Council Meeting – 8th July 2026

Minutes of the Meeting of Great Longstone Parish Council

held at 7.00pm on Wednesday 8^th July 2026

in Great Longstone Village Hall, DE45 1TB

**** DRAFT  ****

Present: Cllr J Rigby (Chair from Item 111/26), Cllr A Douglass, Cllr S Hornsey, Cllr P Barrett
In attendance:  Simon Headington (Clerk), District Cllr H Froggatt to end of Item 110/26

107/26 Appointment of Acting Chair: In the temporary absence of Cllr Rigby it was proposed by Cllr Douglass and seconded by Cllr Hornsey that Cllr Barrett chair the meeting. Agreed with all in favour and Cllr Barrett to the chair.

108/26 Apologies for absence from members.  Cllr J Cox.

109/26 To approve minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2026. Approved

110/26 Public Comments. Cllr Froggatt reported that work was continuing on the reorganisation of local authorities into a single tier, though she had no updates to report. Councillors discretionary grant fund was higher this year and she would be happy to consider any requests that came from Great Longstone. Cllr Froggatt reminded the meeting that she was very happy to be contacted about any matters that impacted on the parish, that came under the District Council.

District Cllr left the meeting at the end of this item. Cllr Barrett thanked her for attending.

Cllr Rigby arrived during item 110/26 and on its conclusion took over to chair the remainder of the meeting. Cllr Rigby thanked Cllr Barrett for chairing the first part of meeting.

111/26 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.

112/26 Report from Proper Officer to the Council

1. Planning and Development
   • Monitored planning applications, including the refusal of the Longstone Hall applications (NP/DDD/0725/0657 and 0658) and the submission of the Wager Flat Restoration Scheme (NP/DDD/0626/0626), which is on the agenda for this meeting.
   • Submitted Parish Councils comments to PDNPA on the change of use application for the Old Infant School building (NP/DDD/0526/0510).
2. Recreation Ground and Village Assets
   • Received the RoSPA Play Equipment inspection report. No red-rated issues, though the report highlights ongoing deterioration of wooden equipment. Report circulated to members separately.
   • Followed up on reports of playground equipment issues, including the bird’s nest swing and a loose plank on the tower.
   • Noted a request for a memorial bench on the Recreation Ground, to be considered at this meeting.
3. Village Hall
   • Received one quote for re-staining and repainting the external woodwork. Further quotes being sought via Under the Edge.
4. Highways and Public Spaces
   • Reported cyclist accident on Moor Road (23rd May) to DCC Highways; works order issued but road sweep not confirmed as completed.
   • Resolved the Openreach pole issue: pole to be relocated to the verge near the bus shelter. Full fibre broadband infrastructure being installed through Great Longstone to Monsal Head, with completion required by 31st March 2027.
   • Ongoing liaison with PDNPA regarding overgrown footpaths in The Willows; work has begun.
5. Governance and Compliance
   • Completed pension auto-enrolment submission and AGAR returns following the May meeting.
   • Noted change in law regarding publication of councillors’ home addresses, effective 29th June 2026, under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. Default position is now that home addresses must not be published unless a member specifically requests otherwise. Members are asked to check their entry on the GLPC website and notify the Monitoring Officer at DDDC if they wish their address to be published.
   • Data Protection registration fee paid on 7th July. Noted that the fee increased to £52 (£47 with direct debit discount).
6. Allotments:
   • Vacated plot offered to first person on waiting list; new tenancy agreements to be issued to all holders.

113/26 Policies, to review:

1. Complaints Procedure – It was noted that this policy does cover the making of complaints about Councillors. The Clerk was instructed to add this additional information, at which point it would be considered to be approved.
2. Co-option of Councillors Policy – It was noted that some works had not been copied across correctly from the pdf version of the policy to the html page. The missing text was added during the meeting and the policy approved.
3. Data Protection Policy – approved.
4. Dignity at Work (previously bullying and harassment) – approved.
5. Employee Privacy Notice – approved.
6. Equality Policy – approved.
7. Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures – approved.
8. Health and Safety Policy – approved.
9. IT & Use of Social Media Policy – approved.
10. Privacy Policy – approved.
11. Records Retention Policy – approved.
12. Reserves Policy – approved.
13. Risk Management Policy and Risk Register – approved.
14. Sickness Absence Policy – approved.
15. Training and Development Policy – approved.
16. Website Accessibility Statement – approved.

114/26 New Staffing Policy – Staff Expenses: Reviewed and approved.

115/26 Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee Report:
Cllr Douglass reported that the steering committee meeting on Monday 6^th had gone very well. The group was joined by a PDNP Planning Officer who is being moved to a new role that will include supporting the development of Neighbourhood Plans. Draft policies are now being prepared and the next stage will be to check these against the latest version of the PDNP Local plan, which is being published later this month.

116/26 Recreation Ground

1. Playground Inspection Report – there were no red rated items but since the report was produced the council has been made aware of concerns about the amount of lateral movement in the birdsnest swing frame. Cllr Douglass believes that some additional bracing might be needed and will investigate this. In the meantime, the clerk is to investigate options for replacing the frame.
2. Playground Weekly Inspections – The clerk reported that he has identified 3 potential apps, though only PlaySafe responded with a price. Clerk was instructed to check on the number of user accounts that can be created and if this was satisfactory, at a cost of £110 + VAT per year.
3. Football Goal Mouths – It was agreed that the goal mouth area will be reseeded or returfed by the LASRA Grounds team, probably in the early Autumn, with materials being paid for by the Parish Council.
4. Recreation Ground Buildings – Nothing new to report at this stage.
5. Request for a bench – Parish Council to defer on this request to LASRA
6. Annual Review Meeting with LASRA – It was agreed that an annual review meeting, between LASRA and the Parish Council, would be beneficial for both parties and the Clerk was instructed to invite LASRA Trustees to a joint meting on the evening of Wednesday 23^rd

 117/26 Village Hall

1. Clause 13.3 Review Meeting – The clerk has contacted the Chair and Secretary of the Village Hall about a review meeting. The Village Hall Committee Chair will be away during September, so it was agreed to invite the Village Hall Committee to a joint meeting on a Wednesday in the middle of October. In preparation for this meeting the Council will investigate commissioning a survey on the building structure, in particular the state of the roof and to find out if the internal wall, that divides the main area from the snooker room, is structural.
2. Decorating of Village Hall Windows – The clerk reported that there had been no response to an invite to tender placed in “Under the Edge”. He has received one price from a decorator that he approached and is waiting for a second quote.
3. Flooding on Church Lane – No updates have been received from the County Council so clerk instructed to ask our County Councillor to intervene.

118/26 Allotments and West Green

1. Allotment Vacancies – Currently plot 8 is vacant. The clerk has offered it to the next person on the waiting list, and they will decide on their return from holiday.
2. Allotment Pump – An allotment tenant reported that they were having problems using the pump. This has been investigated by Cllr Barrett who found that the leather washer needed replacement parts that will cost £42.58 + VAT. The clerk was instructed to order the parts and Cllr Barrett offered to instal them.
3. West Green Moles – Cox Pest Control have agreed to look into getting rid of the moles and will attend to this as soon as they have the time.

119/26 Highways and Footpaths – The clerk reported that he has confirmed to DCC that GLPC will be taking part in their Minor Maintenance Scheme during 2026/27.

120/26 The Willows – Following a request made after the May weekend, to PDNPA, a warden has visited and has done some part clearance work. The Warden is keen to look at expanding use of the area and members felt that the most effective way of doing this would be to improve access, ideally with a discretionary footpath that provided a link to existing rights-of-way, that did not involve walking on the road. Clerk instructed to write back to the PDNPA Ranger.

121/26 Village Week 2026 – Sat 11^th to Sun 19^th

1. The programme was reviewed and there were very positive comments about the bunting, which was being put up as the meeting started. For the first time the Little Longstone and Great Longstone bunting had been linked, and it would run all the way from the Little Longstone Chapel to the Mires.
2. Scarecrow Competition – LASRA Trustee and artist Richard Whittlestone had kindly offered to judge the Scarecrow competition, the winners of which will be announced at the LASRA Sports Day on Sat 18^th

122/26 Planning Applications

1. Recent – Decided/Withdrawn: NP/DDD/0725/0657 & NP/DDD/0725/0658 at Longstone Hall (multiple changes).
2. Recent – No decision made yet by PDNP:
   • NP/DDD/0526/0510 – Old Infant School Building – Change from F1 to E6.
3. New, for consideration in meeting:
   • NP/DDD/0626/0626 – Wagers Flat, Amend Restoration Scheme – No comment
   • Late Submissions after agenda published: None

123/26 Supporting Neighbouring Parish Meetings. The clerk reported that he had been working closely with the Little Longstone Clerk, who is planning to retire in the coming months. Various options for were under review including possibly submitting a request for s101 support from GLPC. The Parish Council agreed that it would be happy to look at proposals though no commitments could be made without further details.

124/26 Finance

1. To note income received since the last meeting
   96. Bank interest from Unity Trust Bank £96.86 and RBS £16.98
2. Bank reconciliations – as of 30^th June 2026 – £47,577.27. Checked against bank statements by Cllr Hornsey.
3. Update on the Closing of the Royal Bank of Scotland Accounts – The clerk reported that Blackrock are close to agreeing to move the payments of charity dividends from the RBS to the Unity accounts. As soon as confirmation has been received the clerk will close the RBS accounts. A letter was signed, for RBS, by Cllrs Rigby and Barrett.
4. To note payments made since the last meeting

5. To accept and approve new payments

Approved

125/26 Items of Correspondence

• 20th May – Request to position a bench on the recreation ground.
• 21st May – PDNPA: Planning application NP/DDD/0526/0510 (Old Infant School, change of use to creche/day nursery) submitted; consultation end date 22nd June
• 26th May – DCC Highways: Works order issued following cyclist accident on Moor Road
• 26th May – ICO: Notification that Data Protection registration fee will be collected on 7th July 2026, increased to £52 (£47 with direct debit discount)
• 28th May – Openreach: Objection submitted (Ref C123235628) regarding proposed 10m pole on Market Cross Green
• 7th June – PDNPA: Enquiry about overgrown footpaths in The Willows passed to Corporate Property Team
• 10th June – Openreach: Confirmation that proposed pole will be relocated to verge near bus shelter; full fibre broadband infrastructure to be installed through Great Longstone to Monsal Head, completion required by 31st March 2027
• 18th June – PDNPA (Clara Thomas, Engagement Ranger): Confirmation that cutting back of The Willows has commenced
• 26th June – Police – Monthly Newsletter from Bakewell Neighbourhood Team
• 29th June – DDDC: Notification that Section 65 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 comes into force, amending provisions relating to publication of councillors’ home addresses
• 29th June – PDNPA: Planning application NP/DDD/0626/0626 (Wager Flat Restoration Scheme) received for consideration
• 29th June – Peak Park Parishes Forum Minutes

126/26 Items of Late Correspondence

Nothing to report

127/26 Items from Councillors for Information – nothing new not already covered in other parts of the agenda.

128/26 To note forthcoming meetings

1. Dates of future Parish Council meetings:

• Wed 9^th September 2026
• Wed 11^th November 2026
• Wed 13^th January 2027
• Wed 10^th March 2027
• Wed 12^th May 2027

2. Date of 2027 Annual Parish Meeting – 28^th April 2027 @7pm