Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
A meeting of Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council was held on Thursday, 7th November 2024 at 7.30pm in the Bakehouse.
Present: A Grindey, S Wager, D Annat, S Bruce, R Sherratt, the clerk, S Hampson and District Councillor, D Chapman. There was one member of the public in attendance for part of the meeting.
Part 1 Non-confidential information
24.11.1 Apologies and attendance register
The members completed the attendance register.
24.11.2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been forwarded to members, in advance of the meeting and posted on the parish council’s website and noticeboard.
Resolved: to accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings. The minutes were duly signed by Mr Grindey.
24.11.3 Public speaking
The member of the public reported a tree which is obscuring vision on Hyde Lane and potentially hazardous to both motorists and cyclists. This is near Grey Gables and further trees have been planted which may impact vision in the future. This area is classed as highways.
Resolved: the clerk to approach highways department to attend to the visual issue caused by the mature tree on Hyde Lane and to seek the opinion from Derbyshire County Council (DCC) regarding the planting of trees within close proximity to the highway potentially leading to future visibility issues.
The member of the public was thanked for her attendance and contribution at the previous night’s public meeting held by one of the election candidates.
As referred to above, one of the election candidates had arranged to speak at the Charles Cotton on
6th November. At this meeting, he claimed that there had been several instances of effluent discharge into the River Dove. If this is the case, as the public body, the parish council has not been advised of this by either Severn Trent Water Authority (STWA) or the Environment Agency.
Resolved: The clerk to contact Severn Trent Water Authority for information and full details regarding this claim by a member of the public.
Resolved: to accept the new public speaking procedures document and attendance sheet forwarded to members.
24.11.4 Update of election
There are 2 candidates of election on 14th November 2024. The cost of this election, for only one vacancy, is estimated by DDDC to be £2,000 from the precept. Polling cards have been sent out by DDDC. The parish council is concerned that one candidate issued a leaflet which stated the council was an unelected body which is not the case as 4 of the members were elected (one of whom resigned creating the present vacancy). This same candidate has now issued an apology on face book but unfortunately, not to the full parish council.
24.11.5 Hartington First Responders
Hartington and District First Responders is a new voluntary service looking to recruit. A representative will attend a future meeting of the parish council to provide further information. The parish council welcomes further information.
24.11 6 Connect Fibre update.
The clerk had requested further updates but there is still nothing further to report from Connect Fibre. There has been, however, a number of BT and other vehicles regularly present in the village working on communication.
24.11.7 Update from the District Councillor
The District Councillor was present but unable to provide an update regarding field 0657 previously purchased by DDDC, for an extension to the parish council cemetery. The councillor had no further updates from the District Council other than the security that the village car park will never be used as a traveller site. The parish council requested that the District Councillor make further enquiries with the District Council to confirm the future availability of field 0657 to the parish council for burial facilities.
24.11.8 Former cheese factory site
The clerk had written to the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) to relate the information of the near completion of the ‘affordable houses’ to ensure that the properties, rented or on sale, are done so as agreed by the District Valuer price. A response had been received, stating that the properties should be sold at affordable home prices, as stated by the District Valuer, taking into consideration the restrictions imposed by PDNPA’s legal agreements with the owner. However, the last valuation prices set at 2022 are now out of date and once the new price from the District Valuer has been released, then this information will be communicated to the developer.
Mr Annat reported that planning has been partially approved for attenuation ponds at the development site; one between Stonewell Lane properties and the development properties and the other where the swale was originally supposed to be sited. Mrs Bruce reported that footings have been completed for the large house at the site.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the senior planner to confirm exactly what has been agreed, in terms of flood attenuation measures at the development site, as the parish council has not yet been notified.
24.11.9 Neighbourhood Plan documents and grant application
The plan has progressed but too late for submission to the PDNPA Planning Committee in November. A formal complaint has been raised with Natural England over their failure to respond in a timely manner regarding the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Assessment. Once the planning committee agree submission to a Regulation 16 consultation and appointment of an inspector, all further costs will be borne by the PDNPA.
The consultation statement has now been redone into a table format. A qualified resident is completing an ecologist report with any fee being less than £500 and covered by the grant already received. It is hoped that the plan will now go before the December committee. The success of the Neighbourhood Plan is vital due to the new Local Plan Review.
24.11.10 Remembrance Day
The mowing contractor had weeded the War Memorial in advance of the service and the clerk had arranged for the supply of a wreath.
Resolved: As Chairman, Mr Grindey to lay the wreath on behalf of the parish council.
24.11.11 Pond seats
Mr Wager had contacted one of the family members connected to the recently removed memorial seat for a former Chairman of the parish council and reported that they are unlikely to replace it. Another seat, in the middle of the pond verge was damaged by a vehicle and is also in need of replacement
The clerk had sent thanks to the Hartington Community Group for their further involvement in recently clearing the pond
Resolved: the clerk to contact PDNPA regarding the possibility of supplying or grant aiding a replacement seat to match the existing seats.
24.11.12 Freedom of Information (FoI) requests
The clerk had contacted the resident who had submitted the FoI requests to seek clarification of his request for extended responses. This information was not available in time for either the October meeting nor the November meeting.
24.11.13 AGAR 23-24
There been no further contact from the external auditors in time for the meeting regarding the annual return.
Resolved: the clerk to request an update.
24.11.14 Christmas tree light switch on and use of green
The Oddfellows will kindly assist at this event and a risk assessment has been completed. The same resident has offered to once again supply a Christmas tree for which the parish council is most grateful. As previously minuted, Mr Annat will purchase additional lighting through the same supplier to ensure fit and
Mr Grindey to receive the Christmas tree a week before the tree is put in place.
Resolved: the parish council to directly donate monies for the electricity supply at the December meeting.
24.11.15 Items of account, salaries HMRC, general administration, banking, mowing contractor, external audit, neighbourhood plan, clerk’s pay award and back pay
Cq 1788 Jane Newman Planning Neighbourhood Plan £2,136.00
Cq 1789 Hartington Village Hall Meeting hire £27.50
Cq 1790 S Hampson November internet provision £17.00
Cq 1791 S Hampson Clerk’s salary £429.47
Cq 1792 S Hampson Reimbursement of expenses £12.10
Cq 1793 The Poppy Appeal Wreath for Remembrance Day £20.00
Cq 1794 Hartington Community Group One third share of QE11 plaque £85.00
for the plinth
Cq 1795 B Coles Final mow, weeding cemetery path and War Memorial
£357.60 VAT £59.60
Resolved: to pay the clerk the national pay award and back pay to 1st April 2024 within the December salary payment.
The clerk had successfully reclaimed the sum of £410.00 by way of reimbursable expenditure from Derbyshire Dales District Council to offset mowing costs within the cemetery.
24.11.16 Planning applications, planning sub-committee and appeals
It had been reported to the parish council that French doors had been put in place at Holloway Cottage, overlooking the church.
Resolved: to confirm this report, ascertain planning permission and if necessary, contact enforcement.
There were no new planning applications.
Two residents had attended a PDNPA event at Warslow regarding the Local Plan. Mr Grindey and Mr Annat will make themselves available on Thursday, 21st November, in the village hall during the consultation period of the plan. A display will be available in the Bakehouse area. The parish council would encourage members of the parish to view the Local Plan on line and to submit comments before the deadline.
Resolved: Mr Annat will place an article in News and Views and prepare a submission for both the parish council’s and community websites.
24.11.17 Highway issues, yellow lines, pot holes, street lighting
Following an email from a resident regarding inappropriate parking on Stonewell Lane and within the village the clerk had contacted the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). The PCSO had responded stating, in his opinion, there were no parking issues in the village! He had looked back over the last 6 months and there were no reports to reflect the resident’s opinion which the clerk had reported. He stated that a lot of parking restrictions fall to civil parking enforcement officers to enforce as police only enforce obstructions reported to the police requiring the police to attend and address the situation. He suggested contacting Highways which has already happened. He further advised that there have been 4 crimes recorded in the village over the last 6 months.
Mr Grindey advised that some of the yellow line information signs are missing or damaged. The yellow lines are in places missing or faded throughout the village.
Resolved: The clerk to contact highways regarding the yellow lines and information signs.
24.11.18 Grit bin monitoring and snow warden scheme
Mr Grindey reported that both bins on Reynards Lane are empty; he will check the other bins and advise the clerk accordingly. The clerk will order grit through Derbyshire County Council (DCC) as required. The clerk had contacted the snow warden from 2023 and unfortunately, he will not be able to provide the service this year. Mr Wager advised that the Oddfellows will not be able to undertake their role this year.
Resolved: The clerk to contact members of the Community group to request volunteers for the scheme.
24.11.19 Items for News and Views
Resolved: to place an article in the next issue about the snow warden scheme.
24.11.20 Correspondence and communication, email address
Contact is now being made via the new parish council contact email address. Correspondence had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting and included: DCC flood risk management parish forum notes, DALC open day, rural bulletins, DCC news, DCC Community news.
24.11.21 Items for the next agenda
New councillor administration following the election, Neighbourhood Plan, former cheese factory site, grit bins and snow warden, Precept and budget with election costs. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
24.11.22 Date of next meeting: Wednesday, 4th December 2024
Confidential Items
There were no confidential items to discuss.
The meeting was declared closed at 9.25 pm
Mrs S Hampson,
Clerk,
Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
8th November 2024
©Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting