MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD AT GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD

ON MONDAY 5^th NOVEMBER 7.30 pm

 

 

Present

 

Councillors:  W I Pryce (Town Mayor): F Higgins: Mrs W Temple: D Oxspring:

A Memmott: G Gregory: J Sorrill: Mrs B Skelton:  Mrs C Smith: P H Blackburn:

G Baxter: M Wing: R Bull: J M Stocks: D K Gage

 

The Town Mayor suggested that the public forum on general matters of concern should be brought to the commencement of the meeting and it was agreed by all members.

 

Public Forum on Planning Matters Only

 

No items raised.

 

Public Forum on General Matters

 

Mr Ingram of High Street requested the Council’s support in helping to prevent a repetition of last year’s events over Christmas period when anti social behaviour involving the smashing of drinking glasses and beer bottles was happening in town centre streets.  Mr Ingram was concerned that it could happen again this year.  He had prepared a dossier, including photographs, that had been sent to North East Derbyshire District Council and the police.  Mr Fletcher spoke on the same subject and informed members that he had also contacted the police.  He asked if a local byelaw could be introduced that restricted the consumption of alcohol in the town centre streets.

 

Mr Stennett then raised several concerns, which included:

 

·                 Glass and litter in Sindelfingen Park

·                 Speeding cars on Gosforth Drive

·                 Footpath maintenance on Gosforth Lane

·                 Overhanging bushes and shrubbery in Gosforth Lane

·                 Footpath lighting in Sindelfingen Park

·                 Grass cutting problems in Sindelfingen Park

·                 The state of the highway and pavements on Gainsborough Road

 

Mr Fletcher then raised concerns about the lack of enforcement of the 20mph town centre speed limits and questioned if the police would take greater strides in the enforcement of this speed limit.

 

Members Code of Conduct

 

Members were reminded that any changes to their Declarations of Interest should be stated now and that if any conflicting items on the agenda affected them, they should now declare their particular interest.

RESOLVED    That this report be received and noted.

 

Apologies

 

96/07-08    RESOLVED 

 

That apologies be received, noted and accepted from the following member, for the reasons stated in brackets.

 

Councillor J D McGrory           (Other Business)

                                      Councillor M Emmens              (Other Business)

                                      Councillor S Temple                 (Other Business)

                                      Councillor Mrs K Marr             (Other Business)

                       

Youth Matters

 

No items raised.

 

Police Matters

 

In response to concerns raised during the public forum, PC Murfin stated that if a byelaw was introduced, then the police would enforce it.

 

He reported that some overtime had been sanctioned for foot patrols to cover high crime areas.  Some shift patterns and hours of working had been changed to suit the public needs.

 

PC Murfin then circulated the crime statistics for October 2007, which showed several detections for offences committed in that period.

 

In response to member’s questions, PC Murfin stated that if young people were seen with alcoholic drinks, then it was confiscated and parents made aware.  Target checks have been carried out in local pubs and no breaches of the law concerning under aged drinking were detected.

 

The few cases of drunkenness usually occur after the pubs have closed and when complaints of noisiness are received concerning public houses, these are passed onto the environmental department of the local district council for investigation and enforcement.

 

He further reported he would ask the camera safety team to investigate the areas mentioned concerning allegations of speeding traffic.

 

97/07- 08     RESOLVED   That this report be received and noted.

 

Council Minutes

 

Members considered the  minutes of the meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 1 October 2007 (pages 50-61).

 

 

98/07-08   RESOLVED

 

That with the addition of the words “and that local bye-laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public streets be investigated” to resolution 83/07-08 (a), the minutes were received, accepted and approved as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor be duly authorised to sign them as such.

 

Planning Matters

 

Applications.  Members considered a schedule of planning applications submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for member’s comments.

 

99/07-08   RESOLVED

 

That application 07/01069/FL by Standall Tools Ltd, Mickley Lane, for the Demolition of existing industrial buildings/formation of a new access road and construction of 28 dwellings (detached units/townhouses and apartments all 2 storeys in height) and construction of 2 car barns (Major Development/Departure from Development Plan) be strenuously objected to on the following grounds.

 

·                 The area is in or adjacent to the very narrow green belt which should be preserved from major development works.

 

 

·                 The highway network at this location is already dangerous with narrow country roads and bad bends where a fatality recently occurred and the scale of the proposed development would lead to an exacerbation of these highway hazards with extra traffic.

 

·                 The proposal is a major departure from the Local Plan and Development Plan for the area.

 

Councillor Izzy Pryce declared a prejudicial interest in one item of the agenda and left the meeting.  Councillor Mrs Wendy Temple assumed the chair.

 

No further comments were received and Councillor Izzy Pryce re-entered the room and assumed the chairmanship.

 

Planning Decisions

 

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

 

100/07- 08     RESOLVED   That this report be received and noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Town Clerk’s Report

 

(i)         Members considered the report, which outlined several projects and initiatives being undertaken by Outside Services Staff.

 

101/07- 08     RESOLVED    That this report be received and noted.

 

(ii)        Third Major Event for North East Derbyshire District Council and Town/Parish Council on Issues of Mutual Interest.

 

Members considered correspondence from North East Derbyshire District Council informing of a third event to be held on 30^th January 2008 to consider:

 

·                 Emergency Planning (Town Council Role)

·                 Fairtrade Initiatives

·                 Equalities

 

102/07- 08     RESOLVED

 

That Councillors D Oxspring, W Temple, P Blackburn and the Town Clerk be delegated as the Council’s representation at the meeting.

 

(iii)       Polling Review

 

Members considered the results of a review by North East Derbyshire District Council

concerning polling stations.  It was pointed out  during this meeting that the proposal to alter Stonelow Road Junior School to Gosforth Lodge had now been further amended to St Paul’s Church and not Gosforth Lodge.

 

103/07- 08     RESOLVED    That this report be received and noted.

 

(iv)       Doctor Dieter Burger - Sindelfingen

 

Members were informed of the death on 5^th October 2007 of Doctor Dieter Burger who had served two terms of Oberburgermeister of Sindelfingen from 1977 to 1993.  A message of condolence had been sent by the Town Clerk.

 

 

104/07- 08     RESOLVED    That this report be received and noted.

 

(v)        Dronfield Eye – Annual Guide

 

Members were informed that arrangements had been made for the January issue of the Dronfield Eye to act as the annual town guide for the year.

 

All local groups and organisations contact details will be included together with local authorities, churches, medical facilities, emergency services and statutory undertakings. 

 

The centre-fold will comprise  a calendar sponsored by the Town Council.

 

105/07- 08     RESOLVED   

 

That the Town Clerk continues to liase with editorial staff of the Dronfield Eye to ensure that the copy is prepared and agreed in time for inclusion in this edition which

will be published in late December.

 

(vi)       Dronfield Festival

 

Members considered a proposal by Dronfield Eye to sponsor and organise a Dronfield Festival in the summer of 2009.  It would be intended to have a week long series of events and happenings utilising the excellent venues and playing fields.

 

106/07- 08     RESOLVED

 

(1)        That Dronfield Town Council agree in principle to participate in a steering group comprising all local groups and organisations with a view to promoting a Dronfield Festival in the summer of 2009.

 

(2)        That a representative from each political group of the Council plus the Town Mayor be the Councils representation of such a steering group.

 

Publications Received

 

Members considered a schedule of publications received and which are available for

perusal in the Town Council offices.

 

107/07- 08     RESOLVED    That this report be received and noted.

 

Reports from Dronfield Town Council Representatives

 

Councillor Jeff Sorrill reported that the community bonfire organised by Dronfield Woodhouse Sports and Social Club and held at Dronfield Woodhouse Recreation Ground was an overwhelming success and had been very well received and supported by local residents

 

Notes of Dronfield Town Council Working Groups

 

a.                   Members considered the notes of the Road Safety Working Group held on 3 October 2007, which had considered several initiatives and had agreed to revisit the evaluation process for areas of concern.

 

108/07-08    RESOLVED   That this report be received and noted.

 

b.                  Members considered the notes of the Properties Working Group held on 18 October 2007 which contained a full briefing of proposals for the current Grounds Maintenance agreement between Dronfield Town Council and North East Derbyshire District Council. 

 

Members were informed that the proposals by North East Derbyshire District Council would involve Dronfield Town Council facing increased contributions form £54,363 in this current year to a figure of £148,175 in 2010/2011.

 

109/07-08     RESOLVED

 

1.                  That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to provide Dronfield Town Council with a summary of the 1992 District Auditors report and its recommendations.

 

2.                  That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to provide a summary of the amount of Revenue Support Grant funded by central government for recreational purposes.

 

3.                  That a further meeting of this working Group be convened as soon after receipts of North East Derbyshire District Council’s detailed report of how and where the expenditure for Grounds Maintenance is allocated.

 

Dronfield Town Football Club

 

Members also considered a request from Dronfield Town Football Club for Dronfield Town Council to consider entering into a 15 year rolling licence to use for the three football pitches at Stonelow Road and for use of the changing rooms pavilion.

 

110/07-08    RESOLVED

 

1.                  That Dronfield Town Council agree in principle that Dronfield Town Football Club be given the opportunity to enter into a long term licence to use the football pitches, together with the main pavilion and changing rooms at Stonelow Recreation Ground.

 

2.                  That further discussions take place with clubs to identify the mutual requirements of the clubs and this Council and that a detailed report is submitted to the January 2008 meeting of this Council.

 

Churches Together

 

Members considered a request from Churches Together to identify areas where environmental improvements could be made as part of the “Hope 08” initiative.

 

111/07-08    RESOLVED

 

That Churches Together in Dronfield be informed that Dronfield Town Council would suggest improvements to the Drone valley along the banks of the River Drone from Green Lane bottom towards Unstone.

 

 

 

 

 

Church Clock

 

Members were informed of necessary restoration work to the surrounds of the four clock faces at St John the Baptist Church.  This work was discovered during the recent renovations taking place.

 

112/07-08   RESOLVED

 

That Dronfield Town Council meet the costs of repairs to the stonework surrounding the four clock faces of the town clock on the spire of St John the Baptist Church at an estimated cost of £2,800.

 

Notes of the Properties Working Group held on 30 October 2007

 

Members considered the feasibility of installing a skateboard park in the town.  It was accepted that whilst this had been  a long standing wish of the Council, no budgetary provision had ever been included.

 

It was agreed that location is paramount and a site in Cliffe Park was identified as a possible location.

 

It was reported that certain local groups may be able to make a contribution towards the costs and the possibility of local companies sponsoring in either cash or kind for the construction of a level hard standing be further investigated.

 

113/07-08    RESOLVED

 

That a small steering group comprising Councillors Sorrill, Higgins and McGrory plus two or three co-optees from interested local groups be convened to take this matter to the next level.

 

North East Derbyshire District Council Grounds Maintenance

 

Members further considered this matter and discussed correspondence from North East Derbyshire District Council.  Members agreed that much more detailed information would be needed before any decisions could be taken.

 

114/07-08    RESOLVED

 

1.                  That this report be received and noted.

 

2.                  That North East Derbyshire District Council be requested to provide further details prior to a joint meeting between Dronfield Town Council and North East Derbyshire District Council being convened.

 

3.                  That when further information is forthcoming, a comprehensive report showing details and comparisons of alternative methods of undertaking grounds maintenance be prepared for consideration.

 

 

 

 

Schedule of Payments

 

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of September 2007 in the amount of £99,127.28 drawn on the Council’s No 1 account.

 

115/07-08    RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of payments for the month of September 2007 in the amount of £99127.78 be received, accepted and approved.

 

Schedule of Receipts

 

Members considered a schedule of receipts for September 2007 in the amount of £13,421.01 paid into the council’s No 2 Account.

 

116/07-08    RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of receipts for September 2007 in the amount of £13,421.01 be received, accepted and approved.

 

Public Forum (Continued)

 

Mr John Harvey wished to address the Council regarding traffic issues, public safety and the town centre 20 mph restriction.  He had corresponded with the highway authority regarding inadequate signing of the 20mph zone and this was being investigated.  He advocated that chicanes, narrowing of carriageway and vehicular gateways were all alternative methods of traffic calming.  If the proposed merger of primary schools were to take place, then a comprehensive ‘traffic plan’ and walking to school plan should be undertaken.