Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received by Councillors P Antcliff, D Cheetham, K Clegg, L Hartshorne, N Morley, C Renwick, J Stokes, M E Thacker MBE and H Wetherall.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any items on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time. 

Councillor S Reed declared an non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 – Motion A, as the Cabinet Member for Business Services at Derbyshire County Council. He indicated that he would not participate in the vote on that item.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the Annual Council and Ordinary Council meetings held on 19 May 2025.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Ordinary Council and Annual Council meetings held on 19 May 2025 be approved as true and correct records.

The Vice Chair of the Council, Councillor G Baxter MBE, congratulated Councillor P Kerry on his 85^th birthday.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor N Barker, reported that he had been involved in the opening ceremony of Clay Cross Active and commended everyone involved for their hard work in creating the facility.

The Leader of the Council shared that he had attended the LGA conference and several events concerning Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). In terms of LGR, Councillor N Barker delivered an update on the work that had taken place since the last meeting on the proposal that would be submitted in November 2025.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8 to allow members of the public to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period up to fifteen minutes.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 8 for this meeting.

No questions from the public had been received.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance.

Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council, introduced a report which advised the Council of the decision he had taken to increase the size of Cabinet by one.  The report explained that the decision had been made in order to add additional capacity to meet the existing and potential growing demand brought about by Local Government Reorganisation. The new portfolio covering Local Government Reorganisation would be held by Councillor K Gillott.

Councillor C Cupit raised some concerns around the additional cost to the Council, ambiguity around the remit of the role and potential conflicts of interests. Councillor M Foster agreed with the concerns. Councillor N Barker reiterated the need for the role.

RESOLVED that the decision be noted.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance.

Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council, introduced a report which gave an overview of the progress on the objectives underpinning the Council Plan (2023-2027) for 2024/25. Councillor N Barker highlighted particular achievements that underpinned the objectives A Great Place to Live Well, A Great Place to Work, A Great Place to Access Good Public Services and A Great Place that Cares for the Environment.

Councillor N Baker welcomed the report and raised questions around how individuals racing along village streets should be reported and how to protect against similar incidents. Councillor A Dale and Councillor M Foster raised similar points in relation to anti-social behaviour. The concerns were noted, and it was agreed that information would be provided to Members. Councillor N Barker drew attention to the hard work of the Community Safety team in tackling anti-social behaviour in the District. Councillor M Durrant highlighted the advice of the Police and Crime Commissioner, that had been given at Communities Scrutiny Committee, in regard to reporting dangerous vehicles.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Report of the Chairs’ of the Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor M Durrant, Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee, introduced a report which provided Members of the Council with an annual overview of the work programme of the Scrutiny Committees during 2024/25. Councillor M Durrant shared particular examples that highlighted what the four scrutiny committees had achieved over the previous year.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Report of the Chair of Standards Committee.

Councillor K Gillott, Chair of the Standards Committee, introduced a report which provided Council with an annual overview of the work of the Standards Committee during 2024/25.

Councillor K Gillott reiterated his commitment to the role of Chair of Standards Committee and indicated that if any conflicts of interest arose from his new position on the Cabinet, he would act accordingly.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following questions have been received.

Question A – Proposed by Councillor S Cough to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council

Noting their critical importance towards a local say in planning, will the Leader of the Council write to the relevant Secretary of State to ask them to reconsider their recent announcement, withdrawing support for Neighbourhood Plans.

Question B – Proposed by Councillor C Renwick to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

What has been the attendance at the local plan meetings/early drop in sessions and what is the council doing to ensure residents are receiving meaningful and timely notification of the new local plan consultation? 

Question C – Proposed by Councillor N Baker to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Given the long period which has now elapsed since Covid restrictions were lifted, is it not now time that Planning Committee site visits are carried out in person, instead of continuing them virtually, in order the allow Committee Members to acquaint themselves, more fully, with the nuances and details of each site they are being asked to consider?

Question D – Proposed by Councillor C Cupit to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Many residents have contacted me to express concern that the current local plan consultation online response form is extremely complicated and technical in nature.  How does the Council therefore intend for ordinary residents to be able to respond in a meaningful way particularly where concerns they only centre around one or two aspects or sites? 

The Chair confirmed that four questions had been received.

Question A – Proposed by Councillor S Clough to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council

Noting their critical importance towards a local say in planning, will the Leader of the Council write to the relevant Secretary of State to ask them to reconsider their recent announcement, withdrawing support for Neighbourhood Plans?

Councillor N Barker responded that he would not be writing to the secretary of state.

Councillor S Clough asked if the District Council would support Parish Councils conducting Neighbourhood Plan reviews and whether there would be a cost attached.

Councillor N Barker confirmed that the District Council would continue to support Parish Councils in conducting Neighbourhood Plan reviews and there would be a cost attached that would be attributed to the Parish Council.

Question B – Proposed by Councillor C Renwick to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Councillor C Renwick was not present at the meeting, so the question was not asked.

Question C – Proposed by Councillor N Baker to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Given the long period which has now elapsed since Covid restrictions were lifted, is it not now time that Planning Committee site visits are carried out in person, instead of continuing them virtually, in order the allow Committee Members to acquaint themselves, more fully, with the nuances and details of each site they are being asked to consider?

Councillor S Pickering stated the Planning Committee Members had received an email asking for their opinion on moving to physical site visits and officers were waiting for feedback. The next step was to look at how to proceed in the most effective way.

Councillor N Baker asked whether comments from members of the public regarding physical site visits had been taken into account.

Councillor S Pickering confirmed that they had.

Question D – Proposed by Councillor C Cupit to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Many residents have contacted me to express concern that the current local plan consultation online response form is extremely complicated and technical in nature. How does the Council therefore intend for ordinary residents to be able to respond in a meaningful way particularly where concerns they only centre around one or two aspects or sites?

Councillor S Pickering responded that the consultation would be difficult to simplify and highlighted the benefit of allowing consultees to go into significant detail. It was also shared that the consultation had been devised in partnership with a recognised provider. Councillor S Pickering highlighted that provisions for those that don’t use online forms remained available.

Councillor C Cupit asked whether the Council could consider its communications regarding the alternative methods of contributing to the consultation.

Councillor S Pickering confirmed that the issue would be looked at by the relevant teams.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members.  Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following Motions have been submitted.

Motion A – Submitted by Councillor N Baker

Council notes the results of the recent consultation regarding the proposal for highway alterations and the installation of new signals at the A61-Mill Lane junction in Wingerworth.

Council notes that the proposed scheme is sponsored by this Council, following the receipt of grant funding by the regional Mayor to unlock more new homes and a new depot on The Avenue regeneration site. 

Council also notes the many views that have been expressed towards these proposals during that consultation by local residents and stakeholders, particularly raising concerns in relation to road safety, turning right at the Nottingham Drive junction and traffic flow on the A61 in that vicinity.

Council therefore resolves to respect and fully publish the results of the consultation and commits to not pushing ahead with the scheme until those concerns have been properly addressed.

Council also resolves to undertake any further design work on the proposals, which the consultation responses have highlighted are necessary, and then to re-consult residents and other stakeholders on any revisions to the proposed scheme, in that area, before any work begins and undertakes to ensure that the final design of the scheme fully reflects local concerns for highway safety, suitability and usability and is not just based on cost savings and maximising housing number delivery.

Motion B – Submitted by Councillor A Dale

This Council believes that fly-tipping is a blight on our district.  It is unsightly, damages our beautiful countryside and rural landscape, and places an unfair financial burden on local taxpayers who must ultimately foot the bill for its clean-up. 

Council reaffirms its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and believes that a strong deterrent strategy is required.  This must include:-

·                High profile prosecutions to demonstrate consequences;

·                The use of powers to seize and, where appropriate, destroy vehicles used in fly-tipping offences;

·                Continued and increased use of CCTV cameras in known hotspot areas; and

·                The application of significant financial penalties to offenders. 

Council therefore welcomes the recent purchase of additional CCTV cameras made possible through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), as well as the successful prosecution relating to a fly-tipping incident in Marsh Lane, which serves as an important example of enforcement in action.  Council is also extremely grateful for the ongoing work of our Environmental Health and Streetscene teams in seeking to prosecute flytippers and keep our District clean and tidy. 

To go further and strengthen the deterrent, Council resolves to:-

1.        Increase fly-tipping fixed penalties to the latest national maximum as set out in the most recent Government regulations;

2.         Review the use of mobile CCTV units to ensure rapid deployment in response to community reports and intelligence;

3.        Explore the introduction of public-facing “Caught  ...  view the full agenda text for item COU/38/25-26

Motion A – Submitted by Councillor N Baker

Council notes the results of the recent consultation regarding the proposal for highway alterations and the installation of new signals at the A61-Mill Lane junction in Wingerworth.

Council notes that the proposed scheme is sponsored by this Council, following the receipt of grant funding by the regional Mayor to unlock more new homes and a new depot on The Avenue regeneration site.

Council also notes the many views that have been expressed towards these proposals during that consultation by local residents and stakeholders, particularly raising concerns in relation to road safety, turning right at the Nottingham Drive junction and traffic flow on the A61 in that vicinity.

Council therefore resolves to respect and fully publish the results of the consultation and commits to not pushing ahead with the scheme until those concerns have been properly addressed.

Council also resolves to undertake any further design work on the proposals, which the consultation responses have highlighted are necessary, and then to reconsult residents and other stakeholders on any revisions to the proposed scheme, in that area, before any work begins and undertakes to ensure that the final design of the scheme fully reflects local concerns for highway safety, suitability and usability and is not just based on cost savings and maximising housing number delivery.

Councillor N Baker moved the Motion.

Councillor A Dale seconded the Motion and reserved the right to speak.

Councillors R Shipman and D Hancock spoke in favour of the Motion.

Councillors J Barry, N Barker and K Gillott spoke against the Motion, and raised that the proposal was sponsored by Derbyshire County Council. Councillor K Gillott suggested that Councillor N Baker’s points should be passed on to the County Council.

Councillor A Dale spoke in favour of the Motion and highlighted that this was a priority scheme for the District.

Councillor N Baker responded that the experiences he had at the public consultation suggested that people did not support the proposal, as such the basic principles of the Motion to support the views of the public should stand.

The Motion was put to the vote and lost.

Motion B – Submitted by Councillor A Dale

This Council believes that fly-tipping is a blight on our district.  It is unsightly, damages our beautiful countryside and rural landscape, and places an unfair financial burden on local taxpayers who must ultimately foot the bill for its clean-up. 

Council reaffirms its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and believes that a strong deterrent strategy is required.  This must include:-

• High profile prosecutions to demonstrate consequences;
• The use of powers to seize and, where appropriate, destroy vehicles used in fly-tipping offences;
• Continued and increased use of CCTV cameras in known hotspot areas; and
• The application of significant financial penalties to offenders. 

Council therefore welcomes the recent purchase of additional CCTV cameras made possible through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), as well as the successful prosecution relating to a fly-tipping incident in Marsh Lane,  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/38/25-26

To consider any other matter which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.