Parish Council Meeting 13^th October 1999

The meeting opened at 7:30, with all councillors present and Clr. Hirst in the chair. The previous minutes were accepted, with no matters arising.

Mr. Barton reported briefly on Backdale Quarry, stating that the situation had not changed in the last month. It was believed that Laporte’s operations would be continued by another company and that Cavendish Mill would not completely close down.

Planning approval was noted for two conservatories, and a rejection for alterations at Glebe Court, on the grounds they were not in character.

Financial Matters: The balances are £1000 in the current account, £7166.06 on deposit. Several minor payments were approved.

On the Village Hall front, Clr. Askew reported that it was planned that next year’s Art Show proceeds would be donated to the Under Five’s group.

Clr. Fawcett, reported on the Playground Equipment. The alterations required to improve safety on the large slide should be completed in the next month. This should include making the top of the slide safer, and removing the concrete reinforcing around its base. Following completion, the PC would consider renewing the safety surface around the equipment, and adding a surface around the large slide.

Village Cross: no news.

For the Millennium, the PC would like to stage some sort of outdoor event that the whole village could enjoy, but no details have yet been decided. It was anticipated that a beacon would be lit on Longstone Edge at the turn of the millennium. A letter from a member of the public made a further millennium suggestion, for "Millennium Mileposts". These would be two posts, actually 50 metres apart, placed on a public footpath so that walkers could measure their paces. No decision was made on this matter, the council decided to ask the proposer for more details before discussing further at the next meeting.

The Allotment Land transfer is still held up. This is because Mr. West needs to know the tenants before ownership of the land can be passed to the PC. It is believed 5 plots are in use; if you have a plot please let Clr. Casey or Mr. West have your name and address, if you haven’t already done so. Grants from several sources should be available to renovate both the allotments and the adjoining land that Mr. West is donating.

Notice Board: no progress.

Under the agenda item Maintenance the Recreation Ground was discussed. The overhanging trees have been cut back, and the replacement of the gate and stiles should be completed soon. It was also noted that there are several loose kerb stones in the parish.

Turners: no activity.

No further quotes have been obtained for resurfacing Feemouth Yard, but was decided to go ahead on the basis of those quotes already received. A contractor was selected, and responsibility for the work will now pass to the Diocese Architects. Bakewell Police have offered to donate an ornamental tree in memory of Isaac Firth-Jones and it was felt that Feemouth Yard would be the best location for this.

Verges: nothing.

The village has won awards in the Derbyshire Village Of The Year competition. This is not a "best kept village" or "prettiest village" competition, but more a "what a village has to offer as a whole" competition. It includes aspects of village life such as education, facilities for the young, care of the elderly, the environment. The village has gained three plaques, which will be hung in the Village Hall, and a sign, whose eventual location remains to be decided, even after much discussion. Having won these, the village now goes forward into the area and national judging. District Councillor Mrs Crowther offered her warmest congratulations to the village.

The matter of White Lion Entertainments was discussed. This title is a bit of a red herring as it transpired that the Lion doesn’t have an entertainments licence, because it does not need one for the sort of event it stages. Mrs McGovern then explained to the council that future events would be smaller, and she was intending not to book acts larger than duos. Discussion moved on to another perennial problem, the glass recycling bins. Mrs McGovern said the problems of overflowing bins and broken glass was becoming a nuisance; staff from the Lion regularly have to go and tidy up the area but it should not be their responsibility to do so. Recently a child was cut when she fell off her bike and onto broken glass. Clr. Fawcett reported that broken glass has been found on the school playing field – clearly a serious hazard. The PC has complained to the DDDC frequently in the past about the bins being overfull, and nothing has been done. Requests for bigger bins (such as at Bakewell) have always been refused. It was resolved to write a further letter to the DDDC to ask for an urgent site meeting to resolve this issue, as it cannot be allowed to carry on as it has.

Various correspondence has been received:

- Christmas Tree Recycling: as usual, the collection point will be Cox’s field. The source of this year’s village tree is as yet uncertain – any offers?

- A Dales Area Forum meeting will be held at the Agricultural Business Centre at Bakewell on 15^th November at 7:30. DDDC Clr Mrs. Crowther will be in the chair and everyone is welcome to attend.

- A letter has been received from a member of the public concerning the (mis?) use of the bus shelter and telephone kiosk as a toilet. The council acknowledged that this may be occurring, but there is little they can do about it. The PC has made several proposals for a public toilet in the past, all of which have been rejected by people in the vicinity proposed. Obnoxious behaviour such as this is a matter for the police, but even if called, it is unlikely they will be able to get here fast enough to catch the culprits in the act. A councillor suggested that one possible solution would be to plant prickly bushes in the area.

- The Great Longstone Under Fives Group has written to the PC seeking a donation to help offset the huge increase in rent they will suffer next year, as a result of the renovation work being done to their building. It was decided to carry this item forward to enable full consideration to be given to the matter.

- The council was saddened to hear that the Mobile Physiotherapy Unit is being wound up later this year. The reasons would seem to be that the physiotherapist is retiring and the service wasn’t getting enough referrals.

The next meeting will be on 17^th November, at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend.