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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
HELD AT GOSFORTH LODGE, CLIFFE PARK, DRONFIELD
ON MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2009
Present
Councillors: Mrs W Temple (The Town Mayor): G Gregory: S Temple: J Sorrill: P Blackburn: F Higgins: J McGrory: R Bull: D Oxspring: A Memmott: G Baxter: Mrs C Smith: J Stocks:
Public Forum on Planning Matters
No items were raised concerning planning matters.
Public Forum On General Matters
Mrs Ingham questioned the accuracy of the Minutes of 5th January 2009 which had not yet been approved by members. She was informed that the comments of residents in the public forum did not form part of the official Minutes. Comments are not reported verbatim but are noted and summarised as an aide memoire. She then made a short statement clarifying her comments of the previous meeting. Mrs Ingham was informed that only elected members could request amendments regarding accuracy when item number 5 on the agenda is considered. Mrs Green concurred with the comments made by Mrs Ingham.
Youth Activities in Dronfield:
Ms Pam Robinson, the County Youth Leader for this area attended along with her colleague Sue Carrott and gave a brief overview of what the County’s youth service were doing in Dronfield. She explained that there were two youth centres based at Gosforth and Gladys Buxton Centre and circulated literature of times and events at both centres. She explained that the youth service now worked with the police, local schools and social services to enable young people to meet their own aspirations and not to become a social problem. The youth service had now evolved into an informal educational facility that discussed social problems such as sexual awareness and sexual health, anti social behaviour and how to combat it and sought to influence them in their choice of life-styles.
Pam referred to the very successful Youth Theatre Group which met every Thursday at the Gosforth site and to the outreach programme that visited the Dronfield School on Monday lunchtimes. She also informed members of the mobile information unit but this was not used in Dronfield as there were two permanent youth sites in the town.
Pam then alluded to the County and District Youth Forums whereby youngsters were encouraged to take control of their futures. Elections to the youth forum take place every two years and the County has instigated a 10 year agenda for them to work to.
In answer to members’ questions, Pam confirmed that youth provision in Dronfield would not deteriorate and gave some examples of how resources are allocated. The multiple indices of deprivation is used and a score of 1 to 10 is used with 1 being the highest degree of social deprivation. Most of the Dronfield area is scored at 10 (the lowest degree of social deprivation). The measures considered in the MIofD included the number of teenage pregnancies, levels of anti-social behaviour, low attainment, low achievement in education and low employment prospects. She further explained that 80% of youth resources are targeted at the 1 to 6 areas in the MIofD scale.
Pam then paid tribute to the voluntary organisations of churches and uniformed groups who do a wonderful job and agreed that whilst there is a minor overlap of responsibility, the Youth Service could not hope to deliver the same level and depth of service provision as that delivered by the voluntary sector.
The Town Mayor thanked Pam Robinson and Sue Carrott for their attendance and for their well informed briefing which would be beneficial for members.
Prior to the formal business, Councillor Simon Temple explained that the meeting scheduled to take place on Monday 2nd February 2009 had been postponed for seven days due to the inclement weather at the time and the forecast for even heavier snowfalls that evening.
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.
141/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
Apologies
142/08-09 RESOLVED
That apologies for absence be received, noted and accepted from the following members, for the reasons stated in brackets.
Councillor Mrs K Marr (Other Business) Councillor I Pryce (Illness)
Councillor Mrs B Skelton (Other Business) Councillor M Emmens (Other Business)
Councillor M Wing (Other Business) Councillor P Blackburn left the meeting early.
Youth Matters
It was reported that no further progress had been made with setting up a meeting with the Dronfield School’s Youth Council regarding the Town Youth Council initiative and Councillor Bull volunteered to contact the school to arrange a meeting a soon a possible.
143/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
Police Matters
Members considered a short report submitted by Sgt Klenczar outlining the current police priorities in the town and the latest crime statistics. Members noted that burglaries had shown an increase and expressed their concerns. Members were also concerned about the level of anti social behaviour taking place on the public footpath adjacent to the underpass on Gosforth Lane. It was agreed that Derbyshire County Council be contacted to ascertain if this pathway could be extinguished and blocked off. The Council’s representative on the Police Consultative Committee reported that he had received a message from Inspector Waterfall regarding Alcohol Exclusion Zones in the town.
144/08-09
RESOLVED
(a) That this report be received and noted.
(b) That the subject of Alcohol Exclusion Zones be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council for consideration prior to accepting Inspector Waterfall’s invitation for the Council to meet and discuss the matter with him.
Council Minutes
Members considered the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 5th January 2009 (Pages 72-81)
145/08-09 RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 5th January 2009 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.
Application 09/00002/FL for the construction of a two storey side extension at 13 Sherwood Road by Mr Neil Depledge.
146/08-09 RESOLVED
That due to the size of this extension which cannot be considered as
incremental and the adverse effect that such a development would have on the
existing street scene, the Planning Committee of North East Derbyshire District
Council be requested to convene a site visit to inspect the proposals prior to
reaching a decision
Planning Decisions
Members considered a schedule of planning decisions submitted by North East Derbyshire District Council for information.
147/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
Town Clerks Report
1.
Outside Services
Members were informed that staff have been busily engaged in performing all the usual tasks of bus shelter cleaning, litter and dog bin emptying and servicing. It was reported that all grit bins had been refilled prior to the latest inclement weather but that supplies of salt had now run out and we are awaiting further supplies form the County Council. Several play areas had been repaired, refurbished and repainted in readiness for Spring. Seventy square metres of wall tiles have been replaced in the Civic Hall and office toilets. Members were reminded that this problem has been long standing and this is the third time that the wall tiles have needed to be replaced.
148/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
2. Police Consultative Committee:
Members were made aware that this consultative committee looks likely to be wound up in the near future. The Council’s representative on that committee has requested that the minutes of the last meeting be circulated for member’s information.
149/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
3. Town Twinning Federation: Minutes
Members considered the minutes of the monthly meeting of the Town Twinning Federation held on 9th January 2009 and the AGM of the Town Twinning Federation held on 13 January 2009 which had been circulated for information. Members were also informed that the Council’s representatives had attended the latest meeting held on Wednesday 4 February 2009 and notes of the meeting would be included in next month’s agenda.
150/08-09 RESOLVED That these reports be received and noted.
4.
Town Twinning: Strassenfest 2009
Members were informed that correspondence has been received from Roland Stein informing that this year’s Strassenfest will be held from 19th to 21st June 2009 and an invitation for a civic party to attend has been received. Last year, members resolved that the civic party should be comprised of the Town Mayor and consort, Town Clerk and up to four members who had not attended previous Strassenfest events.
151/08-09 RESOLVED
That this Council’s civic party for the 2009 Strassenfest be The Town Mayor Elect (Councillor Frank Higgins and Consort) plus the Town Clerk together with Councillors D. Oxspring, M. Wing, R Bull and one member from the joint opposition parties.
5.
Allotment Provision in Dronfield
Members were made aware that the Town Council has a statutory duty to provide allotment spaces if there is a demand for such facilities in the town and that the Dronfield Horticultural Society manages the lettings of existing plots and has informed of the current waiting list from applicants wishing to lease an allotment plot within the town. Tentative discussions have taken place with a local landowner who may lease a plot of agricultural land which would create additional allotment plots but has not yet responded to further correspondence.
Members were also informed that the rents of existing allotments within the town have not been revised for at least 10 years and members may wish to consider this matter in the near future.
152/08-09 RESOLVED
(1) That this report be received and noted.
(2) That the Properties Working Group of this Council meet with the Horticultural Society to discuss the level of allotment rents following an investigation of what other comparative Councils charge for this provision.
6.
Publications Received
Members were informed of a list of publications that have been received which are available at the Town Council offices.
153/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received.
Reports from
Representatives on Outside Bodies
Councillor R
Bull reported that he had attended the last meeting of the Town Twinning
Federation and informed members that comments were made by them regarding the
cost of booking the Shaun Hadley Room for coffee mornings. He also informed
members that the Twinning Federation was holding a quiz evening on 27 February
and welcomed teams of four to participate. It was agreed that the Town Council
would enter a team comprised of Frank Higgins, Richard Bull, Roy Hunt and John
McGrory who would pay their own fee of £6 per team member.
154/08-09 RESOLVED That this report be received and noted.
Schedule of Payments
Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of December 2008 in the amount of £91,989.24 paid from the Council’s No 1 account.
155/08-09 RESOLVED
That the schedule of payments in the amount of £91,989.24 for the month of December 2008 be received noted and approved.
Schedule of Receipts
Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of December 2008 in the amount of £10,419.52 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.
156/08-09
RESOLVED
That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £10,419.52 for the month of December 2008 be received noted and approved.
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