Present: Councillors Maciag, Hodson, Hargrave, Downer and the Clerk and 3 members of the public (LJ and SH, and PH)
043.25 Councillor Maciag, as Chairperson, welcomed those present to the meeting.
044.25 Apologies received from:
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
District Councillor Alban – at another meeting
Cllr Bolton – holiday
Cllr Nankivell – holiday
0045.25 There were no member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
0046.25 2 x members of the Public (LJ and SH) were present in respect of the request for funding of the defibrillator (see 0052.25 below). 1 member of the Neighbourhood Plan team was present to update the Parish Council (see 0050.25b below)
0047.25 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 15th July 2025 including the amendment to Minutes submitted by Cllr Downer . Minutes were approved by Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave.
0048.25 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
District Councillor Alban had emailed to advise that the solar farm at Haddon had gone to Appeal and was refused. Nothing further heard from North Northants about the Anaerobic Digester unit.
Cllr Nankivel – written report submitted with an update about the softball team. Also a request via a resident to paint the exterior of the shipping container on the Rec Field – Councillors were in agreement but asked for a design/colour choice before work commences.
Cllr Hargrave, regarding the Village Hall committee
Games night, despite only 29 attending, went well.
Café at Open Studios was a financial success
Cllr Downer expressed thanks to the Committee.
Cllr Downer questioned the Clerk regarding the adding of Minutes to the village website and the Clerk will add them in the next week.
0049.25 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank
Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 4/8/2025 £11168.15 (includes £500 bequest and £2500 grant)
Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 20/6/2025 £21755.36
Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/8/2025 – £210.81
b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved.
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised |
| Staff costs | Wages for June (32 hours) *** | Xxx | NIL | JRT | |
| Information Commissioners Office | Annual subscription | 52.00 | NIL | JRT | |
| Bradgate Maintenance | Grass cutting – invoice no 3113 | 253.03 | 42.17 |
*** Payslip was not available at the time of the meeting, but authorized up to £500.
c) Clerk’s working hours for July, a total of 28, were approved by Cllrs.
Payroll Services have confirmed that, due to a change in legislation, there are likely to be months when National Insurance payments are due on Clerk’s wages.
0050.25 PLANNING applications and matters:
a) There are no new applications, only a Biodiversity statement in respect of 41 Main Street (area planted is at Whitehall Farm, Steeple Gidding)
b) Neighbourhood Plan – update and public consultation. Paul Hargrave of the Neighbourhood Plan Group advised that the next stage of the project had been completed, the document had been sent out to 17 organisations as recommended by HuntsDC, and a further 62 copies has been sent out by email. Details had been shared on the village Facebook and WhatsApp sites, feedback can be made via the village website and there is a hard copy available in Winwick, Hamerton and Great Gidding (to view the Great Gidding copy please contact the Parish Clerk and it will be made available). An event will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 20th September at 10.30am, when questions can be asked about the document.
Paul Hargrave left the meeting after giving his update.
c) The Baptist Chapel – wall removed …. Conservation Area and Listed Building consent are required – nothing showing on Hunts DC website as at 15/8/2025 – email sent to Conservation Officer on 5/8/2025, no response yet. A number of residents have also corresponded with Planning Dept of Hunts DC regarding this site. Clerk has advised District Cllr Alban of concerns regarding the development. Clerk has a potential pecuniary interest in respect of the developer and advised she should be excluded from correspondence regarding this site.
0051.25 Village Maintenance –
a) The Jitty – Milton Estates have been asked to cut back vegetation (later in the year), also to change the gate latch at Mill Road entrance to Footpath 6, and to cut down and cut back vegetation along Main Street.
b) Footpath No 6 – the landowner of the gate on Chapel End entrance and other gates and access has been asked to carry out works. Footpath Officer at CambsCC has been updated. The landowner has started to cut back vegetation. The gate onto Chapel End remains unchanged.
c) Footbridge over Alconbury Brook, Right of Way – email sent to Footpath Officer, with email from British Horse Society, online CambsCC report completed, several residents have telephoned/reported/emailed – work on bridge completed and email of thanks sent to the Footpath Officer and his team for bringing this to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.
d) Noticeboard – quotes for both metal and wooden from 2 tradesmen were shared prior to the meeting. Proposed by Cllr Maciag and seconded by Cllr Hargrave
DECISION to appoint Ady Pendred to install a noticeboard.
e) Benches on Main Street – quote received. Proposed acceptance by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Hargrave
DECISION to appoint Karl Morgan to refurbish 2 x benches
f) Clerk carried out Risk Assessment of the Rec Field on 22nd July – elder bush on Winwick Road was trimmed back. Clerk will purchase a NO Dog sign for Winwick Road entrance gate.
g) Junction of Hemington Lodge Road and Main Street – concern regarding the vegetation within the fenced boundary of the pond creating traffic hazard – Clerk has asked contractor to survey work required and carry out ASAP.
0052.25 Request for S137 funding for defibrillator – completed application form received.
DECISION £125.30 will be granted – approved by Councillors Hargrave and Maciag.
As pads and batteries will require replacing/updating at regular intervals, fundraising activities will be carried out to cover expenditure
0053.25 Correspondence received since 15th July 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition for July, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads (5 in Huntingdonshire during last month), Highways events during coming months – none locally, various emails about Public Rights of Way hierarchy survey, The Library Presents –Autumn 2025 brochure, Dr Bike sessions at various locations for bike checks, Flood and Water newsletter,
Food Waste volunteer required for each Parish in advance of introduction of weekly food collection.
Summer Holiday activities and food for children.
Local Highways Initiative – 2026/27 expression of interest
The Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region
c) Huntingdonshire District Council –
press release regarding Community Health and Wealth Building Fund
press release regarding Combat Fraud Team and their success
press release regarding Civil Parking Enforcement
d) Cambs &Pboro Combined Authority –
7 x new Tiger bus routes, 1 of which is Huntingdon to Cambridge
Monthly newsletter
e) via SLCC – update on Devolution – MP’s briefing for August
h) Parish Online monthly newsletter includes FREE gov.uk website.
0054.25 Items for next meeting:
The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 16th September 2025 in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
Village Hall payments for co-authorisation were approved by all
Meeting closed at 21.14
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