Parish Representation

The Parish Council has FOURTEEN Members (Councillors). The Parish is divided into two wards East and West.   Each Ward returns SEVEN Members. South Normanton is also represented by FIVE District Councillors (TWO for each Ward and One for Broadmeadows). Councillors Terry Cook and Joe Phelan represent the East Ward and Councillors Ray Brooks and Sue Wallis, the West Ward.

The Parish is also served by TWO County Councillors; Councillor Clive Moesby represents Tibshelf and South Normanton East Wards and Councillor Jim Coyle represents the West Ward and Pinxton. With the exception of Councillor Moesby ALL the above are also Parish Councillors.

The dividing line between East and West Wards is basically Fordbridge Lane, Downing Street, Princess Avenue.

Each Councillor serves on one of the Council’s two Committees. These are: The Cleaner, Greener, Safer Spaces Committee and The Finance and General Purposes

Committee.

The Chairman of the Council is Councillor Terry Cook. The Vice Chair is Councillor Sue Wallis.

Meetings

The Parish Council meets on the second Thursday of each month (except August). Meetings are held at the Post Mill Centre starting at 7 p.m.    All meetings are open to the public. The Agenda is designed to ensure that business which may involve public comment are dealt with at the start of each meeting. This is divided into Crime and Disorder Matters;  Parishioner Representations on Non Crime Matters and Reports by District and County Councillors. Reports are sometimes provided by Parish Councillors who represent the Parish  on other (outside) bodies.

Comments will be received on any other item on the agenda. Any comments will be taken into account by Councillors when resolving the appropriate action to take. Members of the public cannot enter into debate but merely make whatever comments they wish Councillors to take into account when making their decision.

Notification of Meetings and the Agenda for the meeting are posted on the Thursday prior to meetings at the following locations:          The Post Mill Centre; the Library;  both Post Offices, The Bolsover District Council Contact Centre; the Community House.

Other locations can be considered. Representation should be made to the Parish Office. Large groups of parishioners wishing to obtain the support of the Parish Council are advised to contact the Parish Office before the date of the meeting.

Bus Shelters

Power to provide and maintain: The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953, section 31.

‘Bus shelters are provided by both Bolsover District and the Parish Councils.    Shelters controlled by the Parish Councils are situated:

Opposite Filigree Textiles on Carter Lane East

Adjacent to 182 Carter Lane East

Opposite St. Michael and All Angles Parish Church

Adjacent to 21 The Common

Adjacent to 85 The Common

Opposite 63 Alfreton Road

Adjacent to 33 Water Lane

Junction of Main Street and Greenacres Drive (opposite Duke Street).

Christmas Lighting

Local Government Act.1972, Section 144

The Parish Clock

Power to provide and maintain:   Parish Councils Act 1952, section 2.

The clock was provided with an arts grant at no cost to the residents of South Normanton with the exception of maintenance.    The artists appointed to deliver the clock to a design chosen and agreed by South Normanton residents was Adrian Moakes a Manchester based artist whose family originated in South Normanton.    It represents ‘A Twist In Time’.

Post Mill Centre

Power to provide and equip: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 19.

Power to provide conferencing facilities and encourage use of conference facilities: Local Government Act 1972, section 144.

Provision of entertainment and support of the arts: Local Government Act 1972, section 145.

Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings: Local Government Act 1972, section 133

Power to provide public conveniences: Public Health Act 1936, section 87.

Power to borrow money for statutory functions: Local Government Act 1972 schedule 13.

Following the closure of South Normanton Miners’ Welfare (resulting from the closure of its parent colliery (‘A’ Winning)),  community facilities were provided on the newly constructed Frederick Gent School campus.     Due to competing use of the joint facilities as the school population grew, the Council resolved in the early 1990’s to provide bespoke community facilities on its Market Street recreation ground.     The Council was successful in obtaining a number of grants from different sources including The European Economic Community and Bolsover District Council.    The Parish Council borrowed £125,000 from the Public Works Loan Board over a 25 year period.

The Community Centre was constructed and opened in 1994.   Responsibility for running the Centre was transferred  to South Normanton Community Centre Association.     The Parish Council nominated a number of its Members on to the Management Committee to oversee the Council’s interests.

Due to the success of the Centre and the increased demand for use of its facilities, the Community Centre Association (SNCCA) requested the Council to consider the extended use of more of its land on which to extend the Centre.     This was agreed.      The SNCCA made a number of applications for grant aid and was successful in raising £295,000 (£245,000 from The Coalfield Regeneration Trust and £50,000 from Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN).     The Parish Council made a grant of £60,000 and the balance  of £42,000 was provided from balances of the SNCCA.   The original estimate of the extension was £397,000.   As a condition of the CRT grant the management committee of the Association was extended to provide wider community involvement.

Construction on the extension commenced in February 2006.   Work was completed in December of that year.    During the course of construction, due to differing level of the land, the Association was advised that part of the extension needed to be constructed on a block and beam foundation instead of the originally proposed concrete raft.     It was further decided to construct additional features of a sun terrace and patio area to enhance the proposed construction of a secure park area  for young, junior children and family use.     The Parish Council resolved to borrow a further £100,000 over a short term five year period (see also Town Park).   The last payment  on this loan will be paid in December 2010.

In 2008 (August) the SNCCA was successful in becoming incorporated at Companies House as a Community Interest Company.    South Normanton CIC is a non-profit making organisation providing  services and facilities for the local and neighbouring communities.    Any surpluses are used to extend and/or improve the services and facilities it makes available to the local community.

The Parish Council RESOLVED that with effect from 1st January, 2011 it would lease the Post Mill Centre to South Normanton Community Interest Company for a period of 25 yers at a peppercorn rent.

Town Park

Power to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces; Power to manage and control: Public Health Act 1875, section 164; Public Health Act 1890, section 44; Outdoor Spaces Act 1906, sections 9 and 10; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976, section 19.

To provide and erect flagpoles: Highways Act 1980, section 144.

The Town Park was designed and constructed by the Parish Council in conjunction with the opening of the new extension to the Community Centre. The Park was constructed with the help of grants of £62,000 from South Normanton and Pinxton Development Project (New Opportunities Lottery Scheme) and £10,000 from Derbyshire County Council. The Park was constructed with the help of KS7 an organisation which provided practice work for teenage schoolchildren who had either been expelled from school or were in danger of being expelled. The Park was officially opened by the Parish Chairman in May 2009.