Clerk

Pinfold Lane/Mount Pleasant Road, between the junction with High Street and Springfield Road will be closed to facilitate gas main replacement with the traffic order being in effect from 28th April to 29th May 2025. Please contact Call Derbyshire for further information on 01629 533190

As your Parish Council Chairman, I thought I would give you an update on what projects we are all involved in.  There is of course an ulterior motive as we still need two further councillors to make up our numbers (information and application forms can be found here: https://www.repton-pc.gov.uk/councillor-vacancies/) and to explain what your council tax pays for!

Over the past year we have been concentrating on a number of projects.  The SIDS speed monitors have taken time to get the licences for, have the lamp posts tested for safety and now we are about to buy them and have them installed.  They will be able to be moved around Repton and Milton and we hope this will help reduce the speed especially of the through traffic.

Our Mitre Field project, the multi-wheeled pump track, will very soon be out for planning permission and we hope that it will be ready for the summer.  The play area of Mitre Field will be Part 2 of the project as all the play equipment is really past its sell by date though it still passes its safety tests.

The Monsom Lane cemetery has taken some thought as the gate was broken, now replaced, the grass, leaves and tree debris have needed more looking after and some of the burial stones have been unsafe and needed attention.  The Allotments are now in a much better state and Repton received an award for them this year.

Our footpaths around Repton, perhaps one of our jewels in our crown, need constant vigilance to keep them passable and open.  We have a new jitty light at the far end of Matthews jitty.  The Matthews Jitty Bridge over the Brook has been rebuilt and is now safe for the future.  The bins, railings and steps also require constant attention.  You will have noticed that we have beautiful colourful planters around Repton and Repton in Bloom got an award in its first year, thanks to one Parishioner, and these need constant attention.

Repton has an active group of Flood Wardens led by an experienced Hydrologist and we are making progress.  We are also in the process of setting up a Significant Incident group to become the first responder to any incident, for example the sink hole on Brook End this summer, to help before the professionals arrive.

This past year we have been concerned with the Milton Telephone box and its new Defibrillator to complement the Repton Village Hall and Broomhills Defibrillators.  These need regular attention to allow them to be registered on the Defibrillator website.

Speed watch in Repton and Milton has been a great success and whilst they still need volunteers, they are very active.  Buying and replacing equipment all takes money!

We do have regular commitments, Remembrance, Broomhills pavilion, Christmas and occasional jubilees when hopefully the Repton village takes the lead but often need pump priming from the Parish Council.

All this this on top of the regular commitments such as our invaluable clerk, insurances, St Wystan’s clock servicing and the Public Works Loan for our wonderful Village Hall and now we are committing to our Youth club as we believe that we all need to do more for the youth in Repton

Now the painful bit!  This all costs money but In order to do more than just pay our running costs, the Parish Council needs a small income and I hope you can see something of what your Volunteer Councillors do for us all.  South Derbyshire District Council is considering taking £15,000 from our grant next year (2026/27) and this very fact means we need to achieve as much as we can in the year 25/26.  We have increased the total precept to £75,000 which is an increase of approximately 67p per month for a Band D property.  We all have to pay this tax and any increase is painful but I hope I have shown you that we are active and doing the best we can for Repton.

The next meeting of the Parish council is scheduled for Monday 10^th February 2025, starting at 19.30 in the Repton Village Hall.  All are welcome to attend.

The clerk is available for any queries via telephone or email every Monday from 2pm to 5pm and every Thursday from 9am until midday, unless on annual leave.  Outside of these times please do leave a voicemail or send an email, which will be picked up by the Clerk.

You can contact Caroline Crowder – Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer for the Repton Parish Council by mobile 07341 907137 or email clerk@repton-pc.gov.uk  All parish council documents are available on the web site www.repton-pc.gov.uk

Jonathan Sheldon

Chairman of Repton Parish Council

Footpath 29, that runs from Burdett Way past Askew Hill towards Milton is temporarily closed by Derbyshire County Council for footbridge repairs.  They are waiting for the ground conditions to be less wet in order to allow them safe access to make the repairs.  They believe is unlikely to happen for a few months.

Would you or someone you know, like to be involved in representing the Repton Parish?  Repton Parish Council has casual vacancies for two councillors, due to a resignation   This now means that the vacancies can be filled by co-opting councillors. This post of Councillor would be held until the next local elections which are due in May 2027 for the Repton Parish, which includes not only Repton but also Milton.  The criteria below are the same for a Councillor that is voted in during an election or co-opted.

What is the Purpose of a Parish Councillor?

You are there to represent the views of all the residents within your parish.  You will be responsible for the running of services the Council provide, such as the burial ground, allotments, arboreta and recreation facilities at Mitre Field and Broomhills recreation ground.  You work to bring forward issues that are important to the residents that you represent and help to plan how the Parish Council can improve the Parish’s facilities.  The Council are trying to improve Youth Facilities in the area at the moment.  You can comment on planning applications in the area and represent the views of the residents that may be affected by the plans.  You must be willing to represent the views of the whole community.

What criteria must you meet to be a Councillor?

1. Over the age of 18 years and
2. Be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member of the European Union and
3. Be registered as a local government elector for the parish OR occupy as an owner or tenant, land or premises in the parish for the past 12 months OR work in the parish as your principal or only place of work OR live within three miles of the parish boundary

What obligations are there?

1. You must sign a declaration of office before you can attend your first meeting.
2. You must abide by the Parish Council’s code of conduct, this can be found on the website
3. Complete a register of interests which will be published on the Parish Council’s website and that of South Derbyshire District Council.  This ensures that you have declared any interests that you may have of a financial nature or that may benefit you or could influence what decisions you make as a Councillor.

What will be expected of you?

Repton Parish Council has 11 meetings per year; these are usually held on the second Monday of the month at 19:30 (excluding August).  Usually held in Repton Village Hall, the October meeting is held in Milton Village Hall. You should attend as many of these as possible.  You will be expected to have read the agenda and previous month’s minutes before the meeting.  The meeting is your chance to present your views and that of the residents that you represent.  Committee meetings are also held for Finance.  The Council has various working groups that you should try and involve yourself with, hopefully these will encompass areas of the parish that you may already have an interest in. Please follow this link for a description and expectations of a Parish Councillor.

Still interested or think you may know someone that is?

Please follow the links for application forms and details of the co-option process or by contacting the Clerk, details shown below.  Application forms need to be submitted to the Clerk no later than 31st December 2024.  The co-option will occur at the January 2025 meeting, which will be held on 13th January 2025 in the meeting room at Repton Village Hall. 

Any queries please contact the Clerk on 07341 907137 or clerk@repton-pc.gov.uk or speak to any of the Councillors.

Britain in Bloom with the RHS.  Congratulations to all those that contributed to the entry for Repton, two awards were won.  A silver award in the small town category and a judge’s award for the Parish Council allotments.  A great deal of effort was undertaken by lots of people, groups and organisations.  Thank you to all that were involved, with special thanks to Owen Jowett, Alan Topping and Councillor Tony Brown, for all their work.  It’s a great achievement to attain two awards in the first year. 

Staff employed by South Derbyshire District Council will shortly be carrying out a series of personal visits (door-knocking) in connection with the ongoing annual canvass exercise in South Derbyshire for Register Of Electors.  

The personal contact stage will commence on 2^nd October 2024 and Canvassing Officers will visit approximately 4000 – 5000 addresses across the district between the hours of 09:00 and 19:00 (on any day including weekends), to request details of eligible electors in the household and obtain a signed canvass form. This exercise is expected to be concluded by mid-November.

All the canvassing staff will be wearing photographic identity specific to their role as personal canvassers and they should be carrying S.D.D.C branded document cases.

For further information, please contact the Electoral Services Team using the details below.

 T:  01283 595875 / 595728 / 595723

To facilitate tree cutting and overhead cabling works Robin’s Cross will be closed. Diversion is via Main Street, Brook End, Milton Road Repton and onto Main Street Milton.

You can view the order on this link  https://one.network/?tm=139930726

For any queries please email TTM.mailbox@derbyshire.gov.uk