Council Meeting – 9th September 2026

Minutes of the Meeting of Great Longstone Parish Council

held at 7.00pm on Wednesday 9^th September 2026

in Great Longstone Village Hall, DE45 1TB

 

Present: Cllr J Rigby, Cllr A Douglass, Cllr S Hornsey, Cllr P Barrett, Cllr J Cox
In attendance:  Simon Headington (Clerk)

129/26 Apologies for absence from members:  None.

130/26 To approve minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2026: Approved

131/26 Public Comments: None

132/26 Discussion of Confidential Matters: (Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 S1(2)) – Council decided that no items in this meeting needed to be discussed with the public excluded.

133/26 Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee Report: Cllr Douglass reported that the Steering Group had met on Monday 7^th September, for its 18^th monthly meeting. The current priority is the drafting of policies though they are also working on plans to hold a village meeting to update the community on progress whilst also looking at building a consensus on issues such as traffic management.

Cllr Douglass reminded the Council that just as the Neighbourhood Plan process was being started the government announced the ending of the majority of grant funding that has been available. Spending had been kept to a minimum though funds were needed for publicity and printing. Limited matched funding might be available from PDNPA but support from the Parish Council would be needed to access this.

134/26 Recreation Ground

1. Playground Weekly Inspections & the “Safer Play” app: The clerk reported that the preferred option would only work if the person carrying out inspections used an “Apple iPad”. As the intention is to have a team of volunteers carrying out the inspections a hardware lock of this sort would not work. Clerk instructed to look for alternatives.
2. Birdsnest Swing: The cost of replacing the frame would be around £1,825 (wood) or £2,375 (metal). Both options would require £250 to £300 of ground works to replace the old frame with a new one. The council agreed that its preference was for a metal frame as, though initially more expensive, it would have a longer life and lower maintenance costs. It was agreed that before taking this any further that the Council would explore the feasibility and cost of having bespoke brackets made and installed, to give the existing frame a few more years of use.
3. Recreation Ground Buildings:
   1. Both buildings were repainted during August.
   2. The floor of the Tea Hut has been found to be extensively damaged by woodworm. The extent of this damage had previously been hidden by carpet tiles. The whole floor area and sub-frame needs to be treated for woodworm and damage boards need to be replaced. The full cost is to be established but it was agreed that if all the work, including treatment and replacing damaged floorboards and joists, can be done for under £1,000, the project could go ahead. If the cost to the Parish Council is going to be over £1,000 then a full report with proposals, option and costs are to be brought to the next meeting of the Council.
4. Proposal to create a Petanque Court: The Council confirmed that it has no objections to the construction of a Petanque Court, on the Recreation Ground, as long as all necessary permits and permissions are gained at the appropriate stages.
5. Request for a bench: A request has been received for a new bench on the Recreation Ground. The Council has previously stated that any offers of new benches will only be accepted if they are to replace an existing bench and if it is manufactured from recycled plastics (to minimise maintenance costs). It was agreed that further consultation was required before a decision could be made.
6. Annual review meeting with LASRA: All parties have agreed that an Annual Review Meeting would be beneficial, though a date has still to be agreed.
7. Annual Increase in LASRA Maintenance Grant: The Parish Council’s agreement with LASRA includes an annual increase, in the maintenance grant, that is linked to the increase in the UK Consumer Price Index for July of each year. The published increase for July 2026 was 2.9%. Added to the 3.9% of July 2025 means that the full cost for 2027 will be £4,000 x 1.038 (CPI July 2025) x 1.029 (CPI July 2026) = £4,272.41 or £1,068.10 per quarter.
8. Goal Mouths: It was reported that LASRA would be prepared to undertake the repairs to the goal mouths if the Parish Council funded the materials. This was agreed.

135/26 Village Hall

1. Clause 13.3 Review Meeting: Scheduled for 7.30pm on Wed 14^th A discussion took place with regards to the roof. It was explained that seeing “daylight” through a roof with no internal lining was normal, internal linings only having become common from the 1960s onwards. The roof, covered in original Welsh Slate, was generally thought to be in good condition and should give many more years’ service, if regular maintenance takes place (for instance the prompt replacement of slipped tiles). In addition, it was recommended that the ridge tiles should be repointed/relayed soon.
2. Decorating of windows: Still looking for additional quotes
3. Flooding on Church Lane: County Councillor has been contacted to seek help in getting an answer from Highways on when the issue will be dealt with.

136/26 Allotments & West Green

1. Update on tenancies and waiting list: All allotments are currently let and there is one new resident on the waiting list.
2. Pump and Water Supply: New pump parts approved at July meeting have been ordered and fitted. Pump was then working until the tank dried up due to a lack of rain. Following the recent rain, water is now available again.
3. New Tenancy Agreements: To note that new Tenancy Agreements have been issued to all allotment holders, plus invoices for 2026/27. Rents now based on plot size and are index linked in the same way as the recreation ground maintenance agreement (annually based on July CPI inflation figure).
4. Update on issue with Moles on West Green: Cllr Cox reported that before he could take any action the dry weather seems to have forced the Moles further underground, and no further damage has been seen. He will monitor the situation over the coming months.

137/26 The Willows: Clerk wrote to PDNPA Ranger (Item 120/26) but nothing further heard yet.

138/26 Highways and Footpaths

1. Road signs for “The Mires”: The Mires is the stretch of road at the bottom end of Main Street, from just below “The Beeches” to the junction with Mires Lane. In total it is around 110 metres in length and is fronted by 10 properties. Of these 9 are on the right (heading down the road) and are mostly pre- 20^th century, one is set back on the left (Flaxdale).The 575-metre section from the Mires Lane junction, to the Longreave Lane junction, built by the parish in the 1860s, has never been formally named, though it has been known as the “New Road”. The Royal Mail has allocated two houses on this stretch the street name “The Mires”. As noted in other parts of the village the names used by Royal Mail do not necessarily relate to the street names on maps.

Two new road signs, installed by DCC, have recently appeared on the unnamed section, one to the south of the Mires Lane junction and one by the new road/Longreave Lane Junction. They do not incorporate the section that actually is Mires Lane. It is understood that this work was done at the request of a local resident who was having problems with delivery vehicles having difficulty finding their property. There was no consultation with the Parish Council.

2. Obstructions on Highways and Pavements:
   1. Highway obstruction: It was reported that a resident appears to be using building supplies to reserve a parking space in front of their property on The Cross. There is a concern that apart from being illegal that this is a risk to other road users. Clerk was instructed to speak with the occupier.
   2. Overhanging hedges and trees: It was noted that in a number of places in the village there were hedges and trees, along property boundaries, which are encroaching onto pavement and footpaths. A reminder about responsibilities of property owners to be put into the next issue of “Under the Edge” and Clerk instructed to follow-up.
3. Emergency Gritting: Proposal: that Clerk be given delegated power to book, in consultation with Chair, emergency gritting if required. Approved

139/26 Review of Community Assets 2026: Provisionally booked to start at the builders’ quarry at 10am on Sunday 4^th October. If insufficient councillors are available that day the review will be moved to the 11^th October.

140/26 Longstone Village Week: The 2026 event appears to have gone very well. Special thanks to Will & Heather Turner for arranging thr putting up and taking down the bunting, and to Lorna Cooper for conducting the blessing of the well dressings.

Proposal: That the next Longstone Village Week be Saturday 10^th to Sunday 18^th July 2027 – approved. Clerk instructed to notify community groups and Little Longstone Parish Meeting.

141/26 Remembrance Sunday Service 2026: This always takes place on the 2^nd Sunday in November, which this year is the 9^th. The service at the War Memorial is arranged by the PCC and starts at 10:45. The Chair will lay a wreath on behalf of the Parish Council. Clerk instructed to obtain a wreath.

142/26 Christmas 2026

1. Tree & Lights: Clerk instructed to order a suitable tree (cost to be confirmed) and replacement light bulbs and light “strings” at a cost not exceeding £440.
2. Christmas Eve Carols: Clerk instructed to bring a proposed plan for the event to the November meeting of the Council.

143/26 Planning Applications

1. Recent – Decided/Withdrawn:
   NP/DDD/0526/0510 – Old Infant School Building – Change from F1 to E(f) – Granted
2. Recent – No decision made yet by PDNP:
   NP/DDD/0626/0626 – Wagers Flat, Amend Restoration Scheme.
   2. NP/DDD/0726/0691 – White Lion – Minor internal works
3. New, for consideration in meeting:
   NP/DDD/0826/0792 – Longstone Hall – Internal alterations – No Comment
   2. NP/DDD/0826/0829 – Longstone Hall – Removal or relaying of tiles on roof. – No Comment
4. Late Submissions after agenda published: None
5. Planning Appeals
   6013318 & 6013321 Longstone Hall – Noted

144/26 Policies: To note that Complaints Policy amended as instructed in July and put live on the Councils website. All the other policies approved in July have also been updated on Parish Council website.

145/26 Supporting Neighbouring Parish Meetings: Little Longstone have requested s.101 administrative support from GLPC. The Clerk was instructed to bring a full proposal to November meeting.

146/26 Finance

1. Year End: To note the completion of the External Audit by PKF-Littlejohn. The required notice of closure was placed on the Parish Council website and noticeboard. Nothing to report other than in future years the submissions will be made online.
2. Bank reconciliations as of 31st August 2026:
   Unity Current Account = £   2,420.60
   Unity Savings Account =  £39,096.86
   Total for all accounts    =  £41,507.45
   Balances checked by Cllr Hornsey against bank statements.
3. Update on closing of Royal Bank of Scotland bank accounts: The two RBS accounts were closed on 24th August 2026 and the balances transferred to the Unity Account.
4. Problem with National Tool Hire (t/a Mammoth Tool Hire): In April the Clerk booked a woodchipper for the churchyard project. The company took a £250 deposit plus a charge for protective equipment (£9.95 + VAT) that was not supplied. Clerk reported that he had been told repeatedly that refund would be paid within next 10 days but still nothing returned. Proposal: That Clerk be instructed to investigate and follow-up on options, including requesting a “charge back” by the credit card company or instigating County Court proceedings against the supplier.
5. To note additional payments made since last meeting:

No	Item	Supplier	Net	VAT	Total	Notes
1.	Equipment Storage Unit by Tennis Court	David Longden	£600.00	£0.00	£600.00
2.	PKF Littlejohn LLP	External Audit	£210.00	£42.00	£252.00
3.	Closed Churchyard	Will Brindley	£200.00	£0.00	£200.00	July ‘26

Noted

6. To accept and approve new payments:

No	Item	Supplier	Net	VAT	Total	Notes
1.	Salary	Clerk	Xxx	–	Xxx	x 2 Sept & Oct
2.	Payroll Taxes	HMRC	Xxx	–	Xxx	x 2 Sept & Oct
3.	Bank Charges	Unity Trust Bank	£7.00	£0.00	£7.00	x 2 Sept & Oct
4.	Credit Card Fees	Lloyds Bank	£3.00	£0.00	£3.00	x 2 Sept & Oct
5.	Finance System	Starboard Systems	£31.00	£6.20	£37.20	x Oct & Nov
6.	Closed Churchyard	Will Brindley	£200.00	£0.00	£200.00	x 2 Aug & Sept ‘26
7.	Recreation Ground	LASRA	£1,038.00	£0.00	£1,038.00	Sept to Dec ‘26
8.	Garden Rakes	Amazon	£18.30	£3.66	£21.98	Churchyard Project
9.	Strimmer	Amazon	£80.82	£16.17	£96.99	Churchyard Project

 

147/26 Items of Correspondence:

1. 16^th July – Notification of Local Government reorganisation in Derbyshire
2. 29^th July – PKF-Littlejohn – Notice of completion of audit
3. 30^th July – Community Flooding Officer introduction
4. 7^th August – DDDC – Councillors to update register of interest forms
5. 7^th August – SAAA – Requirement to setup a “Small Authority Portal Account (relates to future online submissions of Annual AGAR forms).
6. 7^th August – Bakewell Town Council – Chair invited to Bakewell Mayor’s Civic Service on Sunday 27^th
7. 25^th August – Peak Park Parishes Forum – Newsletter and Parishes Day on 10^th
8. 26^th August – Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service –
9. 27^th August – Bakewell Safer Neighbourhood Team – August newsletter
10. 28^th August – DW Turner – Quote for gritting

148/26 Late Items of Correspondence:

1. Peak Park Forums – An online briefing will take place at 4pm on Thursday 23^rd September and a reminder that the annual full day event “Parishes Day” will be at Aldern House on Saturday 10^th Councillors to contact the clerk if they wish to be booked onto either of these events.

149/26 Items from Councillors for Information: Cllr Barrett requested that replacement of “dog poo bag” dispensers be added to the agenda of the next meeting.

150/26 To note forthcoming meetings

1. Dates of future Parish Council Meetings:

• Wed 11th November 2026
• Wed 13th January 2027
• Wed 10th March 2027
• Wed 12th May 2027

2. Meetings with Village Organisations:

• Wed 14th October – Clause 13 Review meeting with Village Hall Management Committee
• TBC – Review Meeting with LASRA

3. Date of 2027 Annual Parish Meeting: 28th April 2027 @7pm

The Chair closed the meeting at 9:28pm