MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DRONFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF DRONFIELD CIVIC HALL,

CIVIC CENTRE, DRONFIELD ON MONDAY 7^th DECEMBER 2009

 

Present

 

Councillors: F Higgins, (The Town Mayor): G Baxter: P Blackburn: R Bull: M Emmens: A Memmott: D Oxspring: Mrs B Skelton: Mrs C Smith: J Sorrill: J Stocks:  Mrs W Temple: S P Temple: M Wing.

 

Marketing The Markets

 

Prior to the meeting, Martyn Handley of North East Derbyshire District Council gave a brief presentation regarding marketing the markets in the areas of the district where markets are held; namely Dronfield, Killamarsh, Eckington and Clay Cross. A joint expression of interest had been made by North East Derbyshire District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council to the LEADER project run by East Midlands Development Agency and a full application was now in the process of being completed. The objectives of the scheme are to promote and publicise the markets which would bring benefits to both residents and visitors.

 

Funding will provide at least three special events at each location and pay for radio advertisements, local leaflets and brochures as well as funding a part time officer who will spend 2.5 days a week between the four towns. The funding source’s conditions are complicated and it may well transpire that Dronfield will not be eligible to tap into that particular funding pot (LEADER PROJECT) but assistance will be given for applications to be made to Awards For All and other suitable funders. Each local area will be asked to commit £1,000 per year for a 3 year period but will receive substantially more back in terms of publicity, promotions, extra events etc.

 

Mr Handley was thanked for his explanations and was informed that members would consider this matter later in the agenda.

 

Public Forum on Planning Matters

 

Mr David Cotes and Mr Paul Robinson of Park Avenue wished to draw members’ attention to a planning application to construct five detached houses on the paddock between Cliffe Park and Park Avenue. They stated that traffic along Park Avenue would increase by at least 20% and the road is not of a standard to accept that level of traffic. The access to the new houses would be via a narrow single track with no hard standing and would lead to loss of privacy for many of the adjacent properties on Park Avenue. They also said that the application was against current planning policy regarding green field sites and was against NEDDC’s H2 policy . Park Avenue is a private road and extra hazards could be created at the junction with Green Lane, opposite the entrance to Henry Fanshaw School. They informed members that there are several mature oak trees on the site that encourages an abundance of wildlife to the area and it would be a shame if this local environment were to be damaged beyond repair.

 

Public Forum on General Matters

 

Mr Derek Oldman of Southfield Mount commented that he had recently read an article whereby Derbyshire County Council were keen to forge links with local town and parish councils and suggested that this Council could perhaps invite the two local County Councillors to each meeting and invite them to present a brief update of what the County are doing for local residents. The Town Clerk responded that he had also read this article and had contacted the County Council informing them that Dronfield Town Council had not been invited or had received any information regarding the event, which seems strange when Dronfield is the largest local council in the whole of the East Midlands, not just Derbyshire. It was agreed that this matter would be placed on a future agenda for members to discuss further. 

 

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 declared a personal interest concerning item 4 of the planning application schedule and stated that he would not discuss or vote on this matter.

 

119/09-10        RESOLVED    

 

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

 

Apologies

 

120/09-10        RESOLVED

 

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

 

Councillor G Gregory               (other business)

Councillor Mrs K Marr (other business)

Councillor J McGrory               (other business)

Councillor I Pryce                     (other business)

           

Youth Matters

 

 

Dronfield Youth Council

 

A verbal report was presented by the Chair of the Youth Council Working Group informing members that despite making further arrangements and producing fresh publicity material for the rearranged Youth Council elections, there had been a lack of interest by scholars and that at the closing date of 20 November, there were insufficient nominations in all but two of the school years and if elections were to be held on 10 December as planned, then only years 7 and 10 would be voting. The school had informed that they could perhaps second some of the School Council onto the Youth Council but this was seen as not being truly democratic.  Members would now have to decide whether to continue the process or allow the matter to be adjourned until a further date. It was suggested that liaison could be maintained by inviting members of the School Council to attend these meetings on a quarterly basis to consult with members and that the contacts already made with scholars and staff could be used to set up regular meetings for the mutual benefit of members and scholars.

 

121/09-10        RESOLVED

 

·                    That this report be received and noted.

·                    That arrangements for holding elections to create a Dronfield Youth Council be allowed to lie dormant due to a lack of interest.

·                    That arrangements be made to establish regular contact between this Council and the school council for the mutual benefit of both.

 

Guides Annual General Meeting

 

The Town Mayor reported that he had recently attended the Guide’s AGM in the town and was gratified that so much hard work was being undertaken by the guides themselves and the group leaders who gave up so much of their time. He stated that there is now a recruitment drive asking for people to come forward and act as leaders because there are 20,000 young people nationally who wish to join but cannot due to the shortage of leaders.

 

122/09-10        RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

Police Matters

 

Inspector Waterfall attended the meeting and said that he wanted to gain an insight into how local residents and members perceived policing in the area. He wanted to provide quality front line services across the whole spectrum of the criminal justice range. He stated that the area was performing very well in the reduction of crime figures but there are two main areas of concern and these were: burglaries to dwellings which showed a 25% increase over last year and vehicle crime, which although lower than last year was still creating difficulties with people leaving high value goods on show.

 

All crime is down by 15% across the North East District and he then gave the monthly crime statistics for Dronfield which once again were low in comparison to other areas. A brief mention was made of operation Rhubarb which addresses the problem of alcohol and youth crime. The team were constantly reviewing its times and methods of operation to keep up with changing ploys by youth offenders. Trading Standards have been involved in helping to catch retailers selling to young people and another initiative is to take young people and show them the effects that alcohol abuse can have on their lives. It was reported that many of the local public houses have now displayed notices asking their clients not to take glasses and bottles off the premises in place to help such situations and whether licensing conditions were appropriate. Finally, Inspector Waterfall asked if he could attend the January meeting and show a recent DVD to members showing various initiatives that had taken place.

 

123/09-10        RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

Council Minutes

 

Members considered the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 2 November 2009  (Pages 53-65)

 

124/09-10        RESOLVED 

 

That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Dronfield Town Council held on 2 November 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.

 

Reference 09/00639/FL: Construction of two detached two story houses with integral garages, construction of a detached single garage to serve existing bungalow, alterations to existing southern vehicular access, widening of existing northern vehicular access and alterations to front boundary wall. (Adjacent to Conservation Area)(Amended Title)(Amended Plans) at 30 Northern Common by Mr D Inman.

 

125/09-10        RESOLVED

 

·      That this application be formally objected to on the following grounds:

·      The access and visibility splays onto Northern Common will lead to an increased danger for road users at this section of the highway due to blind bends on the approach.

·      That the two proposed dwellings will be overbearing in nature and will not fit in with the existing street-scene of houses on Longcroft Road which are varied in appearance.

·      That the boundary wall and adjacent mature trees are a feature of the conservation area and any changes would be detrimental.

·      That the site is an active wildlife habitat where bats are domiciled and badgers are reported to have been seen.

·      That NEDDC make no decisions regarding this application until a site visit by the planning committee has taken place and that the application is discussed by the full planning committee.

 

Reference 09/00993/FLConstruction of a five detached two storey houses on land to the rear of 14-22 Green Lane and  4 -16 Park Avenue, Dronfield  by Mr A Ponsford.

 

126/09-10        RESOLVED

 

·      That this application be formally objected to on the following grounds:

·      That the proposal is backland development that would lead to a major loss of privacy and amenity for many affected neighbouring properties.

·      That the access/egress from Park Avenue (a private road) would lead to traffic and pedestrian hazards at the narrow junction with Green Lane which is directly opposite the entrance to Henry Fanshaw School.

·      That there is an abundance of wildlife in this area that uses the trees that are proposed to be felled.

·      That NEDDC make no decisions regarding this application until a site visit by the planning committee has taken place and that the application is discussed by the full planning committee.

 

Reference 09/00969/FL: Construction of a detached two story house with integral garage on vacant land adjacent to Aston End House. Reformation of existing entrance and gates (acess to highway unaffected). Removal of several low grade trees. (Conservation Area)(Affecting Setting of a Listed Building) at Cross Lane, Coal Aston by Mr N Moxon.

 

127/09-10        RESOLVED

 

·      That this application be formally objected to on the following grounds:

·      That the “reformed” access onto Green Lane has not been used for many years and would lead to traffic dangers on the brow of the highway which is already considered to be dangerous.

·      That the proposal is over development of the conservation area and is not in keeping with the existing street scene.

·      That NEDDC make no decisions regarding this application until a site visit by the planning committee has taken place and that the application is discussed by the full planning committee.

 

Reference 09/01038/CATPO: Notification to fell two Lime trees within the Coal Aston Conservation Area at Linden Dell, Stone Road, Coal Aston by Mr Harrison.

 

128/09-10        RESOLVED

 

·      That this application be formally objected to unless the two trees are diseased or in a dangerous condition and that a report of a qualified tree surgeon be produced to affirm whether the trees are healthy or not.

 

Planning Decisions

 

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

 

 129/09-10       RESOLVED      That this report be received and noted.

 

Town Clerks Report

 

1.         Outside Services

 

Members were advised that the Outside Services staff have been kept busy doing their usual tasks throughout the town which include:

 

·        Bus shelter cleaning and disinfecting on a fortnightly basis.

·        Litter and dog bins being emptied and serviced on a weekly basis.

·        Play area safety/graffiti inspections on a weekly basis.

·        Hedgerows and hedges trimmed back on Council owned land.

 

And that over the last three weeks or so, all the Christmas lights, illuminations and decorative trees have been installed and the electrical fittings tested for the big switch on which took place on Friday 4^th December. Remedial work has continued to be completed in Cliffe Park and staff are currently preparing all the paintwork in Gosforth Lodge prior to the whole building being re-decorated during the coming month. All the grit bins in the town (both those owned by Dronfield Town Council and those owned by the County)  will be serviced and refilled by Dronfield Town Staff with the salt/grit being supplied free by the County Council using the same agreed formula as in the past three years. It is not yet known whether this Council has received an allocation of additional grit bins for the County under the present scheme whereby they supply the bins and we agree to maintain and fill the bin every year.

 

130/09-10     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 4 November 2009 and had been circulated to every member for information.

 

131/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

3.         Casual Vacancy to Dronfield Town Council (South Ward)

 

Members were made aware that Daniel Gage, under the provisions of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, was automatically disqualified from holding the elected office as Town Councillor for the South Ward of Dronfield Town Council because he failed to attend any meetings within a six month period. Mr Gage’s last attendance at a meeting was on 5^th May 2009 and he did not attend the subsequent Annual Meeting of the Council, five ordinary meetings of the Council, three Youth Council Working Group meetings and one Town Twinning Working Group meeting throughout the qualifying six month period.  Mr Gage was informed by letter on 6^th November 2009 stating that he was now automatically disqualified from being an elected member as the Council had not been notified or formally agreed to accept reasons for his absences. The elections officer at North East Derbyshire District Council was duly notified and notices were posted throughout the town informing residents that a casual vacancy now existed and that an election would be called if any 10 local electors wrote in requesting one before the deadline of 27 November 2009. Ten electors have requested an election to be called and North East Derbyshire District Council (as the Elections Authority) will now make the necessary arrangements and set a date for a bye election to be held if the seat is contested.

 

132/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

4.         Mayor’s Allowance

 

Members were appraised that in 1995, the Mayor’s Allowance was withdrawn and the money previously allocated as the Mayor’s Allowance was used on providing school milk for primary scholars in the town. In order that the role of Town Mayor is as accessible as possible and that economic or social issues do not preclude suitable candidates from accepting the position, it has been suggested that members may wish to consider this matter further. Members thought it may be advisable for an all party working group to be convened to discuss this matter further and make suitable recommendations to a future meeting of Council.

 

133/09-10     RESOLVED    

 

That this report be received and noted and that this matter and  item 5 below be considered together.

 

 

 

 

5.         Civic Insignia

 

Members were informed that the only civic insignia currently in use is the Town Mayors Chain of Office that is passed on each year to the current Town Mayor. The Town Mayor’s Consort (Mayoress) does not have any civic insignia. Past Town Mayors do not enjoy any recognition of their past services either. It has been suggested that members may wish to consider these matters further.

 

134/09-10     RESOLVED  

 

That this report be received and noted and that an all party Civic Amenities Working Group be established to consider the matter of a Town Mayor’s Allowance, a Town Mayor’s Consort Chain of Office and a badge of recognition for past Town Mayors.

 

6.         District/Parish Liaison Meeting

 

Members were advised that the Leader and Deputy Leader had attended a meeting of the Parish Liaison Committee on Wednesday 18 November 2009 and the following items were on the agenda which the Leader gave a brief update upon.

 

·                    Audio Trails: an initiative whereby local people make a recording of walks and places of interest so that other interested walkers can follow in their footsteps.

·                    The Power of Well Being: members were aware that the Town Clerk is now qualified but the next move will be to offer training in this subject to at least 80% of the elected members in order to be granted the powers of well being.

·                    Ethical Standards (Dispensations). The full text of this item was circulated for members consideration.

 

 135/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

7.         Marketing the Markets Project

 

Following the earlier presentation by Martin Hanley, members considered a report setting out in more detail the aims and objectives of the proposed project. The paper set out certain actions that this Council will need to make if it agrees to take part in this initiative and these include:

 

a.                  Representatives from potential partner organisations to obtain formal approval of their organisation’s membership of the project partnership.

 

b.                  Parish/Town Council to approve their financial contribution to the project over 3 years and to determine the amount per annum they will contribute.

 

c.                   For each Parish/Town Council to nominate a Champion for the project.

 

d.                  Each Parish/Town Council to obtain formal acknowledgement of the level of support and responsibility that their organisation will provide to the project.

 

e.                   For each Parish/Town Council to formally acknowledge the commitment required from them to monitor the project.

 

 

136/09-10     RESOLVED

 

·      That this report be received and noted.

 

·      That North East Derbyshire District Council be informed that Dronfield Town Council will fully support this initiative and will make a donation of £1,000 per annum for the next three years.

 

8.         Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walks Society

 

Members considered correspondence that had been received from the above Society setting out its plans for the 10^th anniversary of the walk and offering a brief resume of what has been achieved over that ten year period. The Society has requested that they be invited to a future meeting to give a short presentation to members.

 

137/09-10     RESOLVED

 

That this report be received and noted and that the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walks Society be invited to the next meeting of Council to give a brief presentation prior to the meeting proper.

 

9.                  Dronfield District Feast 2010

 

Members considered correspondence which had been received from Churches Together in Dronfield and District setting out  some of the proposals and arrangements for the Dronfield District Feast to be held on 25, 26 and 27 June 2010.

 

138/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted

 

10.              Anti Social Behaviour in the Town

 

Members were reminded that at the last meeting of Council, concerns were expressed by residents about the incidence of anti social behaviour caused by patrons of local public houses smashing glasses and bottles on the roads and pavements. It was agreed at that meeting that the leaders of all three political parties convene to discuss the matter further and to meet with Inspector Waterfall to consider this and other matters of concern. A meeting of the three leaders was held on 12^th November 2009 and it was agreed at that meeting that following advice, the Town Council do not possess any powers to force publicans to serve their drinks in plastic containers and that local residents have more powers as individuals to ask for a review of any licensee’s conditions which are attached to particular licenses. It was agreed that this Town Council will request the local licensing authority to investigate what powers are available to them to alleviate the problem of broken glasses and bottles littering the streets of the town. It was also agreed that a letter be drafted for approval by the licensing authority detailing this particular problem and requesting all licenses in the town to take any and all reasonable measures to try to alleviate the problem. (The letters and responses were circulated for information). The Mayor further reported that one licensee had nominated a member of his staff to patrol the outside of his premises and sweep up any debris arising from unruly behaviour.

 

139/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

 

 

11.              Publications Received

 

Members considered a schedule of publications that have been received and are available at the Town Council Offices for perusal.

 

140/09-10     RESOLVED     That this report be received and noted.

 

Schedule of Payments

 

Members considered a schedule of payments for the month of October  2009 in the amount of £81,415.54 paid from the Council’s No 1 account.

 

141/09-10        RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of payments in the amount of £81,415.54 for the month of October 2009 be received and noted for information.

 

Schedule of Receipts

 

Members considered a schedule of receipts for the month of October 2009 in the amount of £23,751.24 paid into the Council’s No 2 account.

 

142/09-10        RESOLVED

 

That the schedule of receipts in the amount of £23,751.24 for the month of October 2009 be received and noted for information.