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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
HELD AT GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD ON
MONDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2006 AT 7.30 pm
Present
Councillors G Baxter : M Brader : M Emmens : T Furniss (Deputy Town Mayor) : C A Gill : F Higgins : D Hill : W I Pryce : Mrs C A Smith : J Sorrill : J Stocks : S Temple : Mrs W Temple : J Williams : M Wing.
In the absence of the Town Mayor, Councillor T Furniss took the Chair.
Public Forum – Planning
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
96. RESOLVED
97. That this information be received and noted.
98. That councillor W I Pryce would declare a prejudicial interest on a planning matter to be considered later on the agenda.
Apologies
99. RESOLVED
That apologies and the reasons for non-attendance from the Members named below be received and accepted for the reasons stated.
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Councillor D Cheetham |
Other business |
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Councillor N R Foster |
Other business |
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Councillor E Hodd |
Other business |
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Councillor Mrs K Marr |
Other business
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Youth Matters
No items raised.
Police Matters
PC Murfin attended for this item and had supplied a schedule of crime statistics for the previous month, which had been copied and circulated to all Members. He also informed Members that an additional patrol vehicle was now used in Dronfield.
He stated that burglars were targeting large screen plasma television sets. Another major concern was that motorists still insisted on leaving satellite navigation systems and laptop computers on display in their cars leading to theft and damage to those items.
Members raised areas of concern that could require urgent attention and these included – Gosforth Valley – Pentland Road shopping area and Gorsey Brigg School and Eskdale Close. PC Murfin said he was aware of anti-social behaviour in those areas and extra patrols were taking place to alleviate the problems.
Members also requested that all personal information be removed from the crime schedules prior to distribution.
96. RESOLVED
That the report be received and noted.
Council Minutes
Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 2nd October 2006 (pages 41 – 50).
97. RESOLVED
That the Minutes of Dronfield Town Council held on 2nd October 2006 be received and approved as a true record of events, and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.
For information concerning the public forum report on page 47 of the Minutes, Councillor Baxter read out a letter from North East Derbyshire District Council which alluded to the closure of the steps at Eskdale Close which set out to address the problems of why this matter had suffered undue delay.
Planning Matters
98. Planning Applications (Appendix 1)
Prior to any discussion on planning applications, Councillors Furniss, Higgins and S Temple withdrew from the meeting and did not, therefore, take any part in considering those matters.
Councillor D Hill assumed the chair following Councillor Furniss’s withdrawal.
Members then considered the schedule of planning applications submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for comment.
99. RESOLVED
That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to convene a site visit prior to any decision being made on application 06/10204/FL by Mr Charles Pain for the erection of one four-bedroomed bungalow on land adjacent to 64 Gosforth Lane as Members considered this application might have highway implications that could be detrimental.
Councillor W I Pryce declared a prejudicial interest in application 06/01214/FL by Persimmon Homes for residential development comprising ninety dwellings at the old Dronfield School Gosforth site, and left the meeting so did not take part in any discussion or resolution concerning this application.
100. RESOLVED
That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to provide further details of this large-scale development. Members noted that a previous application (subsequently withdrawn) was for the erection of sixty-six dwellings.
Councillor T Furniss rejoined the meeting and resumed the Chair.
101. Schedule of Planning Decisions
Members considered a schedule of planning decisions supplied by North East Derbyshire District Council for information.
102. RESOLVED
That the schedule be received and noted.
103. Appeal Decision
Members considered correspondence from HM Planning Inspectorate notifying that two appeals against decisions of North East Derbyshire District Council had been allowed.
(a) Appeal against North East Derbyshire District Council’s decision in respect of 22 Holmley Bank, Dronfield.
(b) Appeal against condition 1 of North East Derbyshire District Council in respect of land at Barnes Avenue.
103. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
104. Tree Preservation Order
Members considered correspondence from North East Derbyshire District Council notifying that an order in respect of trees at 30 Northern Common was made on 9th October 2006.
105. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
Town Clerk’s Report
Members considered the report of the Town Clerk involving several projects and initiatives throughout the town.
106. Outside Services
Members considered a project report on ongoing tasks and duties.
107. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
108. Cultivation Licence – Bowshaw Roundabout
Members were informed that Derbyshire County Council had now issued a cultivation licence to Dronfield Town Council for Bowshaw Roundabout.
109. RESOLVED
(a) That Dronfield Town Council negotiates with Sheaf Motors and Dronfield in Bloom committee concerning the planting and sponsorship of this high profile entry point to the town.
(b) That Dronfield Town Council commission its usual supplier of plants and shrubs (Moss Valley Nurseries) to prepare and plant the beds on the roundabout with the cost being recharged to Sheaf Motors.
(c) That appropriate signage/sponsorship be agreed between Dronfield Town Council, Dronfield in Bloom and Sheaf Motors.
3. Stubley Hollow – Fly Posting
Members considered a letter from North East Derbyshire District Council in response to their comments at the previous meeting concerning fly posting and the use of a large mobile catering unit at Stubley Hollow. North East Derbyshire District Council had responded that the advertisements attached to fencing etc were unacceptable and the owners had been instructed to remove them within seven days. North East Derbyshire District Council also confirmed that the mobile catering unit did require planning consent and the owners have been invited to submit the relevant planning applications.
4. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
5. Community Living Nativity
Members considered a letter from Revd N Bibbings who had requested the use of Marsh Avenue recreation ground and Jubilee Park for the use of a community procession and nativity event to be held on Christmas Eve.
6. RESOLVED
That Dronfield Town Council approves the use of Jubilee Park and Marsh Avenue recreation ground for the events outlined on Christmas Eve.
7. Snape Hill/Green Lane
Members considered a letter from Derbyshire County Council regarding road safety matters on Snape Hill Lane and Green Lane whereby in the interest of safety and consistency, the introduction of ‘no waiting at any time’ be introduced at all the junctions on Snape Hill Lane and Green Lane.
8. RESOLVED
That the correspondence be received and noted.
9. Dronfield Station Action Group
Members were updated on progress of the above Action Group and that four Members had recently met with the local MP (Natascha Engel) and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Tom Harris) at the House of Commons when the problems of Dronfield Station were discussed in the House.
Members also considered a draft Executive Summary of an intended press release to be issued shortly.
10. RESOLVED
(a) That the information be received and noted.
(b) That the Dronfield Station Action Group be congratulated on their progress to date and that this Council will continue to offer its full support in helping them to achieve their objectives for the benefit of the town.
7. Audit Commission/Audit of Accounts
Members considered the Annual Letter of Audit and Certificate of Completion of Audit received from the District Audit Service informing the Council that an unqualified opinion had been given on the end of year financial statement (31.3.2006).
The Annual Audit Letter also confirmed that the auditor had examined the Council’s accounts, and whether the Council had made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.
Accounts
The District Audit had concluded that Dronfield Town Council had presented the accounts for audit on time and there were no significant issues to report to Council in relation to the accounting statements or the underlying systems that were reviewed. He concluded that the Council continued to have robust arrangements in place to prepare the financial statements and was pleased, therefore, to issue an unqualified opinion.
Use of Resources
The District Auditor was required to issue a conclusion whether he was satisfied that the Council had put into place proper arrangements for servicing economy efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources. This was known as the ‘value for money’ VFM conclusion and he reviewed the following criteria.
· Setting and monitoring of strategic and operational objectives.
· Communication with service users and key stakeholders.
· Monitoring and scrutiny of performance.
· Monitoring the quality of published information.
· Maintaining a sound system of internal control.
· Managing its significant business risks.
· Managing and improving value for money.
· Ensuring that its spending matches its available resources.
· Managing performance against budgets.
· Promoting and ensuring probity and proprietary in the conduct of its business.
The District Auditor’s conclusion was that the Council had adequate arrangements in place in relation to ALL the above criteria and an UNQUALIFIED value for money conclusion was issued on 27th September 2006.
8. RESOLVED
(a) That the Notice of Certification of the Completion of Audit be received and noted.
(b) That the Annual Audit Letter 2005/2006 be received and noted.
9. Burst Water Main – Stubley Hollow
The Deputy Leader of the Council gave a brief report on the incident of Sunday, 29th October when a twelve-inch water main burst on Stubley Hollow. He reported that the supplier (Severn Trent Water) failed to notify its consumers by way of radio or TV announcements, failed to make adequate arrangements for elderly or housebound consumers to obtain emergency water supplies and fail to ensure adequate telephone staff to answer customer enquiries. He reported that local residents were kept waiting in excess of forty-five minutes on the telephone and then cut off.
The water supply was off from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm and the water quality, when restored, was exceptionally poor and discoloured. Neither North East Derbyshire District Council or Derbyshire County Council emergency officers were notified by Severn Trent Water, and if they had have been, could have provided assistance and information.
10. RESOLVED
That a strong letter of protest be sent from this Council to Severn Trent Water asking for reassurance that if such an incident happened in the future, adequate methods of notifying their customers were put in place.
Dronfield Town Council also urgently request that Severn Trent Water establish a direct line of communication with local authorities who would then offer assistance and guidance.
11. RESOLVED
That this information be received and noted.
9. Publications Received
10. RESOLVED
That these be received and noted.
Reports from Outside Representatives
Councillor
11. RESOLVED
That the information be received and noted.
Working Groups of Dronfield Town Council
Members considered the Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 17th October 2006.
12. RESOLVED
That the Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 17th October 2006 be received and noted.
Schedule of Payments
Members considered a schedule of payments in the amount of £74,575.03 for the month of September 2006 drawn on the Council’s No 1 account.
13. RESOLVED
That the schedule of payments in the amount of £74,575.03 be received, approved and accepted.
Schedule of Receipts
Members considered a schedule of receipts in the amount of £360,014.85 for the month of September 2006 and paid into the Council’s No 2 account.
14. RESOLVED
That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £360,014.85 be received, approved and accepted.
Public Forum
Mr David Menham, a Coal Aston resident had intended to speak about the water crisis but had been reassured by the Council’s resolution on the matter.
Exclusion of the Public and Press
15. 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.
Staffing Matters
Members were informed that the Office Manager/Mayor’s Secretary had tendered her resignation after a total of twenty-seven years’ service, and wished to retire from the Council’s employment on 31st December 2006.
Members then considered a report of the Town Clerk in which it was proposed –
1. That the post of Office Manager/Mayor’s Secretary be discontinued from the establishment.
2. That a new post of office supervisor be added to the establishment.
3. That a new post of office administration assistant be created in the establishment.
4. RESOLVED
(a) That the full time post of Office Manager/Mayor’s Secretary at a salary point scale of SP 23 be discontinued from the establishment.
(b) That the part time post of Senior Office Administrative Assistant be discontinued from the establishment.
(c) That a new part time (3 days per week) post of Office Supervisor be added to the establishment at 22.5/37 of salary point 20 and that PB be upgraded from Salary Point 17 to fulfil this new function.
(d) That a new post of part time Office Administrative Assistant on salary point 13 (3 days per week) be created and added to the establishment and that this post be widely advertised and filled for a commencement date of 1st January 2007, or as soon thereafter as possible.
(e) That the above proposals be implemented and monitored for a period of six months and then reviewed at that time if problems with staffing levels and/or work loads arise.
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