MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 7^th JULY 2026 2026 AT 7:30pm

AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY

Present:  Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Falder, Cllr Ballington, Cllr Meyrick.

In Attendance: Mrs J Storer – Cllr Benfield, Cllr Lowe, 3 members of the public.

26/1267   Apologies

Apologies were noted from Cllr Haines (Personal).

As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.

26/1268  Variation of Order of Business

No variation to the order of the business was noted.

26/1269  Declaration of Interests:

Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests, no declarations were received.

26/1270  Public Speaking

1. Members of the Public and Council to comment on any matter

Two residents attended the meeting in relation to planning application DMPA/2026/0714 for the construction of four detached houses on Ashby Road East and raised a number of concerns.  Their concerns centred on the reliance on the reclassification of the site as grey belt land. They noted that the site is not allocated for development in the Local Plan and is accessed via the end of a very narrow lane. Further concerns were raised regarding highway safety, including the adequacy of the visibility splays at the junction with Ashby Road East and the lack of clarity over where construction vehicles would park during the build.  As the proposed development lies within the Conservation Area, residents also expressed concern that approval of the application could set a precedent for the future development of the remainder of the field.

Cllr Toone suggested that the Parish Council submit its concerns and representations to SDDC..

• County Council and District Council members to raise any relevant matter.

County Cllr Belfield

• Reported that all potholes on Knights Lane have now been repaired.
• Advised that no decision has yet been made regarding the closure of Willington Bridge for repair works. It is considered unlikely that the bridge will be closed during the summer, with any closure more likely to take place in summer 2027.

Cllr Lowe

• Provided an update on the food waste collection scheme. Eight new collection vehicles have been introduced, and all collected food waste is transported to the Raynesway anaerobic digestion facility, where it is used to generate electricity.
• Cllr Alistair Tilley has been appointed as the new Chair of South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC).
• The new leisure centre and office complex in Swadlincote has been approved, with construction due to commence this summer and be completed by 2028. Green Bank Leisure Centre will close once the new facility becomes operational, and the site will then be sold for development.
• It was asked to be noted that cardboard presented for recycling will not be collected if it exceeds the approximate size of a standard microwave oven.

The Chair asked that the complaints relating to 14 Bretby Lane, together with the issue of the collapsed sewers, be followed up.

It was also noted that the recent gas works on Bretby Lane were undertaken without notification being sent to Derbyshire. The notification had been issued to Staffordshire.

c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation

None were raised.

26/1271   To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 5^th May 2026

These were circulated, read, approved, and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.

26/1272   To approve the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on 5^th May 2026

These were circulated, read, approved, and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.

26/1273   To determine which items if any, should be taken with the public excluded.

No items were deemed necessary to be taken with the public excluded other than that listed on the agenda.

26/1274   To receive the Chairman’s Announcements

No announcements were made, other than the Chair thanking Cllr Belfield for arranging the repair of the potholes on Knights Lane.

During the public participation session, residents expressed concern that vehicles are travelling at excessive speeds along the A511 during the early morning hours, creating what they considered to be an accident waiting to happen.  The Chair advised residents to report the matter to the CREST Road Safety Partnership.

A resident also suggested establishing a Community Speed Watch group to monitor vehicle speeds.

26/1275  To receive the Report of the Clerk

This had previously been circulated, and no matters were raised.

26/1276  Governance

a)   Risk Register update

There are no recommended changes to the risk register.

b)  General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

No changes are recommended and there are no reports of any breaches.

c)  Parish Council elections, vacancies, and co-options

There are three vacancies on the parish council.

RESOLVED  to co-opt Mrs Heidee  Norton as a parish cllr.

Mrs Norton took and signed the Declaration of Office and joined the parish council.

The Clerk informed of the requirements relating to the Register of Interests and of new cllr training, delivered by DALC, in September 2026.  The Clerk will register Mrs Norton for the course.

There remain 2 vacancies for parish cllrs, one possible expression of interest will attend the next meeting.

d)  To consider if the parish council wants to acquire and operate a camera for the purposes of capturing fly tipping . (Linked to correspondence item 2)

Cllr Meyrick has passed on several incidents of fly tipping on Watery Lane, Cllr Lowe agreed to investigate whether the CCTV equipment funded through the £50,000 allocation earlier in the year could be deployed to help address this problem area.  It was also reported that fly-tipping is occurring adjacent to the Stanhope Arms.

Cllrs expressed their support for any measures that could be taken to deter further incidents of fly-tipping.

 26/1277  Correspondence

1.DALC – Various circulars and information

2. Resident – fly tipping on Watery Lane

All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.

26/1278   Finance

(a)        Accounts for Payment

For approval

Money Received

Balance at bank @ 30.06.26

Deposit account                                    £8,110.55– interest rate 0.50%

Current account                                    £1,796.21

(b)        To consider any requests for funds made under S137

            No requests have been received.

©         To sign the bank reconciliations (Fin Regs 2.6)

            Cllr Toone reviewed the bank reconciliation and signed.

 (d)       To receive the actual to budget variance report for the period ending 30^th June 2026

            The report was included with the meeting papers.

            RESOLVED  to accept the report, no questions were raised.

(e)        To consider the installation of a speed indicator device (SID) on Bretby Lane

              Cllr Norton will make investigations about funding for the purchase of a SID.

26/1279  To consider Planning Applications

DMPA/2026/0503: The erection of a two storey side extension, a single storey rear extension and rear dormer at 19 Ashby Road East, Bretby, DE15 0PS (02/06/26)

The application was noted.

DMPA/2026/0484: The conversion and extension of an existing barn to a single dwelling and the erection of a new detached garage to serve the existing dwelling at Hillgrove Cottage, Watery Lane, Bretby, Burton on Trent DE15 0RD (05/06/26)

The application was noted.

DMPA/2026/0570:  Change of Use from Class B1 (Business) to Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) to create an indoor padel tennis facility, and a pilates and wellbeing studio, with an extension and new entrance to the front elevation at Dovedale House, Bretby Business Park, Bretby Drive, Bretby, Burton on Trent DE15 0YZ (11/06/26)

The application was noted

DMPA/2026/0714: Outline application (matters of access to be considered now with matters of layout, scale, appearance and landscaping reserved for later consideration) for the Erection of 4no. Detached Custom-Build Dwellings at Land off Bretby Road , Burton-on-Trent, DE15 0PT (08/07/26)

RESOLVED:  The Council objects to the application on the grounds that access and visibility onto the busy A511 is problematical and the lane cannot accommodate additional traffic on the lane.

However, if the application is granted, a condition is sought that the visibility splays where the lane joins the A511 are increased and improved.

DMPA/2026/0758 Change of Use from Use Class C3 to Use Class C2 (Children’s Care Home) at 105 Bretby Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QP (22/07/26)

RESOLVED:  The parish council objects to the application on the grounds that there is no room for 5 cars nor any room for vehicles to turn.  The property is located close to a blind rise on Bretby Lane which makes any vehicles entering and exiting the property extremely difficult to see until the last moment.   

The application says there is a bus service but there is no bus service. 

There are no facilities for children particularly vulnerable children.

The company does not  have a track record to ensure that the children are cared for and not yet Ofsted registered.

Cllr Lowe advised that he is awaiting further information relating to biodiversity net gain (BNG) and drainage in connection with the application to increase the number of lodges. He confirmed that he would share the information with the Parish Council once it becomes available.

Cllr Falder commented that the existing septic tank is inadequate to serve the current number of lodges and stated that significant drainage improvements are required, noting that there are ongoing odour issues.

26/1280   Consultations

No consultations were before the parish council for consideration.

26/1281  Items for information only

(a)        To receive reports from Meetings attended

            6^th May 2026 – online forum with Samantha Nibblett MP

            30^th June 2026 – SDDC Peer Review, the Clerk provided a brief report on her attendance at the review.

(b)       Notification of Forthcoming meeting

            None known.

(c)        Training Sessions – All DALC circulars have been provided to all Cllrs

Suspended Standing Order

A resident reported experiencing difficulties when attempting to sign up for services with Connect Fibre. It was agreed that no action would be taken by the Parish Council, as this is a matter for the resident to pursue directly with the provider.

26/1282  Date of next meeting

The next Ordinary parish council meeting will be held on  TUESDAY 8^th SEPTEMBER 2026  at 7.30pm at St Wystan’s Church, Bretby.

RESOLVED That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted (in respect of the personal situation of an employee which could result in legal proceedings or commercially sensitive information) it is advisable in the public interest, that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.

26/1283   Clerk – use of home

No further information is available, the matter was deferred to a later meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8:43pm.