Stanley and Stanley Common Parish Council

Minutes of a meeting of the Stanley and Stanley Common Parish Council held on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 at 7:00pm in the Bartram Centre, The Crescent, Stanley Common, , , DE7 6GL

Present: Councillors P Carroll, M Cheetham MBE (Chairman), A Garton, V Harvey, R Seymour, J Smith and C Tomlinson

In Attendance: Councillors C Hart (DCC and Erewash BC), A Stevenson (Erewash BC) and Mrs S Doherty (Parish Clerk)

Members of the public: 25

2019/149 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies from Parish Council members however Borough Councillors D Cox and A Summerfield wished their apologies to be conveyed to the Parish Council.

2019/150 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

There were no declarations of interest made.

2019/151 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements, however the Chairman wished everyone a Happy New Year and welcomed them to the first Parish Council meeting of the year.

2019/152 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Members of the public present had come to the meeting following the publication of the Erewash Borough Council’s Core Strategy consultation. This was not an agenda item for the Parish Council, however, Councillor C Hart was present and gave a brief talk on the matter and took questions. The Chairman extended the public participation session upto 20 minutes to enable parishioners time to question Councillor Hart.

Councillor Hart assured that this document was in its initial consultation stage and would take at least 2-3 years before it was finalised and approved. Members of the public were urged to put forward their comments and concerns to the Borough Council.

2019/153 REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS

I. County Councillor

Councillor Hart advised that the Stanley Village sign was now back in place. Further, following on from the Whaley Bridge incident, she urged patience with the Highways Team as they were still working on that matter which was costing £20 million.

II. Borough Councillors

Councillor Stevenson reported on several events occurring in Ilkeston over the coming month.

2019/154 MINUTES

Councillors considered the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

2019/155 MATTERS ARISING

I. VILLAGE HALL WORKS UPDATE

It was reported that the certificate of completion had been received by the Clerk this evening. The Chairman requested that a copy be circulated to all members after the meeting.

2019/156 CO-OPTION OF A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Councillors considered the application of Mr M Pain for the vacant position of Parish Councillor.

RESOLVED:

That Mr Pain be co-opted onto the Parish Council for the Stanley Common Ward.

Mr Pain signed his declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat at the meeting.

2019/157 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Councillors considered the following planning applications.

a) ERE/1219/0025 - Proposed single storey side & rear extension at 19 Crown Hill Way Stanley Common, DE7 6XA

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised. b) ERE/1219/0005 - Proposed single storey rear extension at 184 Belper Road Stanley Common Derbyshire, DE7 6FS

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

c) ERE/0120/0008 - Horse riding manége for private use at Yew Tree Farm 39 Morley Lane Stanley Derbyshire, DE7 6EZ

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

d) ERE/1219/0033 - Advertisement consent to display various illuminated and non-illuminated signs at The White Hart Inn, Road Stanley Derbyshire, DE7 6EX

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

e) ERE/1219/0032 - Proposed new smoking shelter at The White Hart Inn Derby Road Stanley Derbyshire, DE7 6EX

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

f) ERE/1219/0010 - Retention of a pond at Yew Tree Farm 39 Morley Lane Stanley Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6EZ

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

g) ERE/1219/0008 - Single storey extension to office at 157a Station Road Stanley Derbyshire, DE7 6FJ

RESOLVED:

That no objection be raised.

2019/158 BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2020-21

Councillors considered the report of the Clerk which had been considered by, and contained the recommendations of, the Finance Working Party.

The Council would no longer receive the Council Tax Top-up Grant from Erewash Borough Council which was a loss of £1,349. Whilst the Council Tax base had increased slightly, which would provide a small increase in revenue it would not cover this loss. It was recommended therefore that this sum be added to the precept. Whilst overall this did not increase the income to the Council, it would be represented as an 8% increase on the precept compared to last year.

The Concurrent Functions Grant from Erewash would be held at the same figure as last year.

RESOLVED:

a) That the detailed budget be set as contained in Appendix 1 to the report (attached as an appendix to the minutes).

b) That the Precept for 2020-21 be set at £17,634. The total income when added to the Concurrent Functions Grant being £25,894.

2019/159 REPORT OF THE CLERK

I. VILLAGE SIGN AT STANLEY The village sign had been returned. This matter was now closed.

II. CHARITY COMMISSION RETURNS The Clerk reported that the required returns for 2018-19 had now been completed.

III. COMMUNITY LITTERPICK The Clerk reported that there had been a very good turnout for the litterpick organised for 30 November 2019. Due to the weather conditions, the original aim of picking Common Lane had been abandoned and the whole of Stanley Common village had been picked instead. It had been suggested that another litterpick be held in spring to cover Stanley village.

IV. CHRISTMAS EVENTS The Clerk reported that the Christmas events had gone well. There had been a good turnout for the Stanley Common event which was believed to be as a result of it being advertised on Facebook. Regular attendees had commented that it had been a much better turnout than in previous years.

V. FALLOW FIELD HEDGE The Clerk confirmed that, further to correspondence prior to the meeting, the field manager had agreed to pay for the hedge cut recently carried out and would now shift their cutting regime to the end of the season as the hedge would not now need to be cut again until next September.

The Clerk reported that the County Council had written to her shortly after the hedge had been cut to report on complaints that they had received because it was obstructing pedestrian usage of the pavement alongside. This had been previously circulated to Councillors via email.

2019/160 FALLOW FIELD CONSULTATION

Councillor Tomlinson had previously circulated a draft consultation document and request for volunteers to create a friends group to look after the fallow field and carry out the proposed works. He sought Council permission to publicise the document.

Councillors considered the document and suggested changes to clarify the ownership of the field and to request that the field manager be advised of the document before it was publicised.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the changes suggested being incorporated and the field manager being advised beforehand, the consultation document be approved for publication.

2019/161 WORKING PARTY UPDATES

I. OPEN SPACES WORKING PARTY

Councillor Harvey updated the Council on the meeting held before Christmas to which Mr Shorthouse had been invited to discuss his wildflower planting proposals. He had been asked if he would like to be co-opted onto the group and the Working Party wanted to look at creating a wildflower border around Stanley Recreation Ground. Approval was sought to approach the Council’s contractors for advice on how to make sustainable wildflower border and to link this into the mowing schedule.

RESOLVED:

That the Working Party be granted permission to approach the Council’s contractor to seek advice on creating a wildflower border in order to bring options back to Council for consideration.

2019/162 FINANCIAL POSITION

The clerk provided an update on the latest financial position and sought approval to transfer £2,000 from reserves into the current account to cover the Council’s costs until the year end.

RESOLVED:

That the financial position be noted and the Clerk be permitted to transfer £2,000 from reserves into the current account.

2019/163 APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The Clerk reported that two more invoices had been received since setting the agenda, these were for the waste collection from Erewash Borough Council and an expense claim from Councillor Smith for transporting the barriers for the Christmas Trees.

RESOLVED:

That the following payments be approved:

Payee Description Amount £ S Doherty Clerks salary – Nov 19 311.39 S Doherty Clerks expenses – Nov 19 51.12 HMRC PAYE 77.80 S Doherty Printing and postage 9.89 R Arter Litterpicking/play inspections+exps 95.99 Ilkeston Scouts Room hire – Council Meetings 60.00 J Mazillius Litterpicking/play inspections+exps 81.99 R Arter Litterpicking/play inspections 80.00 Powtrell Pavilion Room hire – O365 Training 10.00 Steve & Anna GS Repair of Springy at SC 95.00 Steve & Anna GS Repair steps and replace posts 360.00 Steve & Anna GS Prune lower branches at SC Rec 50.00 S Doherty Clerks Salary – Dec 19 219.80 S Doherty Clerks Expenses – Dec 19 36.18 HMRC PAYE 55.00 S Doherty Printing and postage 1.10 Opus Energy Electricity at SC Changing Rooms 51.85 NB Direct Debit now set up All Saints Church Room Hire – Speedwatch 15.00 Leisurelites Install and remove Christmas lights 2,040.00 Erewash BC Trade Waste Collection 75.99 J Smith Expense Claim – transport of fencing 11.07 Total 3,789.17

2019/164 INCOME RECEIVED

The Clerk reported that an income of £90 related to hire of the football pitch had been received since the last meeting.

2019/165 CORRESPONDENCE

I. PLAYGROUND/ RECREATION GROUND WEEKLY REPORTS Members considered the reports previously circulated. No issues to report.

II. DALC CIRCULAR Previously circulated. Noted

III. REQUEST TO USE STANLEY COMMON FOOTBALL PITCH ON SATURDAYS The Clerk reminded Councillors of emails circulated prior to the meeting and further reported that the current team had sought to book all of the Sundays that had previously been un-booked which meant that the second team that had approached would to be able to play on the Saturdays as the pitch was not capable of being played two days in a row.

The Clerk updated Councillors on a conversation with the treasurer of the current occupying team who had suggested that they would like to be able to play upto 3 matches per weekend if the pitch were capable of sustaining that amount of play. It was currently not possible due to the wet weather but Councillors may wish to consider the possibility of looking into works to enable this amount of usage in future. The current team were not able to be part of any grant funding applications as they had recently received a large grant for their main site.

Councillors discussed the proposals and were not minded to make any changes to the pitch at this time.

IV. HEDGES QUEENS AVENUE, STANLEY

The Clerk reported that this had been previously circulated and was correspondence forwarded from Councillor Summerfield. Councillor Harvey reported that this had been a long ongoing issue and Derbyshire County Council had contacted each of the hedge owners to request them to cut them back. One of the properties had cut theirs back. Another had trimmed their but the hedge was leaning outwards, which was causing the obstruction. The third was going to get theirs cut in spring once growth had started again.

RESOLVED:

That the Clerk write an official letter to the owner/occupier of the Queen’s Avenue property.

V. REQUEST TO PUT LOCAL DIRECTORY ON THE COUNCIL’S WEBSITE

The Clerk advised that Mrs June Hartley had requested that her directory of local groups and classes be put o the Council’s website and that she be credited with the work.

RESOLVED:

That the directory be put on the Council’s website.

VI. BRASS BAND CONCERT

The Clerk advised that a provisional date had been selected in consultation with the village hall and sought Council’s permission to confirm.

RESOLVED:

That the Council support the Brass Band Concert and the Clerk be authorised to confirm the date of 21 June 2020.

VII. PRE-SCHOOL OUTDOOR PLAY AREA

The Clerk reminded Councillors of previously circulated emails between the pre-school and the Council regarding the outdoor play area, following the safety inspection report highlighting numerous issues with its construction. Clarity was sought on the liability for the area and it was confirmed that as the landowner, the Council was potentially liable.

Councillors considered the options available to resolve the issue.

RESOLVED:

a) That the Council seek to put right the works carried out. b) That the Open Spaces Working Party seek advice ad obtain quotes for Council consideration. c) That, at a future meeting, Council consider options for recouping the costs of rectification.

VIII. GRASS VERGES, BELPER ROAD, STANLEY COMMON – ILLEGAL PARKING AD DAMAGE

The Clerk reported that she had received a phone call earlier in the month complaining about the state of the verges. This was an ongoing issue and had been reported several times. The County Councillor had been in contact with Highways Officers and they had made it clear that this was not a health and safety issue and therefore not a priority.

Councillors reported that it was now a health and safety issues as the depth of the tracks through the mud now meant that water was running across the surface of the pavement and causing a slip hazard.

Whilst it was suggested that the Police be contacted to ticket the vehicles to attempt to discourage parking on the verge it was felt that the County Council should be requested to put in place a barrier to prevent parking instead.

RESOLVED:

That the Clerk write a strong letter to the County Council requiring them to fulfil their responsibilities.

IX. ARMED FORCES COVENANT

The Chairman provided information on the armed forces covenant to the Council and explained that this was something more for Borough and County Councils rather than Parishes.

2019/166 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Councillors noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 19 February 2020

The meeting terminated at 8:43pm.