Council Meeting – 11th January 1900

The Sixty Third meeting of Great Longstone Parish Council held in the School Room, Great Longstone
on Thursday January 11th 1900.

Present:
Mr W. R. Pitt Dixon, Chairman of the Meeting
Messrs Coe, Spanton, Ward & Shimwell (Clerk).

Rev J. Andrews having sent an intimation to the meeting that he would be unable to attend Mr Dixon was unanimously appointed Chairman of the meeting.

The Minutes of the last meeting were then read and confirmed.

Gilder Quarry

The Clerk stated to the meeting that having written to Mr Wright as directed respecting the fences of the Quarry he had received a letter on the 2nd day saying he did not understand some portion of the letter to which he had replied. Mr Wright then sent the following letter which he laid before the Council.

Copy

Longstone Hall, Nr Bakewell
Jan 4th 1900

Dear Sir

Referring to your letter of the 28th ulto I beg to say that one reason why we are not likely to agree is that in my opinion you are taking a most unfair advantage of the Arbitrators Award. The alteration of existing boundaries was certainly never contemplated, and there is no sort of justice in your proposal to remove a fence to what you call its “original site” (whatever that may mean) when you know that you have nothing to shew to justify such a course and when you know also that my Maps disprove it.

How you can expect me to agree to such unfairness I cannot imagine. So long as you maintain the right to further work the Quarry on the East side there can be no chance of my allowing facilities of the kind you suggest.

As regards stone there is abundance on the other side of the road just above the old Quarry on the waste, and it could be uncovered at a small cost.

It is only fair to members of the present Council to say that I do not consider them responsible other than in a legal sense for what has gone on since the Award even if they are cognisant of what is proposed. On the contrary it seems to me that the Clerk having gained the ear of the said of a clever lawyer is determined to push his advantage to the utmost, to try & prove that it was worth fighting about.

Yours faithfully
G. T. Wright

Mr T. Shimwell
Clerk

On the motion of Mr Spanton seconded by Mr Dixon it was unanimously resolved:

That the Clerk be instructed to have the fences moved to their original site as stated in the Arbitrators Award.

The Clerk laid before the Council a Circular which he had received from the Local Government Board dated the 2nd inst respecting the “Parish Councillors (Tenure of Office) Act 1899”, in which it is enacted that the term of office of a Parish Councillor shall be three years.

The dates on which in the future Parish Councillors are to go out of office and their places are to be filled by the newly elected Councillors are fixed by Sec. 1 (3) of the Act. These dates are the 15th April 1901 and the 15th of April in every third year then following.

Station Footpath

A Complaint having been made that the water was overflowing the Footpath leading to the Station the Clerk was directed to write to Rev J. Andrews asking him to improve the outlet across his land so as to allow the water to run clear.

The Clerk asked for permission to apply to the Magistrates to excuse the rates payable by Wm Morton Senr which was granted.

Dole Meal

The Clerk stated that having received the sum of £8. 6. 7 for the Dole Meal Account he had paid the same to the Treasurer to the credit of the Parish Council.

Tenders for the supply of Dole Meal were received as under:

Mrs Lowe – good meal 9½d per peck, Flour 1/4 per stone
Mrs Green – Meal 1/1, Flour 1/4

Mrs Lowe’s tender was accepted.

Recipients of Dole Meal and Quantities given to each