Minutes of the Public Meeting held on Thursday 6th August 2009 at 7.p.m. in the “Arkwright” Parish Hall.


The meeting had been called by the following notice published in the Belper News on 15 July 2009 and notices posted throughout the parish.

NOTICE

Holbrook Parish Council hereby gives notice of a meeting pursuant to the Lease between the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance Limited and The Parish Council of Holbrook for a term of 60 years from 1st April 1979 of all that piece or part of the land containing 1130 square yards or thereabouts fronting Moorside Lane in the Parish of Holbrook in the County of Derby, together with the building erected on the said piece of land known as the Arkwright Memorial Hall.

Holbrook Parish Council recommends the dissolution of the Trust and surrender of the lease in order that the said land and building can be sold to the Holbrook Arkwright Hall Village Community Centre (Registered Charity Number 1107391) for the purpose of building a new village community hall.

The existing Arkwright Memorial Hall will continue to be used under the auspices of the New Hall Charity until the new hall can be built.

In accordance with the aforementioned lease a three quarters majority of those attending, who must be permanently resident in the Parish of Holbrook and over the age of eighteen years, is required for the surrender to take place.

Resolution to be proposed:

That the recommendation of The Holbrook Parish Council ("the Parish Council") that it is advisable that the Lease dated the 12th October 1982 ( "the Lease") made between the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance Limited (1) and the Parish Council (2) be surrendered on the terms negotiated between the parties to the Lease so as to enable the Parish Council to acquire the freehold of the land comprised in the Lease on trust for the Holbrook Arkwright Hall Village Community Centre from the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance Limited on the terms that have been agreed between them to enable the provision of a new village community hall be and is hereby approved.

The Chairman of the Parish Council (Councillor Richard Massey) welcomed everyone to the meeting, including voting residents (approx 95) and representatives from user groups, the press and others (approx 20). He introduced Lewis Rose the Solicitor to the Parish Council. He explained the constitution of the proposed Trust between the Church Trustees, the Parish Council and the New Hall Trustees. The existing lease to the Parish Council has 30 years to run but the hall is coming to the end of its natural life. Some 11/12 years ago an unsuccessful bid was submitted to the Millenium Lottery Fund. At that time Local Authorities were able to obtain funding from the Lottery Fund but subsequently this changed and is no longer possible. Hence the need to create a new Trust.

After a lengthy debate regarding the viability of a new hall due to the fact that the school has funding to build its own new hall, parking for the school and new hall, demolition costs, is an alternative site available elsewhere in the village, is there a viable alternative, does the money raised have to be used for a new hall, can the Parish Council transfer money raised from the Council Tax, Holbrook Miners’ Welfare site (unsuitable for children), Timescale for new hall, new Trust has no assets? It was pointed out that certain facilities are agreed for the community under the terms of the existing lease and these would be covered in the new lease. Assets would be released when certain stages are reached. Timescale not possible to commit to but building would hopefully start when the school hall is completed so that the school could continue to use the present hall and hopefully would reciprocate whilst a new village hall was under construction. Progress reports will continue to be put in the village magazine. John Maxwell-Jones (Church Warden at St. Michael’s Parish Church) pointed out that the problems had been with resolving the complex legal issues and not the Parish Church who are totally behind the project. He apologised on behalf of St. Michael’s Parish Church for the delays over the years but reiterated the previous comment that the Church is totally behind the project. It was stated that the site of the present hall is ideal for the playgroup children making the transition to the adjacent Holbrook School.

The Chairman asked if there were any more questions or comments and as there were none called for a Proposer and Seconder to the formal Resolution which to be approved required a three-quarters majority of those present and voting. He suggested that Lewis Rose and Glenys Briggs acted as tellers and this was agreed

Mr Chris Lamb proposed the Resolution, and this was seconded by Mrs Pauline White. The Chairman requested all those eligible to vote to use their green voting slips and the following result was declared:

70 votes in favour
21 votes against
4 abstentions

The Resolution was confimed as carried with a 77% majority.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their participation and closed the meeting at 8.20pm