MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF DRONFIELD CIVIC HALL,

CIVIC CENTRE, DRONFIELD ON MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2009

 

Present

 

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

 

Public Forum on Planning Matters

 

No matters were raised by members of the public.

 

Public Forum On General Matters

 

Mrs Susan Ingham wished to congratulate Dronfield in Bloom on being awarded a Silver Award by the judges of East Midland in Bloom. She agreed that the plantings should be considered and improved to create more of an impact by adding some height to the beds. Mrs Ingham also informed members that a lecture on Victorian meadows was to be held later that week. The Mayor thanked Mrs Ingham for her comments and stated that he would pass on her comments to the Dronfield in Bloom committee.

 

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.

 

Councillor S Temple and Councillor R Bull declared a personal interest in the matter of the car park proposals at Gorsey Brigg and stated that they would not discuss or vote on this matter.

 

78/09-10          RESOLVED    

 

That this report be received and noted and that the declaration of a personal interest by Councillors S Temple and R Bull be received and acknowledged. .

 

Apologies

 

79/09-10          RESOLVED

 

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

 

Councillor A Memmott: (other business)

Councillor D Oxspring: (other business)

Councillor J Stocks:  (other business)

 

 

           

Youth Matters

 

Dronfield Youth Council:

 

A verbal report was presented by the Chair of the Youth Council Working Group informing members that at the close of the deadline for the receipt of nominations to the Youth Council elections due to be held on 22 October 2009; only two nominations had been received.

 

Members expressed their disappointment and agreed that further discussions with the school take place to ascertain what measures can be taken to increase awareness and participation in the local democratic process.

 

80/09-10          RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

Tennis Club Proposals:

 

A young resident had contacted members asking if there was the possibility of establishing a tennis club with the town. If such a formal club were to be formed, it may mean that grants would be available to such a club to improve the current facilities and generate much wider interest to local youth to play tennis as part of the healthier living option.

 

81/09-10          RESOLVED    

 

That this report be received and noted and that the matter be referred to the next meeting of the Properties Working Group for further investigation.

 

Police Matters

 

PC Tony Klenczar had sent in the latest crime statistics and news from the Safer Neighbourhood Scheme which had now slightly amended its list of three priorities to consider: The three priorities have now been identifies as:

 

(1)        Anti Social Behaviour on Green Lane and at Greendale Shops.

(2)        Anti Social Behaviour on Pentland Road and Sindelfingen Park.

(3)        Speeding Vehicles in Dronfield.

 

It was also reported that Glynn Lewis (PCSO) had put forward a suggestion regarding graffiti street art and asked if there was a location within the town where such a scheme might be tried out. He had mentioned the MUGA surrounding kick boards as a possible location but was advised that this area is well used by many local clubs who use the facility for training purposes and that the playing areas comprised of expensive artificial turf are kept locked and secured when no team has booked or paid to use the facility.

 

82/09-10          RESOLVED    

 

That this report be received and noted and that the local police officers attend a future meeting and bring further details of graffiti street art for consideration by members.

 

 

 

 

Council Minutes

 

Members considered the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 7 September (Pages 26-43)

 

A member questioned the accuracy of Minute 69/09-10 on Page 34 and stated that “he seemed to recollect that the matter had been referred to the Properties Working Group”. The Town Clerk informed members that the minute reflected, word for word, the recommendations of the Budget Working Group held on 26 August 2009 which the Council had considered at the last meeting. The Town Clerk informed members that copious hand written notes were made at the time of the meetings and were transcribed into formal resolutions within days of the event and suggested that this was probably more accurate than relying on recollections one month after a meeting.

 

Despite this reassurance, an amendment was moved and seconded that all the words in Minute 69/09-10 be deleted and replaced with “That the project be subject to consideration and recommendation by the Properties Working Group.” Following discussion, this motion was carried by the votes of the majority party.

 

83/09-10          RESOLVED 

 

That with Minute 69/09-10 being amended by the deletion of all words and replaced with “That the project be subject to consideration and recommendation by the Properties Working Group;” the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 7 September 2009 were received, accepted and approved as a true record of events and that the Town Mayor was 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 09/00761/FL: Demolition of existing house and construction of two detached dwellings at 1 Cecil Road Dronfield by Mr B Boulby.

 

84/09-10          RESOLVED

 

That the application be objected to until a site visit by members of the planning committee of North East Derbyshire District Council has been convened prior to a decision being made. Members expressed serious concerns regarding road safety matters at this dangerous road junction and thought that additional development would exacerbate the problem.

 

Reference 09/00807/FL: Alterations, including raising the ridge height to create rooms in roofspace at 4 Holmedale Close Dronfield by Mr D Elkington.

 

85/09-10          RESOLVED

 

That the application be objected to until a site visit by members of the planning committee of North East Derbyshire District Council has been convened prior to a decision being made. Members expressed serious concerns regarding changes to the existing street scene as most of the dwellings adjacent to the proposal are single storey bungalows. Members considered that the proposals were not in keeping with the local environment and could be detrimental to neighbouring properties.

 

Planning Decisions

 

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

 

 86/09-10         RESOLVED    

 

That this report be received and noted.

 

Town Clerks Report

 

1.         Outside Services

 

Members were made aware that all the hanging baskets have now been dismantled after a good floral show throughout the summer. The summer plantings in the beds and window boxes will be replaced with winter plantings. Bus shelters continue to be cleaned and disinfected every two weeks with the litter and dog bins being emptied and serviced on a weekly basis. Lundy Road play area is the latest site that has been repainted and refurbished  and the sand pit in Cliffe Park will be closed for the winter with the refurbishments taking place now that children no longer use the facility.

 

Members were informed that the changing rooms and outside toilets at Cliffe Park have all been painted and refurbished with the window frames being replaced by UPVC double glazed units to assist with general maintenance problems. Parts of the ceiling and some of the tiling within the shower areas were replaced with waterproof wall boarding being utilised under the tiling to prevent future damage. The extractor fans have been upgraded with new ducting to improve the ventilation within the shower areas.

 

Members were reminded that a recent survey of all trees on Council owned land was carried out and that some remedial work was specified for the ancient urban woodland of Beechwood (adjacent to the Sports Centre). Planning consent has recently been granted for maintenance works, including the felling of diseased or dangerous trees to take place. This work will commence on 5 October 2009 and neighbouring properties have been made aware that this work will be carried out with any inconvenience kept to a minimum. Minor tree works have also been completed in Sindelfingen Park, Jubilee Park and Quoit Green. Some other tree surgery has also been scheduled for trees within the confines of Cliffe Park. A detailed rolling programme of works and projects has been drawn up by the outside services foremen in conjunction with the Town Clerk for completion during the winter months.

 

87/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

2.         Dronfield Town Twinning Federation

 

Members considered the minutes of the last meeting of the Town Twinning Federation held on 2 September 2009 together with the notes of a joint meeting between themselves and members of the Council’s Town Twinning Working Group.

 

 

88/09-10     RESOLVED

 

That this report be received and noted and that as next year is the fortieth anniversary of twinning links with Sindelfingen, a joint meeting of the Budget Working Group and the Town Twinning Working Group be convened prior to budget making time to discuss this matter in greater detail.

 

3.         Planning Consultation: Council Owned Land at Gorsey Brigg

 

Members had considered this matter last month and had resolved that this Council would object to the proposals until a detailed site visit had been convened by NEDDC prior to any decision being reached. It had also been resolved that the Town Clerk should meet with the developer and try to reach a mutually agreed negotiated settlement concerning the proposals.

 

Members then considered a report of the meeting between the Town Clerk and Kingstad Properties Ltd (the developer). The developers were asked to consider an alternative solution that would entail the whole of the adjacent piece of grassed land and pathway being surfaced in tar macadam and converted into a local public car park for the use of local residents, scouts and users of the Sindelfingen Park facilities. This new car park would replace the unofficial car park and would remain within the ownership of Dronfield Town Council so that no sale or transfer of land would be involved. After due consideration, the developers agreed to provide the necessary parking spaces as detailed above by tarmac surfacing the whole area and also retaining a two metre strip of green border area for bush and shrub planting in order to retain the aesthetic appearance of the area. Subject to this proposal, the developer would also wish to divert the surface water and foul water sewers under the proposed car park which would entail digging out the necessary ditches which would then be back-filled, made good and surfaced with hard core and asphalt.

 

89/09-10     RESOLVED 

 

That this report be received and noted.

 

That the negotiated settlement detailed above be approved and that the planning objection to the proposed development be withdrawn. That Kingstad Properties Ltd be granted a wayleave to divert the surface water and foul water sewers across the land owned by Dronfield Town Council subject to Kingstad Properties agreeing to create a public car park adjacent to their development by covering all the existing grassed area with tarmacadam as delineated on the attached plan.

 

4.         Dronfield in Bloom: Judge’s Report and Award

 

Members considered the results of the judging of Dronfield in Bloom’s efforts in the East Midland in Bloom competition. The town was awarded a SILVER AWARD having achieved a score of 136 points. A special award had also been granted to the group of community workers and staff who had been occupied in keeping Dronfield Cemetery in such a good state.

 

90/09-10     RESOLVED 

 

That this report be received and noted and that the Council’s appreciation be expressed to Friends of Dronfield Station, Cemetery and Town Council staff who have shown such pride and enthusiasm in making the town and its environs such a pleasant place in which to live and work.

 

5.         Publications Received

 

Members were informed of a list of publications that have been received which are available at the Town Council offices.

 

91/09-10          RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

Schedule of Payments

 

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of August 2009 in the amount of £57,589.31 paid from the Council’s No 1 account.

 

92/09-10          RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of payments in the amount of £57,589.31 for the month of August 2009 be received and noted for information.

 

Schedule of Receipts

 

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of August 2009 in the amount of £18,041.12 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.

 

93/09-10          RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £18,041.12 for the month of August 2009 be received and noted for information.

 

The Town Mayor closed the meeting at 8.55pm and items 10 and 11 were not considered by members having been withdrawn without a motion to amend or alter the agenda being considered by Council.