The annual parish meeting is open to all residents of the parish to discuss matters of local interest or concern. It is convened by the Parish Council. This is a summary of the issues discussed at the 2022 meeting on 10 May.
Aims and objectives of the Parish Council
The aims were presented (see here). The Parish Council wanted a two-way dialogue to help and support local residents and businesses, encourage a real sense of community and respond quickly and effectively to local issues. It was important that people helped the Council understand how they could best serve the community and improve the local environment.
Community Engagement and Communication
The council’s community engagement and communication strategy (see here) was discussed. The council uses the parish magazine (see here to sign up), social media via Next Door (to join, go to: https://nextdoor.co.uk/) and this Parish website which was being developed into a Community website rather than a formal council one. Ideas were invited on what more the Council could do to get more residents involved especially schools and families.
The Gated Road – its status and condition
A resident reviewed the complicated history of the gated road. DCC had claimed that it was not an adopted and approved road and that the right of way extended only about two thirds of its length. At various points though it had been signposted “Oker Gated Road” and “Wensley Gated Road” and the County Council had certainly maintained the road in the 1970s and 1980s. It now formed part of the Derwent Heritage Way and was a recognised footpath though the route shown on the DCC footpath map deviated considerably from the road itself, running at one point through an inaccessible field protected by a barbed wire fence. The priority was initially to establish and protect the footpath. The Parish Council agreed to look into the status and maintenance responsibilities of the gated road in more detail with the help of Cllr Hobson.
Potholes and general road condition of Oker to Matlock Road
Concerns were raised over the poor maintenance of the Oker to Matlock Road following its closure. A resident wrote to ask the Council to play a more proactive role in collecting and reporting issues and monitoring their resolution. Councillors felt that a centralised reporting risked duplicating that already used by DCC and DDDC. It was also noted that a single report, whether from an individual resident or a Parish Council, would not carry as much weight as numerous reports from different
sources.
Matlock Spa Development
The issue of the Matlock Spa development and the agreement to hand over a portion of land to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust was raised. It seemed no progress had been made despite the proposed date being passed and the Chair asked the Clerk to write formally in the first instance to DDDC Planning to find the current status of the development and land transfer.
Boundary Commission proposals
A written submission welcomed the interest and actions of the Council in challenging the final recommendations of the DDDC Boundary Review which placed Oker and Snitterton into the Matlock West district ward from 2023. The Parish Council had organised a Boundary Commission petition which now has over 120 supporters with Cllr Higham leading a vigorous opposition to the proposals. The Chair was seeking a meeting with our MP at the first opportunity and DCC Cllr Hobson is raising the matter with our MP this week.
Parish Council website
The timely posting of agendas and minutes on the Parish Council website was raised as they weren’t issued as quickly as they might have been. While the technical issues for uploading were being resolved a work-around was now in place. If any resident would like a copy of minutes or agendas you can get them quickly be emailing the clerk at [email protected]