Council Meeting – 31st January 1895
Great Longstone Parish Council
Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday, January 31st, 1895
Venue: The Schoolroom, Great Longstone
Present:
Arthur Bates (Chairman), C. H. Buzzard, James Dow, H. A. Stanton, Samuel Johnson, and Thomas Thornhill (Clerk).
Confirmation of Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 17th January were read and confirmed.
24. Lighting the Village (Minute 17)
The Chairman stated that, according to information received, it is necessary that the Parish Meeting adopt the Lighting and Watching Act before the Council can legally expend any money for this purpose. The question can be brought forward on the occasion of the Annual Assembly in March.
25. Treasurer (Minute 14)
The Clerk reported that he had communicated with Mr. Glossop on the subject of the Treasurership, and that Mr. Glossop had expressed his readiness to comply with any and every requirement of the Act and the County Council in this behalf.
26. Parish Notice Board (Minute 18)
Offers for the supply and erection of a Notice Board, in conformity with particulars submitted, had been received from:
- A. W. J. Eyre, at a cost of 16/–
- James Andrew Booth, at a cost of 14/–
On the motion of Mr. Stanton, seconded by Mr. Buzzard, it was resolved that Mr. Booth’s tender be accepted conditionally, on a full understanding with him as to all the requirements of the Council being carried out.
This resolution was carried, Mr. Samuel Johnson dissenting.
A letter was read from the Rev. J. Andrews stating that “The School Committee will authorise the erection of a Notice Board on School land in front of the Infant School on payment of a nominal sum of (say) sixpence a year by the Parish Council to the School Committee.”
On the motion of Mr. Buzzard, seconded by Mr. Stanton, this payment was agreed to, Mr. Samuel Johnson dissenting.
27. Parish Documents (Minute 11)
The Chairman reported that Mr. A. W. J. Eyre had delivered to him such Parish Documents as he had in his possession. These consisted chiefly of Settlement and Removal Orders under the old Poor Law, dating back as far as 1791. There were also a couple of Apprenticeship contracts.
Mr. Stanton took the papers for perusal.
The Chairman further reported an interview with Mr. John Thornhill. Mr. Thornhill stated he did not know whether he had any Parish Documents in his possession but would look. He produced for inspection the Tithe Apportionment Map and offered to let the Chairman have possession of it for further examination, implying, however, that he expected it to be returned to him.
28. Houseton Lane Head Trust Money
Mr. Thornhill stated to the Chairman, in reply to an enquiry, that he no longer possessed the money received from the Houseton Lane Head Trustees, having expended the whole of it—and indeed an additional sum from his own pocket—in making the pathway in Mill Lane.
It was decided to let this matter stand over, to afford Mr. Thornhill sufficient opportunity for taking further voluntary action in the way of rendering an account.
29. Precept on Overseers (Minute 7)
The Overseers paid in a cheque for £15, which was endorsed by Mr. Bates, to whose order it was made payable, and handed over to the Clerk to be paid on the following day into the hands of Mr. Glossop, as Treasurer.
30. Election Expenses
A cheque for £2 17s 8d was ordered to be drawn in favour of Mr. J. Sleigh, being the expenses incurred by him as Returning Officer in the election of the Parish Council on December 18th, 1894.
31. Gilder Stone Quarry and the Parish Award
After a conversation on the subject of the taking of stone from Gilder Quarry, it was moved by Mr. Stanton, and seconded by Mr. Bates,
“That Mr. Bates obtain the Parish Award now in possession of Mr. Wright and produce it for examination at the next meeting of the Council.”
Passed unanimously.
32. Parochial Charities
Mr. Stanton gave notice of motion:
“That a committee be appointed to confer with the Vicar respecting the Parish Charities.”
33. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Council was fixed for the fourth Thursday in February.
Signed:
Arthur Bates, Chairman
28th February 1895
In the Wider World
The first meetings of Great Longstone Parish Council took place only weeks after the Local Government Act of 1894 came into force. This Act created elected parish councils for the first time in rural England, transferring many duties from church vestries to local representatives. Across Derbyshire, dozens of new councils were forming in January 1895, giving local people — for the first time — a formal say in managing footpaths, charities, and public spaces. The system remains the foundation of parish government today.
