GRINDLEFORD PARISH COUNCIL – MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 10 May 2025 AT 7 PM IN THE PAVILION
Present: Andrew Battarbee (Chair), Elizabeth Coe, Simon Hutchinson, Esther Stewart, Ray Whiteley, Alex Erskine, Peter O’Brien, Hilary Hart. Residents who had attended the parish meeting were invited to stay on for the Council meeting if they wished.
Apologies: none
- COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – Cllr Sutton sent apologies.
- DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – none in view of pressure on timing due to Parish Meeting and Annual Statutory Meeting.
- POLICE REPORT – none. Clerk to write again to PC Boswell asking for perhaps quarterly attendance.
- MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
These were agreed as a true record pro RW sec EC .
Standing orders were suspended to hear a suggestion by a resident about demarcating passing places at the top of Padley Gorge. Cllr Erskine said that a passing place is typically on single track roads and requires a clear line of sight between passing intervals. Standing orders were then resumed.
- MATTERS ARISING
Website. Cllr Erskine was thanked for progressing this. Clerk to make contact with parishcouncilwebsites to discuss the layout of the new website, and timing, with a view to bringing a demonstration of the new site to the next meeting.
Flooding. Clerk had been in touch with the insurers, Zurich. With certain provisos the barriers are covered by our existing insurance. The provisos set out in an email dated 17 April are “I can confirm that the flood barrier will be covered under your policy. Please note so that the flood barriers are covered under the policy please ensure that the barriers are inspected at intervals (and this is documented) to ensure they remain in good condition and that you have trained enough volunteers, so that if an alert comes in there are always people on hand to deploy the barriers.” This will be included in the hand over note when the parish council ceases its interest in the project, which will be logged on the new website.
Flooding Scotts Close and by the War Memorial. Cllr Sutton had intervened to resolve the issue at Scotts Close. The blockage had been located under the fence between the path and residents’ gardens. Discussions with residents should hopefully mean the issue is resolved. The next heavy rain will tell us whether or not it has. The flood at the War Memorial has been dealt with by Highways and Severn Trent, thanks to Cllr Whiteley for his input.
- OTHER MATTERS
Audit. Cllrs asked that David Turner be thanked for his excellent work and for keeping his rates so low. David has undertaken to be our auditor again next year,
AGAR papers. Approved by the Council, pro AB sec EC.
Cooption of new Councillor. After the required process had been observed the Council had been given permission to co-opt a ninth member after the resignation of David Kirkup. An application had been received from Anwen Fryer Burrows, who lives on Mount Pleasant. Cllrs felt that her application was positive and agreed that she should be invited to be our new Councillor. She is unable to attend the June meeting. Pro AB sec EC.
Flood plan – there had been some discussion amongst residents about whether to proceed with the purchase of a shed to store a small number of barriers, it was agreed to continue with the plan but perhaps to site the shed more discretely if GPFA are amenable.
Village Gates – an application for stone gates is still underway to DCC Highways, it is likely to be refused but may open the door for the possibility of more mainstream wooden gates.
EV charging – Clerk is continuing to pursue. A new contact at Highways, Matthew Eglin, has been found who is more amenable to Kerbocharge pavement channels for the charging cables. A contact for funding for this project has also been found at DDDC (Christina Trindade). Clerk to arrange a meeting to discuss.
Hedges project – five pilot hedges or small trees are now in place in Grindleford. The next planting season is in October. Clerk will advertise widely nearer that time. Clerk is arranging a joint meeting with the tree group and Hortisoc to make sure all parties are content.
ANPR – funding request. This request made by the police for £500 funding to support an ANPR at Hathersage was put to the Council. Cllrs asked, where would it be sited? Is it two-way? Where are the other ANPRs? Clerk to take forward with the police and return the item to a future agenda.
Rise in minimum wage – clerk reported this has risen to £12.21 which will have an implication for the budget.
Bank account actions – all signatory councillors were given their packs, with card reader, bank card etc. They now need to register a password. With luck and three more throws of the runes, this is the last thing they need to do before we can go live. Lloyds have provided one final hurdle which is to change the mandate for Sarah Battarbee, clerk, who although not a signatory under the current arrangements has to be a full signatory for the new account in order to be able to process payments. Agenda item for next meeting after signatory councillors have got their passwords.
The Section 137 allowance per resident has gone up to £11.30
- MATTERS FOR DECISION
- To approve the AGAR and related papers – done
- To approve the cooption of a new Councillor – Anwen Fryer Burrows has been co-To approve a payment of £500 to Derbyshire Police as part payment towards an ANPR between Hathersage and Grindleford – to be brought forward to a future agenda
- Councillors to sign declarations of business interests – done
- Councillors to receive their bank packs and carry out the necessary login actions before the next meeting – bank packs issued.
- PLANNING MATTERS
NP/DDD/0325/0278 Flora House, New Road, Grindleford. Single storey side extension. Agreed to support the application, but with conditions. There is a shared septic tank which cannot take rainwater, and furthermore a shared drain runs across the front of the houses so builders must be told where it is, and to take suitable steps not to damage it.
NP/DDD/1224/1384 Stoke Hall Quarry Stone Processing Works, New Road Grindleford. Retention of two wire saws and four lighting columns. Agreed in support.
NP/DIS/0325/0268. Discharge of condition 3 on NP/DDD.0223/0189. Grindleford Model Laundry Ltd, The Old Boiler Room, Main Road, Grindleford. No action.
- PLANNING DECISIONS
Planning decisions can be found at Planning Search
- ACCOUNTS
Cheque no | Date | Amount | Payee | Purpose |
1170 | 8 May 25 | 399.80 | DALC | Subs |
1171 | 8 May 25 | 108 | GPFA | Defib costs |
1172 | 8 May 25 | 60 | GPFA | Room hire |
1173 | 8 May 25 | 50 | Sarah Battarbee | Lloyds |
1174 | 8 May 25 | 29.98 | Sarah Battarbee | Replacement cheque, Christmas lights |
1175 | 8 May 25 | 12 | PPPF | Subs |
1176 | 8 May 25 | 80 | David Turner | Audit |
It was pro EC sec AE that these accounts be paid.
There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.07 pm.
Sarah Battarbee
Clerk to the Council
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 12 June 2025