Present

Councillors G Baxter : M Brader : M Emmens (Town Mayor) : 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 : Mrs W Temple : S Temple : J Williams : M Wing.

Prior to the meeting, the Town Mayor announced that Councillor David Cheetham had become a proud father to a son, born the previous evening, weighing in at 8 lbs 13 oz and delivered by Caesarean. It was agreed that the Council’s best wishes be extended to Councillor Cheetham and Lindsey and that a message of congratulations be sent.

No points raised.

136. RESOLVED

That apologies for absence be received and accepted from Councillor D Cheetham and Councillor E Hodd.

None raised.

Members considered a schedule of crime statistics comparing the number of crimes in January 2004. The comparative crime figures had remained relatively constant showing no major increase or decrease. Members questioned the figures given in the detection rate column and the local officer stated that he would try to get a definitive answer for the next meeting.

Members questioned whether fixed penalty fines could be issued to litter louts as there was now a particular problem at Dronfield Bottom and on "school routes". It was explained that fixed penalties could be issued but not to minors.

137. RESOLVED

That this report be received and noted.

 

Council Minutes – 4^th January 2005

Members considered the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 4^th January 2005 (Pages 75 – 86).

138. RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on Tuesday, 4^th January 2005 (Pages 75 – 86) be received, approved and accepted as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

1. Planning Applications

139. RESOLVED

1. That Dronfield Town Council requests Derbyshire County Council not to allow the alteration of Conditions which would reduce, or negate, the installation of fencing to the southern boundary of the proposed site as this may cause or allow excess materials to enter the adjacent river and cause blockage and exacerbate problems with flooding.
2. That Derbyshire County Council instigates a site visit to inspect the proposals before any decision is reached.

Application 05/00007/FL

Detached house and detached single garage accessed from Shaw Street on land to the east (Conservation Area) at 2-4 Dyche Lane, Coal Aston

140. RESOLVED

That this application be objected to on the grounds that it constitutes backland development which would exacerbate access problems to the site which is within the conservation area and would lead to over-development in the conservation area.

Application 05/00051/LDC for a Certificate of Lawfulness without compliance with condition 2 of planning permission 1182/932 for the use of land at Ferndale Nursery and Garden Centre, Dyche Lane, Coal Aston.

141. RESOLVED

That due to insufficient information, this matter be delegated to the Town Clerk and Town Mayor for response when additional information has been sought.

Subsequent information from North East Derbyshire District Council.

The condition 2 of 1182/932 related to the sale of extensions and conservatories, but because the condition had not been enforced for more than ten years, the applicant had won a recent appeal against the condition and was now applying for a certificate of lawfulness stating that building extensions and conservatories could be offered for sale at the site in question.

Application 05/00110/TPO. Proposed felling of one oak tree covered by NED Tree Preservation Order 74 at Westbank Farm, 11 Eckington Road, Coal Aston.

142. RESOLVED

That this Council objects to the felling of the above oak tree unless it can be demonstrated that the tree is in either a dangerous or diseased state.

2. Planning Decisions

139. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted.

2. Planning Appeals

139. RESOLVED

That the correspondence be received and noted, but that this Council expresses its disappointment at the Inspector’s decision in part 1 of the decision, but welcome his decision concerning the non-awarding of costs to the appellant.

 

Model Code of Conduct

Members were reminded that any changes to their declaration of interest should be recorded and filed.

140. RESOLVED

That this information be received and noted.

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

1. Outside Services

139. RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

1. Stonelow Pavilion

147. RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

3. Cliffe Park Bowling Pavilion

148. RESOLVED That the report be received and noted.

4. Dronfield Gala

149. RESOLVED

1. That the information be received and noted.
2. That North East Derbyshire District Council be granted permission to stage the Dronfield Gala at Cliffe Park on Sunday, 10^th July 2005 at no cost to them.

5. Freedom of Information Act

150. RESOLVED that the information be received and noted.

 

6. Allotments and Green Spaces

151. RESOLVED

1. That the information be received and noted.
2. That the two ladles within the town be submitted as entries for a Green Pennant award.

7. Publications Received

152. RESOLVED That the information be received and noted.

 

Dronfield Town Council Representatives

In answer to a question from the town Council’s representative on the Town Twinning Federation, it was explained that no firm response had been received from the Oberburgermeister of Sindelfingen as to when a Civic Party may visit Dronfield in the early summer of this year.

 

Working Groups of the Council

Members considered the notes of the Properties Working Group held on 5^th January 2005.

153. RESOLVED that the notes be received and noted.

 

Schedule of Payments (Appendix 2)

Members considered a schedule of payments made on the Council’s No 1 account for the month of December 2004 in the sum of £85,448.67.

154. RESOLVED

That the schedule of payments drawn on the Council’s No 1 account in the amount of £85,448.67 be received approved and agreed.

 

Schedule of Receipts (Appendix 3)

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of December 2004 paid into the Council’s No 2 account in the amount of £14,178.19.

155. RESOLVED

That the schedule of receipts paid into the Council’s No 2 account in the amount of £14,178.19 be received, approved and agreed.

1. Mr John Pashley of Dronfield Players spoke concerning certain problems with access to the lighting/projection room at the Civic Hall, and stated that access to that area was denied to disabled persons.

It was explained that access via the Town Council offices was not appropriate due to the security of that part of the building. It was also clarified that the Civic Hall meets all current legislation concerning fire precautions and disabled access and must do so to be licensed for Public Entertainment, Theatre and Cinema performances.

It was agreed that Mr Pashley’s concerns be discussed at the next meeting of the Properties Working Group.

 

2. Mr Jock Keay expressed concern about the number of potholes in local roads and requested the Town Council to remind Derbyshire County Council of its responsibilities. It was explained that Dronfield Town Council staff had reported residents’ comments to Derbyshire County Council.