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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
HELD AT GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD
ON MONDAY 5th JUNE 2006
Present
Councillors G Baxter : M Brader : M Emmens : T Furniss : C A Gill : F Higgins : D Hill : E Hodd : Mrs K Marr (Town Mayor) : W I Pryce : Mrs C A Smith : J Sorrill : J Stocks : S Temple : Mrs W Temple : J Williams : M Wing.
Public Forum on Planning Matters
No items raised.
Model Code of Conduct
Members were reminded that any changes to their Declaration of Interests should be declared. Members were also advised to declare, at this point, any items of the agenda where they may consider themselves to have a particular or prejudicial interest in the matter to be conducted.
8. RESOLVED
That this information be received and noted.
Apologies
9. RESOLVED
That apologies be received and accepted from the following Members for the reasons stated.
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Councillor D Cheetham |
Other business |
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Councillor N R Foster |
Other business |
Youth Matters
Members considered a report of the Annual General Meeting of the Dronfield and District Scout Council.
8. RESOLVED
That the report be received and noted.
Police Matters
Sergeant Bentley was in attendance for this item of the agenda and responded to Members’ enquiries on the following matters of concern.
(a) Robbery in the Civic Centre.
(b) Criminal damage to Gosforth Lodge
Sergeant Bentley stated that enquiries were ongoing.
He reported that the police were aware of the anti-social behaviour by groups of youths adjacent to the Pentland Shops and also at Eskdale Close. Extra patrols had been initiated on Friday and Saturday evenings and a visible presence was being maintained to combat the problem. He then presented the crime statistics for the month of May 2006 in comparison to May 2005.
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2006
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2005 |
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Assaults |
13 |
7 |
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Robbery |
0 |
0 |
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Burglary Dwellings |
3 |
2 |
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Burglary non Dwellings |
16 |
4 |
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Theft from motor vehicles |
3 |
5 |
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Thefts of motor vehicles |
2 |
0 |
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Interference with motor vehicles |
0 |
1 |
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Damage/Arson |
12 |
26 |
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Other thefts |
10 |
14 |
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Other crimes |
5 |
2 |
All in all, crime figures had reduced and detection rates had risen over the past twelve months.
8. RESOLVED
That this report be received and noted.
Council Minutes
Members considered the Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd May 2006 and the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 8th May 2006.
9. RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the Council held on 2nd May 2006 and the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 8th May 2006 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
Prior to any discussion on planning application consultation, Councillors Furniss and S Temple left the meeting, so did not therefore discuss or vote on any application under discussion.
Planning Applications
Members then considered a schedule of planning applications submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for comment.
10. RESOLVED
(a) That application 06/00439/FL – Construction of lambing shed (amended plans) at land off Barnes Avenue, Dronfield – be strenuously objected to because the proposal would lead to over-development and over-commercialisation of the green belt in which it is located.
(b) That application 06/00562/TCN56 – Telecommunications determination for the erection of a 15m high monopole mast with three antennae and two 0.6m dishes together with an equipment cabinet and fenced compound at Baymark Ltd. Callywhite Lane – be objected to for the following reasons.
· The installation could result in unacceptable health hazards for occupants of adjacent properties.
· That no evidence was submitted by the applicant stating that mast sharing with other operators had been considered.
· Similar masts have recently been installed at Hundall, which could provide coverage to the same areas.
(c) That application 06/00518/FL – Retention of change of use of outbuilding to a dwelling on land to rear (Conservation Area) at Crabtree Lodge, Dyche Lane, Coal Aston.
North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to conduct a site visit to this location prior to any decision being reached on this retrospective planning application.
Planning Decisions
Members considered a schedule of planning decisions submitted by North East Derbyshire District council for information.
8. RESOLVED
That the schedule be received and noted.
Planning Appeal
Members were informed of a planning appeal by Hutchison 3G UK Limited in respect of site at The Talbot Arms, Stubley Lane, Dronfield Woodhouse against refusal of planning permission in respect of 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.
9. RESOLVED
That this Council’s previous objections be reiterated and that the planning inspectorate be so notified.
Appeal Decision
Members were informed that the planning appeal (APP/R1038/A/06/2005977) against a refusal to grant planning permission to change premises to a day nursery on Cross Lane had been determined by the Planning Inspectorate.
10. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
Town Clerk’s Report
Members considered a report of the Town Clerk on various projects and initiatives throughout the town.
11. Outside Services
Members were informed of progress on various matters and that also an occurrence of mindless vandalism had taken place in Cliffe Park when ten double glazed windows had been smashed at Gosforth Lodge.
12. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
13. Proposed Music Festival
Prior to discussion, Councillor Jeff Sorrill declared a personal interest and did not therefore join in the debate or vote thereon.
Members considered correspondence concerning a proposed music festival to be held on the green adjacent to Dronfield Woodhouse Sports and Social Club.
14. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
15. Proposed Skateboard Park
Prior to this item, Councillor Izzy Pryce declared a personal interest and did not therefore take part in the debate or vote thereon.
Members considered correspondence from Derbyshire County Council stating that the former Gosforth School site is not suitable for a skateboard park following a risk assessment of the site. An alternative location may be possible on the Gosforth Fields Association’s grounds, but preliminary investigations had revealed that this would also not be suitable.
16. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
17. DALC – Conference on Police Reorganisation
Members were informed that a conference organised by DALC on police reorganisation would be held at County Hall on 10th June 2006.
18. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
19. Dronfield Health Centre
Prior to discussion, Councillor Mrs Smith declared a personal interest and did not speak or vote on this matter.
Members were informed a joint discussion with North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust and North East Derbyshire District Council had taken place to investigate alternative facilities for clinics and consulting rooms during the demolition and rebuilding of the Health Centre in Dronfield.
Dronfield Town Council had intimated that the Council Chamber could be made available every day and that the Shaun Hadley Room could be available for three days each week.
20. RESOLVED
That negotiations with North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust continue and that the facility of the Council Chamber and Shaun Hadley Room be offered at a fixed fee of £100 per week for both rooms.
21. Publications Received
22. RESOLVED
That the correspondence be received and noted.
Representatives on Outside Bodies
23. Joint Burial Committee
Councillor Pryce commented that due to the small number of Members attending the Annual Meeting he was continuing as Chairman of the Joint Board until the next meeting. He hoped that all representatives from Dronfield Town Council would attend the meetings of the Joint Burial Committee so that business could be enacted.
24. Dronfield in Bloom
Councillor David Hill commented that the ladles to the entrance of the town had recently been replanted, and that East Midlands in Bloom judges would attend in Dronfield to judge this year’s entries on Thursday, 13th July 2006.
Courses and Conferences
Members considered a schedule outlining courses and conferences.
25. RESOLVED
That the schedule be received and noted.
Working Groups of the Town Council
26. Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 11th May 2006
Members considered the Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 11th May 2006 when progress on the Sports Tournament and arrangements had been discussed.
27. RESOLVED
(a) That the decision by the working Group to approve the publication of 10,000 brochures at a cost of £750.00 be ratified.
(b) That standing orders be suspended in order that Mr Barrie Murfin of North East Derbyshire District Council could address the meeting and distribute the approved brochures and posters for information. Mr Murfin then gave a brief update on arrangements and said the brochures and posters would be distributed to all schools and organisations in Dronfield.
2. Properties Working Group – 25th May 2006
(a) BMX Track Progress
Five young BMX trackers had been invited to join in the discussion. The Council was considering alternative sites, and it was hoped that more definite information may be available for the July meeting of the Council.
25. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
(a) Waterways Project
Members were informed that Katherine Mayhew was leaving Groundwork Creswell and this was her last meeting. Katherine then gave a report on progress and distributed schedules and timetables for information.
26. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
(a) Dronfield Town Football Club
Members of the Club joined the meeting for this item and requested permission to carry out various improvements to Stonelow Playing Fields now that one of their teams had achieved premiership status in the Midlands Alliance League. The main requirements would be –
(i) The playing area to be fenced off so spectators could not encroach on the pitch.
(ii) Hardstanding areas constructed for the use of spectators.
(iii) Dugouts constructed for trainers, coaches and substitutes.
27. RESOLVED
28. That this report be received and noted.
29. That agreement in principle be given to the changes requested and that Dronfield Town Football Club be notified that Dronfield Town Council had not budgeted for these items.
30. That North East Derbyshire District council be consulted regarding the exact location of the pitches.
31. That a site visit involving all interested parties be convened for 22nd June 2006 to consider the matter further.
32. That Dronfield Town Football Club be informed that grants may be available from the Town Council under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Schedule of Payments
Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of April 2006 in the amount of £61,244.36 drawn on the Council’s No 1 account.
33. RESOLVED
That the schedule of payments in the amount of £61,244.36 be received, noted and approved.
Schedule of Receipts
Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of April 2006 in the amount of £51,534.78 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.
34. RESOLVED
That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £51,534.78 for the month of April 2006 be received, noted and approved.
Public Forum
Mr Philip Sutcliffe of Eskdale Close raised the matter of continuous anti-social behaviour taking place on the steps and footpath at the end of Eskdale Road and asked for the Council’s support in achieving this objection.
Mr Sutcliffe stated that the problem was caused by up to twenty youths who were aged between fifteen and twenty years old using the area and creating anti-social problems such as loud and aggressive language, obscene behaviour, under-age drinking, glass and bottles being broken and thrown on the green area where kiddies play. He went on to say that the police had been called out on a number of occasions and were supporting the closure of the steps and the footpath.
Members resolved to fully support the residents in their efforts to get the steps and footpath extinguished.
Mr Jock Keay commented that he wished to thank all the Members and staff of Dronfield Town Council for the hard work they do in keeping the town such a delightful area in which to live.
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