GRINDLEFORD PARISH COUNCIL – MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 14 NOVEMBER 2024 AT 7 PM IN THE PAVILION
Present: Andrew Battarbee, Elizabth Coe, Simon Hutchinson, Esther Stewart, Dave Kirkup, Ray Whiteley, Peter O’Brien, Alex Erskine
An open session was held to discuss the Peak Park Local Plan Review, to which Grindleford residents were invited. The discussion was preceded by a presentation by Cllr Erskine, who had highlighted five areas in the Local Plan report which were of particular interest to Grindleford. These were settlement tiers, parking, replacement dwellings, holiday homes and the local connection.
Apologies: Hilary Hart.
- COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – Cllr Sutton had sent apologies.
- DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – in view of the pressure on time, nothing to report this month.
- POLICE REPORT – there was none although a belated report had been submitted after the October meeting.
- MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
These were agreed as a true record pro DK sec AE.
- UPDATE ON MATTERS ARISING
Network Rail – John Davies has submitted audio recordings of excessive noise through the formal channels.
Grit bins – Cllr Whiteley has been working to empty the bins with solidified grit in them, and has put more grit in. The new bin at Mount Pleasant has been broken by being driven into. A resident has undertaken to empty it of water and cover it with a tarp. Filling the bins to the top in case there was another cold snap was not agreed as an action as it goes hard if not used and is of no use, and Cllr Whiteley is doing such a good job to keep them serviceable.
Benches – it was agreed to remove the bench near the war memorial which is in bad repair and sand and treat the other two. The two in Jubilee Gardens need new wooden slats. Clerk has not been able to find anyone to do the work. Cllr O’Brien offered to try to identify someone who could help, and clerk would approach a new contact although thought it might be too big a job. £400 has already been set aside for this work.
- OTHER MATTERS
Local Plan Review – The Chair Andrew Battarbee volunteered to submit a response to the Peak Park on behalf on the village. It was made clear that residents were invited to send in their comments individually as well.
Remote attendance at meetings – government consultation “Enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings – GOV.UK”. We were invited to submit our views. The consensus was that we did not support remote attendance, except in an emergency.
Grindleford school – the Chair mentioned that he had heard the national fall in the 4 year old population, which was due to continue for at least the next four years, was having an impact on school numbers across the valley including Grindleford School. Cllr Erskine reported that some parents had chosen to take their children out from Grindleford and numbers were now quite worryingly low. Clerk was asked to speak to the chair of school governors, Neil Roden, about re-instating the School Trust Fund which was active in the late 1990s and early 2000s when a similar situation existed. Its aim was to allow residents who no longer have children at the school but still have an interest in it to donate regularly to a fund, which would allow the school to continue with three full time teachers and therefore three classes. The parish council might be able to help set it up and run it. Cllr Coe had enquired about repairs to the MUGA surface so that the school children could use it for sport. While this is a matter for GPFA, there may be some symbiosis between fundraising for this and for the School Trust Fund.
Xmas climate event, Pavilion Open House – it was agreed that the Parish Council should take up the offer extended by GPFA to take part in an Open House to celebrate the new kitchen and generally showcase what they are up to. It was agreed that if the Council were to have some sort of climate action event this year, it should have a different format, and perhaps this event plus informal carols round the Christmas tree would be a way forward to tell the village what we have been doing this year. Clerk to prepare some material.
Christmas tree – clerk to arrange.
MATTERS FOR DECISION
- Council adopted ownership of the twenty flood barriers donated by Forgemasters
- Council agreed a way forward for emptying the grit bins and an emergency procedure in the event of very bad weather
- Council agreed not to hold a 2024 climate event this year, but to have a display at the Christmas tree and organise some carols and refreshments
- Council agreed to find someone to maintain the benches at the war memorial and Jubilee Gardens
- Council agreed to spend up to £250 on a village Christmas tree, plus some additional lights to replace the ones which broke during the storm last year.
- PLANNING MATTERS
NP/DDD/1124/1179 https://portal.peakdistrict.gov.uk Longshaw Estate, Estate Office, Unnamed Track From Froggatt Edge To District Boundary, Longshaw. Alterations to the store building and the external landscaping
NP/DDD/1124/1176 Longshaw Estate, Estate Office, Unnamed Track From Froggatt Edge To District Boundary, Longshaw. Listed Building consent – Alterations to the store building and the external landscaping
NP/DDD/1024/1139 15 Eyam Woodlands, Grindleford. Proposed installation of air source heat pump.
- PLANNING DECISIONS
Planning decisions can be found at https://portal.peakdistrict.gov.uk
- ACCOUNTS
| Date | Amount | Payee | Purpose |
| 14.11.24 | 79.96 | Sarah Battarbee | Poppies |
| 14.11.24 | 44.42 | Ray Whiteley | Grit and remembrance flowers |
| 14.11.24 | 1680 | ELMS | FRA |
It was pro AE sec DK that these accounts be paid.
There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.55 pm.
Sarah Battarbee
Clerk to the Council
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 12 December 2024