Council Meeting – 17th November 2010
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON 17TH NOVEMBER 2010 AT 7.30PM
Present: Cllr S. Barton (Chairman), Cllr P. Thompson, Cllr G Frankland, Cllr H Wright, Cllr W Long, Cllr Mrs S. Barton, Cllr Mason, S Stokes (temporary Clerk) and UTE.
Public comments
John Poulter brought up a number of points. His first point was with regards to Barry Holland (Clerk) and distances travelled/expenses. The Chair clarified that a Clerk works from their home address as no building is supplied for such use. He also questioned the recruitment procedures of the Council with respect to sub committees and decisions. Councillor Mason stated that the Council does have procedures.
Pc Lowe (Police report) Stated that Derbyshire police have reviewed all crimes in 2010. There have been 5 crimes in Great Longstone during 2010, at this point in time.
Pc Lowe left the meeting at 7.42pm.
Mike Watson also brought up a number of issues. He firstly asked for the Clerk and Temporary Clerks salaries to be interpreted. The Chair stated that the Clerks role is not an option. Following on to highlight the low rent school pay for the recreation ground, in relation to other local village schools. The Councillors stressed that it is a recreation ground to be used. School have increased their usage as the school grounds need resurfacing. Proposed for the precept committee to discuss the rent in their financial planning. M Watson also requested a copy of last years audited accounts. Resolved to instruct the Clerk to provide a copy.
Joyce Poulter enquired into the emphasis put on the importance of involving the whole Council when recruiting a Clerk. Cllr Thompson stated that the Clerk had been recruited using the same process as last time.
Ken Fawcett suggested that the Council may be leaving themselves open when looking at the decision making process of the Clerk. If the Council make the decision to use a sub committee this decision should be minuted. The Chair clarified whom the sub committee had been. There was some debate as to why Cllr Mrs Barton was involved, as she was not on that committee.
The Chair formally opened the meeting at 8pm.
176/10 Apologies for Absence
Cllr Headington had sent his apologies. Cllr Mason would need to leave the meeting at 9pm.
177/10 Minutes of the last meeting held on 20th October 2010
Cllr Mrs S Barton proposed the minutes as a true record, this was seconded by Cllr Long with all in favour.
178/10 Declarations of interests
Cllr S Barton declared a personal interest in items 17 and 22. Cllr Mrs S Barton declared a personal interest in items 17 and 22.
179/10 Precept
The Council resolved to hold an extraordinary meeting to agree the final precept, based on the groundwork/spreadsheets already carried out. This would involve all councillors, not a sub committee. Resolved to instruct the Clerk to book the V Hall for the beginning of December.
180/10 Children’s Playground Equipment and All-Weather Sports Facility
Cllr Wright submitting plans.
181/10 Affordable Housing
The Chair stated that the postponement of the open event was because the land owner had revised his offer of land, therefore the plans become invalid. Awaiting new plans and a date for the event.
182/10 20 mph speed limit
Cllr Mason looking into other successful villages who have been successful in bringing their limit down. Cllr Mason to compose a letter following this research.
183/10 Off Roaders
Cllr Wright reported a change of Chair for “Rocking the Boat” (Helen Abraham). Cllr Frankland expressed that the P Council should be supporting this group. The Chair stated that the P Council are representing the public opinion of the whole village and, in a previous instance, had been advised not to become directly involved with pressure groups.
184/10 Monsal Trail access
The Chair reported on a letter from P Park (Martin Burfoot) updating the Council with regards to planning and two access points. Resolved to ask the Clerk to contact P Park, requesting information on the 2 areas they are referring to and action planned for these 2 points.
185/10 Black Harry Trail
The Chair reported on a letter from P Park . Resolved for the content of the letter to be put on the December agenda. To note a meeting at Coombs Dale on 26th November 2010 at 10am. Cllr S Barton to attend.
186/10 Recreation ground and Feemouth Yard trees
Project ongoing. Cllr Mason awaiting further information from Dave Frost on work involved and costs.
187/10 Closed burial ground trees
Resolved to ask the Clerk to look into data on the agreement.
188/10 Glebe Court Planning enforcement
Resolved to ask the Clerk to check with B Holland regards the P Council registering an interest.
189/10 Financial Matters
- The following payments were approved
- Bruno Cardona £120 (cheque no. 001135)
- Sarah Stokes (Clerks Salary/expenses) £322.40 (cheque no.001136)
The payments were proposed by Cllr S Barton and seconded by Cllr Long.
- Bruno Cardona’s Invoice to be minuted in December meeting, as only in receipt of S Stokes’s due to change of Clerk.
(c) Barry Hollands Clerks Salary of £352.75, to be removed and a final invoice submitted for the December meeting. The Chair reported at this point that Barry has resigned (letter 16/11/12) and doesn’t wish to continue with his post.
(D) Village Hall painting grant of £350.00 removed. Resolved to ask the Clerk to write to the Village Hall Committee with regards to the Council obtaining 3 quotes for outside painting.
Councillor Mason left the meeting at 8.55pm.
190/10 Planning Matters
190.1 Planning Application NP/DDD/0910/0949 Extension to dwelling at Long View, Butts Road.
190.2 Planning Application NP/DDD/1010/1079 Demolition of existing garage. Erection of 2 storey extension and single storey rear extension. White House, Glebe Avenue.
190.3 Planning Application NP/DDD/1010/1044 Erection of porch extension. 11 The Meadows, Grisedale Road.
The Councillors raised no objections to 190.2 and 190.3. Unfortunately due to the change of Clerk, the Council was not in receipt of the plans for 190.1. Resolved to ask the Clerk to contact P Park with regards to a date extension and to hold a special meeting early December.
190.4 Cllr Long highlighted a yellow planning application sign near Church Lady House. Resolved to ask the Clerk to check the details, was this a new application or still up from ‘Timbers’ application.
191/10 School Matters
No update from Cllr Long.
192/10 Police Matters and Neighbourhood Watch
Cllr Wright reported on ‘builders’ cold calling on roofing jobs.
193/10 Thornhill House
The Chair reported that Ann Riebe (Matron) had now left, a new matron has been appointed.
Another trustee to be appointed following P Council May elections, as Cllr S Barton moving.
194/10 Play equipment inspection report
Cllr Frankland reported all equipment looked safe, although ‘Ethels house’ in need of repair.
The Councillors discussed the on going ‘new playarea’ and whether to look at maintenance required on Ethels house. The new play area is a long term project, therefore the current equipment needs to be kept safe. Resolved to ask Cllr Frankland to look into repairs for Ethels house.
195/10 Recent sorting of council records, archiving and storage
The Chair reported that the Councillors and B Holland collectively had gone through ‘old’ documents to archive. The Chair gave a big thankyou to all those who came to help. Resolved to enquire into the possibility/suitability of storing files/filing cabinet in the village hall loft area. Requested the Clerk look on the ‘Information commissioners site’ as to what documents need to be kept (with a query on VAT documents).
196/10 Parish Council website
The Councillors approved in principle, the idea of documents being put on the website to provide information to all, time to add the documents being a consideration.
197/10 Correspondence
- 21/10/2010 from Cllr Headington re: recycling bins in White Lion car park. Resolved for the Clerk to write to DDDC thanking them for their weekly commitment to looking after the recycling area.
- 29/10/2010 from Ken Fawcett re: affordable Housing. K Fawcett asked for the item to be withdrawn.
- 09/11/2010 from Jim Dixon, Peak Park re DEFRA. Response to be sent by no later than end January 2010. Chair to circulate document for December meeting.
198/10 Cavendish Mill closure
The Councillors discussed the impact of the mill closing with relation to completion of restoration work and maintenance and safety of the lagoons . Resolved to ask the Clerk to write to Peak Park to find out about the ‘bond’ and information on completion of the restoration work.
199/10 Late items of correspondence
- 16/11/10 Letter of resignation from Barry Holland (Clerk), giving a months notice. Resolved to look at temporary Clerk arranging a ‘special’ meeting to go through terms of employment/recruitment/advertising for a new Clerk. Cllr Mrs S Barton to look at advertising costs and options. Cllr Wright to provide draft terms of reference for a sub-committee for approval at the special meeting.
200/10 Date of next meeting
Wednesday 15th December 2010. The meeting will start at 7.30 pm.
The Chair thanked Sarah Stokes for covering the meeting last minute. The Chair closed the meeting at 9.57 pm.
SARAH STOKES (TEMPORARY CLERK TO THE PARISH COUNCIL)
