Minutes of the meeting held at Great Gidding Village Hall on Tuesday 19th October 2021
Present: Cllrs Hodson, Maciag, Hill, Pudney, Bolton, County Councillor Gardener and the Clerk.
093.21 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.
094.21 Apologies and reasons for absence:
District Councillor Alban – attending other meetings
Councillor Cotton – family commitment
095.21 There were no Member’s declarations of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
096.21 No members of Public or Press were present at the meeting.
097.21 Minutes of the meeting held on 21st September 2021 were accepted.
Cllr Bolton proposed and Cllr Hill seconded.
098.21 There were no matters arising from those Minutes.
099.21 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk:
County Councillor Gardener:
Councillor Gardener updated on the ting bus service, an “on demand” service for West Hunts villages, which will commence on 25th October. A roadshow will be sited at the Village Hall on the afternoon of Friday 22nd October to promote the bus and how it operates (handouts to be distributed around the Parish).
CambsCC are arranging a Webinar around the subject of Climate Change for November. The County Council aim for the County and its residents to be carbon neutral by 2050.
A new Chief executive is being sought for Cambridge only (no longer a combined role with Peterborough).
Sharon Middleton is now CambsCC Highways Engineer for our area.
Shire Hall at Alconbury Weald is now open for business.
He encouraged us to complete the National Highways Survey regarding improvements to the A14 between Brampton and Thrapston (he will forward a link).
Government have announced £500m support for vulnerable households over winter.
Free school meals will be available to children over the half term holiday.
Cllr Gardener left for another meeting.
Cllr Hill had contacted Cambs CC to enquire when the 2nd post for the Speed Awareness sign might be installed – response awaited.
Clerk – Remembrance Service at St. Michael’s Church, Great Gidding on Sunday November 14th starting at 10.45 am. We have a wreath that was not used in 2020 (attendee at service required please), together with big plastic poppies. Requests received to repeat poppy display on Top End Corner.
Clerk – CambsACRE AGM report
0100.21 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
Cllr Hodson advised that Cllr Pudney has been added to the Bank Mandate and can co-authorise payments once he receives bank card and PIN gadget.
a) Barclays Bank statements
b) Cashflow spreadsheet and Budget Forecast – the budget forecast has been updated to show the funds that are allocated to the various LHI bids
c) PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTS
| Who | What for | TOTAL | VAT | Authorised | Authorised | |
| 33 | Bradgate Fencing (No 255 ) | Grass Cutting | 199.32 | 33.22 | JRT | |
| 34 | Online Playgrounds | Repair to Rec Ground Rocker | 1,097.57 | 182.93 | ||
| 35 | Chris Knott Insurance | Allotment Insurance Policy | 75.09 | ~ | JRT | |
| 36 | J R Trolove | Wages for August (34 hours) | Xxx | ~ | JRT | |
| Village Hall payments | ||||||
| 34VH | P Hodson | 2 x replacement toilet seats | 48.90 | ~ | JRT | |
| 35VH | Tally Ho cleaning | Village Hall cleaning | 26.00 | ~ | JRT |
d) to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1st and 30th September (30 hours)
Payments and Clerk’s hours were approved by Cllr Pudney and Cllr Bolton
e) Precept for 2022/23
Cllr Hodson explained the precept and the implications for increasing the amount. Cllr Hill proposed the precept remain at its present amount of £11,052
Cllr Bolton seconded.
0101.21 Planning Applications and Planning matters:
No Planning applications have been received as at 13/10/2021
District Cllr Alban had emailed to advise he will follow up the outstanding Planning Enforcement issues for our Parish and the Clerk has requested that he gain some idea of how planning applications were being dealt with as the MUGA application is still “in process”.
0102.21 Recreation Field Update:
a) MUGA – see 0101.21
b) bench repair – Cllr Maciag had priced up replacement slats – around £400, and will place an order
Cllr Hodson regarding the Rec. Field, advised that the spring rocker has been replaced, following the recent vandalism. The contractor had emailed a quote as they felt the ground anchor was loose, it is believed that a spell of wet weather will resolve this. The wobble board is now at ground level, but is safe – other items of wooden play equipment are in good order. Grass has been cut again, contractors have made an excellent job of keeping the Rec. Field grass in order this year.
Clerk was reminded to get AWA to disconnect the water supply.
| 0103.21 Climate Change – as a Parish Council (this includes Village Hall and Recreation Ground and Gidding Charity), we have little impact on climate change but will continue to be mindful of all aspects and, where appropriate, take advantage of schemes that we can join, grants that are offered and implement changes. We will stay engaged with the County and District Council’s initiatives to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Also raising awareness, encouraging and, if possible, supporting parishioners to achieve this too. 0104.21 Training opportunities for Parish Councillors and Clerk. November Allotment Training – Session 1 1st – 7pm – 8:30pm Planning Training 4th – 6pm – 9pm Allotment Training – Session 2 8th – 7pm – 8:30pm Councillor Training – Split Session – Session 1 10th – 6:30pm – 9pm Allotment Training – Session 3 15th – 7pm – 8:30pm CAPALC Ltd – Drop In Session 18th – 10am – 11am Councillor Training – Split Session – Session 2 18th – 6:30pm – 9pm |
0105.21 Quote and detail of making changes to village website re. notices – all Councillors agreed that the Clerk should undertake training on all matters pertaining to the Village website.
0106.21 Correspondence received since 21st September 2021 (other than that discussed in agenda items above).
a) Email dated 22/9/2021 – CambsCC request to display banners/posters for Foster Carers
b) Email dated 22/9/2021 – Cambs Acre – “Winter planning for COVID-19”
c) Email dated 23/9/2021 – CCC Flood and Water Team delivering sessions with Communities Prepared as part of CCC’s Community Flood Action Programme. ALSO 24/9/2021 – letter from Huntingdonshire District Council – Flooding Review Letter. Cllr Bolton enquired about flooding in the Parish, Clerk advised that there had been few incidents, usually as a result of blocked drain/culvert or heavy rain incident.
d) Email dated 23/9/2021 from Highways & Transport Directorate, Cambridgeshire County Council – acknowledgement of Local Highways Initiative bid
e) Email dated 24/9/2021 – Libraries – Cambridgeshire County Council – details of events in libraries.
f) Email dated 24/9/2019 – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – invitation to launch event of TING (local transport) event on 6/10/2021 ALSO other correspondence regarding TING incl County Cllr Ian Gardener – see 099.21 above
g) Email dated 29/9/2021 – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – regarding OxCam Arc spatial framework response query
h) Email dated 1/10/2021 – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – Update Issue 6 (shared with Parish Councillors prior to the meeting).
i) Email dated 4/10/2021 – CambsCC – introductory email from Clair Slade
Think Communities Community Connector, Huntingdonshire
j) Email dated 5/10/2021 – regarding Neighbourhood Plan advice, provision and support – Clerk advised this was one of several companies offering services to support Parish Councils with provision of a Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr Macaig suggested that spring 2022 would be a good time to start this project.
k) Email dated 6/10/2021 – Keep Britain Tidy – dog fouling campaign – Cllr Hodson proposed purchasing some smaller signs (1 for each bin @ £6 + VAT), preferably a different design – Clerk will research.
l) Email dated 7/10/2021 – CAPALC – Hate Crime Week event in P’boro Cathedral on 12 October
m) Email dated 7/10/2021 – County Cllr Gardener advising of change of Local Highways Officer – see 099.21 above
n) Email dated 8/10/2021 – invitation from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate: addressing climate change in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’ in a live online event on 18 October 2021.
o) Email dated 13/10/2021 – Cambs ACRE – Invitation to our Promoter’s Meeting for the Fenland Rural Touring Scheme Join us on Wednesday 20 October from 10am – 12.30pm.
p) Email dated 5/10/2021 – regarding STOP OxCamArc (see (g) above)
q) Email dated 14/10/2021 – invitation to Road Victims Trust Remembrance Service, Sunday 21st November 2021
r) Email dated 15/10/2021 – regarding Network Rail Great crested newt eDNA surveys 2021 of Townsend Pond – it is confirmed there are still newts in the pond
0107.21 Items for decisions at next meeting:
Prepare for Co-option of Parish Councillor
Queens Jubilee 2022 – tree planting, village event, other ideas.
0108.21 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 16th November 2021
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding
MEETING CLOSED AT 21.02
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