MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH MEETING HELD
MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER AT 7:30 pm
AT ST WYSTANS CHURCH, BRETBY
Present: Cllr Toone (Chairman), Cllr Falder, Cllr Meyrick, Cllr Ballington.
In Attendance: Mrs J Storer – Clerk, Cllr Benfield (from 7:56pm), Cllr Haines (from 7:56pm),
25/1184 Apologies
Apologies were noted from Cllr Corner (Personal). Cllr Lowe (personal). Cllr Haines and Cllr Benfield had sent their apologies as they would be late as they are attending Repton parish council. As a quorum was established, the Chair commenced the meeting.
25/1185 Variation of Order of Business
There was no alteration to the variation of the order of business.
25/1186 Declaration of Interests:
Cllrs considered their obligations relating to declaration of interests, no declarations were received.
25/1187 Public Speaking
- Members of the Public and Council to comment on any matter
No members of the public were in attendance.
AGREED to change the order of business to allow reports and discussions with both the County and District Cllrs to happen when the Cllrs arrive.
- County Council and District Council members to raise any relevant matter
This was taken on the arrival of Cllrs Haines and Benfield.
c) Parish Council Members declaring an interest other than Disclosable Pecuniary Interest wishing to make representation
None were raised.
25/1188 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 8th July 2025
These were circulated, read, approved and signed as a correct record by Cllr Toone.
25/1189 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.
25/1190 To receive the Chairman’s Announcements
The Chairman reported on the long delays and tailbacks caused by roadworks on Ashby Road East and commented upon the lack of service/attention from the DCC Highways Dept to the roads around the parish. Complaints have been made to DCC Highways Dept over a number of years but actions have never resulted.
Concerns were raised and discussed about the lack of parking space at Bretby Nurseries following the increase in size of the business.
Cllr Ballington reported on the installation of 2 double sets of traffic counter placed across Ashby Road East; these are thought to record speed and the type of vehicle using the road. An increase in very heavy lorries using the road during the evening and over night has been observed.
A resident continues to rigorously pursue the clearing of the path raised at last meeting as SDDC only send out a mini road sweeper which is not making any impact.
Cllrs commented upon both the lack of verge mowing this year, and the inconsistency of the mowing schedule. The verges on the lanes (Watery, Geary, Newton) received a cut in April but nothing since which other areas, such as The Green have received 6 cuts. Visibility at the junctions at Knights Lane and Hartshorne Road is atrocious and the vegetation along Newton Lane is narrowing an already narrow lane.
The planning application for an incinerator and power generator at Stanton involving 200 daily vehicle movements, has been successful at appeal. Cllrs raised concerns about traffic congestion but the major area of concern related to clouds of pollution which could cover a significant area, including Bretby.
The speedwatch scheme is about the start.
25/1191 To receive the Report of the Clerk
This had previously been circulated, and no matters were raised.
25/1192 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 two vacancies on the parish council and no expressions of interest have been received. An appeal was made in the parish magazine but no responses have been received.
d) Martyn’s Law – information and the advice sheet from SLCC has been circulated to all cllrs on 22/7/25, no further information is available.
e) Community Governance Review by SDDC – the parish council has no comments.
25/1193 Drainage, flooding and highway issues
No further matters were reported.
DCC have not returned to Watery Lane to undertake the promised remedial actions but it is hoped the flooding issue on Geary Lane has been resolved with the clearing of the drain.
1. DALC – Various circulars and information
2. DCC – Notification of road closure – Geary Lanre between 23/9/25 – 30/9/25 for the installation of fibre
3. DCC – Notification of road closure – Watery Lane between 1/10/25 – 6/10/25 for the installation of fibre
4. Cadent – Notification of gas works along Ashby Road with temporary lights from 18th August 2025 onwards – no closing date has been provided.
5. SDDC – Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust- South Derbyshire Buildings at Risk Project
6. Resident – Requesting the parish council to seek enforcement of planning conditions at 60 Bretby Lane (DMOT/2020/0601). The removal of a temporary fence and the brick wall installed – this was reported to SDDC Enforcement and on 04.08.25 confirmation that Enforcement file ENF/2025/00203 has been raised. On 12.08.25, Enforcement informed that their investigates revealed no breach of planning and the case is closed.
Cllr Toone reported the conditions were imposed in 2018 and work has still not finished.
7. DALC – Local Government Reorganisation in Derbyshire Forum 13th August 2025
8. DCC – Notification of road closure of Knights Lane between 1st -12th September 2025 for installation of fibre
9. SDDC – update about the s136 funding review
10. DCC – Parish and Town Council Liaison Forum which is being held from 5.00pm on Monday 15 September 2025.
11. DCC – Notification of temporary Road Closure of Repton Road, Hartshorne between 14/10/2025 – 20/10/2025 for the installation of fibre.
12. John Hallyar – requesting information about the water pump, his illustration of Bretby pump will be included with other illustrations of old preserved water pumps
13. DCC – Notification of Temporary Road Closure | Repton Road, Hartshorne | 14/10/2025 – 20/10/2025
14. DCC – Notification of Temporary Road Closure | Netherhall Road, Hartshorne | 14/10/2025 – 20/10/2025
15. National Grid – Chesterfield to Willington – Community Project Update – August 2025
All Cllrs have been circulated with the information prior to the meeting.
7:56pm Cllrs Haines and Benfield arrived.
25/1195 Finance
(a) Accounts for Payment
Accounts passed for payment
| BACS | Staffing – Aug | £163.98 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI and PAYE (Aug) | £44.00 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Aug) | £57.89 |
| Charges | Service charges (July) | £4.25 |
| BACS | Staffing – Sept | £163.98 |
| BACS | HMRC – Staffing NI and PAYE (Sept) | £44.00 |
| BACS | DCC – Pension contribution (Sept) | £57.89 |
| Charges | Service charges (July) | £4.25 |
For approval
| Mrs J Storer | Expenses | £16.95 |
| Mrs J Storer | Use of Home Jul – Sept | £81.00 |
| PKF | External audit fee 24/25 | £252.00 |
| Royal Mail | Renewal of PO Box | £148.60 |
Money Received
| Deposit interest | July 2025 | £1.78 |
| Deposit interest | Aug 2025 | £1.96 |
| SDDC | Balance of second half of precept for 25/26 | £268.00 |
| SDDC | Safer Neighbourhood – grant for Speed watch items | £500.00 |
Balance at bank @ 29.08.25
Deposit account £3,093.72– interest rate 0.70%
Current account £8,912.58
(b) To consider any requests for funds made under S137 – none received
(c) To receive the report from the external auditor – a clean audit report has been received, and no areas of concern have been identified
RESOLVED to accept the external auditors report. The notice for the conclusion of the audit has been placed on the website.
25/1196 To consider Planning Applications
DMPA/2024/1052: Notification of planning appeal – Installation and operation of a renewable energy generation station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic panels, inverter/transformer units, DNO substation, site
access, internal access tracks, security measures, landscaping, and other ancillary infrastructure on Land west of Newton Lane, Newton Solney, DE15 0RU (Deadline for submissions – 27th August 2025)
Appellant: Anesco Ltd
Appeal Ref. No: APP/F1040/W/25/3365887
Appeal Starting Date: 23/07/2025
RESOLVED the parish council’s comments have been submitted.
Cllr Toone asked for an update on the appeal at Knight’s Lane Lodges, no date has been given for the conclusion of the appeal.
Knights Lodges is openly advertising swimming lessons for children; Cllr Toone enquired how the various licences and regulations have been given for the swimming lessons to be held when the conditions of planning were not complied with. It was reiterated the first complaint was in Oct 2023 about none compliance at the site.
DMPA/2025/0505: The variation of conditions no. 2 (approved plans ) and 5 (window serving the south east elevation) of permission ref. DMPA/2022/0683 for The erection of a detached dwelling at 2 Ashby Road East, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0PT (09/08/25)
RESOLVED No comments as deadline passed
DMPA/2025/1044: The creation of two new openings for two painted timber double doors to match the existing as a change to existing planning permission DMPA/2023/1078 at 12 Park Row, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0RL (22/09/25)
RESOLVED
DMOT/2025/1049: The felling and pruning of various trees at Bretby Hall, Management Office, Unnamed Road Through Bretby Park, Bretby, Burton On Trent, DE15 0QQ (24/09/25)
RESOLVED: objections as the reason for the request to fell and pruning trees was not given or stated.
25/1197 Consultations
DCC – Community Insights Survey – deadline for responses 31st July 2025
RAD – Survey on Flooding – deadline for responses 29th August 2025
SDDC – review of the Animal Welfare Licensing Policy responses by 17th October 2025
25/1198 District and County Council reports
Cllr Haines urged Cllrs to report planning issues to the meeting with SDDC on 17th September.
The majority of responses to the Draft Local Plan Part 1 are in favour but developers are highly critical about the lack of allocation of sites across South Derbyshire. Officers are working on Part 2 of the Local Plan; the initial consultation in November 2025 with 8 weeks consultation. There is an appeal for a development at Kings Newton which will clarify the 5 year land supply. and if the appeal is successful then for the Local Plan Part 1, there are questionable implications for the plan going forward.
A resident has reported to Cllr Haines the ongoing matters relating to the clearing of the footpath as reported under Min 25.1190, Cllr Lowe will look into this and report back.
Cllr Benfield reported the road signs at Ashby Road East as raised at the July meeting, did not need replacing. Parish cllrs provided details of the issues which Cllr Benfield agreed to take back to the Highways Dept.
Complaints have been received about the speed along Knights Lane and DCC submitted a response about why any upgrade at junctions cannot occur but the repainting of the road markings has been agreed.
Parking, specifically parking on the pavement at a property on Bretby Lane running music lessons, is creating problems for motorists and pedestrians; a review of the planning conditions needs to be looked at to see if any planning conditions are in force and Cllr Haines agreed to take this forward
Some confusion was expressed about which is the relevant authority, SDDC or the police, for abandoned vehicles and the confusion remained.
All gullies are to be cleared in South Derbyshire before the onset of winter.
Speed indicator device trial reintroduced by DCC were explained; this parish council will not participate.
Mention was made again of verge mowing and Cllr Benfield was requested to take this forward as Newton Lane was impassible in parts as were other lanes.
Roadworks undertaken by Cadent on Ashby Road East are creating major congestion with tail backs lasting miles. A request was made for the control of the temporary lights to be tighter and to be more thoughtful about the scheduling of the works.
The firework display held last Friday was huge and very loud, and questions were raised if the necessary permissions had been sought for the event.
Cllr Haines was asked about the Finance & Management Committee meeting held 4th September 2025 and the outcome of the decision on the continuation of the s136 refund; it was reported that the s136 refund will continue and be for the new authority to make any decisions about the future of s136.
A further question was asked seeking where council tax for new houses in the first year of occupancy goes – is this to SDDC and if the money is ringfence. Cllr Haines will make enquiries.
Cllr Haines informed SDDC is undertaking a Community Governance Review with a view to parish the unparished areas (mainly the urban core). DCC have voted for a north/south split.
25/1199 Items for information only
(a) To receive reports from Meetings attended
31st July 2025 – S Derbyshire and Erewash Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) stakeholders briefing
(b) Notification of Forthcoming meeting – none known
Online meeting between SDDC and Chairs & Clerks of Parish Councils – 17th September 2025 at 6pm – POST MEETING NOTE; on 10th September the meeting was cancelled by SDDC.
Online meeting with SDDC Head of Planning and Samantha Nibblett MP – 22nd September AND 24th September 2025
Severn Trent Community Roadshow – Investment in Derbyshire @ Carsington Water – Tuesday 23rd September 2025 between 17:00 – 18:45
(c) Training Sessions – All DALC circulars have been provided to all Cllrs
Cllrs are still to complete the training relating to Prevention of harassment and to provide certificates to the Clerk.
(d) Consideration needs to be given to the maintenance of the trees on the Green, this will be discussed at the next meeting.
25/1200 Date of next meeting
The next Ordinary parish council meeting will be held on MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2025 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 8:39 pm.