ILAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

11 May 2021 @ 8 pm Dovedale House

Present C Sellers, L Oulsnam, C Hibbert- Foy, V Nottage, R Wain, N Taylor, K Warrington

E Wain (SMDC), P Watson (Clerk), S Chaplin (YHA), Ian Clemmett (NT), Anna Johnson (NT),

G Nottage (School), S Wiltshire (School), R Gorman (Police)

Minutes

● Minutes of the meeting held on 08 September were read and signed as true and correct.

National Trust

● The Clerk read out the farewell message from Paul Mortimer. The Clerk will write to him via the Trust to thank him for his help over the years.

● Work on car park construction and drains in the croft is on hold due to financial constraints.

● The Church Path continues to deteriorate and resurfacing is estimated to cost at least £5,000. E Wain will investigate if the District Council could contribute to the cost of surfacing, though it is unlikely. Meanwhile the Clerk will write to Gill Heath at the County Council to see if they can help.

● The Trust has now taken over Dovedale car park, though not the toilets, which are still owned by Peak Park. The Parish Council recommended that NT also take over the toilets so that everything is under the same management. NT will look at ways to reduce the traffic problem with visitors sometimes queuing all the way back to Thorpe.

● The Council think that better signage is needed for the Ilam Hall car park so the Clerk will write to Gill Heath at the County Council about it.

Improving Village Environment

● Funding for poppy decorations on lampposts and a memorial seat is now in doubt as the expected £1,250 bonus from switching banks has proved to be not possible – see under Finance below.

● The poppies available from the British Legion are considered expensive and may present a possible target for vandalism.

● A memorial seat from British Legion would cost £695 plus delivery. A local firm has provided some designs that may be cheaper. After the meeting the Councillors chose two favourite designs and G Nottage will get prices. E Wain will investigate if the SMDC Community Fund might contribute and the Clerk advised that £100 or £200 might be available within the Council’s budget.

Highways

● E Wain advised that the County Council are going to put more money into highways and meanwhile measuring up has been done for the new double yellow lines around the village. There was much debate regarding parking restrictions outside the school – if double yellow lines are installed here it will be impossible for parents to drop off and pick up their children. Note: Since the meeting the plans have been checked and the double yellow lines are set to finish at the Council Houses and resume above the playing field entrance. In between there will still be a single yellow line past the school as at present.

● The Council is concerned about increasing speeding through the village. Although there is legally a 30 mph limit (because there are street lights) drivers are unaware of this as there is no signage. The Clerk will write to Gill Heath to request speed limit signs. R Gorman advised that there is a Community Speed Watch programme that the villagers might participate in. The Clerk will investigate. Meanwhile, anyone can submit details of a speeding concern to the County Council at https://staffssaferroads.co.uk/report-a-speeding-concern/ as part of the Safer Roads initiative.

Peak Park

● Peak Park are proposing to instigate parking charges at their Blore Pastures car park. The Parish Council believe that this will only lead to more obstructive parking on the lanes around the village, particularly on Blore Pastures. The Clerk will write to Peak Park and the County Council to object to the charges.

● Lower Damgate Farm’s planning application for extra functions to compensate for those lost during lockdown in 2020 has been successful but further changes will be requested to make up for those lost in the first half of 2021.

School

● It was proposed to organise a meeting between the Council, the school and representatives of the District and County Council regarding parking problems. Note: However, this may not now be required since it is now known that double yellow lines are not planned outside the school – see under Highways above.

Finance

● There is £1107 in the account. Budgeted expenditure for the rest of the financial year is £1287 while income of £1000 will be received. So the year-end balance at the end of March should be £820.

● The amount set aside so far for defibrillator maintenance is £200. The First Responders advise that a new battery is unlikely to be needed for some time but new pads at a cost of £60 will be needed soon. It may therefore be possible to divert some funds towards the proposed memorial seat.

● Sadly, the hoped for windfall of £1,250 for switching to another Bank has failed to materialise.

AOB

● The County Council has asked for evidence for or against an application to upgrade a footpath from Damgate towards Wetton to be a bridleway. Additionally it is proposed to create a new bridleway past Upper Damgate Farm along the line of a defunct old road. The Council is not in favour and the Clerk will write to that effect.

● The Council think a further dog poo bin is needed at the other end of the village near the footpath to Dovedale. The Clerk will write formally to District Councillor Wain requesting this.

● Large volumes of water are running across Lodge Lane. R Wain will investigate to see if the drains are blocked and take photos for the Clerk to report the problem.

● There is now a Public Space Protection Order in place that should help to protect our local environment so hopefully more support will be coming from the police, Peak Park and National Trust to enforce local by-laws. R Gorman can raise issues of concern at the Countryside Meetings.

● Much of the parking space in the village is being taken up by National Trust staff. The Clerk will write to head office requesting they use their own car park in the Croft.

Date of next meeting    The next meeting will be on 13 July 2021 at Dovedale House Craft Room.