer to consider gifting The Barn on High Street to Dronfield Town Council, but that Dronfield town Council are not in a position to accept the offer due to the uncertainty of gaining external funding for its restoration and upkeep.