Council Meeting – 12th December 2024

Minutes of the Meeting of Great Longstone Parish Council

held at 7.00pm on Thursday 12^th December 2024

in Great Longstone Village Hall, DE45 1TB

 

Present: Cllr W Long (Chair), Cllr J Rigby, Cllr A Douglass, Cllr C Briggs

In attendance:  Simon Headington (Clerk) and one member of the public

130/24 Apologies for absence from members.

Cllr J Cox, Cllr P Barrett.

131/24 Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest relating to items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest.

132/24    Minutes of the meeting of Great Longstone Parish Council on 13^th November 2024.

The Minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

133/24    Session for public comments

There were no comments from the member of the public present.

134/24    Reports from official representatives

County Councillor Alasdair Sutton and District Councillor Helen Froggatt sent apologies

135/24     Discussion of Confidential Matters: (Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 S1(2))

No items were considered to be confidential.

136/24     Report from Proper Officer to the Council

1. Maintenance tenders for 2025-27 were updated as agreed and have been advertised with closing date of Friday 3^rd January 2025 (Minutes 118/24 and 119/24).
2. Rent requests for allotments for 2024/25 have now all been sent (Minute 120.1/24).
3. A donated Christmas Tree and the rest of the Council’s lights should be put up soon (Minute 121.3.1/24).
4. A request for volunteers to help with the Christmas Eve Carol concert has gone into the December edition of “Under the Edge” (Minute 121.3.2/24).
5. Dog poo bag dispensers have been ordered (Minute 121.4/24).
6. Parish Council response to planning appeal (ref NP/DDD/0524/0534 & APP/M9496/W/24/3352304) has been submitted (Minute 123.3.1/24).
7. Internal Audit 2024/25: GLPC has been accepted by the DALC internal audit service and the initial paperwork for an interim audit is being prepared by the clerk (Minute 125.3a/24).
8. Finance System. Work has started on moving the Council’s accounts across to the “Scribe” cloud finance system (Minute 125.3b/24).
9. New website: The new web address for the Parish Council is being prepared at greatlongstone-pc.gov.uk The plan is that this new website will be launched in the early part of 2025 (Minute 125.3b/24).
10. New email addresses: All councillors and the clerk will be issued with email addresses for the use of council business. For councillors these will follow the format surname@greatlongstone-pc.gov.uk and will be available for use in December 2025 (Minute 125.3b/24).
11. Mapping software: All councillors now have access to mapping software provided by “Parish Online” (Minute 125.3b/24).
12. Outstanding/Ongoing tasks
    1. Discussions with the Longstone Area Sports and Recreation Association (LASRA), regarding the lease of the two buildings on the recreation ground, and a maintenance agreement, are continuing and it is now expected that they can be concluded in time to bring to the January 2025 meeting of the Council.
    2. Precept demand for 2025/26 (£21,417) will be submitted to Derbyshire Dales District Council as soon as they issue the request paperwork (Minute 126.3/24).
    3. Land registrations: Name/address changes with solicitor. Investigations relating to the Field and Quarry with Clerk
    4. VAT Refund Claim: Clerk to liaising with previous Clerk to get access to Council’s VAT Account.
    5. Asset Register: Needs updating – current aim is to use functionality in the new mapping software.

137/24                Recreation Ground and Tennis Court Resurfacing Project 2025 (Powers from Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, c.19 para 1b)

1. Proposal to: Review of tenders received and selection of preferred contractor.Cllr A Douglass distributed an analysis that he had conducted of the three tenders submitted. His recommendation that the bid from Company “A” be accepted by the Council with a winning bid of £17,350. All in favour.
2. Proposal to: Apply for grant funding for this project.Cllr W Long volunteered to co-ordinate the submission of funding grants for this project. It was agreed to include the cost of equipment and a storage container into the funding bid.Approved. All in favour.

138/24 Grant to Longstone Area Sports and Recreation Association (LASRA) (LGA 1976 c.19 para 3a)

Proposed that: A payment be made to LASRA of £1,433.06, being the balance of donations received on behalf of LASRA from Little Longstone Parish Meeting, the Tennis Club and the County Councillor (Total income = £2,132.12, less expenditure of £699.06).

Approved. All in favour

139/24 Village/Neighbourhood plan: (Powers from Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017)

The Community meeting held on Monday 4^th November was a great success and as a result there is a strong case for moving forward with plans for either a Neighbourhood or Village Plan, details of which were in Appendix B to the Agenda).

Proposed that:

1. The Parish Council reflect on the output from the meetings with Parishioners over the year and changing demographics and decide if a strategic plan should be produced.It was agreed to go ahead with the production of a plan. All in favour.
2. Subject to above, that the Parish Council reflect on the level of detail for the plan and take a decision on either a Village Plan, or a Neighbourhood Plan.It was agreed to go ahead with a Neighbourhood Plan. All in favour.
3. Subject to above, that the Clerk be instructed to write to the Hassop, Rowland and Little Longstone Parish Meetings to notify them of the proposal and to invite them to take part. All in favour.
4. Subject to above, to formulate a Steering Committee that will incorporate some interested parishioners, and which will have the authority to liaise with PDNPA as appropriate to develop a timeline and launch strategy.
   

         Agreed. All in favour

140/24 Updated Parish Profile for PDNPA (deadline for submission is 24 Dec 2024)

Proposed that: The updated Parish Profile, at Appendix C, be submitted to the PDNPA.

Agreed. All in favour 

141/24 Christmas Eve Carols – 6.30pm 24^th December

A member of the community has offered to set up an amplification system. The Chair remembered that last year a community member had prepared suitable music that might still be available. The PCC has offered the loan of their collection buckets but otherwise would not be able to help this year. Some offers of help as wardens have been received but more were needed.

122/24 Overnight Parking on Moor Road:

There are a number of areas suitable for parking on Moor Road, in the section between the cattle grid and just past the bend at the top of the hill. These provide lovely views of the area and act as a good starting point for walks on Longstone Moor. Since the Covid Pandemic the number of people choosing to use these to park overnight, in vehicles with sleeping accommodation, appears to have increased significantly. From the occasional overnight visitor there can now often be ten or more vehicles with some staying for a week or more. About a month ago someone put a caravan into the top lay-by and appears to be occupying it on a continuous basis. There now appear to be vehicles staying every night of the year. It has been reported by local residents that many of the vehicles that use the parking spaces are of designs that do not have their own toilet facilities, and it has been suggested that human waste is starting to appear in the surrounding area.

Proposal: The Clerk be instructed to contact the Peak District National Park Planning Authority to find out what they plan to do about this situation, after first talking to the farmer.

Approved. All in favour

143/24 Planning Applications

1. Recent – for information
   • NP/DDD/0924/1027 – Cluden Bank, Main Street. – Granted 22nd Nov 2024
   • NP/TCA/1124/1237 – 3 Conifer trees to fell – to give more room for Yew trees 2 Chestnut trees to shorten lower lateral branches by approx 2m, growing over border. Longstone Lodge
   • NP/DDD/1124/1193 – Lawful Development certificate for a proposed use – Extension to the rear of property. Victoria Terrace.

2. New, for consideration in meeting
   • NP/DDD/1224/1323 – Holmcroft, Station Road, to replace an existing conservatory with a 2-storey extension.

The Council had no objections to the application.

3. Notification of Appeals
   • NP/DDD/0524/0534 – Change of use of The Old School to dwelling. Appeal Reference 3352304. Expected decision date in 2025.

4. Enforcement Notices
   • ENF: 24/0143 – PDNPA have issued a “Planning Enforcement Notice, for a “Breach of Condition” on the new owners of the Watersaw Mine Compound (also known as Salet Hole No 2 Mine), off Moor Road. Condition 20 of planning permission NP/DDD/0805/0818 required that the owners submit a written agreement for the reclamation of the compound, by no later than 30th November 2014.

As ownership of the Mine, plus other asset within Great Longstone Parish including Blakedon Hollow Tailings Dam No 4, High Rake/Bow Rake Quarry and various other plots of land, have recently moved from Green Land PD Ltd (formally known as British Fluorspar Ltd and Fluorsid British Fluorspar Limited) via The Official Receiver and the Insolvency Service to B&T Skip Hire Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of B&T Enterprises Ltd) of Warrington, PDNPA served the notice on all of these companies and organisations.

144/24 Village Hall Records: GLPC has received notification from The County Records Office that papers, relating to the Village Hall in the 1940’s, have been deposited with them by a 3rd party. They are being treated as the property of the Parish Council and they are requesting permission to store them. The Clerk has checked with the Village Hall Chair and Secretary, and they are happy with this.

Proposed that: Clerk be instructed to sign and return the permission slip, on behalf of the Council.

Agreed: All in favour.

145/24 Missing Council Minutes: It appears that the records Office do not have a copy of the Great Longstone Parish Council Minutes for the period April 1990 to – end 1996. The Council does not have these minutes either.

Proposed that: Clerk be instructed to ask “Under the Edge” to appeal to past council members, clerks and their families to see if anyone has copies of these missing documents.

Approved. All in favour

146/24 Training courses available for Councillors and Staff

1. PPPF/PDNPA Authority Planning Training (Mon 13th January 2025) – @ Arden House (Free): Cllr Long and Clerk to attend.
2. DALC – Role of Internal Audit (10am on Wed 15^th January 2025): Clerk to attend

147/24 Financial Matters
1.           To accept and approve payments since last meeting.

No	Item	Supplier	Net	VAT	Total	Power
1	Mapping Software	Geoxphere Ltd	£63.00	£12.60	£75.60
2	Service Charge (30/11)	Unity Trust Bank	£6.00	–	£6.00

2. To accept and approve new payments:

No	Item	Supplier	Net	VAT	Total	Power
1	Advert for tenders	Peak Advertiser	£47.50	£9.50	£57.00
2	Dog poop bag dispensers & padlocks	Amazon / Clerk	£75.83	£0.00	£75.83	LGA 1972 S137
3	Balance of donations	LASRA	£1,433.06	£0.00	£1,433.06	LGA 1976 c.19 para 3a
4	New website & email	Parish Online	£260.00	£52.00	£312.00
5	Emergency Phone	Community Heartbeat Trust	£60.00	£12.00	£72.00	LGA 1972 S137

 

148/24 Items of Late Correspondence
The Clerk received an email from DDDC about the possibility of running a holiday camp in the village in the summer holidays. It would either be for a full week (9-3 daily including lunch) or one day a week, for instance every Tuesday. They are looking at applying for Lottery Funding for this.

The Council were supportive of this initiative.

149/24 Items from Councillors for information: (Note that anything that requires a decision to be made must go onto the agenda of a future meeting for discussion and agreement)

It was reported that former Parish Councillor Suzy Barton had passed away peacefully in her sleep at the start of December. Suzy had been a very active member of the community. In addition to serving as a Councillor she had stood in as acting clerk on occasions and had also been the Editor of Under the Edge for a number of years.

150/24 Dates of forthcoming meetings

1. Parish Council meetings:
   • Wed 29th January 2025 (instead of meeting scheduled for 8^th January 2025)
   • Wed 12th March 2025
   • Wed 14th May 2025
   • Wed 9th July 2025
   • Wed 10th September 2025
   • Wed 12th November 2025
2. Date of next Annual Parish Meeting – Wed 30^th April 2025
3. Date of next Village Week Steering Committee Meeting – 20^th January 2025

The Chair closed the meeting at 8.30pm

Simon Headington: Clerk to Great Longstone Parish Council

parishcouncil@greatlongstone.org
Tel: 07968 295258