Parish Council Meeting 21st November 2001

The meeting was opened by Cllr. Hirst, with barely a quorum of Councillors present. There were no apologies, and unusually the minutes of the last meeting were not approved. DDDC Cllr. Mrs. Crowther wished to clarify that her statements regarding the approval of the Glebe Mines planning application were in fact a statement from the PPPB and not her personal views. Similarly, Cllr. Finney requested that the minutes be amended to show that statements attributed to him regarding the PPPB site meeting about the Glebe Mines application were in fact him reporting what had been said at the meeting, and not his personal opinions.

Two planning applications were considered, one for a change of use for part of 2, Harrow Cottages to become a holiday let, which was approved, and the other for a conservatory at The Cottage, Sunny Bank. The Council decided not to approve this on the grounds that having red bricks and a flat plastic roof was not in character with the existing building or the general character of the area.

The bank balances were noted as £1000 in the current account, £7683.50 in the deposit account. Three minor payments totalling £100 were approved.

There was no update on Backdale Quarry or Glebe Mines.

The format of the new village green by the allotments was discussed again. Investigations will be made into where all the water on the lower parts of this land comes from and whether the drainage could be improved. Inspections have tended to indicate that it will not be possible to put a seat around the tree, as its base is too big and irregular. A revised verbal quote for the stone wall as requested by the PPPB had been obtained and this has now increased to over £7000. Cllr Finney queried whether the plan merited such spending, but it was hoped that grants would cover much of the expense. WREN have not yet considered the grant application, but the Council was hopeful it would be granted. If so, local donations amounting to 10% of the total would be required in order to secure the grant. A letter from Under The Edge asked whether the Council was aware of any tests for lead in the soil of the allotments had ever been carried out, as it was possible that the area had been used for lead washing in the past. The Council were not, and agreed to ask the EHO at Bakewell about having the tests carried out.

Under maintenance, it was noted that the football pitch had been repaired, successfully, and the hedge between the two sections of The Meadows trimmed back, although the broken bollard had not been replaced yet. A location for the new netball/basketball hoop had been decided (on the old cricket nets) and a local contractor would be asked to make and erect it. The new ‘No Dogs’ signs for the Recreation Ground had arrived and would be erected shortly, on more secure mountings that last time. A letter would be sent to DCC about the water overflowing from the drain on Station Road. Quotes had been obtained for three new wooden gates for Feemouth Yard, the two lower ones that the PC had agreed to pay for would be £350. The Council agreed to go ahead with their purchase and fitting.

Last year’s audited accounts were signed by the Chairman and a suggestion from the auditor that pre-printed compliments slips would be useful was accepted and the slips would be ordered. The amendments to the agreement with the Village Hall Committee were not yet ready for signing. It was noted that Mr. Booker of The Close, had agreed to pay for this year’s Christmas tree on the green. Also on a Christmas theme, the Council’s charity payments list was reviewed and updated. A £40 donation to the British Legion was agreed.

Discussion then moved on to setting net year’s (2002/2003) precept. The Clerk estimated that by the end of this financial year, there would be about £4000 in reserve, £3000 of this being the sum set aside for legal expenses, which was not, in the event, needed. Previous precepts have been £7710 and last year £10320. Next year’s was provisionally calculated as £7516, allowing for much the same expenditure as this year, but Cllr. Finney put forward that an additional street light was needed on Station Road, to fill the gap between two existing ones. This was agreed and £1000 budgeted for it, increasing the precept to £8516. This sum was accepted.

There were 18 items of correspondence considered, mostly briefly, except the voting for representatives on the DALC Standards Committee, for which Cllrs. Askew and Casey were standing. After discussing the issue, the Council resolved to vote for both of them.

There will be no meeting in December; the next meeting will be Wednesday 9th January at 7:30pm

Chris Raynor