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Findern Parish Council

Category: Parish Council

Does the Parish of Findern need a Neighbourhood Plan?

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Findern Parish Council wants to hear feedback on this question from the residents of the Parish.

Picture of houses on Highfields from Green Space   Picture of Findern Village green showing church and a house

A ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ is a Government funded initiative that enables communities to shape the development and growth of their local area.

A plan would enable us to choose where we want new homes and amenities, have our say on what those buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided to support any developments.

Currently Findern and Highfields do not have a neighbourhood plan, unlike many of our surrounding villages/parishes.

We are looking to change this and need your opinion.

Please download a copy of the survey here or click here to complete the survey online or contact the Parish Clerk to be sent a copy – Email: clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

 

Vacancies on the Council – Would you like to apply to be a Parish Councillor?

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Following the uncontested election, Findern Parish Council has three vacancies for members of the public to become Parish Councillors – Would you like to apply?

If you feel you would like to get involved in making decisions about your local community, local issues and make a significant contribution to the area in which you live or work, then this is the position for you! If have an interest in your local environment, local transport, local government finances, amenities, planning issues, community events, anti-social behaviour and policing, and want to make a difference? Then please apply!

Findern Parish Council is made up of 10 voluntary councillors who meet once a month to discuss and act on issues of importance to the local community.  The Parish Council sets and monitors how a proportion of local taxes are spent in the Parish, make comment on planning applications in the Parish and consider projects to help maintain, improve or enhance the local area.  Local Government is changing and Parish Councils are seeing an increase in the responsibilities and opportunities to influence decisions made that affect our local community.

No special qualification is required to be a Councillor; indeed, it is important that all sorts of people serve as Councillors to give good representation of the community. Training for new councillors is also available to help assist with understanding the responsibilities of the role.

You must be aged 18 years and over, eligible to vote and have lived or worked in the parish of Findern for 12 months or more, or within 3 miles of the parish boundary. Note, the new Highfields development is within the parish boundary.

If you would like to put yourself forward as a Findern Parish Councillor please complete the application form available to download here. Further information on the eligibility to be a Councillor and the person specification is included with application form. The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on Friday 30 June 2023.

Send applications to Findern Parish Council, Parish Rooms, Lower Green, Findern, DE65 6AD or email to clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

If you have any query please telephone the Clerk to the Parish Council, on Mob: 07444 085807 or email on address above.

Please see the following resources for more information:

All About Town and Parish Councils prepared by The National Association of Local Authorities (NALC)

It takes all sorts prepared by NALC in 2011 as part of a drive to encourage individuals from under-represented groups to become local councillors.

Thirteen reasons not to join the Parish Council

Annual Meeting of Findern Parish Council will be held on Thursday, 18 May 2023

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The Annual Meeting of Findern Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 18 May 2023. The meeting will be held at the Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

The Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
  • if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.

The next meeting of Findern Parish Council will be on Thursday 13 April 2023

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An Ordinary Meeting of Findern Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 13 April 2023. The meeting will be held at the Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

The Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
  • if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.

New date for the next meeting of Findern Parish Council – Thursday, 16 March 2023

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Following the postponement of the Council meeting on 9 March (due to the bad weather), the next Ordinary Meeting of Findern Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 16 March 2023. For the first time, the meeting will be held at Highfields Spencer Academy, Tutbury Avenue, Highfields, DE23 3UX. The Parish Council hopes this will give residents of Highfields the opportunity to more easily access a Parish Council meeting.

The Parish Council meetings on 8 June 2023 and 12 October 2023 will also be held at Highfields Spencer Academy. All other monthly meetings are held at Findern Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern, DE65 6AD.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING. The first 15 minutes of the meeting are allocated for public speaking; for residents to raise any issues.

The Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
  • if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.

Next meeting of Findern Parish Council on Thursday, 9 February 2023

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An Ordinary Meeting of Findern Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 9 February 2023. The meeting will be held at the Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

The Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
  • if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.

Findern is looking for more volunteers for its Speed Watch scheme

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Last year Findern joined the Derbyshire’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme; with seven volunteers in the team currently helping to monitor the speed of traffic through our village. The team are keen to recruit more volunteers, particularly those able to join daytime sessions.

Derbyshire Community Speed Watch LogoIf you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Findern’s Community Speed Watch team, then please contact the Clerk of the Parish Council on clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

Speeding or perceived speeding, affects the quality of life in our local communities. However, as the Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme in Derbyshire has shown, a strong community lead approach can make a real difference.

CSW is a national initiative where a team of local volunteers are trained and issued with speed detection equipment to monitor speed through their local communities.

They receive appropriate training and annual refreshes and are supported by the safer neighbourhood policing teams (SNTS). Vehicles observed speeding are sent a warning letter, along with advice to help change their driving behaviour.

This educational approach of outlining the potential consequences of irresponsible driving has been shown to reduce excess speed as well as other road safety issues.

The scheme does not replace intelligence lead enforcement activity by police officers or the forces safety camera team; but provides additional opportunities for the public to influence and contribute to the education of motorists while making their neighbourhoods safer.

The Speed Watch initiative has recently reached the milestone of its 500th volunteer.

Sean Woodcock, Community Speed Watch coordinator within the CREST team, said:

“Derbyshire’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme is gearing up to welcome it’s 500th volunteer and this is testament to the hard work put in by many including those before me, and the volunteers and SNT offices all of whom have contributed to making the scheme a success. It is true partnership working with the community, directly addressing – with the support of the police – an issue that affects so many on a daily basis. Following Covid, it’s also proving to be a real catalyst for bringing communities together in a positive and meaningful way thereby leading to wider benefits for all. The energy previously used in highlighting the same speeding issues to the same authorities can now be used in volunteering and making a direct difference.”

Making a difference

Two local volunteers have shared their stories, outlining the benefits of the scheme.

Isobel from Quarndon:

“We started a speed watch in 2015 when it was a new concept and, if I’m honest, looked down upon by many. A recent neighbourhood plan questionnaire highlighted speeding as a major concern for many residents and we had a recruitment drive and formed a team of 23 volunteers. Since then, the scheme has gone from strength to strength, helped recently by Its centralisation and the potential for the data collected to be used to give support from other measures. Quarndon residents feel this is the one thing they can do to address something that affects them every day. CSW needs to be part of the bigger picture!”

Marion from Littleover:

“Speeding continues to be of great concern within the Littleover area. We are a proactive team of volunteers helping to improve road safety for local residents in our community. Our aim is to reduce the speed of vehicles (drive within the speed limit), educate drivers and raise awareness of speeding vehicles. We are out and about in the community on a weekly basis all year round. We are very visible at different locations within our area and have built a strong working relationship with the police and CREST. I personally volunteer as I want to help make a positive difference in the community and help make our area a safer place to live.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Findern’s Community Speed Watch team, then please contact the Clerk of the Parish Council on clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

Parish Council meeting dates for 2023

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In 2023, the Parish Council will be holding some of its monthly meetings at Highfields. This reflects the change in the residential areas within the boundary over the last 5 years, with almost as many houses on the new Highfields development as there are in the village of Findern.

Four of the ten Councillors on the Parish Council reside on the Highfields development; they always represent other residents there at the meetings; however, the Parish Council is keen to give Highfields residents an opportunity to easily access a Parish Council meeting. The Parish Council would like to thank the Principal at Highfields Spencer Academy for allowing the Council to use the school hall for the meetings.

In 2023, the meetings to be held at Highfields will be on 9 March, 8 June and 12 October 2023. All meetings start at 7pm.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME – The first 15 minutes of each meeting is allocated to public speaking, giving residents the opportunity to raise any issues with the Council.

Full list of meeting dates for 2023 (All meetings start at 7pm): –

Thursday, 12 January 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Thursday, 9 February 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Thursday, 9 March 2023 – Highfields Spencer Academy, Tutbury Avenue, Highfields

Thursday, 13 April 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Thursday, 18 May 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

(a week later than usual because of elections on 4 May)

Thursday, 8 June 2023 – Highfields Spencer Academy, Tutbury Avenue, Highfields

Thursday, 13 July 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

No meeting in August

Thursday, 14 September 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Thursday, 12 October 2023 – Highfields Spencer Academy, Tutbury Avenue, Highfields

Thursday, 9 November 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Thursday, 14 December 2023 – Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern

Next Meeting of Findern Parish Council at 7pm on Thursday, 12 January 2023

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An Ordinary Meeting of Findern Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 12 January 2023. The meeting will be held at the Methodist Church, Lower Green, Findern.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

The Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
  • if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.