BRETBY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD
MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2023 AT 7:30pm
AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY
Present: Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Meyrick, Cllr Corner, Cllr Ballington.
In Attendance: Mrs J Storer – Clerk, Cllr Lowe, 1 member of the public.
23/987 Apologies
Apologies were noted from Cllr Bridges (personal), Cllr Falder (illness), Cllr Muller (alternative meeting), Cllr Haines (alternative meeting).
As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.
23/988 Variation of Order of Business
There was no alteration to the variation of the order of business.
23/989 Declaration of Interests:
Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests. No declarations were made.
23/990 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
Cllr Muller’s report had been circulated to Parish Cllrs (Appendix 1).
No information has been received about possible development at the Brizlincote Farm, the site being identified as a potential strategic site in the Local Plan; Cllr Lowe agreed to make enquiries.
Recycling cardboard – as there are no other recycling points other than the green bin, Cllr Lowe agreed to make enquiries if card will be collected from the side of the bin.
The East Midlands Airport Liaison meeting was held today and details of the meeting will be circulated.
Due to recent weather, areas of flooding occurred in the parish with many of the areas still having standing water. The areas are:-
Newton Lane which has been flooded for nearly a month, DCC officers have been on site but not action has resulted; it is thought that the drains collapsed due to the large volume of traffic on the lane when traffic was diverted three or four years
On Geary Lane at Blind Sam’s bend Min 23/980; here the gully has flooded necessitating traffic to move over onto the other side of the road to avoid the flooding; this is a serious hazard on a blind bend.
Watery Lane is also bad and the gullies appear to be blocked.
Cllr Lowe agreed to take these matters to SDDC and to DCC.
Cllrs acknowledged there were several areas of the county which were severely affected and priority must be given to threat to life, however the response of the various agencies to the ongoing flooding issues in the parish has been disappointing.
c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation
No representations were made.
23/991 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 20th September 2023
These were circulated, read, approved and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.
23/992 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.
23/993 To receive the Chairman’s Announcements
Cllr Toone was pleased with the turn out for Remembrance Sunday.
23/994 To receive the Report of the Clerk
The Clerk’s report as previously circulated was accepted with no further comments.
The noticeboard on The Green has been refurbished and reinstated; the noticeboard on Bretby Lane has been taken to be refurbished.
Min 23/977 A trailer advertising a bar in Swadlincote has been parked opposite the entrance to Bretby Business Park was reported to SDDC by Cllr Toone.
One side of Ashby Road has been cleaned but the other side (Golf Club side) had not been attended to; the soil has encroached across the pavement and restricts pedestrian access. This was reported to Cllr Haines with an additional request to clean out the gullies (see Min 23/964), the gullies have been cleared out twice however, the path has received no attention and is considered to be dangerous to use. The road is a fast busy road, the area is dark and the encroaching vegetation has narrowed the path to the extent that it is difficult to use in single file.
Outstanding matters previously raised.
Min 23/977 Rubble reported dumped at the disused garage at the top of Ashby Road East is not within the district, no action has been taken.
Min 23/977 Rubbish remains outside the property being renovated on Bretby Lane; the site was inspected by the Enforcement Officer in May, but rubbish remains.
Min 23/077 A loose drain cover on Ashby Road East has been reported to DCC.
Min 23/947 – Eroding of the road surface query on Watery Lane. The Clerk raised this with Cllr Muller (11th May 2023) and action is awaited.
23/995 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 is one vacancy on the parish council and no expressions of interest have been received. Two people have expressed an interest in the vacancies: one being in attendance.
23/996 Drainage and flooding issues
This was discussed in the public section of the meeting and no further matters were raised.
23/997 Correspondence
- DALC – Various circulars and information
- SDDC – Information about the clearing of the road gullies
- DCC – notification of road closure of High Street & Main Street, Hartshorne Road Repton, Repton Road, Bretby, Repton Road, Hartshorne
- NALC – White ribbon Day 25th November 2023
- Resident – requesting update and action on spring formed on Watery Lane (referred to at May 2023 meeting)
All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.
23/998 Finance
a) RESOLVED The following accounts were passed for payment
| BACS | Staffing – Oct | £148.36 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (Oct) | £39.60 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Oct) | £50.33 |
| Mrs J Storer | Expenses | £68.28 |
| BACS | Staffing – Nov | £225.69 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (Nov) | £60.60 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Nov) | £76.66 |
| Mrs J Storer | Use of home (Oct – Dec) | £81.00 |
| Mrs J Storer | Reimbursement of refreshments at Conference | £28.15 |
| RBL | Donation for the Remembrance Wreath | £50.00 |
| S Faulkner | Repairs to noticeboards | £948.00 |
Money Received
Deposit account interest £5.62
Balance at bank @ 06.11.23
| Deposit account | £3,026.98 |
| Current account | £5,107.52* |
*This balance includes earmarked reserves of £1,000 grant from Cllr Muller – this was ringfenced for the purchase of a noticeboard.
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 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 later in the meeting and if necessary at the next full council meeting.
b) Requests for funding via S137
No requests for funding have been received.
c) To consider the first draft budget for the year ending 31st March 2025
The Clerk had circulated with the meeting papers; the first draft of the budget for the year ending 31.03.25.
Cllrs reflected that the current year’s budget was set as a deficit due to the cost of living crisis, in addition Cllrs considered the budget, level of reserves and the suggested precept level and having regard to this, agreed to the proposed precept of £5,614 this being an increase in the precept of £1,429.
The setting of the 2024/25 will be formally made at the next meeting when any new facts affecting the budget will be considered.
23/999 To consider Planning Applications
DMPA/2023/1196: Amended scheme to previously approved application DMPA/2023/0804 for the Conversion of the detached garage into gym and utility and a pitched roof with the erection of a ground floor glass link and first floor side extension and alterations to the fenestration of the dwelling at 133 Bretby Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QP (12/10/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/1078: The insertion of 2 new ground floor window openings and installation of hardwood windows at 12 Park Row, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RL (17/11/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/1300: Listed Building Consent for the insertion of 2 new ground floor window openings and installation of hardwood windows at 12 Park Row, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RL (17/11/23)
RESOLVED No objections
DMPA/2023/1315: Proposed two storey front/side extension, new entrance canopy, conversion of existing garage into living accommodation and alterations to window and door openings at Town Farm Cottage, Unnamed Road From Geary Lane To Town Farm, Bretby, DE15 0RD (15/11/23)
RESOLVED No objections
23/1000 Consultations
DCC – Proposed changes to recycling centres (3rd October – 26th October 2023) – no comments made.
23/1001 Items for information only
(a) To receive reports from Meetings attended
The Clerk provided a verbal report on her attendance at the SLCC Conference in October.
The damaged bus shelter at the top of Ashby Road East is hoped to be replaced by the end of December 2023.
(b) Notification of Forthcoming meetings
SDDC – flood Liaison meeting 22nd November 2023, 10am – 12pm
(c) Training Sessions – See DALC circulars which have been provided to all Cllrs
No training sessions have taken place since the last meeting. The Clerk attended a 2-day SLCC conference on 11th and 12th October 2023.
23/1002 Date of next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on 9th January 2024 at 7.30pm at St Wystan’s Church, Bretby.
7:57pm RESOLVED in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted (in respect of the personal situation of an employee) it is advisable in the public interest, that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.
23/1003 EXEMPT SECTION
Clerk’s pay award
RESOLVED to follow the pay award as recommended by NALC and circulated by DALC.
There being no further business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8:00pm.
APPENDIX 1 – Report from Cllr Muller
Please find herewith my report for the Parish Council Meeting 14th November 2023.
1. Storm Babet has been high on my agenda over the past few weeks with the expected influx of flooding, overflowing sewage pipes, collapsing walls and pothole issues.
All have been reported and in some cases dealt with. The additional rain during the past days has also added to the local problems and I thank the South Derbyshire highways teams for their hard work and support.
2. I was going to report at the meeting the £46m gap in this year’s DCC budget which is now being addressed. Control measures are being implemented across the entire council. These include Freezing recruitment except for essential jobs. Reducing the use of agency staff, reducing overtime, reducing IT equipment, no non-essential conferences and only carrying out health and safety repairs on properties.
A further financial statement will follow after the 2nd quarter of the year.
3. As from November young people in Derbyshire will be able to travel for only £1.50 for a single fare across Derbyshire and Derby. The £1.50 fares are for all buses in the County and City and include travel on direct services into neighbouring local authority arears. Young people aged 11 to 19 will need a b line cards to able to get the discounted fare. Th cards are available through the County and City Council website. Sign up for a b line cards.
4. The proposed East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has moved one step closer to reality after key legislation was approved in Westminster. The levelling up bill has been granted Royal Assent after completing its passage through Parliament paving the way for the first Mayoral election next May.
5. The Freeport proposals have gone very quiet with again nothing new to report.