Community

GREAT & LITTLE GIDDING PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the online meeting held, via Zoom, on Tuesday 22^nd September 2020

Present:  Cllrs Hodson and Pudney and the Clerk at the Village Hall, Great Gidding and Cllr Hill joined the meeting via Zoom.  There were two members of the public present at the Village Hall.

081.20 Cllr Hodson, Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting

082.20 To receive apologies and reasons for absence

            Cllr Dear – unable to attend

            District Cllr Alban – attendance at another meeting

            County Cllr Gardener – hoped to join the meeting via ZOOM

083.20 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda

            There were none

084.20 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda

              Members of the public were in attendance for 089.20

085.20 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 18^th August 2020

              Cllr Pudney proposed acceptance, and this was confirmed by Cllr Hodson.                                   

086.20 Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.

               There were none      

087.20 To receive reports from Councillors:

Cllr Hill – to confirm that the 2021-22 Local Highways Initiative bid has already been submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council.  At present more details of the 2020-21 project are awaited.

Cllr Pudney – confirmed that the broken limb has been removed from the tree in Chapel End.  He also confirmed that fly tipping  online reports have resulted in the rubbish being removed but he has noticed a general increase in litter, both in the parish and the wider landscape and suggested a litter picking event (see 095.20(b)).

Cllr Hodson – acknowledged that renewal date for allotments is not due until 1^st October and that one plot has “changed hands” thereby reducing the waiting list to one name/family, but suggested that where a tenant holds 2 plots, those tenants should be given 12 month’s notice to vacate the plot, to allow the second name on the waiting list to become an allotment holder.  Clerk will update Councillors, once it is known if all tenants are to renew their rental of their plot, Clerk will check with the remaining name/family on the waiting list to ensure they are still interested and then further steps will be considered.

Cllr Hodson has removed lower branches from the walnut tree that is growing close to the entrance to the allotments/Jubilee Wood to enable ease of access and allow more light into the surrounding area.

088.20 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

a) to note Barclays Bank statements

b) to note the Budget control statement – a copy will be sent out with the Minutes together with cash flow forecast and budget reserves details.

c) PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTS – the following payments were agreed.

	Who	What for	Amount	VAT	Authorised	Authorised
34	J R Trolove	Wages for July–32 hours	£xxx	NONE	JRT	PH
35	Bradgate Fencing	Grass cutting on 14 /8 Invoice no 8293	99.66	16.61	JRT	PH
36	CANALBS	Internal Audit report	127.50	NONE	JRT	PH

d)  to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1^st and 31^st August (34 hours) – approved by Cllrs Hodson and Pudney.

089.20 Co-option of Parish Councillors – Ms Anne Cotton and Mr Jan Maciag were welcomed to the meeting.  They both signed an “Acceptance of office” as co-opted members of the Parish Council and will complete and return the Register of Interest forms.

090.20 Planning matters:

65 Main Street – removal of hedgerow – the Planning Enforcement Officer, Huntingdonshire District Council had emailed to advise that she has still to establish owners of the hedge and properties either side.  The Clerk has emailed details to the Planning Enforcement Officer

7 Mill Road – removal of 2 x oak trees, (no facility to make comment on this application, therefore email sent to Conservation Officer). Clerk has checked the application online and Parish Council comments are linked to the application but there is no indication if the application is approved or otherwise.

Blocked public footpath between Chapel End and Mill Road reported online – to date no response received from CambsCC.

Reform of Planning matters – NALC document on Planning Policy reform and completion of questionnaire – Cllr Maciag will read through the documents and make recommendations to Councillors at the October meeting.

091.20 NALC website accessibility statement requirements.  Catalyst Design will commence the work and report. *** an email was received during the meeting and forwarded to Councillors immediately following the meeting.  This outlined actions that are required and how corrections could be put in place.

092.20 Recreation Ground Update:

Multi Use Games Area – Cllr Pudney presented proposed site plans for the area, two of which were at the Winwick end of the Rec. Ground and another which was close to the entrance off Winwick Road.  Whilst the site close to the entrance may necessitate the storage container being moved (overall area is approximately the size of a tennis court with access around), it was agreed by those present that this would be the preferred site.  A planning application will be prepared by Cllr Maciag for submission to Huntingdonshire District Council.  Once planning requirements have been met, this will enable grant applications to be completed.

093.20 Parochial Church Council for St Michaels – it was agreed that any discussion/arrangements in respect of “Operation London Bridge” should be shared with the PCC.  Clerk will liaise with the PCC.

094.20 The list of opportunities for volunteers to engage with tasks within the Parish (discussed at the August meeting) will be shared with Parishioners via a flyer.  Other items to be included in the flyer:

            Welcome of new Parish Councillors, and request for one more.

            Village Hall update re. repairs and request for committee members

            Litter pick event around Great and Little Gidding (obtain information pack from HuntsDC)

            Proposal for MUGA on Recreation Ground

            Update on the proposed telecommunications mast and base

            Reminder of any COVID related contact details – include Face/Hands/Distance/6 if space allows

            Orchard structure photograph

            Invite interest for members of Gidding Charity (see Gidding Charities meeting 021.20)

            Clerk and Cllr Pudney will liaise regarding content and layout before sending to Councillors for amendments and approval.

095.20 Correspondence received since 18^th August 2020 (other than that discussed in agenda items above). 

Clerk:   NO letters have been received since the last meeting.  Due to COVID 19 restrictions emails have been shared almost immediately.

            a) Email from Cambs ACRE – invitation to join their ZOOM AGM on Weds 30^th September, must register at least one week before.

b) Hunts DC email – community litter picking events – information pack online.

096.20             Items for decisions at next meeting: 

                        Precept – discussion of annual budget to enable the precept to be applied for.

97.20               Date of next meeting – Tuesday 20^th October 2020,

starting at 1930 hours.  It is likely that this meeting will take place online due to virus restrictions, details will be confirmed on the agenda.

Meeting closed at 20.50

GREAT & LITTLE GIDDING PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the online meeting held, via Zoom, on Tuesday 18^th August 2020

Present:  Cllrs Hodson, Pudney and Dear at the Village Hall, Great Gidding and District Councillor Alban joined the meeting via Zoom.

064.20 Cllr Hodson as Chairman welcomed those present

065.20 To receive apologies and reasons for absence:

            Cllr Hill – holiday

066.20 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda – there were none

067.20 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda

              There was none

068.20 Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st July 2020 were confirmed and accepted by Cllr Pudney, seconded by Cllr Dear                        

069.20 Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.

            Highways Department of CambsCC have displayed a Public Notice throughout the village, notifying residents of the extension of the speed limit area with a 40MPH “buffer” zone.  This is part of the LHI Bid project.

            The Internal Auditor’s report has been received, following a telephone consultation held with the Clerk.  The required audit papers will now be forwarded to the External Audidtor. 

070.20 COUNCIL ISSUES TO NOTE:

To receive reports from Councillors:

District Councillor Alban advised that the Small Business Grant is available until midnight on Sunday 23^rd August and, if any small businesses were known to require extra funding due to COVID 19, they should be encouraged to apply.

He advised that the Eat out to Help Out scheme was operational during August.

Huntingdon District Council will be revisiting their budget in the near future – difficult decisions will have to be made to reduce spending and he will keep us informed.

Cllr Pudney asked about fly tipping as there had been a spate of incidents recently and was advised by Cllr Alban that, since District Council refuse tips re-opened to the public, the Environmental Enforcement Team had been pro-active and, where information was found regarding the person(s) who tipped the waste, fixed penalty notices and prosecutions were being made. 

Cllr Pudney has reported 3 incidents of fly tipping to the District Council in recent weeks.

Cllr Dear reported a limb of an ash tree was damaged in the storm at the weekend.  Clerk will contact the field owner to ask them to resolve this as the branch is hanging very close to the road.

Cllr Pudney advised that a tree on the corner of Back Lane has also lost a limb – Clerk will advise the landowner.

Cllr Hodson reminded the Clerk about the parishioner’s request regarding a display of large poppies for Remembrance Sunday.

He advised that, having cleared vegetation from the blocked footpath that runs between Chapel End and Mill Road, the vegetation has again been used to block the footpath and the gate had been tied with string.  Clerk has completed another online report to Cambridgeshire County Council (via their website online reporting form) –

 Reference: 00344828
Date reported: 12/08/2020
Fault type: Obstruction on path
Address: GREAT GIDDING FOOTPATH 6, GREAT GIDDING
Location: Report no 335958 is the same location – between Chapel End and Mill ,,
Description of fault: This has been reported on 335958, Parish Council has removed the vegetation and untied the rope restricting access on 2 occasions, but it had been replaced. Parish Council has received several reports/comments regarding this blockage of the Public Right of Way

071.20 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

a) to note Barclays Bank statements

b) to note the Budget control statement

c) PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTS – to approve online payments in respect of the following:

	Who	What for	Amount	VAT	Authorised	Authorised
23	J R Trolove	Wages for June–34 hours	£xxx	NONE	JRT	PH
24	Bradgate Fencing	Grass cutting Invoice no 8204	99.66	16.61	JRT	PH
25	JRB Enterprises	Dog poo bags	102.60	17.20	JRT	PH
26	N & C Hill	Refund for safety matting for slide	32.50	5.42	JRT	PH
27	T M Trolove	Refund for phone call associated with June Parish Council meeting	21.08	NONE	JRT	PH
28	Information Commissioners Office	Annual Subscription – Data Protection	40.00	None	JRT	PH

d)  to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1^st and 30^th July ( 32 hours)

072.20 Planning matters:

65 Main Street – removal of hedgerow.  The Enforcement Officer for the Planning Department of Huntingdonshire District Council has been out to the site, she is to consult other District Council colleagues, make contact with the land owners and will report back to the Parish Council on 15^th September

7 Mill Road – erection of fence, boundary satisfactorily re-instated following a meeting between Cllr Hodson and Mr Craven of Milton Estates but, more recently a planning application has been made to have 2 trees removed that are growing along this boundary.  The Parish Council have not been consulted and asked to comment on this application, but it is known that there is a delay within the Planning Department due to lockdown, therefore Councillors discussed and agreed that an email should be sent to Planning Department, advising that the Parish Council is in agreement with removing the smaller of the 2 trees but would request that the larger of the two, an oak, be retained.

Reform of Planning matters – a NALC document had been shared with Councillors regarding the revised legislation that is proposed to streamline the process and make planning matters simpler.  The Clerk will forward any updates and revisions and this matter will be discussed at the September meeting, and the questionnaire completed.

073.20 NALC website accessibility statement requirements.  Catalyst Design have been consulted and requested to quote for the work, initially devising a template to advise that steps are being taken to ensure the Parish Council website pages are compliant.

Cllr Hodson – it would be an advantage to be able to update the website ourselves, to ensure that Minutes are shown in date order and to remove and update policies.  Clerk had contacted Catalyst (prior to lockdown) to request a training session.

            Clerk has asked the Internal Auditor’s advice regarding the amount of information that should be retained on the website.  Auditor felt that documents dating back to the last election would be sufficient.       

074.20 Recreation Ground Update:

            Cllr Dear has been approached by the tenant of a field adjacent to the Rec Ground who was concerned about children throwing rubbish and vegetation from the Rec Ground into the field she was renting.  She had been trying to block access between the tenanted field and the Rec Ground – it was agreed that she should contact Milton Estates to secure the field she was renting.

Replacement safety mat has been installed by Cllr Hill at the top of the slide.

Wooden steps to slide were found damaged, Cllr Hodson carried out temporary repair – new steps needed

Wobble board fixed by parishioner

Springy play equipment – algae and mould scrubbed off by Clerk

Multi Use Games Area – there was nothing further to report at this meeting.

Jubilee Wood /Orchard updates:

The seating area is now complete and in use by parishioners/visitors to the Wood

A parishioner has offered to replace the gate posts at the entrance with metal posts during the coming months.

Cllr Hodson has made a Grant application to the Earl Fitzwilliam Charity for a donation towards the orchard project – copy of the application is attached.          

075.20 Resolution to register the Great Gidding Charity as a separate body with the Charity Commissioners with individuals as Trustees.

            The Clerk outlined the thinking behind removing the Great Gidding Charity from the “umbrella” of the Parish Council – report is attached.   Cllr Hodson proposed the Parish Council are removed as sole trustee of the Charity.  Cllr Pudney seconded and Cllr Dear agreed.  The Charity Commissioner will be advised to enable the process to be actioned.

076.20 Co-option of Parish Councillors – there have been no applications received.  The Clerk had drafted a letter to be sent to individuals, inviting them to become a Parish Councillor, she had also drawn up a list of parishioners (with input from Parish Councillors) who could be asked to join the Parish Council.  It is hoped that this form of direct request may yield results.  Councillors agreed that this was the next course of action and letters will begin to be delivered this week.

077.20 Volunteering Policy and opportunities for volunteers within the Parish:

              The Clerk has written a volunteer policy and, in addition, has drafted a handout to go to each household within the parish, a copy is attached.  This handout takes the form of a list of one-off and occasional tasks that need to be carried out around the parish.  It is hoped that, if residents do not wish to commit to becoming a Parish Councillor or a member of the Village Hall committee, that they might willing to volunteer to take on a lesser commitment within the villages. 

078.20 Correspondence received since 21^st July 2020 (other than that discussed in agenda items above). 

Clerk:   NO letters have been received since the last meeting.  Due to COVID 19 restrictions emails have been shared almost immediately.

079.20             Items for decisions at next meeting:

                        Website accessibility and update

                        Planning Policy reform and completion of questionnaire

                        Huntingdonshire District Council updates on planning matters and footpath report

                        Prepare for Co-option of Parish Councillor

080.20             Date of next meeting – Tuesday 15^th September 2020,

starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding, unless we are still restricted to holding online meetings.

Meeting closed at 20.41

2020-12-16-Audit return report.pdf