DRAFT MINUTES of Great & Little Gidding Parish Council meeting
Held on Tuesday 18th November at the Village Hall, Great Gidding
PRESENT: Cllrs Maciag, Bolton, Hodson, Downer, Nankivell, Hargrave and the Clerk
0080.25 Cllr Maciag welcomed those present to the meeting
0081.25 Apologies and reasons for absence :
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
District Councillor Alban – will join after attending another meeting (was unable to join)
0082.25 There were no declarations of disclosable interests.
0083.25 No press or public attended the meeting.
0084.25 Minutes of the meeting held on 21st October 2025 – confirmed as correct by Cllrs Bolton and Maciag
0085.25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors, Parish Councillors and the Clerk.
Cllr Downer – advised that the Clerk had failed to upload the Agenda and Minutes to the village website in accordance with CAPALC recommendation to publish minutes within 14 days of a meeting and agendas 7 days prior to a meeting – Clerk acknowledged her failure.
Cllr Hargrave – the recent village quiz night was attended by 71, with a waiting list. The event made a profit for the Village Hall funds. Cllrs thanked the Village Hall committee.
Articles for the village newsletter should be submitted by 27th November.
0086.25 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank were shared prior to the meeting
- Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 14/11/2025 £6042.60 (includes £500 bequest and £2500 grant )
- Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 4/11/2025 £21827.57
- Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/11/2025 – £211.27
b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved for payment
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount |
| Staff costs | Wages for September (28 hours) HMRC National Insurance | 415.52 NIL | NIL |
| Great Gidding Village Hall | Annual rent | 800.00 | NIL |
- Clerk’s working hours for October, a total of 41 hours, were approved
- Review of finance and budget to date, with a view to setting 2026/27 precept. Cllr Hodson explained the precept (£11,837 for 2025/26) and recommended an increase to cover revisions to the website, purchase of a laptop, National Insurance contributions and other costs that are likely to rise, at least, in line with inflation. After some discussion the sum of £12,500 was agreed – proposed by Cllrs Bolton and Maciag
- VAT refund, to end of October, will be calculated and applied for.
0087.25 PLANNING applications and matters:
a) we are not aware of the date for planning meeting at which the Hemington Lodge Road application will be discussed. Note of thanks to Parish Council from resident, also more on website.
b) Great Gidding School site – Cllr Maciag advised that Milton Estates had requested CambsCC remove the buildings from their property – CambsCC have demolished parts of the buildings that were encroaching on Milton Estates land, but not removed the whole structures or the resulting debris from the demolition. A letter will be sent to CambsCC, with copies to County Councillor, local MP and Conservation Officer requesting removal of the debris.
c) Local Plan Engagement sessions (nearest is Sawtry on 3 December) – see posters on noticeboard. Cllr Maciag attended the recent District Parish Council meeting with Clara Kerr, Head of Planning, in attendance. Throughout Cambs, 360 sites have been designated. There is an ongoing call for additional sites. 33000 homes are required in the County in the next 25 years.
d) Laurel Farm – crown reduction of ash tree (Parish Council not asked for a response).
*** Cllr Downer requested an update on the Baptist Chapel – Clerk confirmed no further correspondence, no planning application submitted. Cllr Hodson requested a further letter be sent to the Conservation and Environment Officer regarding removal of the wall and gateway.
0088.25 Local Government Reorganisation – Hunts DC require response to their proposal to become a unitary authority, they are meeting Wednesday 19th November to decide, deadline Friday 21st November. All information from Hunts DC had been distributed to Cllrs prior to the meeting – it had been hoped that Cllr Alban would attend the meeting to address any questions.
0089.25 Information Technology – at their Councillor training session, Cllrs Downer and Nankivell were encouraged to sign up this Council for a gov.uk website, with dedicated secure email addresses. Cllr Bolton will research the options. Clerk will apply for competitive quotes for set-up, hosting and maintaining the site.
Cllr Nankivell also recommended an upgrade of the laptop to accommodate Windows 11. Cllr Bolton will research options.
Cllr Bolton recommended an external hard drive be used for future back ups.
0090.25 Village Maintenance –
- Recreation Field – Cllr Nankivell confirmed that the softball team did not need the whole of the space, therefore Cllr Hodson suggested that the lower one-third of the Field is no longer cut, leaving grass to grow, and cut when essential.
Cllr Hargrave reminded that options for a car parking area inside the gate were to be explored. Research regarding the area/requirements/costs will be carried out and reported at the December meeting.
Clerk advised that there had been 2 separate enquiries about use of the field for football.
- Anglian Water pumping station on Winwick Road – there had been recent activity with tankers constantly visiting the site (there was an incident last year when sewage leached onto the Recreation Field). Correspondence with Anglian Water assures no current problems with this site.
*** Cllr Downer requested an update regarding Footpath No 6 – Clerk confirmed there had been no response to a recent request for an update. Cllr Downer asked that County Cllr Gardener, when he next attends a meeting, be asked to intervene.
0091.25 Correspondence received since 21st October 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b)Cambridgeshire County Council –
- Cambridgeshire Matters October edition
- Highways events during coming months – nearest is Stilton Christmas Lights switch on – 23rd November
- c) LHI application window is open until 16 January 2026
- Highways Temporary Closure notice for Chapel End (Mill Meadow to Mill Road), starting 18th November
- Cambridgeshire County Council will present their draft business plan and budget 2026-2029 at the Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee Webinar session on Thursday 11th December at 18.30
- Local Plan – many documents available
- Christmas Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme to families within the parish. The Programme operates between 20 December to 4 January
c) Huntingdonshire District Council –
- Town and Parish Council Newsletter (includes CIL information, LHI bid reminder, Local Plan information)
- Press release about Huntingdonshire showcase at the House of Commons
- CIL funding applications open from 27th October to 19th December
- HDC Active Lifestyles Children’s School Holiday Sports Sessions – information and costs
- Notification of revised Waste Collection Days, household Recycling Centre closure dates, Christmas tree recycling and (starting in March 2026) weekly food waste collections
- Waste minimization meeting online – 27th November 3.00-4.00pm
d) Cambs &Pboro Combined Authority – monthly newsletter
e) Cambs ACRE – Staying in Touch newsletter
f) CAPALC – nothing
g) Parish Online monthly newsletter
h) SLCC advise – The 14th edition of Arnold Baker has now been published and is available for purchase. SLCC members can purchase it at a discounted price of £144 (plus £5.40 shipping)
i) Citizens Advice Rural Cambs, recently launched a dedicated Community Energy Advice service to support residents across Huntingdonshire, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire – poster available
0092.25 Items for next meeting:
Update to gov.uk website – findings of research
Options for replacement laptop, and external hard drive.
Ideas and options for Rec. Field parking area.
Meeting closed at 21.15. The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 16th December 2025
in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
Village Hall payments were approved.
*** amendment, in blue, submitted by Cllr Downer.
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