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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD ON

MONDAY 7th JUNE 2004 AT 7.30 pm

 

 

Present

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

 

PUBLIC FORUM ON PLANNING MATTERS

  1. Mrs M Taylor and Mr D Ward expressed concern about a planning application for development and building of stables on land adjacent to Barnes Avenue. They stated that such development would be visually intrusive and the size and scope of the development was inappropriate in the green belt.

    2. They gave examples of recent events on the land and alleged that the existing conditions of the last planning consent were not being met.

  2. Mr Alan Pinkett of Holmley Lane complained about a recent development whereby a nearby bungalow was being altered. This had resulted in skips and delivery lorries, together with builders’ vehicles, blocking the roadway. It was explained that this was not really a planning matter but was a highway control or police matter, and Mr Pinkett was advised to contact his local County Councillor and the police to resolve this issue.

 

APOLOGIES

  1. RESOLVED

    2. That apologies be received and accepted from Councillors W I Pryce and J Stocks.

     

    YOUTH MATTERS

    Members considered an extract of the Annual Report of the District Scouts Council, and the Town Mayor stated that he had attended the Annual General Meeting and was extremely impressed with the progress made by local young people.

  2. RESOLVED

    3. That the report be received and noted.

     

     

    POLICE MATTERS

    PC Dave Crooks had offered his apologies for non-attendance due to other duties, but had furnished the usual monthly crime statistics.

    Members expressed appreciation to the police in that there had once again been a general reduction in crime figures for the town over the past month when compared to last year.

  3. RESOLVED

    4. That the report be received and noted.

     

    MINUTES OF COUNCIL HELD ON 4th MAY AND 10th MAY 2004

    Members considered the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Town Council held on 4th May 2004 and the Annual Meeting of the Town Council held on 10th May 2004.

  4. RESOLVED

    1. That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on Monday, 4th May 2004 be received and accepted as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

    2. That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 10th May 2004 be received and accepted as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

 

PLANNING MATTERS

  1. Schedule of Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

Members considered a schedule of recent planning applications supplied by North East Derbyshire District Council for comment and observations. The following comments, views and resolutions were made.

    1. NED 04/00474/FL – Change of use of land to the keeping of horses and erection of block of three stables and tack room and associated hardstanding at plot 2 at land off Barnes Avenue.

NED 04/00475/FL – Change of use of land to the keeping of horses, installation of access track, erection of block of three stables and store and associated hardstanding and engineering works to install a water supply at plot 1 at land off Barnes Avenue.

NED 04/00476/FL – Change of use of land to the keeping of horses and erection of block of three stables and store and allocated hardstanding at plot 3 at land off Barnes Avenue.

  1. RESOLVED

That these planning applications be strenuously objected to due to –

  • The size and scope of the development within the green belt.

  • That development would be visually intrusive to adjacent properties.

  • That pre-existing conditions of the most recent development were not being adhered to.

 

    1. NED 04/00510/OL – Residential development (outline application) access from Netherdene Road (Major Development).

  1. RESOLVED

That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to convene a site visit prior to reaching a decision upon this development.

 

    1. NED 04/00587/AD – Illuminated double sided freestanding advertising display unit at Dronfield Service Station, Sheffield Road.

NED 04/00588/AD – Illuminated double sided freestanding advertising display unit at Sheaf Motors, Dyche Lane.

  1. RESOLVED

That further details be obtained from North East Derbyshire District Council regarding the actual location of the illuminated panels and the exact size of each panel.

 

    1. NED 04/00607/TCNFL – Installation of a 10.8m high fake timber telegraph pole to house three radio telecommunication antenna and ground based equipment cabinets (Conservation Area) at Ockley Farm, Dyche Lane.

  1. RESOLVED

That Dronfield Town Council strenuously object to this application because –

  • The site is within the green belt.

  • The development would be visually intrusive within open green space.

  • The developer has not supplied any evidence of investigating the possibility of mast sharing with other telecommunication operators. There is still a widespread general perception that such installations could prove to be a health hazard, particularly to younger people.

 

    1. NED 04/00679/CATPO – Felling of one sycamore tree within Dronfield Conservation Area at 39 Sheffield Road.

  1. RESOLVED

That this application be objected to unless the tree in question is in a diseased or dangerous condition.

 

    1. NED 04/00615/TPO – Felling of one oak tree covered by NEDTPO41 at 104 Hilltop Road.

 

  1. RESOLVED

That this application be objected to unless the tree in question is in a diseased or dangerous condition.

    1. NED 04/00638/FL – Renewal of temporary permission for two years for a temporary building to provide four consulting rooms (Conservation Area) at the Health Centre, High Street.

  1. RESOLVED

That the applicant should provide further information of how much longer the temporary buildings may be in use, and what are the Trust’s timescales for redeveloping the whole site, which was promised when the initial temporary consent was being discussed.

 

  1. Schedule of Planning Decisions

  1. RESOLVED

That the schedule of planning decisions furnished by North East Derbyshire District Council be received and noted.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Members had been reminded that they must register any changes to their Declaration of Interest, details of which had been given in the NALC leaflet contained at agenda item 14 of the Town Council agenda for the meeting held on 4th March 2002.

  1. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

 

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk concerning the following matters.

  1. Outside Services

Members were appraised of projects and ongoing work being carried out by the staff of Dronfield Town Council which included installation and plantings of the hanging baskets, watering and maintenance of flower displays, footpath and footway strimming and tidying, emptying and servicing of litter and dog control bins, bus shelter cleaning and maintenance, renewal and repairs to fencing at Marsh Avenue and general maintenance and tidying up the former North East Derbyshire District Council Works Depot at Stonelow recreation ground prior to work starting on the refurbishment programme.

  1. RESOLVED

    2. That this report be received and noted.

     

    1. Dronfield School – Bookings and Lettings

    Members considered a short report of preliminary meetings with Dronfield School whereby it was envisaged that Dronfield Town Council could administer the bookings, lettings, invoicing and cash receipts for the school’s facilities.

  2. RESOLVED

  1. That this report be received and noted.

  2. That discussions between Dronfield Town Council and Dronfield School continue and that suitable arrangements are made for recompensing the Council for the work involved.

  3. That a report on the cost of providing the booking and lettings procedures for both Coal Aston Village Hall and the Peel Centre Management Committee be prepared and submitted to the next meeting of the Properties Working Group.

    4.  

    1. Cliffe Park Bowling Club

Members considered a schedule of fixtures submitted by Cliffe Park Bowling Club which sought permission for the green to be used on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm on Fridays.

  1. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted and that Cliffe Park Bowling Club be granted permission to use the green for League matches on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

 

  1. Outside Bodies

Members were informed that Councillor Higgins had tendered his resignation as the Council’s representative on St Andrews Primary Governing Body.

  1. RESOLVED

  1. That Councillor Higgins be thanked for his past services.

  2. That Councillor E Hodd be appointed as this Council’s representative on the school’s governing body.

Members considered correspondence concerning Minor Authority representation on School Governing Bodies.

  1. RESOLVED

That this information be received and noted.

 

  1. Vital Villages Programme 2004/2005

Members considered correspondence informing them that the budget for the Vital Villages programme had been reduced from £105.4m to £95m for the year 2004/2005. As a consequence their programme (Parish Plans, Community Services Grant and Parish Transport Grant) will also be reduced.

It was reported that as a consequence of the reduced budget the Vital Villages scheme to wholly new applicants would be closed from the beginning April. This had been agreed with DEFRA. However, for those agencies that had been in discussion with the Countryside Agency or Rural Community Council about a potential application, they were advised to ascertain their position.

  1. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

 

  1. Derbyshire County Council Pension Scheme

Members considered a report from Derbyshire County Council informing of likely changes to the Local Government Pension Schemes which could involve –

    • Increasing the age of entitlement to an unreduced pension from 60 to 65 years.

    • Increasing the age for immediate pension benefits following redundancy from 50 to 55 years.

In addition the review was looking at the possibility of increasing the level of employee contributions.

  1. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

 

  1. Publications Received

Members considered a schedule of publications received and available for inspection at the Town Clerk’s Office.

  1. RESOLVED

    2. That the schedule be received and noted.

     

    REPORTS FROM DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

    None received.

     

    NORTH EAST DERBYSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL – LOCAL PLAN

    Members were informed of the Inquiry commencing on 7th September 2004 and had been supplied with a full transcript of the pre-inquiry changes.

  2. RESOLVED

    3. That the information be received and noted.

     

    STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDING 41st MARCH 2004

    Members were furnished with a full copy of the un-audited accounts and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2004.

  3. RESOLVED

    4. That these statements of accounts, balance sheets and supporting documentation be received and accepted as a true record of the Council’s financial standing at 31st March 2004 and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

     

    SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS (Appendix 2)

    Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of April 2004 drawn on the Council’s No 1 account in the amount of £39,759.90.

  4. RESOLVED

    5. That the schedule of payments for the month of April 2004 in the amount of £39,759.70 be received and accepted as a true record.

     

    SCHEDULE OF RECEIPTS (Appendix 3)

    Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of April 2004 paid into the Council’s No 2 account in the amount of £43,395.70.

  5. RESOLVED

    6. That the schedule of receipts for April 2004 in the amount of £43,395.70 be received and accepted as a true record.

     

    PUBLIC FORUM

    Mr Jock Keay thanked the Council for all the hard work of Members, Officers and Staff in helping to make the town such a pleasant place to live.

     

    Exclusion of the Press and Public

  6. 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.

 

PROPERTIES WORKING GROUP – 26th MAY 2004

Members considered the notes of the Properties Working Group held on 26th May 2004.

  1. Stonelow Pavilions and Changing Rooms

Members were appraised of progress and that at least one of the local football teams (Dronfield Football Club) would recruit volunteer craftsmen from amongst their players to commence the building works needed for the renovations. The feasibility of creating a third football pitch on the former hockey pitch would be pursued with colleagues at North East Derbyshire District Council.

  1. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

 

  1. The Barn – High Street

Members considered a short report detailing further communication between the Town Clerk and Sainsbury’s Ltd concerning the future of The Barn, High Street.

  1. RESOLVED

That the report be received and noted but that no further action be taken until more definite commitments are received in writing for the full Council to consider.

 

  1. The Stables – High Street

Members considered a short report concerning possible use for The Stables. North East Derbyshire District council had asked Members for their views on possible usage.

  1. RESOLVED

That North East Derbyshire District Council be informed that Dronfield Town Council would wish for –

  1. A public open day for local residents to look at the amenity.

  2. Possible use as an exhibition centre whereby a variety of local groups and organisations could hold shows or exhibitions for say – one month at a time.

  3. That Dronfield Town Council be kept fully informed and involved in the community proposals.

    4.  

    1. Inflatable Play Equipment – Cliffe Park

Members were informed of a request by a local resident that had asked permission to offer inflatable bouncing play equipment in Cliffe Park. The resident had stated that she had stood in Queens Park for a number of years, but due to the refurbishments was seeking an alternative site.

  1. RESOLVED

That permission be granted for the resident to offer inflatable play equipment in Cliffe Park on weekends and school holidays (except the Carnival Week) at a daily price to be negotiated by the Town Clerk; such permission to be reviewed at least annually.

 

    1. Skateboard Facilities

Members considered a report setting out various alternatives and scenarios of providing skateboard facilities when funding may become available. The items of discussion included –

    • Location. The park would need to be centrally located but not close to residential properties due to noise nuisance.

    • Size and scope. Do the Council consider one large site or two to three smaller sites throughout the site?

    • Mobile Park. Do the Council investigate acquiring a mobile facility that can be moved to various locations throughout the town on a temporary basis?

Some possible sites were discussed for such a mobile facility and these included –

Stonelow recreation ground – adjacent to Cliffe Park

Cliffe Park – adjacent Wm Lees car park

Tennis courts at Gosforth site

Gladys Buxton site.

Members of the Properties Working Group also agreed to visit nearby parks to gain firsthand experience of such sites.

  1. RESOLVED

That this report be received and noted.

 

    1. Surplus Land in Dronfield

Members considered a confidential report forwarded by the Properties Working Group outlining Council owned land that was not fulfilling a useful function.

  1. RESOLVED

That no further action be taken concerning the disposal of any of the sites mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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