In the following months I hope to inform, entertain and give an insight into planting and managing a brand new wood in the Huntingdonshire landscape. Actually we are already one and half years into the project but then woodlands are long term so it’s easy to backtrack and recall what’s already happened.
For ease of writing the King’s Wood will be the “KW” henceforth.
Some hard numbers
The KW is 10 acres (4.2ha)
We planted 7730 trees as 32 species, Oaks being the most numerous.
Planted in 4 week during December 2023 and January 2024 and then it rained, lots!
In the short time since planting we’ve added numerous elements to bring a wide and diverse backdrop of environmental benefit each of which we’ll cover in future blogs but I am very pleased with the wildflower mix. Every seed of the 17 species seems to have grown. This is a clay land mix that brings pollen and nectar availability to the insect world. Quite honestly I’ve never seen so many meadow brown butterflies.
Two more things to mention
There’s a notice board by the KW handgate and on it a monthly species list, calendar of events and a test blog! Check them out.
The final element to mention is the monthly KW “walkabout” , always the last Monday of the month at 7pm. Just a ramble around the KW with some nature topic(s) to be discussed or questions that need answers, usually lasts an hour.
Next blog
Next blog will land in the first week of July as we need to include monthly rainfall figures and pond depth…….its a farmer thing!
The Parish Council has published the June Newsletter which will be displayed on Noticeboards throughout the Parish and submitted via WhatsApp, Facebook and here on the Giddings website.
If you are aware of anyone in the parish who cannot access the noticeboards or the community social media platforms, please contact the Parish Council so a printed copy can be made available for them. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the Parish Council.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL GOVERNANCE &ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN (EXEMPT AUTHORITY)
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 25, 26 and 27
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)
NOTICE
NOTES
1. Date of announcement 30th May 2025
2. Each year the smaller authority prepares anAnnual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). TheAGAR has been published with this notice. It will not be reviewed by the appointed auditor, since the smaller authority has certified itself as exempt from the appointed auditor’s review.Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the AGAR, theaccounting records for the financial year to which it relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those recordsmust be made available for inspection by any person interested.For the year ended 31 March 2025, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to: Julie Trolove, Parish Clerk At the Parish Office, Main Street, Great Gidding, Huntingdon, PE28 5NU EMAIL: ggparishcouncil@outlookcom TEL: 01832 293068 commencing on Tuesday 3rd June 2025 and ending on Monday 14th July 2025 3. Local government electors and their representatives also have: The opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; andThe right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority. The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address in paragraph 4 below for this purpose between the above dates only. 4. The smaller authority’s AGARis only subject to review by the appointed auditor if questions or objections raised under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014lead to the involvement of the auditor. The appointed auditor is:PKF Littlejohn LLP (Ref: SBA Team)15Westferry CircusCanary WharfLondon E14 4HD (sba@pkf-l.com) 5. This announcement is made by Julie Trolove, Parish Clerk
(a) Insert date of placing of the notice which must be not less than 1 day before the date in (c) below (b) Insert name, position and address/telephone number/ email address, as appropriate, of the Clerk or other person to which any person may apply to inspect the accounts (c) Insert date, which must be at least 1 day after the date of announcement in (a) above and at least 30 working days before the date appointed in (d) below (d) The inspection period between (c) and (d) must be 30 working days inclusive and must include the first 10 working days of July. (e) Insert name and position of person placing the notice – this person must be the responsible financial officer for the smaller authority
LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTS: A SUMMARY OF YOUR RIGHTS
Please note that this summary applies to all relevant smaller authorities, including local councils, internal drainage boards and ‘other’ smaller authorities.
The basic position
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act) governs the work of auditors appointed to smaller authorities. This summary explains the provisions contained in Sections 26 and 27 of the Act. The Act and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 also cover the duties, responsibilities and rights of smaller authorities, other organisations and the public concerning the accounts being audited.
As a local elector, or an interested person, you have certain legal rights in respect of the accounting records of smaller authorities. As an interested person you can inspect accounting records and related documents. If you are a local government elector for the area to which the accounts relate you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. You do not have to pay directly for exercising your rights. However, any resulting costs incurred by the smaller authority form part of its running costs. Therefore, indirectly, local residents pay for the cost of you exercising your rights through their council tax.
The right to inspect the accounting records
Any interested person can inspect the accounting records, which includes but is not limited to local electors. You can inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records. You can copy all, or part, of these records or documents. Your inspection must be about the accounts, or relate to an item in the accounts. You cannot, for example, inspect or copy documents unrelated to the accounts, or that include personal information (Section 26 (6) – (10) of the Act explains what is meant by personal information). You cannot inspect information which is protected by commercial confidentiality. This is information which would prejudice commercial confidentiality if it was released to the public and there is not, set against this, a very strong reason in the public interest why it should nevertheless be disclosed.
When smaller authorities have finished preparing accounts for the financial year and approved them, they must publish them (including on a website). There must be a 30 working day period, called the ‘period for the exercise of public rights’, during which you can exercise your statutory right to inspect the accounting records. Smaller authorities must tell the public, including advertising this on their website, that the accounting records and related documents are available to inspect. By arrangement you will then have 30 working days to inspect and make copies of the accounting records. You may have to pay a copying charge. The 30 working day period must include a common period of inspection during which all smaller authorities’ accounting records are available to inspect. This will be 1-14 July 2025for 2024/25 accounts. The advertisement must set out the dates of the period for the exercise of public rights, how you can communicate to the smaller authority that you wish to inspect the accounting records and related documents, the name and address of the auditor, and the relevant legislation that governs the inspection of accounts and objections.
The right to ask the auditor questions about the accounting records
You should first ask your smaller authority about the accounting records, since they hold all the details. If you are a local elector, your right to ask questions of the external auditor is enshrined in law. However, while the auditor will answer your questions where possible, they are not always obliged to do so. For example, the question might be better answered by another organisation, require investigation beyond the auditor’s remit, or involve disproportionate cost (which is borne by the local taxpayer). Give your smaller authority the opportunity first to explain anything in the accounting records that you are unsure about. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you can question the external auditor about the accounting records.
The law limits the time available for you formally to ask questions. This must be done in the period for the exercise of public rights, so let the external auditor know your concern as soon as possible. The advertisement or notice that tells you the accounting records are available to inspect will also give the period for the exercise of public rights during which you may ask the auditor questions, which here means formally asking questions under the Act. You can ask someone to represent you when asking the external auditor questions.
Before you ask the external auditor any questions, inspect the accounting records fully, so you know what they contain. Please remember that you cannot formally ask questions, under the Act, after the end of the period for the exercise of public rights. You may ask your smaller authority other questions about their accounts for any year, at any time. But these are not questions under the Act.
You can ask the external auditor questions about an item in the accounting records for the financial year being audited. However, your right to ask the external auditor questions is limited. The external auditor can only answer ‘what’ questions, not ‘why’ questions. The external auditor cannot answer questions about policies, finances, procedures or anything else unless it is directly relevant to an item in the accounting records. Remember that your questions must always be about facts, not opinions. To avoid misunderstanding, we recommend that you always put your questions in writing.
The right to make objections at audit
You have inspected the accounting records and asked your questions of the smaller authority. Now you may wish to object to the accounts on the basis that an item in them is in your view unlawful or there are matters of wider concern arising from the smaller authority’s finances. A local government elector can ask the external auditor to apply to the High Court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, or to issue a report on matters which are in the public interest. You must tell the external auditor which specific item in the accounts you object to and why you think the item is unlawful, or why you think that a public interest report should be made about it. You must provide the external auditor with the evidence you have to support your objection. Disagreeing with income or spending does not make it unlawful. To object to the accounts you must write to the external auditor stating you want to make an objection, including the information and evidence below and you must send a copy to the smaller authority. The notice must include:
confirmation that you are an elector in the smaller authority’s area;
why you are objecting to the accounts and the facts on which you rely;
details of any item in the accounts that you think is unlawful; and
details of any matter about whichyou think the external auditor should make a public interest report.
Other than it must be in writing, there is no set format for objecting. You can only ask the external auditor to act within the powers available under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
A final word
You may not use this ‘right to object’ to make a personal complaint or claim against your smaller authority. You should take such complaints to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, local Law Centre or to your solicitor. Smaller authorities, and so local taxpayers, meet the costs of dealing with questions and objections. In deciding whether to take your objection forward, one of a series of factors the auditor must take into account is the cost that will be involved, they will only continue with the objection if it is in the public interest to do so. They may also decide not to consider an objection if they think that it is frivolous or vexatious, or if it repeats an objection already considered. If you appeal to the courts against an auditor’s decision not to apply to the courts for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, you will have to pay for the action yourself.
Present: Councillors Maciag, Hargrave, Bolton and Hodson and the Clerk.
0192.24 Chairman’s Welcome
0193.24 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
District Councillor Alban – at another meeting
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
Parish Councillor Moody – holiday
0194.24 There were no member’s declarations of interests for items on the Agenda
0195.24 No member of the press or public were present.
0196.24 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th March 2025 confirmed as a correct record – proposed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Hargrave
0197.24 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
Clerk:
Annual Parish Meeting will take place on 20th May, with a 7PM start time. Our Speaker will be Sarah Marsh of Connecting Cambridgeshire. On the noticeboard and website w.e.f. 28th March and included in the village newsletter in April.
Clerk enquired of Bradgate regarding their increased charges, received explanation and instructed them to continue.
Village Newsletter – requests for email delivery and hand delivery. The newsletter is added to the village website, displayed on the noticeboard at the Village Hall (or in the Parish Office window if space is not available), on the village WhatsApp group. Residents can collect a copy from the Parish Office.
Cllr Hargrave – the recent event in the Village Hall resulted in a £154.00 donation.
Cllr Hargrave enquired about co-option of Parish Councillors. She will approach one resident and another will be contacted to invite them to apply.
0198.24 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank
***Interest rates on the Deposit Account are decreasing from 1.35% to 1.25% with effect from 13th May 2025. This applies to Village Hall and Charity Deposit accounts too.
Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 4/3/2025 £678.18 (includes £500 bequest)
Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 4/3/2025 £25,676.65 ***
Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/2/2025 – £102.59
b) PAYMENTS
Cllr Hodson had updated the Cash flow spreadsheet and the Reserves spreadsheet to the end of March and talked through the content.
The following payments were approved:
Who
What for
TOTAL
Invoice includes this VAT amount
Authorised
Authorised
J R Trolove
Wages for January (26 hours) + backdated pay for the previous 2 months due to hourly rate increase error (£76.61)
Xxx
NIL
JRT
J R Trolove
Re-imbursement in respect of Microsoft package annual payment
84.99
none
Manor Farm Tree Services
Removing dead elms from the Pound, beside B660
£3180.00
£530.00
CAPALC
Annual subscription (Data Protection available through insurers, so exclude)
284.53 amended to 234.53
none
SLCC
Annual Subscription
36.00
none
Catalyst
Extra 10GB of storage
48.00
none
Hunts D C
Rates for Recreation Field
13.18
none
Clerk’s working hours for March, a total of 27, were approved. Clerk had queried her tax code with Payroll Services and that conversation highlighted an error, her hourly rate had not increased since April 2021, therefore back pay was due – Clerk waived the interim amount, but the hourly rate will be increased from April 2025 and backdated payment made for those months.
PKF Littlejohn are the appointed external auditors for this year’s audit. The Clerk will commence the annual AGAR process and reports.
0199.24 PLANNING applications and matters:
There were no planning applications as at 11th April
School site – Parish Council’s response to the Secretary of state regarding the proposed Section 77 change. Cllr Maciag shared his notes, these will be typed up, shared with Councillors for amendment and submitted by the deadline of 18th April.
District Councillor Alban forwarded an update on the Anaerobic Digester application, via Councillor Shacklock (North Northants) and this appears on the village website – an extension of time has been granted to the applicants.
0200.24 Recreation Field – Sawtry Colts representative had enquired about regular use for training sessions and weekend matches as Greenfields at Sawtry is fully occupied. After much discussion all agreed that, due to parking issues on and around the field, this would not be approved.
0201.24 Village Maintenance
a) Noticeboard – another location was identified and it was agreed to replace the board outside the former school. Clerk will complete a Huntingdonshire Futures grant in respect of this noticeboard.
DECISION to purchase a noticeboard up the the value of £1500 – proposed by Cllr Maciag and seconded by Cllr Hodson
b) Milking Slade Lane will be closed on 19th June to enable an electricity pole to be replaced – information has been added to the village website.
0203.24 Correspondence received since 18th March 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads (92 in Cambridgeshire in March), Highways events planned for April – none locally,
Huntingdonshire District Council – Town and Parish Council newsletter forwarded to Parish Councillors , update on waste minimisation, Communities Service team notice, press release about, advance notice of the Town and Parish Council Forum on 19th June at Burgess Hall, St Ives, survey about play areas in Huntingdonshire completed,
d) CAPALC –newsletter, future training dates
e) Cambs Acre – Staying in Touch newsletter for March
f) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough/Greater Cambridge Partnership – nothing
g) Huntingdonshire Community Policing meetings – invitations to join online meetings on 24/9 and 15/12, both at 7pm.
h) Response from Sam Carling MP regarding Broadband issue – will follow up if a further request is received.
i) SLCC sent a link to a webinar about Devolution of Councils.
0204.24 Items for next meeting:
Donations to Charities – Cllr Moody to present a draft policy.
0205.24 The next meeting will commence with the Annual Parish Council Meeting, to take place on Tuesday 20th May starting at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
This will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting, starting at 7.00pm
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 18th March 2025
Present: Councillors Maciag, Moody, Hargrave, Bolton and Hodson, District Councillor Alban and the Clerk.
One member of the Public joined the meeting (CB)
0177.24 Cllr Maciag, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.
0178.24 Apologies were received from Cllr Ian Gardener due to ill health
0179.24 There were no declarations of Disclosable Interest
0180.24 One member of the Public was in attendance to enquire if there had been any response to the broadband correspondence – Clerk advised that nothing has been heard to date.
0181.24 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2025 were accepted by Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave.
0182.24 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
District Councillor Alban:
He advised that an extraordinary meeting is to be held to discuss re-organisation of Councils. No decisions have yet been made, lots of ideas are being discussed. This will not affect the County Council elections in May.
He has spoken to Councillor Shacklock of North Northants Council and no decision has been made regarding the A D unit application.
The Saturday freighter service for green waste is not viable and, as the take up by householders of the paid collection has been much higher than anticipated, another option is being considered.
Parking on double yellow lines will become a civil parking enforcement at the beginning of April.
He encouraged us to watch/attend the Town and Council Forum events to keep updated of current activities and discussions.
The District wide Parish Council meeting will take place after election date.
Cllr Hargrave:
The jitty between Main Street and Gaines Lane has become overgrown, lots of debris, fallen branches – Clerk will report this on the Highways reporting webpage.
Deadline for the village newsletter is 26th March – Clerk asked to add that there are still Parish Councillor vacancies.
Village Hall – the Net Zero Villages grant was not successful, other grant opportunities will be followed up as and when available.
The small hall will be decorated over Easter weekend.
Pickleball sessions will start in the next couple of months.
A new charging policy takes effect from 1st April 2025.
Cllr Moody:
Requested that purchase of a noticeboard be added to the next agenda.
Clerk:
As requested by Cllrs, email sent to Connecting Cambridgeshire regarding gigabit capable broadband – County Councillor Gardener and Sam Carling MP copied in:
Automatic response from MP asking for name and address before correspondence replied to. Nothing from other parties. See 0187.24 below
At the request of Cllr Maciag, a reminder email has been sent to County Cllr Gardener regarding the school site requesting contact details for the CambsCC department/officer responsible for the site – no response received. See 0184.24.
0183.24 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) February statements from Barclays Bank
***Interest rates on the Deposit Account are decreasing from 1.35% to 1.25% with effect from 13th May 2025. This applies to Village Hall and Charity Deposit accounts too.
Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 4/02/2025 £1062.26 (includes £500 bequest)
Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 4/2/2025 £25,676.65 ***
Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/2/2025 – £101.70
b) PAYMENTS – Clerk’s wage calculation is awaited, therefore no payments to be made at present:
Who
What for
TOTAL
Invoice includes this VAT amount
Authorised
Authorised
J R Trolove
Wages for January (26 hours)
Xxx
NIL
JRT
Defibrillator account: WEL Medical
Spare parts for defibrillator (paid outside of meeting).
149.94
Clerk’s working hours for February approved as a total of 24.
Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 after October 2025. Cllr Bolton advised that it would still be possible to use Windows 10 after this date and there is unlikely to be any issues with laptop or using the Microsoft package. The current annual Microsoft package will automatically renew on 15th April via Clerk’s personal Paypal account.
The Defibrillator has been repaired as, due to a lack of power to the unit, it required repair and replacement parts. The coordinator is aware that funds will need to be raised to pay for future repairs/supplies.
0184.24 PLANNING applications and matters:
There were no planning applications as at 14th March
School site – a notice has appeared on the school fence. In effect the County Council are advising a change of use, to enable the site be sold as a residential development site as there is no known use for educational purposes. Cllr Maciag suggested a response is written to the Secretary of State for Education asking that an access strip be retained to allow vehicular access to the former school house – at present there is no such access and, if this building cannot be sold/used as a dwelling, there is a danger that it will become derelict and we wish to preserve this visible heritage asset in the centre of the village conservation area.
An item will be included in the village newsletter to encourage those who were concerned about the school closure, and the site, to write a response.
A copy of the notice will be forwarded to Milton Estates (Peterborough) and, once our response has been written, that too will be sent to Milton Estates.
0185.24 Recreation Ground – grass cutting contract for 2025
Bradgate have provided a quote for the 2025/26 contract. At the last meeting I was given discretion of a 12% addition on top of last year’s price of £90 per cut, but the increase is 17.14% at £105.43.
Clerk advised that Bradgate had cut the grass today (18th March 2025), although no contract has been agreed. She will advise Bradgate that they have the contract for this year.
0186.24 Village Maintenance –
Contractor updated, works will be carried out within Pound area only – he will liaise with the Clerk in advance of carrying out the work
0187.24 Speaker or subject for Annual Parish Meeting
Clerk has been approached by Alconbury Flood Group who are carrying out works on Alconbury Brook, who have offered a speaker – Cllrs did not feel this affected our Parish.
Clerk suggested asking Connecting Cambridgeshire to attend, and this met with approval – Clerk will invite their representative to attend.
0188.24 Donations to Charities – Cllr Moody will draft a policy and bring to the next meeting.
0189.24 Correspondence received since 18th February 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads, reminder of the 20MPH funding scheme, Highways events planned for March – there are none in this area, micro surfacing programme by Highways Department – none for this area. Way 2 Go Road Safety newsletter (4/3)
County Planning, Minerals and Waste – an email dated 27th January, with 32 pages of notes and guidance on revision of the Local Validation List for planning applications, Children’s Holiday activities and Food for Easter,
Huntingdonshire District Council – Town and Parish Council newsletter,
press release about Council Budget, another re. tree planting in Priory Park, St Neots, Launch of Public Engagement on Active Travel – invitation to visit venues for presentation and online survey to be completed, invitation to Waste Minimisation event at Pathfinder House on 27th March, Local Government re-organisation documents, notes from the recent Town and Parish Council briefing and pack of documents to be downloaded, advance notice of the Town and Parish Council Forum on 19th June at Burgess Hall, St Ives, Temporary shop wraps for empty retail properties in Huntingdon, Net Zero projects and grants
d) CAPALC –newsletter, future training dates, requested their subscription but sent invoice for another parish, Clerk has requested the correct invoice
e) Cambs Acre – Staying in Touch newsletter for January/February, presentation on Rural Housing Needs,
f) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough/Greater Cambridge Partnership – bus franchising introduced in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area by the Mayor.
g) Huntingdonshire Community Policing meetings – invitations to join online meetings on 24/9 and 15/12, both at 7pm.
h) Abigail Benson, agent for Milton Estates regarding Little Gidding public footpath signs – and a request from a walker about those footpaths too – this has now been resolved.
i) Defibrilator, water ingress and mouldy due to lack of power supply – spare parts ordered and will be fitted/have been fitted – see payment above.
0190.24 Items for next meeting:
0191.24 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th April starting at 7.30pm
To increase the range of biodiversity of birds, animals and plants, a small working party of local volunteers have been working together with the aim of increasing the bio-diversity in St Michael’s churchyard.
Much of the bramble overgrowth has been removed revealing long lost gravestones, other plants have been cut back exposing dormant plants such as primroses.
Bird boxes have been added along with compost and recycling bins. Some of the grass will be left long, with cut pathways through to the graves, to create a more diverse habitat whilst other areas will be planted and the remaining grass cut as normal. You are very welcome to view progress or if you want to know more, you will often find one or two of us doing a bit of work in the churchyard and always happy to talk about the project.
The group is next meeting on 18th May in the Fox and Hounds pub at 3.00pm to discuss next steps. For more information contact Mary Read on fmary.read@gmail.com
Notice of the2025 Annual Parish Meeting ofGreat and Little Gidding Parish Council
This meeting will take place on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
Starting at 7.00PM at Great Gidding Village Hall
This is not a formal Parish Council meeting. It is an opportunity for residents of Great and Little Gidding to find out more about the work that the Parish Council are doing, to raise any issues they wish regarding the village and comment on plans for the coming year.
All are welcome to come along.
AGENDA:
Chairman’s welcome
Minutes of the meeting held on 21st May 2024
The Chairman’s Annual Report from the Parish Council
Sarah Marsh, Head of Digital Connectivity | Connecting Cambridgeshire Programme Director, Place & Sustainability, Cambridgeshire County Council will speak on gigabit capable broadband
Update on current tasks within the Parish and plans for 2025-2026
For members of the public to present, discuss and resolve any other matters related to Great and Little Gidding Parish.
Present: Councillors Maciag, Moody, Hargrave, Bolton and Hodson and the Clerk.
One member of the Public joined the meeting (CB)
0164.24 Cllr Maciag, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting
0165.24 Apologies received:
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
District Councillor Alban – family commitment
0166.24 There were no declarations of Disclosable Interests relating to items on the Agenda
0167.24 One member of the public was present (CB) to enquire about an update on the broadband provision for the village, which he presented to the January meeting. Cllr Moody had carried out very comprehensive research and presented copies of her findings to those present and explained the content. It was confirmed that we have superfast broadband in the village, if the “service” is to be improved, the following options will be followed:
a) Parish Council to contact Gigaclear for an up to date position regarding supply to our village, and clarify if any surrounding villages are being considered, and request a statement for our village newsletter. Also to write to the head of Connecting Cambridgeshire, also requesting a statement for the newsletter.
b) via the village newsletter, provide contact details and request villagers to register with Project Gigabit/Gigaclear/City Fibre (all have an involvement with this project), to show there is a need.
c) Parish Council and villagers to write to Sam Carling, MP for our area, asking for support with this request.
Parishioner thanked the Parish Council and left the meeting.
0168.24 Minutes of the meeting held on 21st January 2025 were confirmed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Bolton.
0169.24 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
Cllr Hodson requested that a note of thanks be sent to Milton Estates, following clearance of debris from the ditch alongside Chapel End, it would appear to have alleviated the problem.
Cllr Hargrave regarding Village Hall:
Fees are to be increased and simplified (re. electricity)
Vibrant Communities grant of £772.60 has been received, this in respect of recent coffee mornings and photographic competition and forthcoming wine tasting event.
Net Zero Villages grant has been applied for and are now obtaining quotes for insulation of the roof etc (deadline 28th February).
Future events are Wine Tasting (Village Hall committee to organise) and Treasures in the Attic and Open Studios (organised by others).
Cllr Maciag advised that he is working on maps to accompany the Neighbourhood Plan and it is hoped that this can be resubmitted to HuntsDC at the end of March.
Clerk:
the village website has been amended, Parish Council is now a standalone drop
down list
Clerk attended the online Hunts DC meeting regarding changes to planning policy. A link to the meeting and slides has been sent to Parish Councillors.
As requested by Cllr Maciag, an email has been sent to County Cllr Gardener regarding the school site. Clerk was requested to remind him for a response.
0170.24 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) December bank statements from Barclays Bank are attached.
Interest rates decreasing from 1.4% to 1.35% with effect from 11 March 2025
Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 4/02/2025 £380.29 (includes £500 bequest)
Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 4/2/2025 £26,583.01
Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/2/2025 – £251.64
b) PAYMENTS – the following payment was approved:
Who
What for
TOTAL
Invoice includes this VAT amount
Authorised
Authorised
J R Trolove
Wages for December (21 hours)
Xxx
NIL
JRT
Clerk’s working hours for January – a total of 26, were approved.
Cllr Hodson’s balance sheet and budget spreadsheet shared with Councillors prior to the meeting – there were no questions.
Clerk will transfer fund from Interest account to current account to cover expenses to the end of the financial year.
Confirmation of Precept from Huntingdonshire District Council has been received.
0171.24 PLANNING applications and matters:
There were none as at 14th February
0172.24 Recreation Ground –
a) Clerk will seek quotes for grass cutting contract for 2025.
Perimeter hedge behind swings has been cut back by hand –by Cllr Hodson, the Clerk and M Trolove.
0173.24 Village Maintenance –
a) dog fouling around village, both on footpath and grass verges was highlighted on village newsletter (February 2025) and it is hoped has been noted by dog owners.
b) list of outstanding jobs (Clerk) – no change
c) LED street lamp replacement – Gidding Main Street is scheduled for May 2025
d) 3 quotes for tree work at Pound, Recreation Field and Village Pond shared with Parish Councillors prior to meeting. After discussion, it was agreed that the 3 dead elms should be removed from the Pound, together with any branches that are encroaching on overhead cables (but not those originating from surrounding land) but, if the use of traffic lights was still required, then contractor must confirm price. All other proposed works will be postponed.
DECISION – to appoint ……………… as contractor for this project. NO DECISION as work required revised and requires further discussion with contractors.
e) Road surface gritting treatment – Main Street is top of the list for 2025.
0174.24 Correspondence received since 21st January 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads, reminder of the 20MPH funding scheme, the Library Presents spring programme for March to July 2025, Highways events planned for March – there are none in this area, micro surfacing programme by Highways Department – none for this area.
County Planning, Minerals and Waste – an email dated 27th January, with 32 pages of notes and guidance on revision of the Local Validation List for planning applications
c) Huntingdonshire District Council – Town and Parish Council newsletter, press release about tree planting in Priory Park, St Neots, Launch of Public Engagement on Active Travel – invitation to visit venues for presentation and online survey to be completed,
d) CAPALC –newsletter, future training dates, Railway 200 events during 2025
e) Cambs Acre – Staying in Touch newsletter for January/February, presentation on Rural Housing Needs,
f) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough/Greater Cambridge Partnership – bus franchising introduced in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area by the Mayor.
g) email from Ron Bailey, Parliamentary Safety advisor to the charity Electrical Safety First, about the safety of lithium batteries.
h) Keep Britain Tidy – the 10th Great British Spring Clean will take place from 21 March – 6 April
i) request to share the letter from Teversham Parish Council to Matthew Pennycook MP – regarding surveys and lengthy documents that Parish Councils are now asked to consider.
j) CARESCO – letter requesting funding/donation. After some discussion, it was agreed to bring this to the next meeting. Clerk will note in Minutes when a donation has been made to Charity – to date in 2024/25 donations have been made to Village Hall for the purchase of pickleball equipment and Gidding Charity towards the grass cutter.
0162.24 Items for next meeting:
Donations to Charities
Annual Parish Meeting – speaker and content
0163.24 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 18th March starting at 7.30pm
To allow for maintenance works, the road will be closed between the Bullock Road/B660 and the crossroads near the Mill in Great Gidding for one day only. Diversion signs will be in place.
