MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD AT GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD

ON MONDAY 6 OCTOBER 2008

 

 

 

Present

 

Councillors: Mrs W Temple (The Town Mayor): I Pryce: G Gregory:  Mrs B Skelton: Mrs C Smith: G Baxter: M Wing: S Temple: J Sorrill: P Blackburn:  Mrs K Marr   F Higgins: D Gage. M Emmens.

 

Public Forum on Planning Matters

 

Mr P Bowles of Snape Hill Lane requested the Council to reaffirm its objection to the development at 117 Snape Hill Lane following an appeal by the applicant against the decision by NEDDC to refuse planning consent. It was explained that this Council had objected to the initial application and that this letter of objection would be forwarded to the Planning Inspector as a matter of course. It was agreed however that the Town Clerk would submit a further letter to the Planning Inspector reaffirming this Council’s opposition to the development.

 

Public Forum On General Matters

 

Mr J Staniforth of Stonelow Road complained that indiscriminate parking was taking place on Stonelow Road, particularly near the shops at Greendale and also that lorries were churning up the grass verges and causing double-parking problems when accessing the new development. The problem is exacerbated at the times when the scholars at Stonelow School are being picked up or dropped off. He also reported that football players are parking on Stonelow Road on Sunday mornings despite there being a large car park on Shireoaks Road. The police who were in attendance stated that there are no parking restrictions along this road but would investigate the matter during their normal beat duties. It was agreed that all the football teams using Stonelow Road pitches would be contacted and asked to instruct their players and the opposition players to use the car park. The school would also be contacted to appraise them of the situation and that any teams using their facilities would be given permission to use the car park at Shireoaks Road.

 

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.

 

066/08-09        RESOLVED:             That this report be received and noted.

 

 

 

 

 

Apologies

 

067/08-09        RESOLVED

 

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

 

Councillor J Stocks                   (Other Business)

Councillor A Memmott (Illness)

Councillor D Oxspring  (Other Business)

Councillor R Bull                      (Other Business)

Councillor J McGrory               (Illness)

 

Youth Matters

 

The Chair of the Youth Council Working Group requested that a meeting be convened with the Fanshawe School’s Youth Council to progress the initiative that had commenced at the end of the last academic year. He stated that he was impressed with his visit to Sindelfingen and what they were doing for the youth of that town. He also said he had contacted the National Lottery to ascertain what funding may be available for youth initiatives. It was explained that most Lottery Initiatives were for specific measures and that local councils were usually exempt from applying. However, NEDDC had recently been successful in acquiring specific funding from the Big Lottery Appeal to upgrade play-areas and that a £120,000 scheme with some financial funding from this Council would be commenced in Sindelfingen Park in the next few weeks. It was also explained that Derbyshire County Council have the duty for providing youth facilities throughout the County.

 

068/08-09        RESOLVED

 

That this matter be received and noted and that a representative from the County’s Youth Service be invited to address a future meeting of this Council to explain their role and offer assistance with certain initiatives.

 

Police Matters

 

Community Partnership Report:

Members considered the report, which had been presented to the last meeting of the Community Partnership. This report outlined various initiatives that had taken place and gave details of different priorities for different areas of the town. The report amplified and clarified the monthly crime statistics, which members considered each month. It is intended that this report will be brought to Council every three months for information.

 

Crime Statistics:

The two local Community Support Officers (Glynn and Richard) were in attendance and provided the crime statistics for the month of September 2008. The figures showed good trends once again with only thefts from motor vehicles causing some concerns but 3 arrests had taken place and the problem should be alleviated. The graffiti problem, which was reported at the last meeting, has resulted in three local youths being caught and questioned and once again the major problem has been resolved. The Police outward-bound activity days (partly funded by this Council) had been well attended and some useful information was gleaned from some of the attendees. 18 street surveys have been carried out in the town and the main complaint was about parking matters. DCC would be contacted about damage to the grass verges caused by indiscriminate parking. Dronfield Station is to be a further priority area in the safer neighbourhood’s initiative. This will be in conjunction with the British Transport Police Service who have jurisdiction at the station.

 

Six Monthly Rolling Crime Statistics:

Members considered a schedule of crime figures that had been averaged and presented for the past six months. This schedule would be updated each month to allow members to see the trends of various crimes in the town.

 

069/08-09        RESOLVED   That these reports be received and noted.

 

Council Minutes

 

Members considered the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 1 September 2008. (Pages 24-38)

 

070/08-09        RESOLVED 

 

That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 1 September 2008 be 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 consideration and comment.

 

Reference 08/00633/FL

Application for a change of use of highway land to off road parking space at 62 Princess Road for Mr Frank Stainton.

 

071/08-09        RESOLVED 

 

That this proposal be objected to as changing the use of this piece of land could cause vehicles to execute dangerous manoeuvres in trying to cross the narrow pavement to access the parking space at this hazardous junction that is well used by schoolchildren and that NEDDC planning committee convene a site visit prior to any decision being reached.

 

Planning Decisions

 

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

 

 072/08-09       RESOLVED  That this report be received and noted.

 

 

 

Town Clerks Report

 

(1)        Outside Services

 

Members were informed that all the hanging baskets and floral displays have now been dismantled and the up the pole baskets have been cleaned, disinfected and stored for indoors for use next year. The flowerbeds throughout the town have been cleared and prepared in readiness for the winter plantings that will be carried out towards the end of October.

 

Members were reminded that many of the summer beds containing busy lizzies had suffered from Downey Mildew and NEDDC were requested to offer some advice and guidance as to the cause of this problem. They had now responded stating that the major problems were apparent in the north of the district and were caused by the fungus which thrived on wet warm weather and the origin of the disease could not be identified but was probably NOT in the plugs purchased. An article in the national press concerning this widespread problem quoting a Royal Horticultural Society source however affirms that the problem could be caused at the “nursery end” of the market. All the cricket pitches and bowling greens have now been taken out of use for the winter and have had initial remedial works completed. The widespread outbreak of graffiti which was reported at the last meeting and which was causing a major problem of removal has now been alleviated due to the police apprehending two local youths who have admitted spraying and damaging more than 75 individual sites and locations throughout the town.

 

 073/08-09      RESOLVED:   That this report be received and noted.

 

(2)        The Making and Enforcement of Local Byelaws: Consultation:

 

Members were appraised of The Department for Communities and Local Government’s consultation document concerning new procedures, which will enable local authorities to make certain byelaws without the need for scrutiny by the Secretary of State and also about the proposals for a new enforcement regime for byelaws. A full version of the document was attached for information. Responses to the proposals were sought by DfC&LG before 20 November 2008.

 

074/08-09        RESOLVED:

 

That this report be received and noted and that members should consider their responses and reply if appropriate. Members welcomed the proposals and thought that they could be helpful in the longer term.

 

(3)        BT Proposals to Re-align Payphone Provision:

 

Members were made aware that correspondence from NEDDC had been recently considered by Council concerning the re-alignment of payphones in the district. At that time, members resolved to request NEDDC to gather usage figures for the four payphones in Dronfield, which were proposed for withdrawal. No information regarding the use of the four payphones had since been received from either BT or NEDDC and therefore this Council did not make any recommendations or submissions concerning this matter. The NEDDC Cabinet had however responded to the BT consultation and has objected to the withdrawal of the payphones at Snape Hill Crescent, Falcon Road and Orchard Square but has not objected to the withdrawal of the payphone at Hilltop Road. Member’s views are requested.

 

075/08-09        RESOLVED:

  

That this report be received and noted and that the objections submitted to BT plc by North East Derbyshire District Council be agreed and confirmed.

 

(4)        Ashgate Hospice: Use of Cliffe Park:

 

Members considered the Ladies Midsummer Midnight Walk held in June of this year, which has raised over £150,000 in pledges and sponsorship. Over 1,226 ladies walked the route from Cliffe Park to Ashgate Hospice and back during the night, assisted by 80 volunteers, including volunteer staff of this Council. Since the event however, one or two complaints of music being played during the “warm up” have been reported. Ashgate Hospice have now requested the use of Cliffe Park over the nights of 20 -21^st June 2009 to repeat the event and would wish this to become an annual fund raising event. 

 

076/08-09        RESOLVED:

 

That this report be received and noted and that Ashgate Hospice be given permission to use Cliffe Park on an annual basis over the midsummer night to organise a Ladies Midsummer Night Walk, with the proviso that no music be played after 10.30pm so as not to cause nuisance to adjacent properties.

 

(5).       Dronfield Town Football Club: Visit to Sindelfingen in October:

 

Members considered correspondence from Dronfield Town Football Club regarding their imminent visit to play football games with members of Sindelfingen Council and requesting financial support as they have fallen short in their fund-raising. The total cost to the club is £5,400 but they do not state how much the shortfall is.

 

077/08-09        RESOLVED:

 

That this report be received and noted and that Dronfield Town Football Club be awarded a grant of £200.00 (Two Hundred Pounds Only) towards the cost of their venture in representing the town in Sindelfingen.

 

(6).       William Lee – Donation of £2,000

 

Members again considered the kind offer of a donation by William Lee Limited which was discussed briefly at the last meeting of Council following which one suggestion was to refurbish and supply additional equipment for picnic tables and benches at Cliffe Park was made. Mr Cooper, the Managing Director of William Lee Ltd had since contacted and appraised of the proposal to provide and refurbish the picnic tables and benches in Cliffe Park and has agreed that this scheme would be a worthwhile and valuable community project to utilise his company’s donation.

 

 

 

 

078/08-09        RESOLVED

 

That this report be received and noted and that arrangements are made to acquire the necessary profiles and equipment to install additional picnic tables and benches at Cliffe Park utilising the kind donation of £2,000 from Messrs William Lee Limited.

 

(7)        Publications Received

 

Members considered a list of publications received which are available in the Town Council offices.

079/08-09        RESOLVED   That this report be received and noted.

 

Reports From Dronfield Town Council Representatives on Outside Bodies

 

The Deputy Town Mayor reported that Dronfield had been awarded a silver award in the large town’s category of East Midlands in Bloom following the judges visit in July. He also reported that Dronfield Cemetery had been granted a “Judges Award” in recognition of the hard work that had been carried out by staff members and the community service placements.

 

080/08-09        RESOLVED:

 

That this report be received and noted and that the outside services staff and the staff employed in Dronfield Cemetery be congratulated for showing such commitment and dedicated service.

 

Schedule of Payments

 

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of August 2008 in the amount of £88,442.38 paid from the Council’s No 1 account.

 

081/08-09        RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of payments in the amount of £88,442.38 for the month of August 2008 be received noted and approved.

 

Schedule of Receipts

 

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of August 2008 in the amount of £31,020.21 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.

 

082/08-09        RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £31,020.21 for the month of August 2008 be received noted and approved.