BRETBY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD
WEDNESDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 7:30pm
AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY
Present: Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Bridges, Cllr Meyrick, Cllr Falder.
In Attendance: Mrs J Storer – Clerk, Cllr Muller (to 8:11pm), Tracy Bollington (co-opting member of the public) members of the public.
23/971 Apologies
Apologies were noted from Cllr Lowe, Cllr Haines, Cllr Corner.
As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.
23/972 Variation of Order of Business
There was no alteration to the variation of the order of business.
23/973 Declaration of Interests:
Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests. No declarations were made.
23/974 Public Speaking
a) Members of the Public and Council to comment on any matter
Nothing was raised.
b) County Council and District Council members to raise any relevant matter
Both District Cllrs had submitted their apologies due to training commitments; Cllr Lowe’s report had been circulated to Parish Cllrs on 19th September (Appendix 1).
Cllr Muller reported on the last Area Forum when the PCC was in attendance; attendance at Area Forum meetings were encouraged being the only meetings when the police are in attendance.
Devolution – an elected mayor is to be expected to be in place by spring 2024. There will be over £1billion provided by Central Government to help cover set up costs. Governance arrangements are still to be agreed, for example is there to be one fire and rescue service or will separate forces be retained as separate forces.
Freeport – no updates.
DCC – there is a £46m gap in this year’s budget. A cabinet meeting is to be held on 21st September to discuss and address the problem; the funding gap is mainly through overspend on Adult and Children Social services and on energy costs.
A resident contacted Cllr Muller in relation to the weight restriction on Bretby Lane; the Highways Dept has replied informing currently there is no evidence for any action to be taken.
The PCC is requesting views on crime and safety in local areas; views can be collated by the Clerk and passed to the PCC.
There is a new CEO at SDDC who recognises the big issues for immediate attention are in planning and housing.
Cllr Muller is expecting to have some community funding for local projects. Funding is being used to refurbish and repair the noticeboard from The Green,
c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation
No representations were made.
23/975 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 24th July 2023
These were circulated, read, approved and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.
23/976 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.
23/977 To receive the Chairman’s Announcements
Cllr Haines was thanked for her work in getting the pavement cleared outside The Stanhope.
A trailer advertising a bar in Swadlincote has been parked opposite the entrance to Bretby Business Park; Cllr Toone will report this to the police.
One side of Ashby Road has been cleaned but the other side (Golf Club side) has not been attended to; the soil has encroached across the pavement and restricts pedestrian access. This is to be reported to Cllr Haines with an additional request to clean out the gullies (see Min 23/964). A letter is to be sent to the Golf Club requesting to cut the hedge back which is also hindering pedestrian access.
Rubble is being dumped at the disused garage at the top of Ashby Road East. The Clerk will report this to the District Council Enforcement Officer.
Rubbish remains outside the property being renovated on Bretby Lane; the site was inspected by the Enforcement Officer in May, but rubbish remains. This is to be reported to the Enforcement Officer.
Stanhope Green appears to be a waste land and has Japanese Knotweed.
The Green now has fibre broadband.
8:11pm Cllr Muller left the meeting.
A drain cover opposite 23 Ashby Road East rattles when a vehicle passes over it; this is to be reported to DCC.
23/978 To receive the Report of the Clerk
The Clerk’s report as previously circulated was accepted with no further comments.
23/979 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 2 vacancies on the parish council. Two people have expressed an interest in the vacancies.
RESOLVED to co-opt Mrs Tracy Bollington as a parish councillor as per LGA 1972, sch12, para 39.
Cllr Bollington singed the Declaration of Office and completed the Register of Interest.
d) Consideration of the Environment Act 2021 (information circulated to Cllrs on 7th July 2023)
The Clerk had previously circulated information to Cllrs which is from 1st January 2024 a public authority but not a parish council, must:
- Consider what you can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity
- Agree policies and specific objections based on the Council’s consideration
- Act to deliver the policies and achieve the objectives.
The parish council has no obligations under the Act however the advice received is for parish councils to give consideration to biodiversity in its decision making. This advice was noted by Cllrs.
23/980 Drainage and flooding issues
Min 23/947 – eroding of the road surface query. The Clerk raised this with Cllr Muller (11th May 2023) and action is awaited.
Min 23/964 – The gullies on Ashby Road East which required clearing were reported to DCC.
A corner on Geary Lane, opposite Blind Sam’s gully, is gathering water. This together with matters raised under Min 23/977, impact upon drainage within the parish. It is suggested that a gully cleaner is required throughout the parish.
23/981 Correspondence
- DALC – Various circulars and information
- DCC – Survey – Have Your Say – circulated to cllrs 10/08/23
- SDDC – Civic Service – 3rd September 2023
- Clerks & Councils Direct
- Resident – condition of Ashby Road East and providing information about weeds, overgrown hedges and trees
All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.
23/982 Finance
a) RESOLVED The following accounts were passed for payment
| BACS | Staffing – August | £148.36 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (Aug) | £39.60 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Aug) | £50.33 |
| ICO | Annual ICO payment | £35.00 (d/d) |
| Mrs J Storer | Expenses | £carried forward to next meeting |
| BACS | Staffing – Sept | £148.36 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (Sep) | £39.60 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Sep) | £48.34 |
| Mrs J Storer | Use of home (July-Sept) | £81.00 |
| Royal Mail | Renewal of PO Box number | £132.00 |
| PKF Littlejohn | Audit fee 22/23 | £252.00 |
| Royal Mail | Postal redirection | £16.00 |
| SDDC | Service litter bins 22/23 | £1710.31 chq 000566 |
** £1200 ringfenced funds used towards the cost of the 2 bins and installation (Bretby Hall and Mimi’s Wood).
Money Received
| Gross interest (Aug ‘23) | £2.24 |
| SDDC | s136 refund | £98.24 |
| SDDC | Second half precept | £2,092.50 |
Balance at bank @ 01.09.23
| Deposit account | £3,026.98 |
| Current account | £5,107.52* |
The repairs to the war memorial are to be carried out soon.
The Clerk provided a verbal report on the balance of funds and the projected cash balances as at 31st March 2024. Cllrs, noting the low level of projected funds, will consider the level of funding for the remainder of the year together with the draft 2024/25 budget at the next full council meeting.
b) Requests for funding via S137
No requests for funding have been received.
c) Audit report
The external audit report has been circulated and there are no areas of concern raised. The parish council has a clean audit report.
The notice advising the conclusion of the audit is to be placed on the website and on the noticeboard.
23/983 To consider Planning Applications
DMOT/2023/0935: The felling of a Willow Tree and a Birch Tree at Hillgrove Cottage, Watery Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RD (24/08/23)
RESOLVED No objections
SCC/23/0099/FULL-MIN for Proposed expansion to include library, dining area & other facilities at Paulet High School, Stanton Road, Stapenhill, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE15 9RT
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/0996: The installation of wall cladding on an existing agricultural building at Shades Farm, Unnamed Road From Geary Lane To Town Farm, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RD (12/09/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPN/2023/1044: Prior Notification for the demolition of two storey office element on the northern elevation of Dovedale House Dovedale House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road East, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0YZ (04/09/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/1021: Demolition of existing garage and construction of single storey side extension at 17 Bretby Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QN (13/09/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/0726: The erection of a wooden garden building at Woodland View, The Square, Bretby, Burton-on-Trent, DE15 0RF (15/09/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/0966: Installation of a ramp and steps to front entrance, existing rear balcony to be widened along and the re-grading of driveway to allow single ramp, to access the building at 46 Bretby Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QW (19/09/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/1133: Demolition of existing livestock building, erection of new livestock building and garaging to service associated residential property at Shades Farm, Unnamed Road From Geary Lane To Town Farm, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RD (10/10/23)
RESOLVED No objections however the landscaping under previous planning application 9/2017/0448 is still required to be completed.
23/984 Consultations
None received.
23/985 Items for information only
(a) To receive reports from Meetings attended
The Area Forum meeting was discussed in the open section of the meeting Min 23/974b.
(b) Notification of Forthcoming meetings
None known.
(c) Training Sessions – See DALC circulars which have been provided to all Cllrs
No training sessions have taken place since the last meeting.
Next month the Clerk is attending a 2-day SLCC conference; the parish council agreed to make a reasonable contribution towards the costs.
23/986 Date of next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2023 at 7.30pm at St Wystan’s Church, Bretby.
There being no further business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8:47 pm.
APPENDIX 1 – Report from Cllr Lowe as circulated to parish cllrs 19.09.23
SDDC are starting to form their new Council plan later this month which will set out the priorities across the District for 2024-2028. It is expected that the first draft will be ready before Christmas.
The operational service team are currently working on a route optimisation project to help ensure an even number of refuse collections each day. The team is currently testing the proposed new collection routes and we will let you know whether this means any changes to your bin day.
Further to feedback at the last Parish Council meeting that the footway at 78-80 Ashby Road East was very weedy and not user friendly, the team have now been out with the compact sweepers to tidy up the area and pleased to report that it looks a lot better.
East Staffordshire & South Derbyshire business awards 2023 – SDDC is a headline sponsor, closing date 22nd Sept and all businesses eligible to submit across 11 categories for type of business.
Heritage open days have been running across the district during Sept – there seems to have been a good uptake so far with venues such as Calke Abbey & Sharpe’s Pottery having proved popular, these all showcase the district’s rich history.
Swadlincote South By-election held on 31st Aug – to elect one County Councillor due to the devastating and sudden loss of Roger Redfern. County Councillor Alan Haynes was duly elected.
Repton Area Forum held on 7th September
Home Upgrade Scheme (HUG2) info sent out to all Parish’s within the Repton ward – very useful source of green home funding for ‘off-grid’ properties.