Chairman's Report

ELVASTON PARISH COUNCIL

Annual Parish Meeting : Monday 12th March 2012 Chairman’s report

Introduction

I am now nearing the close of my tenure as Chairman of the Parish Council and entering a reflective mode as I consider that the major challenges affecting the jurisdictional area of the council remain largely unchanged, namely progress with respect to Elvaston Castle Country Park “ownership” /development and the flood bank, gravel extraction issues impacting the residents of Ambaston in addition to proposed developments with respect to the extension of Boulton Moor estate. We can only trust that greater clarity emerges in the near period as the Council continues to support positive outcomes. Whilst there has been little development on the major issues, there has been change in constitution of the Council as a result of unfortunate events in early 2011 plus the elections in May 2011. It is encouraging to see that there is still sufficient interest from a committed few to ensure participation and progress in local issues.

During this moment of reflection I must also thank my fellow long term serving Councillors, for their support during this transitional period and for the speedy integration and active participation of the new members, Councillors Sharp, Bickerton, Harper and Spenser.

Thanks also yet again to the efforts, dedication and professionalism of our Clerk, Roger Hill, without whom the continued smooth running of the affairs of this Parish could not be maintained.

I must also thank the continued presence and input at the Parish Council meetings of our County Councillor John Harrison, further I would like to thank the input and support of District Councillors Ann Watson, Neil Atkin and Peter Watson.

Finally but not least, I would like to thank the members of the Public who contribute such valuable knowledge that enable issues to be progressed in the name of the area and the community. Specifically I would like to thank Peter Waters for contributions to the development of the “Flood Bank” debate.

Parish Council

During the year, as previously mentioned, Council elections took place which witnessed the election of three new Councillors, allrepresenting the Boulton Moor area. As reported in previous years the Council had resolved to adopt the objective of having Boulton Moor elevated to separate Parish status with the A50 as the boundary. However until there is sufficient experience and resources, to accommodate such change, there seems little point in launching a separate Council. Potentially the time will come, when the planned expansion of the community becomes a reality and, not least- the availability of dedicated facilities to support a Council. Clearly at present there is a distinct lack availability of finance to develop such facilities.

Status of key local issues

a) Elvaston Castle & Country Park

- Investment of circa £570,000 approved in September 2010 for works concluded in August 2011 with “works” on the Moorish Temple and Golden Gates and other relics in the park completed in-line with the plan.

- The scheme proposed by Highgate Sanctuary for development of the Country Park remains in “abeyance” although changes to public tendering process has highlighted the potential re-tendering for any rights to development. In addition Highgate Sanctuary has announced that the golf course development would be “dropped” from their plans. The Council will continue to monitor developments and remain in dialogue with the developers.

- Major issues have also surfaced with respect to the state of the Castle roof with emergency repairs of circa £100,000 identified. - The Avenue of Oaks remains a concern and continued focus will remain on the issue in the forthcoming year.

b) Flooding

Ambaston Flood Bank is an area of critical focus, particularly as a result of developments anticipated as part of the Derby “Riverlights” scheme. A further meeting in March 2012, attended by the Environment Agency, is planned to update on developments since major briefing in February 2011. There is still major “risk” of flooding which serves to highlight the continued need for pressing for development and fundamentally the raising of the floodbank, most likely as a result of funding through the aforementioned” Riverlights” scheme.

c) Gravel Extraction

Planning permission for Tarmac`s extension is little further forward than reported in the Chairman`s report of last year.

d) Boulton Moor

- Proposed extension to Boulton Moor has failed to develop further, largely as a result of the present difficult economic environment. This Council will continue to monitor events in the coming period.

- During the year the Council undertook investments in a number Grit bins which were installed at strategic points on the estate. Feedback shows that they were effectively utilized during the limited cold “snap” during this winter.

- Requests for a Post box on the estate have fallen on deaf ears at both Royal Mail and OFCOM, even when the Parish Council has offered to fund the installation. The Council will continue to press for a solution.

- The Parish lengthsman has been detailed to include the estate in his periodic duties.

Developments a) Parish Plan and Planning Committee.

During the year the Parish planning committee further developed the Parish Plan and continues to execute the plan delivering well participated events throughout the year and with a particular eye on this year’s Queen`s Diamond Jubilee, where a major event is planned in Elvaston Castle Courtyard. I would like to thank Jeff Whittaker and his team for their continued efforts in the Community and also the continued financial support of the Parish Council.

b) Elvaston Parish Website

During the year the website continued to develop under the professional direction of Councillor Strand, ably supported by Councillor Russell. It is now a valuable support to the Parish Council as an administration and information resource, in addition to promoting the area and community for events and communications.

*** Parish website www.elvaston-pc.org.uk ***

Summary and Other Matters

Throughout the year the council has continued its business and has a number of areas to develop;

- A Bus Shelter has been installed on the A6 outside Elvaston Meadows, however this has been faced with repetitive vandalism and the council is seeking optimum “way forward” with respect to the continued support of this facility. - Confirmation has been received for the widening of the B5010 footpath leading to Borrowash, however, as yet, no installation date has been forthcoming from the County Council.

In addition to the above a number of issues have still to be progressed to satisfactory conclusion

Boulton Moor

Play area to accommodate local community and also to negate issue of BMX “bikers” on local roads.

Crime & Crime Rates

During 2011/12 Crime rate improved however a number of major issues occurred which require monitoring, not least continued vandalism, of aforementioned bus shelter and behaviour by youths on Boulton Moor estate, plus petty crime in the Elvaston, Ambaston and Thulston areas.

Other Issues

The Parish Council continues to believe that the segregated left turn between the A6 spur (from the A50) and the new Snelsmoor Lane to be dangerous.

In Summary and to close I thank all those who have contributed to the activities of the Parish and its council and look forward to the continued active and passionate support over the coming twelve months.

S J Lee 12th March 2012

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Elvaston Parish Council Annual Meeting 12th March 2012 South Derbyshire District Councillors Report : Mrs Ann Watson

As this is my first year as a District Councillor I would to thank all the parish electorate for once again returning three conservative candidates to represent the Aston Ward for the next four years. On behalf of all us Neil Atkin, Peter Watson and myself, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who turned out to vote. Once again your support has not gone unnoticed and we shall look forward to working and hearing from all those who have ideas to shape the future development of their Parish and the District of South Derbyshire.

For a newly elected Councillor I have to say it has been a steep learning curve, five Parish Councils to attend, Area Forums, Safer Neighborhood, Quarry and Flood Liaison meetings as well as Policy Committees and Full Council but so far, I have to say I have enjoyed every minute of it. I am still learning the ropes so I would like to thank both my fellow Councilors Neil Atkin and Peter Watson who have been most generous with their time and been tremendously supportive and I would like to thank all of the Parish Councils, Councillors, Clerks and Parishioners for their warm welcome.

Our election in 2011 heralded a new era of Local Government responsibility with the introduction of The Localism Bill. At present we are all trying to understand the impact that the bill is going to have on our communities and on our role as Councillors. At the heart of the decentralisation agenda, is the focus on the Big Society; giving councils, community groups and individuals the power to create real change in their local areas. The new powers given to local authorities should allow us to work differently – hopefully it will involve less bureaucracy and limitations and in some cases it may also be supported by some additional money (via the Big Society Fund). It is envisaged that this willenable local communities to deliver an array of projects that will benefit that particular community.

In line with the National Planning Policy Framework, local people will be able to shape their surrounding environment to suit their needs or enhancing community engagement with the Community Right to Challenge, whereby communities can submit expressions of interest in the running of services, providing that they can demonstrate an ability to improve their local area. No longer will Councils seen as the only option available for local services. Our role as Councillors will change from being the people who report on what The Council is doing on your behalf to that of Community Leadership, helping Communities access information and where possible funding, to create more Community based projects and services. I know that this is one area where the Friends of Elvaston castle would like to investigate. However, I understand from Cllr John Harrison that Derbyshire County Council have an imminent announcement to make regarding Elvaston Castle and therefore they have advised all parties to halt any further discussions until that announcement is made.

How planning applications are dealt with and any subsequent issues resulting from planning, will see considerable change under the Localism Act. In support of Parish Councils, there have been a number of meetings and briefings. Peter Watson is very experienced in this area and will undoubtedly be there to support us in our ward with his considerable knowledge of construction and planning. We are fortunate to have someone like Peter, he a real asset to our community.

Flooding has been and still remains a hugely important issue for this parish and I am delighted that we will have the opportunity of discussing proposed schemes and their impact on our area, at a meeting with SDDC’s Chief Executive, along with representatives from the Environment Agency, at the Council Offices in Swadlincote on the 29th of March at 10am. Our Local MP has been campaigning hard in the House of Commons on the issue of flooding and recently announced new partnership approach to funding which has helped secure £72 million of external contributions for flood defence across country over the next three years. We need to make sure that where possible Elvaston Parish benefits from the investment being made in the district.

There next meeting of the combined Elvaston Quarry and Waste Disposal Liaison Committee will take place on Wednesday March 28th at Elvaston Castle, I shall be in attendance and will report back to the Parish Council.

At District Level the Localism Act has had an effect in several ways, the most impact has been felt by Housing and Finance. The District maintains is drive to maintain services without increasing Council Tax and works hard at achieving Value for Money. As an authority which chose to retain its housing commitment, we have been tasked by Central Government to purchase our housing stock from them by the 31st of this month. This has meant that we have had to look at financing a debt of some £57.4 m to purchase some 3,200 council houses. The consensus is that this will benefit the district as we will no longer have to return any rent collected back to the government and we will purchase the stock at substantially below market value prices. We envisage paying off the debt within 30 years. This also means that we can reinvest any surplus monies back into council house development, giving us greater control in our District over housing policy. Unfortunately, over a number of years the District has fallen back on maintaining rents at the National Fair Rent Formula level and we need to realign the rents we charge. To that end the Council will be increasing council rents this year by some 8% in order to begin that realignment process.

With regard to Council Tax, The Council took the decision to accept the Government’s offer of a one off grant, equivalent to 2.5% increase, in order freeze The District Council’s portion of the Council Tax bill for the forthcoming year.

2011/2012 has seen the Localism Bill begin to have an effect on Local Councils budgets and policy, in 2012/13 we will start to understand its impact on our lives and our Communities. There will undoubtedly be challenges but I am excited that this new era of Local Politics will create new opportunities and I intend to play a part in helping Aston Ward and Elvaston Parish make the most of those opportunities. I thank you for your support and would invite parishioners to contact any of your three District Councillors at any time if you feel we can be of some assistance.

Ann Watson Elected Member for Aston Ward

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CLLR JOHN HARRISON’S REPORT TO ELVASTON PARISH COUNCIL’S ANNUAL PARISH MEETING, ON MONDAY, 12 MARCH, 2012, AT 7.00PM

1. Background Introduction: The year 2011/12 has witnessed a continuation of the global economic difficulties which, in varying degree, have impacted harshly on the Euro countries. Greece, the Irish Republic, Spain and Portugal, but also more recently Italy and France, which has lost its coveted AAA financial status, have been particularly affected. The UK has not escaped. The Government, in November 2010, announced its Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR10) which introduced a widespread package of austerity measures designed to address the record level of National Debt over the four years commencing in 2011/12. More schools converting to ‘Academy’ status has been positively encouraged, along with the concept of Free Schools.

2. Impact on the County Council: CSR10 introduced a front loaded, phased reduction in Derbyshire’s rate support grant of 28.5% over the four years ending 31 March, 2015. This amounted to £96m in total. Within a policy framework of ‘Cutting costs not services’ as far as possible, the Council embarked upon improving efficiencies by, for example, better procurement of goods and services, better ways of working, rationalising its property assets, and inviting a reduction of 2,000 in the workforce through voluntary redundancy and voluntary early retirement over the duration of CSR10. The Council is on course to meet its targets for 2011/12; £40m has been saved and the workforce reduced by 800. Meanwhile, HM Government offered Councils who froze their Council Tax in 2011/12, a grant equal to a 2.5% per annum increase, for the next 4 years in order to ease the burdens on household budgets. Derbyshire decided to accept this grant which amounts to £28m in total. ie £7m x 4 years. We have also accepted an additional one-off £7m for 2012/13 to enable a Council Tax freeze to continue for a second consecutive year. Since Council Tax was introduced in 1994, it had more than doubled in Derbyshire by 2010/11 by 128%. The responsibilities for Public Health are expected to be returned to County Councils in 2013 when the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are due to be wound-up.

3. Elvaston Issues: The principal issues within the Parish during the past year have been the Ambaston Floodbank, The Quarry Extension, the Restoration and Future of Elvaston Castle and Country Park, the Planning Application for a 4 days’ Bike/Rock Festival in the summer of 2012, and the continuing lobbying to widen the B5010 footway to Ockbrook, which is linked to Elvaston Castle’s future. The Flood-bank threat has hung over Ambaston for far too long. However, the prospects of effective action have much improved over the past year off-the-back of the now completed Lower Derwent Fluvial Study and the Environment Agency’s commitment to alleviate the flooding problems in Derby City and the knock-on risks downstream in Ambaston through to the confluence with the River Trent at Great Wilne/Shardlow. The Elvaston Quarry Extension has been approved but an early start is not likely. Meanwhile, at a County Council Cabinet Meeting tomorrow’s big decisions are expected to be made on the restoration and future of Elvaston Castle. A Press Release will follow. SDDC has now granted planning permission for this Summer’s Bike/Rock Festival to proceed, with many conditions to protect local residents. The Organisers arrive with an excellent reputation for well-managed events and, hopefully, this will not be an exception. I am still hopeful that the much needed widening of the B5010 footway will proceed.

4. Conclusion: Finally, I would like to thank the Parish Council for its ready willingness to work with me in our shared objective of improving the services and facilities in Elvaston, both rural and urban. No doubt, like myself, the Parish Council continues to mourn the deaths of Councillors Bill Lythgoe and Frank Mitchell, along with Geoff Roberts from the regular public attendees, all of whose informed contributions will always be missed. I look forward serving you for a further year.

Melbourne 10 March 2012