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 10th 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