Present

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

Mr Neal, a local resident spoke about a planning application by Hutchinson 3G for a telecommunications mast adjacent to the Talbot Arms. He referred to the visual impact of such an installation for nearby houses and said that the mast would be within just metres of homes and within four hundred metres of three primary schools. He questioned the applicant’s thoroughness in identifying alternative locations and whether mast sharing had been considered.

Mr Neal questioned the need for further masts in this immediate area and thought that the mast was not only visually obtrusive, but could have serious health hazard implications, especially being sited so near to primary schools and the effect of electronic microwaves could be dangerous to health.

The Mayor thanked Mr Neal and also explained that when Members further discussed this matter on the agenda, those Members of the North East Derbyshire District Council planning committee would not speak or vote on the application.

1. RESOLVED

That apologies be received and accepted from the following Members for the reason stated.

No items raised.

PC David Widdowson submitted a summary of crime statistics for the town with a comparison schedule with the Clay Cross area. (Appendix 1) The number of drug offences showed a marked increase over last year’s figures, but this was as a result of pro-active policing in apprehending drug offenders.

He reported that a serious racially motivated incident had recently taken place in the Pentland Road area, and seven suspects had been apprehended and questioned.

Much of the anti social behaviour in the town was drink related but the local Inspector had initiated a pro-active measure whereby when any young person was caught creating a nuisance, or acting in an anti-social manner, the parents of the culprit were written to and made aware of their offspring’s behaviour.

Dronfield has one of the lowest crime rates in Derbyshire and has relatively low anti social/nuisance crime, but it still needs monitoring and watching.

1. RESOLVED

That this report be received and noted.

 

Minutes of Council held on 5^th September 2005

Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 5^th September 2005.

1. RESOLVED

That with the addition that Councillor Pryce declared an interest and did not speak or vote on Resolution 30 and that Councillor Higgins declared an interest and did not speak or vote on Resolution 38, then the Minutes be accepted as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

 

Planning Matters (Appendix 2)

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

Prior to discussion on this item, Councillor S Temple left the meeting and did not, therefore, speak or vote on any matter under consideration.

1. RESOLVED
1. That strenuous objections be made regarding application 05/01061/TCN56 by Hutchison 3G UK Ltd for telecommunications determination for the erection of a 12.5m high slimline streetworks monopole mast with three antenna and radio housing equipment on highway verge adjacent at the Talbot Arms, Stubley Lane, Dronfield Woodhouse on the grounds that –

57. It is not in keeping with the current streetscene and is visually obtrusive to nearby houses and bungalows.
57. There is a public perception that these installations could create a potential health hazard by means of electronic microwaves being emitted in close proximity to three local primary schools.
57. The applicant has not shown evidence that mast sharing has been investigated or considered.
57. The proposal is clearly visible from local footpaths that lead to the narrow green belt and would be visually obtrusive to the openness of the green belt.

 

(2) That application 05/01044/TPO for the felling of one common lime tree covered by NED TPO 103 at 76 Melbourne Avenue, Dronfield Woodhouse be objected to unless the tree in question is either diseased or in a dangerous condition.

 

1. That application 05/01009/LB for Listed Building Consent for display of an illuminated fascia sign and projecting sign at 24 High Street, Dronfield be objected to on the grounds that illuminated signs would be visually intrusive and not in keeping with the conservation area and would detract from the appearance of a Listed Building.

 

(4) That application 05/00973/FL for the erection of a detached bungalow and two detached garages on land to rear (Amended Scheme) at 23 Longacre Road, Dronfield be objected to because this proposal would be backland development and detract from the current openness of the surrounding area. Concerns were also expressed about access/egress to the site.

 

(5) That North East Derbyshire District Council planning committee be requested to conduct a site visit to application 05/01091/OL at 195 Holmley Lane, Coal Aston for a residential development, prior to any decision being made.

 

Planning Decisions

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

1. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted.

Model 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 held on 4^th March 2002.

1. RESOLVED

That the information be received and noted.

Members considered the Town Clerk’s report on the following matters.

1. Outside Services, progress and schedule of works ongoing and completed.
1. Stonelow Pavilions, progress on the extensions and refurbishment to Phase 2 of the project.
1. Road Traffic Regulation notifying of a closure on footpath 51 between Chesterfield Road and Holborn Avenue.
1. Derbyshire County Council’s Young Achievers’ Award 2005 advising Members that nominations may be made, but submitted prior to 28^th October 2005.
1. Provisional Derbyshire Local Transport Plan advising Members that this had been produced and submitted to the Department for Transport, and that executive summaries are available for inspection at the Council Offices or on the Derbyshire County Council website.
1. External Audit of Year End Accounts 31^st March 2005 informing Members that the District Audit Service are currently conducting the statutory audit of the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan (2005/2006).
1. Publications received – informing Members of a list of publications available for inspection at the Council offices.

57. RESOLVED

That the reports be received and noted.

 

Town Council Representatives

The Council’s representative on the Dronfield Woodhouse Sports and Social Club Management Committee reported that the rejuvenation is ongoing, and that the bar is now under new management and things seem to be progressing well.

Working Groups of Dronfield Town Council

1. Lea Brook Valley Steering Group

Members considered the notes of the above group held on 21^st September 2005, which detailed what projects the Group were intending to carry out in late October.

57. RESOLVED

That the report be received and noted.

 

1. Properties Working Group 21^st September 2005

Members considered the notes of the above Working Group, which informed on the progress of bids concerning the Heart of Dronfield Initiative to funding bodies.

The initiatives and bids included footpaths and intra-form routes, waterway improvements to River Drone and adjacent areas, crime prevention by the installation of further street lighting and CCTV and cleaning up and tidying of the Callywhite Lane public areas.

57. RESOLVED

That the report be received and noted.

 

Courses and Conferences

Members considered a schedule of forthcoming courses and conferences.

57. RESOLVED

That the schedule be received and noted.

 

Schedule of Payments

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of August 2005 in the amount of £37,094.51 drawn on the Council’s No 1 Account.

57. RESOLVED

That the schedule of payments in the amount of £37,094.51 for the month of August 2005 be received, accepted and approved.

 

Schedule of Receipts

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of August 2005 in the amount of £15,929.77 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.

57. RESOLVED

That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £15,929.77 for the month of August 2005 be received, accepted and approved.

Mr Jock Keay asked that Members speak up so that they can be clearly heard because he thinks the acoustics in the room are not good. He stated that if telecommunication masts were for essential services then they should be approved, but that if they were for what he called ‘play phones with games and photographs’ then they should be objected to.

Mrs Janet Hill presented the East Midlands in Bloom award certificate to the Town Mayor. Dronfield received a silver award in this year’s East Midlands in Bloom.