Repton Parish Council Newsletter - August 2010

Vehicle Activated Sign, Burton Road: This sign is currently out of operation, for the second time in two months! Derbyshire County Council is asking the installers to rectify the problem. Hopefully they will sort it out soon.

Japanese Knotweed: Recently Japanese knotweed has been reported to be growing on derelict land within Repton. Japanese knotweed is the most invasive non-native plant in Britain and it can cause major structural damage to buildings. It can be spread very easily: a fragment as small as a fingernail can start a new plant; also it is difficult to eradicate. Advice from the Environment Agency is that Japanese knotweed is not a 'notifiable weed'. In view of the damage it can do this is perhaps surprising, but it means that the Agency is not responsible for controlling its growth on private land, and has no power to require landowners to remove it. Allowing Japanese knotweed to spread onto other people's property may be regarded as a private nuisance under common law. If and when the affected land is redeveloped, good site management will be essential to ensure that all traces are disposed of in accordance with the Environment Agency code of practice. Details of how to identify and deal with Japanese knotweed can be found by using the search facility on www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

Summer Play Activities at Mitre Field: Please come along and enjoy these youth activities, they are all free of charge. Just turn up on the day - suitable footwear and clothing should be worn. If it rains, activities will continue at the discretion of South Derbyshire District Council. 
Thursday 5th  August 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm Climbing Wall 
Tuesday 10th August 10.00am - noon Sportsmobile 
Tuesday 17th August 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm Climbing Wall 
Tuesday 24th August 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm Sportsmobile
 

Dog Control Orders:   Dog Control Orders are in force on The Mitre Field and Broomhills Playing Field.  Dogs are banned completely from Mitre Field and must be kept on leads on Broomhills Field.  The District Council Dog Warden patrols these areas regularly.  Please be considerate and pick up dog foulings.
 

REPTON PARISH COUNCIL

Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010

The Annual Report & Accounts of Repton Parish Council is produced under the Quality Council 
Accreditation Scheme. It contains an overview by the Chairman, a report from the Clerk 
and a summary Financial Statement for the year.

The Chairman’s Overview

The year has been demanding on several fronts. The parish council suffered a very significant drop in income, owing to the low rates of interest available during the global recession. This is a major problem: historically over a quarter of the parish council’s revenue came from interest on capital reserves. Much of the capital is earmarked for the rebuilding of Repton village hall so its value must be preserved. Unwelcome cutbacks in day-to-day expenditure had to be introduced to avoid a large increase in the parish precept, which is the parish council’s share of the local council tax. Priority was given to protecting essential services: maintaining the recreation fields, the burial ground and the allotments; mowing roadside verges; keeping village streets and pavements clean and tidy; and ensuring that country footpaths remain accessible.

Publication of the district council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy brought another taxing subject to the fore. This strategic review of the future housing, employment and other growth needs of South Derbyshire included provision for nearly 2,000 new houses to be built on farmland around Repton and Milton. Such a level of development would have an unwelcome effect on the quality and way of life in our rural communities, a fact that was recognised immediately by many local residents. Strong and detailed objections to the draft proposals were agreed and registered. The parish council has always resisted development on greenfield land.  The outcome will determine the shape of local villages for the next 20 years.

As the council year drew to a close our long-serving Clerk and Financial Officer, Celia Bunston, announced that in the summer she intended to retire from all council work. During her ten-year term as clerk at Repton, Celia guided the parish council through the complex and time-consuming process of becoming a ‘Quality Council’ under a scheme developed and promoted by central government. The process brought rigour to the parish council’s management procedures and financial arrangements, for which I am very grateful to Celia.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the councillors who give their time freely and willingly for the benefit of the parish. The work they take on does much to improve the facilities available for the use and enjoyment of residents, young and old, and I value their important contribution.

John Shortt, Chairman  
 

The Clerk’s Report

There was a good response to the play facilities that we provided for young people during the school holidays last summer, so it is planned to do the same in 2010. Activities arranged by the district council for the February half term holidays were poorly supported however, and will not be repeated. All play activities organised by the parish council are held on Mitre Field and are free of charge to local young people.

A selection of oaks, silver birches, beeches and other native trees was planted at the new memorial arboretum in Pinfold lane. The site had earlier been cleared and landscaped, the hedge laid, and a new entrance gate installed. All work was initiated by the parish council and the cost reclaimed from an open space improvement levy on the Askew Grove housing development. We had a very good turn out of over 50 people of all ages on the day of the first planting, and everybody appreciated the Revd Peter Payne’s short prayer. It is a lovely site and it was a privilege to be there as part of the occasion. A second phase of planting planned for the autumn and is already well subscribed, clearly demonstrating the need for a local amenity of this type.  

The parish council has continued to press Derbyshire County Council and the Environment Agency about de-silting Repton Brook.  Heavy silting is a worry to many residents who fear that their properties could be flooded, as they have been in the past.  Eventually the Environment Agency accepted the need to carry out dredging around Pinfold Lane and Brook End bridges. The work will form part of their 2010 -11 maintenance programme.

There continues to be serious concern about the condition of the apron surrounding the Cross.  Derbyshire County Council is responsible for maintaining the area and repairs are constantly needed due to damage by large vehicles.  The Village Improvement Group is being reformed to evaluate possible improvements suggested by the county council, which are intended to protect and enhance the ancient monument. The Group comprises representatives from the village society, the history group and the parish council.

The parish council has been commended for providing seats, trees and the arboretum in Repton, and for publishing a monthly resume of parish council affairs in the Parish Magazine.  We are pleased the council Jottings are well received and we welcome the opportunity to communicate in this way. Requests for more seats are being met wherever possible.

Sledge Wood lies at the southern edge of Repton and was part-funded by the parish council and local residents. It is now 10 years old, with many maturing trees, and is well used and appreciated by walkers.

The council’s investment portfolio was reviewed in the light of much reduced rates of interest available. Most of the reserves were reinvested in bonds and other higher paying fixed interest accounts. Absolute security is being maintained at all times. 

Finally, I am leaving the parish council this summer after 10 years as Clerk. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Repton, but now I want to move on and spend more time with my family.  I thank all the parish, district and county councillors, together with staff at the councils, for their help and support during my term of office.

Celia Bunston, Clerk to the Council
    

The Financial Statement
 

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