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Cllr. Cox opened the meeting promptly at 7:30. As all councillors were
present, there were no apologies, the minutes were approved with no
matters
arising. Several planning applications were considered, as the first was for a new
building at Church Lane Farm, Cllr. Cox declared an interest and left the
meeting while councillors discussed the application. Several councillors
expressed concern about the drainage from the proposed building, both surface
water run-off and foul effluent, running down the hill towards adjacent
residential properties. Cllr. Finney queried whether, in light of the new
regulations prohibiting the spreading of manure during part of the year, a
slurry lagoon would be required further down the hill. This would be a nuisance
to the adjoining houses, particularly in summer. Several councillors responded
to this pointing out that the proposed shed was not of the type that would
require a lagoon. Cllr. Finney also expressed concern about the concentration of
development at the farm, due to the limited space available. The Council then
passed the application unanimously, with a proviso attached expressing concern
about the drainage issue. The next application was for an extension at 6, The Meadows. The Council was -
as usual - disappointed to see yet another application for development on the
Meadows. The usual points were made: these were starter homes, thus were
intentionally small, there was little room for development on any of the
buildings. The Council voted 7:1 against the application on the grounds that the
extension was too large in relation to the existing building and too large for
the available space, going right up to the boundary. However, the Council had
little faith in their views being taken into account at the PPPB. The next application was for the demolition of existing outbuildings and the
erection of a new shed and pagoda and extension to dwelling at Stone Cottage,
Sunny Bank. The Council approved the application. Finally an application for the
erection of a garden shed at The Coach House, Main Street, which was a
retrospective application. This was also approved. PPPB planning approval for a
conservatory at 31, The Meadows was noted and DDDC Cllr. Mrs. Crowther reported
that the application for Great Longstone School had been approved by the PPPB. Under financial matters, the balances were noted as £1000 in the current
account, £13815.15. Several minor payments totalling £1321.52 were approved, the
largest being £719.42 for the (previous) Clerk’s salary and expenses. Cllr. Bowering reported that work on the new green, adjacent to the allotments,
has now started but has been forced to a stop due to the lack of planning
permission! This had been expected to be granted, which was why work had
started, but it did not happen. The focus had then moved to the allotments
proper, as a grant of £275 (a quarter of the cost) had been received towards
rebuilding the walls around the allotment. This work was also nearly completed.
The PPPB had written requesting further information regarding the plans for the
new green, before deciding whether to grant planning permission. The information
requested included: what sort of wooden benches would be on the green, and how
would they be laid out; what shape of waste bin was required; exactly what would
the dedication plaque say on it. Obviously all critical factors in deciding
whether permission should be granted for changing one sort of field into
another. After some discussion the Council decided to keep the two entrances to
the allotments in the positions they were now in, as it was no longer possible
to get around all the plots from one gate because the footpaths had been dug up
- contrary to the tenancy agreements. Cllr. Bowering revealed that a problem had
arisen with the planned new wall between the green and the allotments because
the ground had been found to be far too soft to support a wall. Thus a
workaround had been formulated of digging out a large trench beneath the wall
and filling it with the left-over rubble from the wall and a drain, which would
act as a foundation for the wall and provide the required drainage without
having to disturb any existing plots, as the previous drainage plan would have.
The Council approved this plan. A letter from Mr. Wilkie regarding the
allotments was briefly discussed, but Cllr. Bowering said he had already spoken
with Mr. Wilkie about the issues he had raised, and all appeared to be resolved
or on their way to resolution. There had been no news received back from WREN as
regards the grant application for the new green. On to the other epic, on-going item: maintenance. There has been no progress on
the ‘no dogs’ signs on the recreation ground and the discussion spent some time
going over the same ground as before. The diagonal footpath by the play area had
been cleared back. Nothing has been done about the broken waste bin or the
fencing by the bungalows. The Clerk reported that enquiries about a grant for a
new climbing frame had revealed that the grant committee would be sitting the
following week, so any application had to be submitted promptly. It was resolved
to proceed and submit an application. A report from the PDNPA Tree Officer about
the trees on the green suggested that all needed cutting back and that a
hawthorn near the school was splitting and would need replacing in a few years.
It was resolved to arrange for the trees to be cut back in the autumn. A
response to the request for the grit bins to be filled had been received saying
that it was not a good idea to leave the bins filled over the summer as the salt
solidified. Cllr. Bowering reported on the footpath behind Harrow House: the top
had been weed-killed, but uncollected water running of adjacent roofs made it
wet and muddy. It needed cleaning up and some fresh gravel laying. The bottom
part needed resurfacing. As it was unclear who was responsible for the path, it
was decided to ask the Footpaths Officer. The seat opposite the bus stop had
rotted so much it seemed irreparable - as a first step it was decided to find
out whom the seat was donated by and ask them if they wished to replace it. DDDC Cllr. Mrs. Crowther reported that Glebe Mines are voluntarily following the
working practices required by the new consolidated planning permission, even
though they are under no obligation to do so as it is not yet in force. The PPPB
are regularly monitoring the workings. Cllr. Cox reported that Glebe are
apparently doing all that they promised to do. There has been no progress on the matters of the Kim Bramley Memorial Fund, the
Glebe Court properties or the Neighbourhood Watch. Cllr. Hirst reported that the new owners of Thornbridge Hall had contacted him
about their planning applications not yet being approved. He had told them that
the Parish Council had approved them and there was nothing more the PC could do.
Cllr. Mrs. Crowther explained that all the planning authorities were
understaffed and hence applications were taking a long time to be approved. There have 23 items of correspondence received over the past month, only eight were considered by the meeting. The Derbyshire Association of Local Councils is running a short auditing training course for parish Clerks. The Clerk requested he attend this, and this was approved. A circular from the National Association of Local Councils asked all councils to affirm their commitment to racial equality - this was done. The Derbyshire Village of the Year judges will be in the village during July. A letter from the Standards [in government] Board reminded the Council of the need for all councillors to sign up to the model code of conduct by the end of the month - this has already been done. A copy of a note from the Tree Office to Longstone School was received, giving permission for a tree on the School field to felled (to make way for the new hall). The Peak Park Parishes Forum AGM will be held next month, unfortunately no councillors will be able to attend. A letter from the DCC Adult Education Service requested permission to install an ISDN telephone line in the village hall, for their computer courses. As this incurred no expense for the parish, the Council agreed permission.
Chris Raynor |