Parish Council Meeting 15^th December 1999

The meeting opened at 7:30, with seven councillors present and Clr. Hirst in the chair. Apologies were received from Mr Casey, the previous minutes were accepted, with no matters arising. There was no report on the Backdale Quarry situation.

Three Planning Applications were considered: approval was given to an amended application for a conservatory at 1, Glebe Court. An application to extend and provide better access and parking at Fernlea, Station Road was approved with the proviso that the parking be for private cars only. Finally consideration was given to a letter from the developer of Glebe Court requesting that the "local occupancy" conditions placed on the properties be rescinded, as he has been unable to sell them. The PC was strongly opposed to this request. The developer knew the conditions applied before starting the development so can hardly have grounds for objecting to them now. The council felt that the properties were overpriced and so out of the financial reach of almost everybody who could fulfil the occupancy conditions. The development was supposed to have been to provide more low cost homes for locals, which has not been achieved. The design of the properties should have taken into account local needs, and have produced affordable houses, then there would have been no problem in selling them. Therefore the PC felt that if the developer wished to sell the houses he should lower the price, not ask for the conditions to be removed.

Financial Matters: The balances were £1000 in the current account, £7,502.41 on deposit. Several minor payments were approved. Clr. Askew reported that the Village Hall Christmas Bazaar raised about £400. Playground Equipment: Two quotes have been received for resurfacing work around the big slide and it was decided to accept the lower, from the same company that did the surface under the swings. This will cost slightly over £3,000 and is expected to be done in the Spring. Work on the Village Cross is almost complete, and the Clerk will chase up the mason to get it finished.

For the Millennium, the PC is having some Millennium Mugs produced, and will give one to each Great Longstone child under 16. Additional mugs will be available for purchase. Clr. Fawcett reported on the costs involved, and after some deliberation about the numbers required the PC decided to order 200 children’s mugs, and 300 adult. It is expected that about 130 mugs will be given away. The PC has made enquiries about having a bonfire on the Edge on 31^st December, but so far has been unable to obtain permission. Upon reflection, it was felt the idea should be dropped, on the grounds that even if the weather were fine, who would want to be on Longstone Edge at midnight on 31^st December?

The transfer of the Allotment Land is ready to complete and barring any problems, should be done in the next couple of weeks.

Under the agenda item Maintenance much time was spent discussing the footpath down from Thornhill House to Bell’s Stile (Main Street). Clr Cox reported on the site meeting held on the footpath. The footpath was basically sound, it just needed the accumulation of dead leaves and grass clearing, and lately, a fallen bough. However, coincidentally the Peak Park Rangers had become involved by offering to use their volunteer force to renovate the top third of the path next Spring. This offer had come just before the PC’s site meeting and some councillors felt aggrieved that this appeared to pre-empt any decision they made about the footpath. They felt that as the PC were already considering the footpath, all councillors should have been informed that the Ranger Service were going to have a look at the path before it happened. Clr. Cox, who was at both site meetings, explained that the Ranger’s visit was arranged at 30 minutes notice, and therefore it was not possible to let all councillors know about it. The Ranger Service was only considering the top third of the path, therefore any decision taken about this did not affect the remainder, which was the part the PC had previously considered the problem area. Finally, it was decided that the PC would arrange for the bottom part of the path to be cleared.

The finals of the Best Village competition were in London on 6^th December and Clrs Cox and Hirst attended. 42 villages were represented and two were chosen as joint winners. However, three other villages received awards, and Longstone was one of them, receiving a "Commendation for the Care and Support of Older People". The final received a good write-up in the Daily Telegraph of 11^th December, but so far, there appears to have been no publicity given to this achievement in the local press.

A letter has been received from the company responsible for Glass Recycling, confirming that collections are now taking place weekly instead of fortnightly. DDDC are anxious to move the bins across to the other side of the car park, but the site needs to be cleared first.

A letter has been received from the PPPB about the council vehicles based in Great Longstone Business Park. They confirmed that the use of the land is restricted to certain types of industry, and that these restrictions are legally binding. The PC considered that the anticipated activities fell within the bounds of the restrictions, and did not anticipate any problems. The PC resolved to offer no objections, but to review the situation after a period of operation. It was also noted that the vehicles had already provided extra cleaning and gritting around the village.

Correspondence: A letter has been received from UTE asking for permission to renovate the pump and trough at Orr’s Corner as a millennium project. The PC had no objections to the idea in principle, but will consider this further when more definite proposals are made.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 19^th January, at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend.