Parish Council Meeting 17th April 2002

After the opening of the meeting by Cllr. Hirst and the acceptance of the last minutes as a true record, rather unusually there was a matter arising from the previous minutes. As a consequence of the Council’s refusal of his planning application for a new house on Mires Lane, the applicant had written to members of the Council alleging that the Council had been misinformed on several matters. Some members of the Council felt that the letter also questioned their ability to consider planning applications and their integrity. Overall, the Council’s feeling was that although their decisions may be unpopular at times, they always try to make the decision they feel is right for the village as a whole. The Council resolved to write to the applicant and ask him to expand upon what he felt was the ‘misinformation’ they had been subject to.
PC Kevin Lowe, our Beat Manager, then took the floor and explained the aims of the new Beat Manager system. The main aim is to reduce crime and the fear of crime, along with making links with village organisations and holding regular ‘surgeries’. He noted that the area was suffering an increasing number of burglaries targeted at the most vulnerable: single, elderly people in good houses. He then went on to cover three further points: firstly, he was concerned that the village Neighbourhood Watch scheme was not really performing as it should and he felt that it needed reinvigorating. Although the PC has no direct involvement or authority in the matter, it agreed to consider this at a later date and see if any suggestions could be made. Secondly, although he had now held three surgeries in the Village Hall, PC Lowe reported that after the first attendance had fallen away rapidly. He did not want to discontinue them, but felt he was wasting time that could be otherwise spent. After some discussion, a compromise was arrived at: the surgeries would continue, but their length would be reduced. This new format would be tried for a few months, then reviewed again. The next surgery would be on 4th May, 11am-12pm, in the Village Hall. PC Lowe’s final topic was to ask for details of any Jubilee celebrations that may impact upon policing requirements. At the moment, in Great Longstone at least, there were none planned.
Three planning applications were considered, at Thornbridge Hall for extensions, refurbishments and alterations to provide staff accommodation, an extension to form a garden room at The Cottage, Moor Road and one for a conservatory at 31, The Meadows. All were approved. Planning approvals from the PPPB were noted for Church Lady House, Main Street and Iona, Longreave Lane.
Under financial matters, the bank balances were noted as Ł1000 in the current account, Ł6281.33 in the deposit account. Minor payments totalling Ł251.75 were approved.
The next topic on the agenda was the formal adoption of the new Code of Conduct and the collection of the councillor’s ‘financial and other interests forms’. Several Councillors had attended meetings on this topic, and most felt that the measures were not as bad as first thought. Also, the forms were simpler to complete than expected. After some discussion on possible exceptional circumstances, the feeling was that although the extra paperwork was tedious, nothing that the code of conduct proposed was any different to what was being done already. Eventually the Council resolved to accept the Code of Conduct and all those present signed up to it.
There have been several developments regarding the allotment and West Green lands: a second grant application to WREN has been compiled, with the assistance of the PDNPA, and the feeling was that this was more likely to succeed than the first, as other donations for the project had already been promised. The PDNPA are to be approached for grants, and again the Council was optimistic. The grants were hoped to yield Ł4,000 - Ł5,000, which would be plenty to get the project well underway. The tree felling had been arranged, but the date was not yet confirmed. During the grant discussions with the PDNPA, surprisingly it became apparent that a formal planning application would be required for the conversion of the field to a green. This would have to be compiled and submitted to the PPPB. On the allotments proper, further investigations, aided by the Severn-Trent map obtained by Cllr. Mrs. Gregory, have revealed the land drain and a manhole. A local contractor has been asked to quote for installing a ‘branch’ from this to drain the low-lying area of the allotments, and the cost would be about Ł400. The Council felt this worth doing if it would solve the drainage problem permanently, but unfortunately all this has occurred too late to do now, as most allotments now have plantings in them. The issue would be revisited at the end of the growing season, and a decision made then.
Maintenance: A reply from DCC about solutions for the problem dog signs was discussed and it was felt the simplest and cheapest solution would be to add a subsidiary sign, with words to the effect of ‘except on the paths’. DCC had agreed to jet clean all the blocked drains. The grit bins had not yet been filled, but the issue now seems somewhat irrelevant. The owner of property adjacent o the Bell’s Stile footpath would be asked to clear up the tree cuttings left on the path. A letter has been received from the current owner of Barn Furlong with the news that Severn Trent had finally agreed to adopt the sewers beneath the road, so he expected DCC to adopt the road very shortly. Much time was then spent discussing the proposed new streetlight on Station Road. Two quotes had been received, one for Ł800 for a light on the bungalow side of the road, Ł1250 of the field side of the road. The pros and cons of each side were thoroughly discussed, eventually coming down on the field side, even though it costs more.
There were no developments on the issues of Backdale Quarry, Glebe Mines, Glebe Court or the Kim Bramley Memorial fund. The date for the Jubilee Sports Day and Picnic has been confirmed as Sunday 2nd June.
The issue of UTE’s reporting of Council meetings was then briefly discussed. Cllr. Mrs. Gregory felt that too much information was provided in the reporting and it should be cut down. In response the Editor said that the space used varied from issue to issue and normally the report was already heavily edited down from the actual amount of talking that took place in the meeting. If the Council were not happy with the reports, they were welcome to raise the issue at a UTE Committee Meeting, where it could be discussed with the full UTE Committee.
Cllr. Hirst reported that the Christmas Tree lights were getting worn and that they may well need replacing after their next use.
A letter from the PDNPA regarding the naming of Great Longstone Wood brought the welcome news that the wood would be renamed, in line with the Council’s wishes and popular convention, to ‘The Willows’.
Six applicants had expressed interest in the position of Clerk to the Council, and it was felt that two would be worth interviewing. However another advertisement was due to run shortly, so further applicants may come forward. The interviewing was fixed for second week in May, so the results could be considered at May’s Council meeting.
Out of 18 items of correspondence, only two were discussed in any detail: the issue of a tree felling at The Hermitage, Main Street (this was only an informative letter from the PDNPA, who have dealt with the issue) and a letter explaining that new parish council auditing procedures would shortly come into effect.
The next meeting will be on 15th May, at 7:30pm, and this will be preceded by the AGM at 7pm, at which members of the public can raise issues. Please do come along if you have anything to say to the Parish Council.

Chris Raynor