This year’s AGM of Hassop Parish Meeting was held on Monday, 2nd April in the comfortable surroundings of Hassop Hall. Chairman, George D.C.Shaw, brought the meeting to order promptly at 8pm.

Ten households were represented and Councillor Christine Crowther also attended. Apologies were received from twelve parishioners.

The Minutes of last year’s AGM (8th May 2000) were read and accepted. There was only one Matter Arising: traffic concerns. - the Chairman indicated that this matter was already on the agenda for the meeting.

The Chairman began his report by welcoming the new residents to the village during the past year and giving a general update on departures and arrivals in the village. He mentioned the Electoral Register, noting that new residents can now be added at any time. He then went on to mention the village’s Millennium activities: Cllr. Christine Crowther planted a tree - a gift from DDDC - on the green in front of the church on 23rd October. Commemorative photos were taken and a party was held in Hassop Hall afterwards when a whole village group photo was taken for posterity. Also on the subject of the millennium, 31 Millennium Mugs had been presented to the children in the village. The Chairman continued his report telling the meeting that as requested at last year’s AGM, the Clerk, Max Waters, June Waters and himself had planted a considerable number of snowdrop bulbs on the green near the Millennium tree in remembrance of Lady Stephenson. He had attended a meeting in March, addressed by the East Midlands Regional Director of the Countryside Agency on the Rural White Paper and a Parish Forum meeting on the future of parish councils in July. The Countryside Agency has £51m to spend over the next three years through parish councils and local authorities. The year 2000 was the time for the five-yearly review of Listed Buildings in the parish - only the church showed signs for concern with crumbling stonework.

The Chairman continued by voicing his concern over Public Liability; ought the Parish Meeting to take out insurance to cover members of the Parish Meeting in the event of accident? After some discussion, a motion in favour of this was proposed, seconded and carried. Next, the Chairman gave an update on the traffic and highways situation in Hassop: letters had been sent to the various highways departments to complain about the time taken to repair/replace road signs and to ask again for the speed limit to be lowered to 30mph in the light of several potentially dangerous incidents during the year. Police mobile speed cameras have been promised but no date given. Finally, the Chairman concluded by mentioning the 100th birthday of Mrs. Tidbury on December 16th. Mrs. Tidbury has lived in the village since 1923 and on the day of her birthday, she was presented with a bouquet of flowers from the Parish Meeting and a basket of dried flowers from DDDC.

The Clerk’s report was in three sections:

1 Correspondence included a letter from Ashford Millennium Committee informing the Meeting of its plan to erect gritstone boundary markers and inviting Hassop to participate and co-fund the marker on the Ashford/Hassop border under the railway bridge on the A6020.

2 Planning Applications – a refreshment area at the Country Bookstore, the erection of office and warehouse at Hassop Station Building, a freestanding conservatory at the Dower House and a roof light at Hassop Cottage.

3 Any Other Matters – the PDNP Ranger Service is to paint all the listed mileposts in the Parish; an update on Longstone Edge (Glebe Mines are extending the quarry and Save Longstone Edge Group are working against this); finally the Clerk made a plea for any local news for Under the Edge to be passed on to Elain Turner.

The Treasurer’s report showed a healthy balance after numerous expenses had been deducted and no Precept will be asked for the year 2001/2002.

All Officers were happy to continue for another year and were all unanimously re-elected.

Judy Dilks gave her report of the Social Committee. She mentioned the events held during the year including the motor treasure hunt, which was most enjoyable, and thanked all concerned. She invited the new residents in the village to join the Social Committee and said that any ideas for events were always welcome. Unfortunately, due to the present foot and mouth crisis, no events could be planned for this year, but Judy asked for ideas to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in June 2002.

The Any Other Business topic included a wish voiced by several people in the community to have some memento of the Millennium in the village - a seat and/or litter bin perhaps - especially with sufficient funds in the bank to cover the cost. After much discussion - some of which was quite heated - a motion was passed for a litter bin, to be arranged by Cllr. Christine Crowther and sited on the green near the church and for the Clerk to make enquiries about the cost of a seat also to be placed on the green. Nigel Anderson suggested that members personally invite their neighbours and other parishioners to the Parish Meetings as they are most enjoyable. Christine Crowther said she would cheek the Electoral Roll. Judy Dilks voiced her doubts about Home Farm being Hassop’s polling station due to the foot and mouth crisis. She was advised to ring to have the venue changed to the stables.

The meeting ended at 9.40pm. Coffee and sandwiches were enjoyed by all.

Elain Turner