Friday 2nd June at 2.15PM
The services will now run for an additional 14 hours a week, operating between the hours of 6am – 8pm Monday – Saturday, with Vectare’s customer service team available by telephone and social media throughout the operational hours of the service.
Tuesday 16th May, starting at 7.00PM at the 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 regarding the parish and comment on plans for the coming year.
All are welcome to attend.
AGENDA:
There is no service at St Michael’s Church on Easter Sunday (9th April). However, we are joining our friends in Winwick at their service of Holy Communion at 9.30am at All Saints Church, Winwick.
Everyone is very welcome.
Mike Keck
7pm at Fox and Hounds for a British themed quiz. £5 for a team of 4. Space is limited, to ensure you are taking part, contact the Parish Clerk to book your table. Email ggparishcouncil@outlook.com
6pm in Jubilee Wood, giant games to play, and bring along all that you need for a picnic (food and/or drink, to share if you wish) and, as dusk falls, the beacon will be lit and a toast to King Charles III will be made.
Whatever the weather, come with sunhat and umbrella. Enjoy your picnic, play the games and at 8.30PM walk over to the beacon site, fill a tumbler with fizz and shout HURRAH! Toilet facilities will be available on site.
11.30am at St Michael’s Church, a service of thanksgiving and celebration — all are welcome to mark this historic occasion.
7pm in the Village Hall. A Coronation party and community get together for all ages, bring along your guests too. The village hall will be dressed up in bunting/flags/and other decor. We are hiring equipment so that the Coronation Concert can be viewed. If you fancy a dance the glitter ball will be in action.
Pork rolls and a tasty vegan option will be served from 7.30PM, our fantastic village bakers will tempt us with puddings – just remember to bring your own drinks because we are not licensed.
We need you to sign up in advance for this event to aid the caterers
Complete the form below OR email ggparishcouncil@outlook.com with the information BEFORE 30th APRIL
2pm meet at the Village Hall for the Big Help Out day, you can help with:-
Equipment will be provided and then come back at 4.30PM to be rewarded with tea and cake.
There will be a display of makes/crafts and art—all produced by local people, accompanied by floral displays.
Contact the Parish Clerk for more details – email ggparishcouncil@outlook.com.
I am writing this the day after Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children & Young People Committee voted to publish a statutory notice formally proposing the closure of Great Gidding School, on 31st August.
Although this isn’t a District Council decision, my fellow ward councillor, Marge Beuttell and I were consulted about the closure and both of us attended the meeting held in the school a few weeks ago.
As Great Gidding is in the south of the Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley ward, where I am the first point of contact, I also attended the Parish Council meeting in the village hall and along with County Councillors Ian Gardener and Simon Bywater and 3 local residents, I spoke at yesterday’s meeting – all us urging the committee to keep the school open.
It was interesting and reassuring that all 6 of us expressed some of the same concerns. Whilst our primary focus was the effect the closure of the school would have on the children who attend it, their families and the staff, we highlighted that there were implications for the village as a whole.
Sadly, the committee voted by 10 to 5 to move towards closure but they will have been left in no doubt as to the strength of local opinion.
In terms of District Council matters, at a Full Council meeting in February, there was a majority vote in favour of the budget which raised council tax by 3.1%. There was near uninamous support for the council’s climate change strategy, which I spoke and voted in favour of.
One area of future concern, which was raised in the local press before the meeting, is a proposal for an separate charge (on top of council tax) for emptying the green garden waste bins. I will wait to see the details in ther proposal but instinctively this seems like a retrograde step.
By the time Gidding News is published, I hope the snow and slush we are experiencing in early March will be just a memory and we will be looking forward to a warmer, sunnier Easter.
Kind regards,
Tim Alban
District Councillor
tim.alban@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
07903 518967
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 21st February
Present: Councillors Hargrave, Moody, Hodson, Maciag, D’Altilia and Bolton, and the Clerk.
District Councillor Alban joined via ZOOM
190.22 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting
191.22 To receive apologies and reasons for absence:
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
192.22 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
Cllrs Hodson for School and Planning application
193.22 No members of the Public or Press were present at the meeting.
194.22 Minutes of the meeting held on 17th January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record by Councillor Maciag, seconded by Cllr Moody
Also minutes of the meetings held on 3rd February and the Extraordinary meeting held on 9th February were confirmed by Cllr Moody and Cllr Hargrave
195.22 There were no matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
196.22 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk:
District Councillor Alban advised he had responded to the consultation regarding to the future of the school, with particular concern on the impact on the community and village assets. He felt that Gidding School was attractive to parents as it was a small school and particularly for those children with special needs. There would be a knock on effect to neighbouring schools, he gave Stilton as an example where housing development in the village will bring a considerable number of children into that school and capacity may be needed elsewhere in local schools.
Following the joint parishes meeting he has held a meeting with the Police to raise issues of fly tipping, speeding etc in the west and north Hunts area.
District Council meet on 22nd February to set the precept for the coming year.
Joint Neighbourhood Plan consultation – he has written in support of our local plan and offers any assistance that he can give.
Councillor Alban left our meeting to attend another meeting.
There were no further reports from Councillors.
Clerk had conversed with Councillor Pudney who was no longer living in the village therefore there is now a vacancy on the Parish Council. Co option process will commence.
Vice Chairman role is now vacant, Cllr Maciag indicated that he would be willing to take on the position, no other Councillor wished to take on the role – Cllr Hodson proposed Cllr Maciag and this was seconded by Cllr Hargrave.
Recommendations for speaker or activity for Annual Parish Meeting in April – Cllr Moody suggested Police regarding rural area crime – Clerk will make enquiries.
197.22 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Barclays Bank statements for Parish Council account were shared prior to the meeting and Cllr Hodson had shared his balance sheet too
b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved:
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised | |
| J R Trolove | Wages for December (29.5 hours | Xxx | NIL | JRT | ||
| Firetext | Messaging Service | 14.40 | 2.40 | JRT | ||
*** It was agreed by all to continue with Firetext for a little longer. Residents would be reminded of the sign up details on the next Gidding News.
198.22 PLANNING applications and other planning matters:
A planning application for 14 Main Street had been received the morning of the meeting:
Proposal: Proposed demolition of existing conservatory and erection of replacement extension on similar footprint (exempt, permitted development) and front porch extension
Site Address: 14 Main Street Great Gidding Huntingdon
Reference: 23/00186/HHFUL
Approval was recommended on the grounds that it met various conditions of LP11
199.22 Training – none required at present.
200.22 The minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting, held on 9th February, will be forwarded to the Education Department as requested to form part of the agenda for the next Children and Young People Services meeting to be held on 8th March (the Parish Council’s formal response to the consultation had been sent to the Education Department on 12th February). Once the agenda for that meeting is published, Clerk will forward to Parish Councillors.
Cllr Hodson advised that approx 10 children relocated to other local schools at half term, with others moving on at the Easter break.
Mr Nott, agent for Milton Estates, has offered to meet with Parish Councillors to discuss the relationship between the Estate and village – Clerk will invite him to attend the March meeting.
There followed discussion about the School site – Clerk will write to the Education Department confirming that the Parish Council ask to be involved in any discussion regarding the site.
201.22 Neighbourhood Plan group met on 7th February, the questionnaire is being put together.
A budget spreadsheet was shared and funding, a total of £9715, will be requested from HuntsDC, for the year 2023/24 – this fund will be held by Great & Little Gidding Parish Council for the purpose of carrying out the Neighbourhood Plan process (a separate bank account will not be required).
Cllr Hodson proposed acceptance of this funding request, seconded by Cllr Moody.
202.22 Recreation Ground – nothing to report.
203.22 Communication with Parishioners:
Spring 2023 Gidding News – the draft shared at the previous meeting needed a re-write due to the Schoolissue. Clerk will await the outcome of the next School meeting (8th March – Children and Young Peoples Committee) and then share the revised and updated version, with a view to it going to printers in mid-March.
“What goes on in Great & Little Gidding parish” –Cllr D’Altillia shared a draft copy at the meeting, which met with universal approval. Further details to be added, with the intention that it be available for the Coronation weekend (copy to each household in the Parish).
204.22 Cllr Hargrave shared an outline of potential events for the weekend of the Coronation of King Charles III. These events will be open to all, suitable for all ages, and hopefully include Church and Pub based activities if they wish to be involved. After discussion of how/when/where, the possibility of Section 137 funding for some aspects was considered – a budget will be drawn up for the March meeting.
Details of the activities will be included on the Gidding News and village website.
205.22 Correspondence received since 17th January 2023:
a) NALC newsletters – dated 18/1, 25/1,7/2, 14/2 NALC events, 19/1 International Womens Day on 8th March,1 and 8/2 newsletter, 2/2+16/2 Standards Matter event, 3/2 and 10/2 Bulletin, 15/2 newsletter,
| b) Neighbourhood Alert/ECops etc – 23/1 Neighbourhood Policing, 25/1 County lines, 30/1 20 years of eCops, 31/1 and 6/6, 14/2 latest from the Courts, 31/1 Neighbourhood Policing, 2.2 various webinars to attend, , 2/2 catalytic convertor thefts, 6/2 newsletter, 13/2 Police and Crime Commissioner letter, 13/2 Romance scams, c) 21/1 District Councillor Tim Alban – Police issues in the area – see 196.22 |
d) CAPALC email dated 18/1 monthly bulletin, 25/1 Alert re. ParishUK website, 25/1 Coronation preparations,
e) Cambs CC email, 30/1 Cambridgeshire Matters, 2/2 nominations to attend Buckingham Palace Garden party, 3/2 Traffic Management report for January, 8/2 visit waste recycling facility, 9/2 NHS “Feel Brighter” – older persons/lonlinesss/low mood,
f) Hunts DC email – 23/1 press release re funding for CARESCO, 25/1 Warm Spaces grants, 23/1 Polling Station Questionnaire for future elections,*** ½ Statement of Community Involvement consultation available 1 Feb to 15 March 2023, 2/2 letter from Secretary of State re. Coronation, funding available, 17/2 BBC Make a Difference Award Nominations, 17/2 Benches installed at Hinchingbrooke Park
g) Economic Development Huntingdonshire DC invest@huntingdonshire.gov.uk – weekly Business News – 19/1, 26/1, 2/2, 9/2, 16/2
h) Cambs Acre – 14/3 ZOOM meeting – healthier parks/planet/people event, 17/2 Cambs Home Energy Support Scheme – fuel poverty includes HuntsDC district area
i) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – 19/1 Local Transport & Connectivity Plan, 31/1 update, Maths roadshow – various locations/dates
j) Parish Online newsletter dated 1 Feb – mapping
k) sports and play consulting co.uk – email dated 7/2 regarding facilities
l) email dated 7/2 – speed awareness wheelie bin stickers
m) email dated 15.2 Cambs Social Enterprise – resilience, support community
*** SEE 205.22 (f) it was agreed that, due to the rising cost of electricity, the charge for use of the Village Hall as a Polling Station would be increased to £225
206.22 Items for next meeting:
Future of the School – any information available
Coronation – events planned, general update
Neighbourhood plan – events planned and update
Co-option of Parish Councillor
Mr Nott of Milton Estates and Neighbourhood Plan team invited to attend
207.22 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 21st March 2023
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.
Meeting closed at 21.30
Reason for the Meeting
It is unusual for either the Council or the Diocese to recommend consideration of a school closure. However, on 17 January 2023 the Council’s Children & Young People’s Committee agreed that a consultation should take place on the future of Great Gidding CE VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2023.
Extraordinay meeting held on Thursday 9th February 2023 in Great Gidding Village Hall
PRESENT: Parish Cllrs Hodson, D’Altilia, Maciag, Hargrave, Moody, Bolton,
the Right Honorable Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire and resident in the school catchment area,
County Councillors Gardener (Alconbury and Kimbolton Division (which includes Great & Little Gidding parish and the school catchment area)), County Councillor Simon Bywater (Cambridgeshire county council (Sawtry and Stilton) Huntingdonshire district councillor (Sawtry ward), Ross Martin (Huntingdonshire District Councillor (Sawtry ward).
Mr Jonathan Lewis, Director of Education – Cambridgeshire County Council
Ms Clare Buckingham, Strategic Policy and Place Planning Manager – Cambridgeshire County Council
Ms Bryony Goodliffe – Chair of Children and Young People Committee – Cambridgeshire County Council
Ms Fran Cox, Assistant Director, Education Capital and Place Planning – Cambridgeshire County Council
Andrew Read, Director of Education for the Diocese of Ely
Mr Iain Nott, Head of Estate – Milton (Peterborough) Estates Co.
and the Clerk.
Joined by 34 members of the public
Notices had been posted in the village, on the website and shared on social media platforms, advising of the meeting and its purpose. The notice invited written submissions prior to the meeting and, after the deadline, these were shared with the Education Department to enable them to research and respond at the meeting.
At the meeting:
Parish Council Chairman, Paul Hodson, opened the meeting by thanking those in attendance and those that submitted questions and comments prior to the meeting.
Mr Jonathan Lewis, Education Department, gave a background to the process that had led to the consultation regarding the future of the village school.
Parish Councillor Karen Moody read out questions and comments that had been submitted and, in turn, Mr Lewis responded. Later in the meeting there were questions directed at the Parish Council and then to Mr Vara – all were answered.
Mr Vara’s request to address those present was granted.
***The closing date for the consultation on the future of Great Gidding CofE (VC) School is 12 noon on Tuesday 21st February – any further questions and comments can be submitted to that consultation via an online survey – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GGconsultation/
+++ the next meeting of the Children and Young People’s Committee will be held on Wednesday 8th March at 2.00PM in the Red Kite Room at New Shire Hall, Alconbury Weald.
The next Parish Council meeting will take place on Tuesday 21st February 2023
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.
Meeting closed at 21.05
Meeting held on Friday 3rd February 2023 in Great Gidding Village Hall, starting at 5PM to review the submissions prior to the Extraordinary Meeting to be held on Thursday 9th February.
PRESENT: Cllrs Hodson, Hargrave, Moody, D’Altilia and the Clerk.
Final date and time for submissions in advance of the meeting = Friday 3rd February at 5PM.
Items of correspondence had been received from residents of the parish. Each of these was viewed by those present and questions formulated for presentation and discussion at the Extraordinary Meeting.
Copies of the correspondence will be emailed to the Education Department of Cambridgeshire County Council prior to the meeting
Meeting closed at 18.14
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17th January in Great Gidding Village Hall
PRESENT: Cllrs Hodson, D’Altilia, Maciag,Hargrave, Moody, County Councillor Gardener and the Clerk. Joined by 6 members of the public at the start of the meeting
The start of the meeting was delayed as members of the public were in attendance who anticipated that there would be an agenda item to discuss the recent notification from the Education Department of Cambridgeshire regarding the future of Gidding School. It was confirmed that discussion of the school was not on the agenda for this meeting, but it was intended to include this on the agenda for the meeting to be held on Tuesday 21st February. This caused consternation amongst the public, but it was explained that County Councillor Gardener had been present at the Cambridgeshire County Council Children & Young People (CYP) meeting which had taken place this afternoon (17th January 2023) and was intending to report on the content of this meeting to Parish Councillors therefore, at that moment in time, the information had not been shared. Members of the public requested that the Parish Council hold a meeting to discuss the future of the school, and the impact on the village should it close.
Assurances were given that this would be considered and members of the public left the meeting.
170.22 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting
171.22 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
District Councillor Alban – personal
172.22 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
Cllrs Hodson and Moody for 186.22
173.22 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda – see above
174.22 Minutes of the meeting held on 21st December 2022 were confirmed as a correct record by Councillor Hargrave, seconded by Cllr Moody
175.22 There were no matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
176.22 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk:
Councillor Gardener had attended the meeting of the Children and Young People’s committee of Cambridgeshire County Council this afternoon. Item 4 on the agenda for that meeting was a proposal to enter consultation on the possible closure of Gidding School. The Chair of that meeting declared that the outcome was not predetermined and this was the first stage of the consultation process. Having taken legal advice, the County Council consultation period will commence on Monday 23rd January and close at midnight on Tuesday 21st February. Education Department representatives are willing to attend a prior Parish Council meeting to enable members of the community to ask questions.
Cllr Gardener answered many questions from Councillors. Cllr Maciag proposed an Extraordinary General Meeting and the date of Thursday 9th February was agreed (Education Department have agreed they will attend).
Education Department will also arrange meetings with staff members, governors and hold individual parent meetings to discuss options.
Cllr Gardener confirmed that the Diocese was represented at the meeting held today.
Cllr Gardener advised that a critical question put to the CYP committee today was to ask if the closure could be delayed until the new school at Sawtry is open.
A meeting will be held by representatives of the Education Department at the School on Tuesday 31st January, start time of 7PM, everyone is invited to attend.
Cllr Gardener advised that this is one of several stages in the procedure to close a school and any outcomes from the consultation will have to be presented and approved by the Department of Education.
Cllr Gardener also advised that the District Council are meeting this week to consider re-writing the Local Plan, which could have an impact on small villages – families – children, no further details are known at this time.
Cllr Gardener will send through his notes on other County Council matters and had to leave to attend another Parish Council meeting.
There were no further reports from Councillors.
Clerk – update on Parish Councillor vacancy and Vice Chairman role – held over to next meeting.
Recommendations for speaker or activity for Annual Parish Meeting in April – held over to next meeting.
177.22 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Barclays Bank statements for Parish Council account were shared prior to the meeting
b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved:
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised | |
| J R Trolove | Wages for November (34 hours)+ backdated salary | Xxx | NIL | JRT | ||
| Firetext | Messaging Service | 12.00 | 2.40 | JRT | ||
| Milton Estates (Peterborough) Ltd | 2 x Annual rent in respect of Rec. Field access path | 2.00 | ~ | JRT |
178.22 PLANNING applications and other planning matters:
There are none as at 13th January 2023
179.22 Training opportunities for Councillors and Clerk during February
Councillor Training (online via ZOOM) – 3 split sessions in evenings
Allotment management training
180.22 Review of Parish Council Policy Documents and consideration of additional documents and policies required – this item held over for a future meeting.
181.22 Neighbourhood Plan update – Minutes of the meeting held on 3 January 2023 were shared
Cllr Maciag proposed Great Gidding joining with the parishes of Hamerton and Steeple Gidding and Winwick – it will be known as the GWH Neighbourhood Plan – this was agreed by all Parish Councillors
Cllr Macaig shared the budget that had been drawn up for the Neighbourhood Plan, there were suggestions for revising some of the figures.
182.22 Recreation Ground:
a) review of grass cutting contract – see 177.22(d) above
183.22 Communications with Parishioners
Spring 2023 Gidding News – Clerk had drawn up a draft and shared prior to the meeting, there are some further additions to be made, including a request for people to join a Coronation events meeting, advising that a sum of money is available, ALSO mention of the school meetings.
“What goes on in Great & Little Gidding parish” – Clerk and Cllr D’Altillia had met prior to the meeting to consider this information sheet for residents, drawing up a list of contents, for distribution to every household in the Parish.
Clerk had the idea to distribute this as a “souvenir” of the King’s Coronation.
Clerk had obtained an “outline” estimate from Inkwell printers, which based on the outline given, indicated the price would be less than £1 per household.
Cllr D’Altillia proposed that this project be commenced and funded by the Parish Council, this was seconded by Cllr Hargrave.
Cllr D’Altillia and Clerk will commence information gathering and compilation and bring back to a future meeting.
184.22 Preparation for the Coronation of King Charles III
Street Party licence applications deadline is 10/3/2023
Highways Event licence applications deadline is 10/2/2023
An item will be added to the next issue of Gidding News asking parishioners to join a group to plan events
185.22 Proposal to accept NALC’s Civility and Respect policy – details shared with Councillors prior to meeting – this was proposed by Cllr Moody and seconded by Cllr Hargrave.
186.22 CONFIDENTIAL – members of the Public and Press will be asked to leave the meeting for this discussion. See separate Minute
187.22Correspondence received since 21st December 2022:
a) NALC newsletters – dated 27/12+3/1+10/1 NALC events, 5/1 letter from NALC chairman,
| b) Neighbourhood Alert/ECops etc – 21/12 Police Commissioner seeking views on Police funding, 21/12 Community Policing Survey and meeting dates, 4/1 neighbourhood watch, 4/1 news from the Courts, 5/1 Fraud beware, 6/1 Drink drive crackdown, 9/1 Ecops January update, c) 9th and 10th January – various emails regarding proposed closure of Great Gidding School |
d) CAPALC email dated 29/12 Special General Meeting to be held on 25 January, 7PM, via ZOOM
e) Cambs CC email – Traffic Management Centre invite to training session on 17th January, 12 noon online – one.network. 9/1 visits available for Waste Recycling Centre,
f) Hunts DC email – 22/12 + 5/1 + 12/1 Business Newsletter, Town and Parish online engagement meeting to take place on 25 January, 13/1 information on Shared Prosperity Fund.
g) Economic Development Huntingdonshire DC invest@huntingdonshire.gov.uk – weekly Business News –
h) Cambs Acre –
i) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough –community led housing in Cambridgeshire, meeting for Parish Councils – 17th January, 7PM online, online event re. Community Led housing, 12/1 have your say on the Bus Strategy,
188.22 Items for next meeting:
School – review of the meeting held on Thursday 9th February with representatives of the Education Department. The consultation period will end on the evening after the meeting.
Coronation – events planned and update
Neighbourhood plan – events planned and update
189.22 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 21st February 2023
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.
Meeting closed at 22.28
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20th December in Great Gidding Village Hall
PRESENT: Cllrs Hodson, D’Altilia, Hargrave, Moodya and the Clerk. Joined by 3 members of the public – 1 for 160.22 and general enquiry, 2 for 164.22
150.22 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.
151.22 Apologies were received from:
County Councillor Gardener – another meeting
District Councillor Alban – another meeting
Councillor Maciag – illness
152.22 There were no member’s declarations of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
153.22 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda:
TM was in attendance to discuss concerns about the parking along Main Street, particularly around the School, and the speed of traffic along the same stretch of road. Cllr Hodson advised that parking by school parents/staff/visitors had been a problem for decades and it was difficult to see how this could be resolved or improved as the availability of parking at the Village Hall was not utilised fully and the recent installation of the MVAS sign to monitor traffic in this area was ongoing. Cllr Moody requested the Clerk to enquire of Highways Department what measures could be taken to improve this area of Main Street.
JD and MK, representing the PCC, joined at the request of Cllr Hargrave to discuss the Coronation of King Charles and ways in which the village could mark the event and celebrate together. A list of suggestions had been shared prior to the meeting. It was agreed that it was not necessary to close the road as there were other areas in the Parish where events could be held. The Church particularly would be involved and local businesses would be invited to join/support too. Residents will be informed and asked to help out, and a meeting will be held in January to put together a plan.
154.22 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2022. Clerk had missed the recording of the decisions regarding Planning Applications – this has been amended and therefore Cllr Bolton recommended acceptance, seconded by Cllr Hargrave.
155.22 There were no matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
156.22 Reports from Councillors and Clerk:
Cllr Hargrave commented on the Gains Lane property that has remained empty for over a year – Clerk will write to Chorus Homes and request that they take steps to resolve this matter.
157.22 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Barclays Bank statements for Parish Council account had been shared prior to the meeting.
b) PAYMENTS – the following payments were approved:
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised | |
| J R Trolove | Wages for October (36.5 hours) | Xxx | NIL | JRT | ||
| Viking Direct | Office supplies for Parish Council | 97.36 | 16.23 | |||
| Firetext payments x 2 (refund to FD) | Messaging service | 62.40 | 10.40 | |||
| Firetext – monthly payment | Refund to FD | 14.40 | 2.40 | |||
| CAPALC | Training AH | 75.00 | NIL | |||
| CambsACRE | Annual membership fee | 57.00 | NIL | |||
| VILLAGE HALL account | ||||||
| A C Cleaning Services | Village Hall Cleaning | 13.00 | ~ | |||
| Viking Direct (for Village Hall) | supplies | 99.24 | ~ | |||
| Defibrillator account *** | ||||||
| WEL Medical (paid prior to meeting) | replacement pads | 85.85 | ~ | JRT | PH |
*** Cllr Hodson advised that fund raising may be required to top up the account.
158.22 Planning Applications and Planning matters –
a)Further correspondence re. Telecommunications mast and base station in Thurning/Luddington/Hemington Parish has been received and shared prior to the meeting – an objection had been raised and an alternative site suggested.
b) Proposal: Single storey rear extension, demolition of existing conservatory and external works to property frontage.
Site Address: 50 Main Street Great Gidding Huntingdon
Reference: 22/02176/HHFUL – deadline 19th December, advised our response will be available on or before 23rd December
An email had been received from neighbour regarding this and other matters.
OBJECTION as the visibility splay onto B660/Main Street will be further obstructed by the proposed wall and fence, at a point where there is a bend in the road, creating an unsafe exit from the Village Hall car park. This will also be the comment from the Village Hall Trustees who, as a neighbouring property, were consulted on this application.
159.22 Training opportunities for Councillors and Clerk – none at present.
160.22 LHI bid for 2023/2024 – DEADLINE for bids 6th JANUARY – bids to exclude 20MPH zones/limits (which had been proposed for Little Gidding)
a)Little Gidding junction – to improve safety and signage (see County Councillor Gardener’s email clarifying stages for application). Further clarification is required regarding the road between Great and Steeple Gidding and speed limits approaching the Little Gidding junction but, when the 20MPH scheme is open for applications, this may be applied for in respect of the lane down to the houses/Church at Little Gidding.
b)Main Street – double yellow lines down one side between various points – Cllr Hargrave had measured the width of Main Street from the T junction with Mill Road, to the crossroads with Chapel End/Luddington Road (see attached map) – there was a narrowing from Church Farm/Village Hall to the bank up to the Church – after much discussion it was decided that an LHI bid would not be submitted for this project, but to await the response from Highways Department to see what measures were recommended (see 153.22 above).
161.22 Neighbourhood Plan update – Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November had been shared prior to the meeting, together with Minutes from Hamerton and Steeple Gidding’s Parish Meeting and Winwick Parish Meeting.
Proposal to join with Winwick and Hamerton/Steeple Gidding to produce a joint Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr Hodson proposed and this was seconded by Cllr D’Altilia
Sawtry Neighbourhood Plan – pre-consultation document and open days on 10 December and 20 January
Clerk had made enquiries regarding GDPR requirements and insurance for this project and established that this will be under the Parish Council cover. She recommended that a dedicated email be set up for use by the group. She has requested sight of the budget for the project, as any payments will require approval through the Parish Council meetings.
The next meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Group, made up of residents of Great, Little Gidding, Hamerton and Winwick, will take place on 3 January 2023.
162.22 Recreation Ground – nothing to discuss
163.22 Review of Gidding News associated projects:
Coat of Arms “vote” – Of the votes received, 47% chose option E. Parishioners will be notified on the next issue of Gidding News.
Text Messaging Service – take up has been slower than expected. A reminder will appear on the next Gidding News.
164.22 Preparation for the Coronation of King Charles III – see 153.22 above
Street Party licence applications deadline is 10/3/2023
Highways Event licence applications deadline is 10/2/2023
165.22 NALC’s Civility and Respect policy – https://www.nalc.gov.uk/our-work/civility-and-respect-project
166.22 Review of noticeboards in the parish – Cllr D’Altilia had received parishioner comments regarding information sharing of Parish events. The Parish Council now only use the noticeboard at the Village Hall, the board at the Rec Field is for information associated with that site. Ownership of the board near the school is not clear, the board is open to the elements and unsuitable for notices. Clerk and Cllr D’Altilia will meet to explore what other means of communication with residents can be implemented.
167.22 Correspondence received since 15th November 2022:
a) NALC newsletters – dated 22/11 +29/11 re. Events, 23/11 + 30/11+15/12 newsletter, 25/11 Chief Exec bulletin, 14/12 newsletter, 12/12 NALC open letter (forwarded to Councillors)
| b) Neighbourhood Alert/ECops etc – email dated 21/11, 22/11,22/11 stolen jewellery, 24/11 Christmas shopping fraud, 28/11+5/12 from the Courts, 6/12 fraud alert, 6/12 Christmas warning, 8/12 999 calls, 12/12 jailed in Cambridgeshire, – also weapons seized. c) Resident’s verbal report to Clerk regarding increase in dog mess, both on footpath and elsewhere in the village. There has been an increase in dog ownership during and since COVID lockdowns and Councillors were aware in the increasing problem throughout the village. The following comment from Huntingdonshire District Council’s website will be included on the next issue of the Gidding News, together with the link to the reporting page (https://forms.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/DOGFOUL/launch) “ Offenders may be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.” Also a request for volunteers to empty dog waste bins, as the Parish Council has unused bins in storage due to lack of volunteers to empty them (health and safety briefing will be given). |
d) CAPALC email dated 9/12 – monthly update shared prior to meeting
e) Cambs CC email 24/11 Children’s Services newsletter, Think Communities newsletter dated 25/11, flood preparedness events and webinar on 14th December, 12/12 rights and responsibilities regarding watercourses, Highways Traffic Management training sessions (possible use for Coronation events),
f) Hunts DC email dated 23/11 Warm Spaces grants and more funding for this, and 14/12. 1/12, 25/11 + 6/12 changes to waste collection dates over Christmas/New Year, 2/12 Oxmoor tree planting,
g) Economic Development Huntingdonshire DC invest@huntingdonshire.gov.uk – weekly Business News – 24/11, 1/12, 8/12, 15/12
h) Cambs Acre – 23/11 safer recruitment and regulated activities, November newsletter,
i) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough update 22/11, 5/12, 7/12 Making Connections, 12/12 Have your say on Medium Term financial planning,
j) Parish online – 1 year free subscription with BHIB insurance – signed up but advised we did not qualify for free access, unless we have 3/5 year package deal.
k) Greater Cambridgeshire – 24/11 + 7/12 Making Connections travel consultation – deadline 23 December,
l) Gigaclear – various emails around 22/11 re upgrade of service and enquiry regarding a property in Main Street.
m) response from T Branson & Son and further comments regarding the Milking Slade Lane highways improvements, additional information regarding rural crime and local vandalism. Councillors have noted the comments contained therein.
168.22 Items for next meeting:
Adoption of NALC’s Civility and Respect Policy
Review of Parish Council Policy documents – update and add new policies
Consider Speaker or subject for Annual Parish Meeting in April
Review of grass cutting contract and appointment of contractor
169.22 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 17th January 2023
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.
Meeting closed at 21.20