Present: Acting Chairman for this meeting, Mr P Moakes, Mrs C Allsop, Mrs J Nash, Mr S Gould, Mr M Wardman and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. Also in attendance was County Councillor Mrs G Heath and 3 members of the public (for part of the meeting).

Non-Confidential items
24.9.1 Apologies and attendance register
Mr N Searston had anticipated being late for the meeting and unfortunately, was unable to attend; the other members present completed the attendance register. Apologies had also been received from District Councillor, J Kempster.

24.9.2 Declaration of interest of councillors related to the agenda
There was no need, by any member present, to record an interest in the register.

24.9.3 Minutes of the previous ordinary meeting
The clerk had forwarded the minutes in advance of the meeting and these had been posted on the website and noticeboard.

Resolved: to accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings. The minutes were signed by the Acting Chairman, Mr Moakes.

24.9.4 Attendance by Manifold Community Action for Nature (CAN)
Mr Moakes welcomed the representatives to the meeting. The representatives provided some background information about the formation of the group and some of the tasks they hope to achieve, such as observation, river quality monitoring, volunteering, practical conservation activities, positive action and looking at the bigger picture of the area. Manifold CAB and other different organisations in the area are looking for volunteers. The group has attended various events throughout the summer and attended a number of different parish council meetings. They hosted an event at the local pub in Butterton earlier in the week and this event was very well attended. Their mailing list is expanding. The clerk suggested placing an article in the community magazine and will provide contact details. Mrs Allsop provided information about the Peak Park partnered with Tarmac, providing 20,000 hours work. Manifold CAN will create a questionnaire. The group left the meeting at this point.

Resolved: Manifold CAN will continue to periodically liaise with the clerk to pass on information to the parish council.

24.9.5 Public speaking procedures document
This was available for any members of the public in attendance

24.9.6 Public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance to speak at this point in proceedings.

24.9.7 Possible information update on Connect Fibre installations
Mr Moakes had attended the public meeting in August and took notes of proceedings which did improve as the meeting progressed. Objections were made about consultation periods and Connect Fibre personnel admitted some matters had been poorly handled. Connect Fibre advised, during the meeting, that a list of proposed poles would be sent.

Material had been sent to District Councillor Kempster who had reported to the parish council, in advance of the meeting, that he had analysed the material and unfortunately, it did not provide the detailed information asked for by the residents. Specific individual pole locations had not been sent to District Councillor Kempster so he had spoken to MF from Connect Fibre on 10th September and she had promised to look into it, along with a review meeting date for mid-October. No date has yet been forthcoming.

The clerk had also contacted MF from Connect Fibre, the week beginning 23rd September for an update and had been advised that the Build Partner had done reviews of all build and polling programmes. She claimed that the Chief Delivery Officer, who had been present at the public meeting, had updated District Councillor Kempster with plans of poles and dig information and that was not due to cost but there was a valid logic behind decisions. From District Councillor Kempster’s email, this is not the case. The clerk had asked MF to ensure all personnel from Connect Fibre always send information to the clerk to ensure information can be sent to the parish councillors and fed through the meetings/minutes for the benefit of the parishioners.

Resolved: the clerk to contact MF and to copy in the chief delivery officer to request answers which can be provided to the residents on a clear pole location map and for date for a second public meeting.

24.9.8 Update by County Councillor
County Councillor Mrs Heath reported that repairs to Day Hole Bridge, although delayed, would be carried out next week. Holes in the bridge had developed making it difficult/unsafe for anyone riding their horses across the bridge. She further reported that structural repairs would be carried out in 2025. The clerk asked Councillor Heath to ensure grit piles would be put in place at Elkstones this winter and she advised she would reiterate this request.

24.9.9 Attendance by the District Councillor
District Councillor, Mr J Kempster was not present. He had reported, in advance of the meeting, that he had had a meeting with SCC regarding the local transport plan. (Also see item 24.9.7 Connect Fibre).

24.9.10 Casual vacancy
The clerk had prepared a casual vacancy notice for one parish councillor following the resignation of Mrs L Peach. This had been sent to the noticeboards and the website. Mrs Peach had held the position of Vice Chairman. Mrs Allsop nominated Mr Moakes to fulfil the role of Vice Chairman and this was agreed by the other members present. Members discussed the casual vacancy and would like to see interest from a resident from Elkstones in addition to any other valid candidates.

Resolved: Mr P Moakes to become the Vice Chairman.
Resolved: The clerk to contact a resident from Elkstones who kindly places notices in the Elkstones noticeboard, on behalf of the parish council, for information about groups/societies which exist in Elkstones and Mr Moakes would be interested in these.

24.9.11 Noticeboard repairs
Mr Gould had not had time to attend to repairs to the noticeboard in time for the meeting. Mrs Nash reported that it had not been possible to obtain additional keys to the noticeboard and the original key was missing.

Resolved: Mr Gould to purchase a new lock and spare keys prior to the next meeting and to be reimbursed for the costs.

24.9.12 External audit
The external auditors had acknowledged the Certificate of Exemption from full audit and no further communication had been received; therefore, the audit has been concluded for the period ending 31st March 2024.

24.9.13 Items for the Community Magazine and Longnor Benefice Magazine (if required)
See above regarding Manifold CAN.

Resolved: to forward details of the casual vacancy to the Community Magazine.

24.9.14 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
There were no new planning applications to consider

24.9.15 Lengthsman Grant Scheme
After numerous approaches by the clerk and some contact by the Chairman in the past, the clerk had finally received communication regarding the grant scheme. It would appear that the previous long term clerk had incorrectly submitted an invoice and this had not been paid. The clerk had asked if she generated individual invoices for this year and the previous two years, would the grants be paid and she had received a response suggesting that £1,200 would be paid (3 x £400) and that for future years, the invoices could be generated by the clerk/RFO from April onwards in the sum of £400. Members were pleased by this successful outcome.

24.9.16 Items of account, clerk, lengthsman, HMRC, general income and expenditure