MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD
TUESDAY 7th MAY 2024 AT 7:39pm
AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY
Present: Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Meyrick, Cllr T Ballington, Cllr Falder.
In Attendance: Cllr Haines, 1 Member of the public, Mrs J Storer – Clerk.
24/1036 Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Muller and Cllr Corner.
As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.
24/1037 Variation of Order of Business
There was no alteration to the variation of the order of business.
24/10238 Declaration of Interests:
Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests. No declarations were made.
24/1039 Public Speaking
a) Members of the Public and Council to comment on any matter
A resident raised a query about the website and the normal practise to keep it up to date.
The resident provided further information about the lack of a timetable and litter bin at the newly replaced bus shelter o Ashby Road East and made a request for the parish council to liaise with the bus company for a timetable to be installed at a readable height and for a litter bin to be installed.
The road gutter between 70 and 76 Ashby Road East has been poorly cleaned over many years and a request was made for the parish council to request the footway to be cleared and reinstated.
b) County Council and District Council members to raise any relevant matter
Cllr Haines requested responses are made to the Statement of Community Involvement.
The Local Plan sustainability appraisal is an important piece of evidence to help with the assessment of Derby City Council’s unmet need. By the summer there should be an indication of the sites identified.
c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation
No representations were made.
24/1040 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 4th March 2024
These were circulated, read, approved and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.
24/1041 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.
24/1042 To receive the Chairman’s Announcements
No announcements were made.
24/1043 To receive the Report of the Clerk
The Clerk’s report as previously circulated was accepted with no further comments.
24/1043 Governance
a) Risk Register update
There are no recommended changes to the risk register, this had been considered at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
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 two vacancies on the parish council and no expressions of interest have been received. The notice of a casual vacancy occurred within LGA 1972 sec 8 created by the sudden and unexpected death of Cllr Bridges has been displayed
d) Environment Act 2021 – to receive any updates and review of the Parish Council’s Plan
There were no reported updates to the parish council’s environmental plan
24/1044 Drainage and flooding issues
The state of some of the roads are causing serious problems, particularly at the bend on Geary Lane which floods regularly. With this location being so close to the Crematorium and with so many people not aware of the problems, Cllrs expressed concerns that there is an accident waiting to happen.
Over the winter, several vehicles have left Knights Lane and have gone into the ditch; the road at this section slopes down which draws vehicles towards and into the ditch.
A site visit with the Highways Dept will be requested for Watery Lane, Knights Lane, Geary Lane and Bretby Lane; the purpose being to demonstrate the issues faced by motorists and to seek remedial works to avoid accidents or worse, from happening.
24/1045 Correspondence
- DALC – Various circulars and information
- SDDC – Revising Flood Warden scheme – volunteers are sought, either cllrs or members of the public.
All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.
24/1046 Finance
a) RESOLVED The following accounts were passed for payment
| BACS | Staffing – Apr | £158.05 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (Apr) | £42.20 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Apr) | £53.62 |
For approval
| Mrs J Storer | Expenses | £51.38 |
| BACS | Staffing – May | £157.85 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI & PAYE (May) | £42.40 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (May) | £53.62 |
| BACS | Clerk use of home (Apr-Jun 24) | £81.00 |
| SDDC | Service Litterbins | £283.30 |
| East Midlands Audit Services Ltd | internal audit 23/24 | £52.50 |
| DALC | Subscription for 24/25 | £347.23 |
| Clear Council | Insurance 1/6/24-31/5/24 Last year’s premium = £680.28 Budget = £644 | £680.28 |
Money Received
| Deposit account interest (March 24) | £3.36 |
| Deposit account interest (April 24) | £3.15 |
| SDDC – s136 refund for 23/24 | £3,083.29 |
| SDDC – first half of precept | £2807.00 |
| SDDC – Housing Relief Grant | £73.00 |
The request for a bin at the bus stop made by a resident in the public section of the meeting was discussed. The Clerk was instructed to make enquiries of the bus company to provide a bin.
Balance at bank @ 29.04.24
| Deposit account | £3,052.42 |
| Current account | £6,082.23 |
(b) to consider any requests for funding made under s137 LGA 1971
None received
(c) To accept the internal auditor’s report for the accounts for the year ending 31st March 2024
The internal audit has been completed and no areas of concern have been raised.
The audit invoice for 2023/24 is £52.50 and should the parish council wish to retain the services of the internal auditor (East Midlands Audit Services Ltd) the fee next year will be £57.00.
Cllrs were circulated with the internal audit report with the meeting papers.
RESOLVED to accept the internal auditor’s report as previously circulated and considered.
RESOLVED to appoint East Midlands Audit Services Ltd to undertake the internal audit for the year ending 31st March 2025.
(d) To complete the AGAR for the year ending 31st March 2024
RESOLVED to approve the accounts for the year ending 31.03.24 with no amendments.
RESOLVED to complete the AGAR for the year ending 31.03.24; no matters of concern were raised.
24/1047 To consider Planning Applications and the action to be taken with regards to planning application – DMPA/2023/1579 at 70 Ashby Road East
DMPA/2024/0345: The retention of a front boundary wall at 92 Bretby Lane, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QP (11/04/24)
RESOLVED No objections
In relation to planning application at Knights Lane lodges, there appear to be less vehicles attending the site, it was noted that the application is still to come before the planning committee.
Cllrs discussed the frustrations surrounding the late determination of planning applications, the discrepancies in decisions are of concern and the lack of enforcement and communication continues to be an issue. The review of the planning dept is underway and feedback and complaints of this parish council about the frustrations surrounding its interactions with the SDDC Planning Dept will be relevant and useful. Cllr Toone will draft the complaint, which the Clerk will submit to SDDC.
24/1048 Consultations
a) SDDC – Draft Statement of Community Involvement (Local Plan) 18th March to 13th May 2024
b) National Government – An accelerated planning system consultation – closes 1st May 2024
c) SDDC – Draft Cycle Network Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – closes 28th June 2024
23/1049 Items for information only
(a) To receive reports from Meetings attended
DCC and Parish Council Liaison Meeting – 16th April 2024 at 5pm at County Hall – no Cllr attended the meeting.
(b) Notification of Forthcoming meeting
SDDC – Civic Service 23rd May 2024 – no Cllr was available to attend.
(c) Training Sessions – See DALC circulars which have been provided to all Cllrs
No training sessions have taken place since the last meeting.
23/1050 Date of next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 1st July 2024 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 8:34 pm.