HARTINGTON TOWN QUARTER PARISH COUNCIL
A meeting of Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council was held on Wednesday, 14th October 2026 at 7.30pm in the Bakehouse, Hartington Village Hall.
Present: Alan Grindey, R Sherratt, D Annat, S Bruce, S Wager and the clerk, S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.
Part 1 Non-confidential information
26.10.1 Apologies and attendance register
The members present completed the attendance register. Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Ms S Spencer.
26.10.2 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. The minutes were duly signed by the Chairman, Mr Grindey.
26.10.3 Public speaking procedures document and public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance.
Mrs Bruce had been approached by a local business person regarding the continued presence of some signs in places in the village, such as on the triangle and greens, despite letters being sent from the parish council requesting their removal. Members were pleased with the reduction in signs displayed by the newsagents.
Signage clutter is still in place on the triangle which can be a potential trip hazard to visually impaired people and potentially cause a visual obstruction/distraction to motorists. It was also noted that street furniture in front of the Devonshire Arms appears to be increasing and encroaching further towards the pavement area/highway.
Resolved: to forward a letter of thanks to the newsagents for the decluttering process undertaken and to write again to the businesses who have not yet complied with the first request.
Resolved: to contact Derbyshire County Council (DCC) for their opinion on health and safety issues caused by the placement of signs on the triangle near the bus shelter.
26.10.4 County Councillor update
The County Councillor was not in attendance
26.10.5 Update from District Councillor
The District Councillor was not in attendance.
26.10.6 Neighbourhood Plan
An article will appear in the latest News and Views publication. Mr Annat reiterated that the village has been very involved in the process with multiple people attending meetings. The Neighbourhood Plan is now in legislation, along with the green spaces and settlement boundaries.
Resolved: to remove the Neighbourhood Plan from the future agendas.
26.10.7 Former cheese factory site, flood attenuation measures and enforcement
There was no further information regarding the flood attenuation measures but the clerk will continue to make further contact with the officer at PDNPA to seek updates.
26.10.8 The pond area
The damaged seat still needs to be removed. The clerk had contacted the volunteer group to thank them for their efforts and asked for their planned date when the pond irises will be removed and not to place any more barley straw into the pond as this leads to additional debris.
26.10.9 Village Christmas tree
Mr Sherratt, once again, has this matter in hand and has arranged for the donation of a village Christmas tree from a local source. There are plenty of Christmas lights.
Resolved: the clerk to contact a member of the village hall committee to contact the lady who has previously generously provided the electricity supply for the tree.
26.10.10 Telegraph poles on Reynards Lane
The clerk had contacted the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) regarding a proposal to erect telegraph poles on Reynards Lane. Their reply stated that PDNPA had made a clear objection to this proposal on 17th August 2026 but there had been zero response to their subsequent letter to Open Reach. PDNPA is looking to find a higher-level contact at Open Reach and to push BT Open Reach with their obligations as a public body.
Resolved: to make further contact with PDNPA and the MP over this matter.
26.10.11 Items of account, salaries, clerk’s pay award, HMRC, general administration, mowing contractor, bus shelter maintenance, on line banking, new council laptop
Cq 1911 B W Coles Mowing contract £558.00 (VAT £98)
Cq 1912 S Hampson October internet provision £17.00
Cq 1913 S Hampson October clerk’s salary, pay award and back pay £553.51
Cq 1914 S Hampson Reimbursement of expenses £9.90
Mr Annat owns the parish council website address and requested that the website manager now takes this on and to bill the parish council accordingly.
Resolved: contact to be made with the website manager regarding the ownership of the website address.
26.10.12 Planning applications, planning sub-committee and appeals, enforcement
There were no new applications to consider.
26.10.13 Highway issues, yellow lines, pot holes, street lighting, No though road sign at Reynards Lane, Hyde Lane weight limit
There were no updates on the above items but also see item 26.9.4. The grid near the doctors’ surgery had been reported after the previous meeting.
Resolved: to report the multiple pot holes on Hall Bank.
Of great concern to the parish council members is the imminent action by BT Open Reach to install 36 large telegraph poles on Reynards Lane on the approach to Brighton Farm. It will be very difficult to dig in this area to complete the installation and the verge is very narrow. Members think this will result in the lane becoming even more narrow in places presenting problems for agricultural traffic. It is highly likely that collisions will occur with the poles. In addition, the poles will have a massive impact on the area creating an eyesore. The parish council is unanimous in their disapproval of the proposed action by BT Open Reach but understands no planning permission is required. The parish council sees this as an anomaly in planning.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the MP and PDNPA immediately after the meeting to express their dismay at this action by BT Open Reach.
26.10.14 Articles for News and Views
An update on the Neighbourhood Plan has been included.
26.10.15 Correspondence and communication
Correspondence had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting and in addition to those items addressed through the agenda included: PCSO monthly newsletter, DALC newsletters.
26.10.16 Items for the next agenda
Former cheese factory site and flood measures, the pond area and seat, telegraph poles on Reynards Lane, Christmas tree, initial budget discussion for 2027-8 (including contested election fee costs). Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
26.10.16 Date of next meeting:
Wednesday, 4th November 2026.
The meeting was declared closed at 8.20 pm
Mrs S Hampson, Clerk, Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
20th October 2026
©Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting