Council Meeting – 28th January 2026

Wednesday 28^th

PRESENT: Parish Councillors D Howard (Chair), R Brown, S Caines, A Done-Johnson, J Reid, & P Rowlinson

IN ATTENDANCE: Parish Clerk

25/144 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Bush who was unable to attend due to work commitments and Councillors E Jennison-Boyle and K Shankland who were unable to attend for personal reasons.

25/145 To receive declaration of Members Interests – None.

25/146 To consider any applications for dispensations – None.

25/147 Public Speaking – (15 Minutes)

• A period of not more than fifteen minutes will be made available for members of the public and Members of the Council to comment on any matter.
• If the Police Liaison Officer, a County Council or Borough Council Member is in attendance they will be given the opportunity to raise any relevant matter.

There were four members of the public in attendance at the meeting.

The first person wished to speak about the lack of grit in the grit bin on Westley Crescent.  The Parish Council stated that it is still waiting to receive this year’s grit from DCC but were chasing DCC for a delivery.

The three other people present wanted to talk about the possibility of entering the churchyard into the East Midlands in Bloom Competition.

Jeff Bates, who is currently an East Midlands in Bloom judge, explained that there is a non-competitive category called ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’.  This category recognises small groups who are keen to improve their local surroundings.  It is free to enter and advice is available, for example to those interested in wilding projects. The current and past Chair of the Rotary Club were also present and expressed an interest in entering the churchyard into this category of the competition. The Chair stated that Councillors would discuss the practicality of entering the churchyard and also liaise with the Church as owners.

The current president of the Rotary Club stated that a proportion on the money raised by their cake and prosecco fundraiser in June, would again go towards the Churchyard project.

County Councillor Hart said that she had received my emails about the discarded roadworks signs and not having received this year’s grit quoter under the snow warden scheme and would following up on these items with the relevant departments.

The following update from Anna Chapman about Little Eaton Greenway was also received and is attached at the end of these minutes.

DCC are asking for an increase in Council tax of 4.9%.

At a recent EBC meeting CC Hart in her capacity as a District Councillor put a proposal forward that EBC reinstate some form on concurrent function as it has £8 million in reserves. This was, however, rejected.

District Councillor Bethan Eady was unable to attend the meeting but sent the following report.

There are a number of changes at Erewash Borough Council. At full council last week Councillors voted for an interim Chief Executive as the current one is standing down after 20 year. Interviews have been held and Garry Smith, will start on 2^nd February.

The delivery of Food waste bins will begin on 19^th February, with weekly collection taking place from 30^th March. More information can be found here Food Waste | Erewash Borough Council.

At full council Councillors voted to pull the Core Strategy due to the Planning Inspectorate finding major flaws in it. More information can be found here Erewash Core Strategy Review | Erewash Borough Council.

At full council there were 7 motions, one proposed by CC Carol Hart, asking that the Borough Council gives money to Parish Councils, it was rejected. The EBC’s budget is in a far better position than they believed, which means that at the budget they are planning a freeze in council tax for Erewash. Councillors will continue to ask EBC to give money back to parishes. There is a budget survey if you want to complete it. The link is here Council tax: Erewash looks to unveil big freeze!

PCSO Helen Brown was unable to attend the meeting but reported that the police are currently targeting the ‘fatal 4’ in and around the area. The fatal 4 targets phone use whilst driving, no seatbelt, driving under the influence and speeding and there will be an increase in enforcement from herself and Joe as well as Traffic and Crest.

Generally other crime remains low.

25/148 Variation of Order of Business – None.

25/149 To consider a resolution to close the meeting for public participation under the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 – Not applicable.

25/150 To confirm the minutes of the monthly meeting held on 26^th November 2025 – All agreed that the Chair be authorised to sign the minutes of the monthly council meeting held on 26^th November 2025 as being a true and correct record.

25/151 Chair’s Report

The Chair thanked the Vice Chair Paula Rowlinson for Chairing the November meeting and being the main point of contact whilst he has been away.

He also thanked Councillors Kate Shankland and Paula Rowlinson for organising the Advent Windows, which were a huge success again this year. Also, Councillors Richard Brown and James Reid for dealing with the burst water pipe at the park and the vandalised toilets.

Actions from the Minutes

24/179 Cycle parking at Croft Corner/Greenway and ways to discourage pavement parking – The planters for Croft Corner have been ordered, but there is a backlog at the firm making them so there will be a delay.

25/152 Report of the Parish Clerk – the Clerk reported that she is currently working towards ensuring that the Parish Council complies with all digital‑governance and data‑protection obligations ready for the new Assertion 10 which will be included in the Annual Governance & Accountability Return for 2025/26.

25/153 To receive Working Group Feedback (except if the issue is elsewhere on agenda):

• Village Hall –
  • Solar panel installation – the scaffolding will be erected on 5^th February with the installation work starting on the 8^th. It is anticipated that it will take 3 days to complete the installation once the work starts.
• Park Group –
  • After taking another look at the playground surface, Playbuild Projects Ltd have decided that the current surface is in too poor a condition to be able to bond with a new piece of wet pour around the roundabout. They have therefore agreed to replace the whole area for the same price as the original quote.
  • The proof for the playground sign has been received and approved and we are just waiting for the sign to be delivered.
• Churchyard Sub Group –
  • A number of working party dates have been arranged, starting in March.
  • The Parish Council is still awaiting a response from the Church regarding the siting of water troughs and planting etc.
  • Councillors agreed that the Churchyard should be entered into the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category of East Midlands in Bloom, on the understanding that it is only about wilding.
• Finance Group – no update.

• Environmental Action Group (EAG) –
  • A litter pick has been arranged for 8^th February, meeting at 10am at the Village Hall. Councillor Reid requested that the Parish Council purchase a small number of Hi-Viz jackets for the children who attend the litter picks, as the adult ones are much too big.  All agreed.
  • The trees for Millenium Way which were purchased using monies received from the Carbon Offset fund have now been planted, with the help of volunteers from the LE Canal Trust, LE Environment Action Group and Parish Councillors.
• Footpaths
  • The footpaths are now too muddy for any meaningful work to be undertaken, however work on the footpaths will recommence in Spring.
  • It was noted that the tree that fell in December leaving a large hole on the footpath just off Vicarage Lane towards Windy Lane has still not been removed. It was agreed that the Chair would double-check who owned the land.

25/154 Finance – Payments for December and January totalling £3,249.17 were circulated to members for approval. All agreed that the payments be approved and the accounts to which they relate paid.

It was also noted that rental income and insurance recharge payments totalling £5,224 were received.

25/155 Planning Applications

Application number: ERE/1225/0031 82 Duffield Road, Little Eaton DE21 5DT – Single Storey side and rear extension plus loft dormer. This application replaces application ERE/1025/0044 previously discussed as it was invalidated.  It was resolved that although the Parish Council has no overall objection to the application it does have the following concerns.

1. Flood Risk and Surface Water Management (Primary Concern) – Little Eaton has a well-documented history of flooding, arising from both river flooding and surface water run-off, particularly during periods of intense rainfall. The cumulative impact of incremental development within the village is a continuing concern.
2. Design, Character and Appearance – Although materials are stated as “as existing”, the Parish Council considers that the cumulative additions risk eroding the original character of the dwelling and could set an undesirable precedent if not properly controlled.
3. Construction Impacts – Residents along Duffield Road already experience periods of congestion and limited on-street capacity and therefore the Parish Council requests that should permission be granted:

• Construction traffic and parking are carefully managed.
• Measures are put in place to minimise disruption, obstruction of the highway, and additional surface water run-off during construction.

25/156 To consider the action taken regarding the vandalism in the pavilion toilets – It was noted that the male pavilion toilets were vandalised over the Christmas period causing a significant amount of damage.  The crime has been reported to the police along with CCTV evidence.

Councillors Brown and Reid have looked at the damage, and they think that they may be able to replace the toilet themselves.  They will take a closer look to confirm.

25/157 To consider a review of the Neighbourhood Plan – It was agreed that Councillor Brown will prepare a review of the plan for discussion at the February meeting.

25/158 To receive an update on the Newsletter publication – The Chair stated that he intends that the Newsletter will be ready for ready for distribution the second week in February.  It was agreed to include articles on the recycling hub, tree planting on Millenium Way, the recent water leak at the park and the issue with the grit bins.

25/159 To consider the adoption of the draft IT Policy – A draft IT Policy was circulated to members.  It was agreed that Councillors should take a look at the policy over the next week and pass any comments to the Clerk.

25/160 To further consider the draft Internal Control Review Process – Councillor Caines stated that he had reviewed and amended the draft Internal Control Review Process, and a copy was circulated to members. All agreed to adopt the policy.

25/161 To consider the adoption of the draft Code of Conduct in respect of Bates Charity (215064) and Thomas Bates for a park (520471) – a draft Code of Conduct in respect of the two Bates Charities was circulated to members.  It was resolved, following minor amended to adopt the Code of Conduct for Bates Charity and Thomas Bates for a park Charity.

25/162 Correspondence for Action

• Email received from Little Eaton Football Club regarding annual insurance recharge. It was agreed to write to the football club in the manner discussed.
• During the recent ice, various emails received regarding empty grit bins in the village – It was noted that the Parish Council has not yet received its quoter of grit from DCC this winter. It was also noted that there is some confusion over who owns some of the grit bins. It was therefore agreed to ask DCC for a list of who owns which grit bins.

25/163 Correspondence for Information

• Report Fraud, the new national Cyber Crime and Fraud service, has taken the final step in its delivery Programme with a public campaign launch.
• The Canal Trust information board is now in situ.

 There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.57pm.

Update on Little Eaton Greenway

The refurbishments to the bridges crossing Bottle Brook are largely complete. This has recorded the old railway structures and encapsulated them for prosperity. All decking has been upgraded and waterproofed and new ground beams have been laid for the required parapets (1.8m high for horse riders protection). Parapet installations are underway.

The sections of surfacing completed seem to be holding up well. Further surfacing can resume once the spring weather is here.

Boundary treatments , fencing and hedging are being planned over the coming months. We are working closely with neighbouring landowners to plan treatments and remedies to suit all parties.

Further tree works are planned as a result of the Ash Die Back survey carried out by Countryside Service. It is mandatory that we respond to this disease and act in the interests of public safety, so a number of Ash trees are to be felled.

Certain operations have been timetabled to meet ecological and environmental requirements. This can often make works look sporadic and out of sequence, but the programme has to account for all constraints.

There are 5 road crossings/interfaces with planned highway works, these are designed and due to be progressed, once accepted on the new highways system.

Still hoping for completion in the summer.

Anna Chapman | Senior Active Travel Officer | Sustainable Travel Team

Place Department

Derbyshire County Council | County Hall | Matlock | DE4 3AG