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 N Hodd : Mrs K Marr : W I Pryce : Mrs C A Smith : J G Sorrill : J M Stocks : S Temple : Mrs W Temple : J Williams : M Wing.

Prior to the commencement of the formal meeting, the Town Mayor requested that all Members of the Council and the general public observe one minute of silence as a gesture of sympathy for the victims and their families of the Tsunami disaster which occurred on Boxing Day.

Following the one minute tribute, Councillor N R Foster explained why Dronfield Town Council had no legal powers to make a direct donation to the Relief Fund, but recommended that if the Town Mayor wished to launch an appeal, then it could be incorporated into the appeal being undertaken by the Sheffield Star as a local initiative.

No items raised.

None.

None.

1. PC David Hibbert was in attendance for this item and had furnished the Council with crime statistics and detection rates for the month of December 2004 and comparative figures for December 2003. Members raised one or two points concerning presentation, but expressed satisfaction that crime figures had once again fallen.
2. In answer to previous questions, PC Hibbert responded that surveys undertaken along Eckington Road concerning speeding vehicles have shown that the situation does not warrant a fixed speed camera, but the ‘ad hoc’ hand held radar guns would continue to be used at this location.
3. Members considered the Policing Matters Annual Report 2003-2004.

119. RESOLVED

That these reports be received and noted.

 

Council Minutes – 6^th December 2004

Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on Monday, 6^th December 2004.

120. RESOLVED

That the Minutes and appendices as circulated be received and accepted as a true record of events, and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

1. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)

Members considered a schedule of planning applications submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for comment prior to any planning decisions being taken.

Prior to the following item being considered Councillors T Furniss and S Temple declared an interest in the matter and left the room so did not take part in any discussion or vote thereon.

119. RESOLVED

That this Council strenuously object to this development as it would lead to over development; the proposals are not in keeping with the current streetscene and that indigenous wildlife in the area could be threatened.

NED 04/01550/OL –Demolition of existing bungalow and construction of one detached bungalow with rooms in the roof-space on north-western half of site at 51 Hill Top Road.

NED 04/01551/OL - Demolition of existing bungalow and construction of one detached bungalow with rooms in the roof-space on south eastern half of site at 51 Hill Top Road.

 

120. RESOLVED

1. That this Council object to this proposal because it would lead to over development and have an adverse effect on the current streetscene.
2. That a visit by Members of North East Derbyshire District Council Planning Committee to the site takes place before any decision is reached.

 

2. Planning Decisions

Members considered a schedule of planning decisions supplied by North East Derbyshire District Council for information.

119. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted.

2. Amended Scheme of Delegation for Planning

Members considered a letter from North East Derbyshire District Council advising of the new scheme of delegation for planning that established the basis by which planning applications are determined, either by designated officers or by the Planning Committee.

1. Some Members expressed certain reservations about this document stating that some responsibility was being taken away from elected Members and that they were being asked to decide on opinions rather than facts.
2. Comments were made that the word ‘significant’ is used throughout but no clear definition of what is considered to be significant.

124. RESOLVED

1. That North East Derbyshire District Council be informed that Dronfield Town Council is concerned about the impact these proposals may have on comments raised by this Council upon planning applications.
2. That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to monitor the comments and objections submitted by Dronfield Town Council over a period of six months and report back on how many of those applications which the Town Council objected to have been decided by officers and not the Planning Committee.

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 held on 4^th March 2002.

124. RESOLVED

That this information be received and noted and that no request for amendment was made by any Member.

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

1. Outside Services

126. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

1. Stonelow Pavilions Progress

126. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

1. Corporate Vision of North East Derbyshire District Council

128. RESOLVED

1. That the report be received and noted.
2. That North East Derbyshire District Council be informed that Dronfield Town Council would wish to see more reference to Dronfield in the safety and security section due to Dronfield being by far the largest urban area within the boundaries of North East Derbyshire District Council.
3. That the culture and leisure activities in Dronfield, and in particular, the proposed new Sports Centre be given greater prominence and priority in the proposals.

4. Statement of Internal Control

Members were made aware that under the amended Audit and Accounting Regulations 2003, Dronfield Town Council had to include a Year End Financial Statement, a statement of Internal Control procedures. A draft statement, amended specifically for this authority had been appended for consideration and approval.

128. RESOLVED

That the statement of Internal Control Procedures be approved and accepted, and that the Town Mayor and Town Clerk be duly authorised to sign it as being approved at the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 4^th January 2005.

4. BVPP Statutory Report 2004 – External Auditors Statutory Report

Members were aware that the Audit Commission had a duty to carry out an audit of the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan each year. The auditor’s Statutory Report 2004/2005 (BVPP) had been appended for consideration and information.

For the second year running, the Audit Commission had issued an UNQUALIFIED OPINION and that there were again NO STATUTORY RECOMMENDATIONS. The Auditor’s detailed report is awaited following consultations of the draft report resulting in one or two minor changes being requested. This report would be presented to Council upon receipt.

128. RESOLVED

1. That the Audit Commission’s BVPP Statutory Report 2004/2005 containing an unqualified opinion and no statutory recommendations BE received and approved.
2. That the electronic version in PDF format be posted on the Council’s website as soon as possible.

4. Publications Received

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

131. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted.

 

Working Groups of Dronfield Town Council

Members considered the notes of the Budget Working Party held on 29^th November 2004 which had considered proposed budget estimates for 2005/2006, revised scale of charges for Town Council facilities and ways of improving revenue flow by better marketing techniques.

132. RESOLVED

1. That the notes be received and accepted.
2. That the schedule of charges for Town Council facilities (as attached at appendix 2) be approved and implemented from 1^st April 2005.
3. That a Best Value Review Panel be initiated to investigate ways and means of improving the marketing of the Council’s facilities, thus generating a greater awareness of what is on offer, which would lead to, increased income

Members considered a report of the Responsible Financial Officer setting out expenditure and income estimates for the financial year of 2005/2006 together with anticipated out-turn of actual expenditure, income and likely balances for the current year ending 31^st March 2005.

It was explained that the budget proposals were on a standstill basis with only a very limited capital budget proposed, which included the sum of £25,000 for the completion of the upper tier of Stonelow Pavilion for cricketers’ use. The estimates allowed for a small growth in year-end balances, which would bring this Council more in line with the District Auditor’s recommendations.

A proposal was moved and seconded to follow the Town Clerk’s recommendation that a precept of £675,000 be set for the financial year of 2005/2006.

An amendment to the above proposal was moved and seconded that the precept be set at £650,000 and that the Council’s reserves would not increase by an amount of £25,000.

The amendment was put to the vote and resulted in nine votes for and ten votes against, so the amendment was LOST.

The substantive motion was then voted upon which resulted in ten votes for and nil votes against the motion and was therefore CARRIED.

131. RESOLVED

1. That Dronfield Town Council’s precept for the year 2005/2006 be set at £675,000 and that North East Derbyshire District Council be notified of this precept immediately.
2. That Dronfield Town Council approves and accepts the amended scale of charges for Dronfield Town Council facilities (as attached), and that the new scale of charges becomes operative from 1^st April 2005.

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of November 2004 in the amount of £47,369.91 drawn on the Council’s No 1 account.

131. RESOLVED

That the schedule of payments in the amount of £47,369.91 be received, approved and noted.

Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 4)

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of November 2004 in the amount of £37,878.22 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.

132. RESOLVED

That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £37,878.22 be received, approved and noted.

Mr John Ardin remarked that residents would be concerned at an 8% increase in the Town Council’s budget.

Mr Ardin then raised a problem of speeding vehicles on Gosforth Lane and Gosforth Drive and requested that some form of speed cameras be located at these sites. He also requested that Farwater Lane be added to the gritting schedule so that the town centre car parks were accessible. He also requested additional street lighting at this spot and then stated that the grit bins were a target for anti-social behaviour and asked why they were not collected in April and relocated in November.

Mr Ardin was informed that –

1. The Town Council’s budget would result in the average Band ‘D’ householder paying just £6.46 extra for all the services provided by the Town Council which equates to just an additional 5.4 pence per week per resident of Dronfield.
2. His comments concerning speed cameras, road gritting and additional streetlights would be passed to Derbyshire County Council.
3. To collect in all grit bins and then relocate them every year would have a substantial cost implication and would not be in the interest of best value.