Parish council

PRESENT:  Cllrs   Maciag, Hodson, Hargrave, Nankivell, Downer, Bolton, County Councillor Gardener and the Clerk

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17^th February 2026 at Great Gidding Village Hall.

0123.25 Cllr Maciag, as Chairperson welcomed those present to the meeting

0124.25 Apologies and reasons for absence 

               District Cllr Alban – at another Parish Council meeting                                     

0125.25 There were no declarations of disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda        

0126.25 No member of the Public & Press were present

0127.25 Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2026:

Cllr Hodson clarified that the IT Policy was adopted at the January meeting, and working towards compliance with that Policy.  Otherwise the Minutes were confirmed as a true and correct record.

0128.25 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk

Cllr Ian Gardener – consultation for the Local Government reorganisation starts on 26^th March,     Cambs Libraries have paper copies of the associated documents, there are 4 options to choose from and he will forward details to the Clerk for distribution.

Although £58 million has been allocated to road/footpaths repairs, due to significant damage to soil-affected roads, this will not enable the repair of all highways issues.

Hemington Lodge Road – the meeting room at New Shire Hall is booked for a Planning Meeting on 4^th March at 10AM, the agenda for this meeting will be shared a week prior and this will then confirm if Hemington Lodge Road is to be considered (an email received on 18^th February confirmed that this is to be discussed on 4^th March).  Parish Council will be given a slot to present their case, parishioners will be given a time slot too, both of which will be strictly adhered to. 

A grant is available for the provision of flood kits

Cllr Gardener left the meeting and will attend the April meeting.

Clerk – Highways report submitted re. dyke running alongside Baptist Chapel.  Cllr Downer   requested what response  and there had been none.  Clerk advised that, there being no means of posting letters at the Baptist Chapel, a letter had not been delivered to the present  owner.  Clerk requested that, should future incidents occur, photographs are taken to illustrate the problems.

Cllr Hargrave – the village hall will undertake an energy survey conducted by Cambs ACRE to assess what measures can be taken.

Beetle drive takes place this weekend, places are still available.

Request to discuss expenses and payments at next meeting.

Security – the keysafe code has been changed and cameras will be installed.

0129.25 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

Cllr Hodson gave a resume to Cllrs of the cashflow forecast and why money is allocated to  budgets and allocated reserves.  Laptop and replacement website were unforeseen costs when the budget was set earlier in the year, but are essential due to Government requirements.

There is a VAT refund to come, hampered by the ongoing issues with the landline at the Parish Office.

a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank in respect of the Parish Council current account

    £2741.92 as at 4/2/2026    

  Defibrillator account – £211.89

b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved in respect of the following

Who	What for	TOTAL	Invoice includes this VAT amount
Staff costs	Working hours for December – a total of 24 National Insurance Contribution	Awaiting information, but up to £550	NIL
Aubergine	Website set up including domain Email package	598.80 72.00	99.80 12.00
Catalyst	Extra website storage	48.00	nil

• Clerk’s working hours for January  – a total of 25  hours was approved

0130.25  PLANNING applications and  matters:

                  a) no planning applications received on which the Parish Council should comment as at 12^th February 2026.

                  b) Hemington Lodge Road. SEE County Cllr Gardener’s comments above*** this may be heard at the Planning meeting on 4^th March 2026 at the Red Kite Room, Alconbury Weald.

                  Cllr Maciag will speak to the Panel on behalf of Parish Council – this was confirmed as an agenda item for that meeting.  Clerk informed Democratic Services that Cllr Maciag will speak on behalf of the Parish Council (Cllrs Gardener and Alban informed too).               

0131.25 Local Government Reorganisation – latest information including NALC guidance on how Councils are responding/reacting (email dated 2/2/2026)

                  Hunts DC local elections will take place in May 2026 – Tim Alban confirmed

                  9^th Feb – slides from an online meeting

                  Also see County Cllr Gardeners report above.

0132.25 Website for the Parish Council – Cllr Nankivell and the Clerk had an online meeting with Aubergine – information was shared with Parish Councillors about headings to appear on the home page, drop down lists and how they could be tailored to our Parish, information  to be transferred from current village website, method of storage and retention of information on current website (Cllr Hodson will “scrape” information, store and make available for future reference).  Use of this website is restricted to Parish Clerk and Councillors.

                  Training courses for use of the website are available monthly.

                  The current village website (thegiddings.org) subscription is due for renewal on 26^th March and will not be renewed.  Aubergine have already started work on building a replacement website which will be available from  April.

                  A letter of thanks will be sent to Paul and Krystyna of Catalyst Design for their support with website provision over the years.

0133.25 Recreation Field

  Quote for grass cutting, based on previous years quotes/areas and there had been a 7% increase  – Bradgate will be asked to revise their quote in line with a third of the Rec Field being left uncut.

   Provision of a parking area on the Recreation Field – further research had been carried out since the last meeting and it was deemed to be not financially viable and not pursued.

DECISION – all Cllrs agreed that the provision of a parking area on the Rec Field would not be pursued.

0134.25 Speaker or event for the Annual Meeting in May

                  A spokesperson from the Softball group will be asked to attend and update on their activities.

0135.25 Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer role – the job description has been updated and circulated to local Parish Councils, also to Cambs and Northants Society of Local Council Clerks, via village social media platforms and advertised on SLCC website and social media.  The closing date for applications is 27^th March.

0136.25 Correspondence received between  16^th January 2026 and 13^th February:

                  a) NALC newsletters – events news email – weekly

                      Chief Executives Bulletins – weekly    

                  b)Cambridgeshire County Council –

• Cambridgeshire Matters February  edition
• Dr Bike sessions through to May
• Highways events – there are none locally
• Flood and Water newsletter
• Traffic Management Incident report for January
• Local Highways Improvements – 20MPH scheme – applications close 5.00 pm on Friday 27^th March and slides from an online session

c) Huntingdonshire District Council –

• Town and Parish Council Newsletter (includes CIL information, LHI bid reminder, Local Plan information, Reorganisation information, 3G pitch for St Ives, Elections 2026, Be A Councillor)
• Information about CIL funding
• launch of the Community Health and Wealth Building delivery fund.
• Press release – how Hunts DC are reducing carbon footprint of vehicles
• Cambridgeshire Classis Cycle Event – 7 March 2026 – further details
• Cambs &Pboro Combined Authority –
• monthly newsletter for February
• information about local transport for residents.    

e) Cambs ACRE – Staying in Touch newsletter

• Community Building conference to take place on 17^th March at Burgess Hall, St Ives
• Have your say on the future of Local Government

f) CAPALC – new website – Clerk has requested access 3 times with no response

     Details of their CILCA course starting in Spring 2026

g) Parish Online monthly newsletter

h) SLCC – regional training seminar for Clerks, including items on revised AGAR, upgrade of websites etc – in Northampton – November 2026

i) Cambs and Peterborough Combined Authority – information about local transport for residents.

0137.25  Any Urgent Business

In accordance with section 100(B)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) the Chair will admit an item of urgent business in order that it can be dealt with at the earliest opportunity provided it has been raised at least 24 hours before the meeting – see items in blue, added    ^th February 2026

0138.25  Items for next meeting:

AGAR compliance regarding IT Policy, Data Retention Policy, Assertion 10 Compliance and  Accessibility Statement

 The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 17^th March 2026

 in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.

The meeting closed at 10.00PM

PRESENT:  Cllrs Maciag, Bolton, Hargrave, Downer and Hodson. 

County Councillor Gardener, District Councillor Alban and Cllr Nankivel joined the meeting later.

0093.25 Cllr Maciag, as Chairperson, welcomed those present at the meeting

0094.25 There were no apologies                               

0095.25 There were no declarations of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda

0096.25 No members of the Public & Press were present

0097.25 Minutes of the meeting held on 18^th November 2025 were confirmed as a correct record by Cllrs Bolton and Hodson

0098.25 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.

               Clerk –

Update on Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme (fibre broadband) – no positive plans as no     provider to invest at present

               Neighbourhood Plan update from Paul Hargrave – documents submitted to Hunts DC

               Remembrance Poppies – may need to purchase additional/replacements for 2026

  Cllr Bolton had enquired of HuntsDC if all households would receive a food waste bin in April and this was confirmed.

***AMENDMENT – Cllr Bolton enquired of HuntsDC whether it was possible to opt out of receiving a food waste bin and told that it wasn’t possible.***

He had reported flooding due to blocked drain at bottom of Gains Lane to Highways Dept.

Cllr Hargrave – the recent Christmas Fair made a profit of £207 and the Sawtry Chorale concert had been very well attended.

A training session for the use of the defibrillator and CPR had recently been held.

Cllr Downer has reported the pothole outside 38 Main Street to Highways Dept.

District Cllr Alban joined – he advised that HuntsDC had chosen Option E for the Local Govt Reorganisation, this being based on potential for population growth in the county over the next few years and the strategic site at RAF Wyton.  
District Council elections will still take place in May 2026

Local Plan – whilst there were no proposed sites in Great Gidding, there were several sites in Sawtry proposed.  Final date for responses is 17^th December.

Cllr Alban left the meeting.

County Cllr Gardener joined and will obtain a definitive answer from Highways Dept regarding the steps that are to be taken with regard to the change in road layout for the AD Unit.  He did advise that CambsCC Planning will next meet on Weds. 11 February (but the agenda is not yet available, therefore this application may not be included).

CambsCC Business Plan is open for consultation and Parish Councils are able to submit comments.

He gave an update on the replacement Highways online reporting service and Cllr Downer requested him to enquire of the Footpath Officer when action may be taken regarding Footpath No 6, particularly the gate to Chapel End.

LHI bids close on 16 January and 20MPH scheme for Little Gidding is still on the list for consideration.

CambsCC are encouraging residents to sign up for Pension Credit

Cllr Maciag  informed Cllr Gardener that Milton Estates have taken action, resulting in CambsCC removing the portion of the school building that encroached on Milton Estates land.  The debris was removed to the rear playground and remains there with asbestos present in that debris.  Cllr Maciag requested Cllr Gardener to contact those departments at CambsCC and request removal of the debris (Head of Education, Head of Environmental Health, Mark Freer of Education Dept).

Cllr Gardener left the meeting.

Cllr Nankivel joined the meeting.

0099.25 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank will be shared at the meeting (arrived on day of    meeting)

Balance in account as at 4^th December 2025 – £4784.37

b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved by Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave

Who	What for	TOTAL	Invoice includes this VAT amount
Staff costs	Wages for October (41 hours) HMRC National Insurance	£608.44 £28.72	NIL

• Clerk’s working hours for November, a total of 37 hours – Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave approved
• Payroll services have advised that Pay Scales for Clerk were increased from 1^st April 2025.  This Clerk, will remain on scale point 14, hourly rate will increase to £15.31. 
• Confirmation of amount of precept to be applied for as £13000 – proposed and seconded by Cllrs Hodson and Maciag.  See 0103.25 below

0100.25  PLANNING applications and  matters:

              a)awaiting date of the planning meeting at which the Hemington Lodge Road application will be discussed (See County Cllr Gardener report above)

              b) no planning applications received on which the Parish Council should comment.       

0101.25 Local Government Reorganisation – see correspondence and District Cllr Alban’s report

0102.25 Cllr Downer to outline defined dates of publication of Minutes and Agendas –

              Draft Minutes should be sent to Councillors within 3 working days

              Draft Minutes to be published within 14 working days after the meeting date

              Agenda to be available 3 working days prior to the meeting

0103.25 Research findings regarding change to a GOV.UK website had been shared by Cllr Nankivel prior to the meeting.  Parish Councils must comply before the 2026 AGAR is due.  This will be a dedicated Parish Council only website and discussion followed regarding the current village website support that the Parish Council provides.

              DECISION to adopt a GOV.UK website with dedicated email addresses for Clerk and Councillors.   Proposed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Maciag

              Clerk will obtain comparative quotes from providers.

              An IT policy must be devised for the Parish Council

              The cost involved in setting up the required website and ongoing support necessitates an increase to the Precept for 2026/27

              Cllr Downer proposed the purchase of a laptop to accommodate the upgrade to Windows 11

              DECISION to purchase a laptop.  Proposed by Cllr Downer and seconded by Cllr Bolton

              Telephone and Broadband provision to the Parish Office – due to issues with the Vodaphone contract, the Clerk will set up a 36 month contract with BT Business Broadband w.e.f. 9^th January 2026.  Replacement router to enable connection.

1. Village Maintenance – 

Recreation Field – ideas of how to create a car parking area – this item held over until January 2026 meeting

0105.25 Correspondence received between 18^th October and 12 December 2025:

              a) NALC newsletters – dated                         Chief Executives Bulletin                   NALC events,

              b)Cambridgeshire County Council –

• Cambridgeshire Matters November edition
• LHI application window is open until 16 January 2026 
• Christmas Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme to families within the parish. The Programme operates between 20 December to 4 January
• Highways events – Whittlesey Straw Bear 17^th January 2026
• Traffic Management Incident report for November
• Information about Capitally Funded Highway Maintenance Schemes
• From Chief Executive (dated 27/11) details of Option A proposal
• Temporary Closure of Winwick Road during January 2026

c) Huntingdonshire District Council –

• Town and Parish Council Newsletter (includes CIL information, LHI bid reminder, Local Plan information, Reorganisation information, 3G pitch for St Ives, Elections 2026, Be A Councillor)
• Notification of revised Waste Collection Days, household Recycling Centre closure dates, Christmas tree recycling and (starting in March 2026) weekly food waste collections
• Press release – Hunts DC support Option E for Local Government Reorganisation
• Press release – Hunts DC takes over the operation of Thursday Market Place in St Neots
• Cambridgeshire Classis Cycle Event – 7 March 2026 – further details
• Consultation document for Resources and Waste Strategy (2025-2031)
• Consultation on Proposed Solar and Battery Storage Project to the NW of St Neots
• Press release – reminder to Have Your Say on the Local Plan (ends 17^th December)
• Waste Education Centre newsletter –  recycling everything!
• Statement of Intent to develop a Defence Cluster for Huntingdonshire

d) Cambs &Pboro Combined Authority – monthly newsletter

e) Cambs ACRE – Staying in Touch newsletter

f) CAPALC – nothing

g) Parish Online monthly newsletter

h) cpft.nhs.uk – activities and services offered by the services

0106.25  Any Urgent Business

In accordance with section 100(B)(4) of the Local           Government   Act 1972 (as amended) the Chair will admit an item of urgent business in order that it can be dealt with at the earliest opportunity provided it has been raised at least 24 hours before the meeting – see items in blue, added 6^th December 2025

0107.25  Items for next meeting:

 Car parking area for Village Hall

 The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 20^th January 2026

 in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding. 

Meeting closed at 21.44