Minutes of the Meeting of Great and Little Gidding Parish Council 15.12.15

Minutes of the Meeting of Great and Little Gidding Parish Council Held on the 15th December 2015, 7.30PM start

PRESENT: Cllrs Alexander (Chair), James (Vice-Chair), Howden, Giddens and the Minute Taker (Mrs Julie Trolove)
Key: CCC = Cambridgeshire District Council HDC = Huntingdon District Council PC = Parish Council
Members of the Public: 3
281.15 Chairman’s Welcome
282.15 To receive apologies and reasons for absence Cllr Hayden due to ill health.
283.15 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests NONE
284.15 Public and Press participation session with respect to items on the agenda
Salt box on Chapel End – a member of the public queried the siting of the salt box near Chapel End Pond, as it had been intended to site this on the grass triangle on the bend in Chapel End. It was confirmed that this was in the wrong spot and the member of public offered to relocate it.
285.15 To confirm and accept minutes of 17th. Minutes confirmed as a true and correct record of the meeting. The Chairman signed and dated them.
286.15 Matters arising from minutes (information only)
Eastern Tree Services had requested payment of their invoice, Cllr Alexander has reminded them that payment will be made once written confirmation has been received that all trees have been checked.
Cllr Giddens enquired if the trees surrounding the Playing Field had been checked and Cllr Alexander advised that all trees on the boundary had been visually inspected.
287.15 Communication from the Parish Cllrs
Cllr Giddens reported there had been damage to the bridleways caused by horses. Also that her contact at Cambridgeshire County Council is no longer available.
Cllr Hodson has checked the accounts.
Cllr Alexander advised that the Clarion is ready to be delivered.
Cllr James will deliver the Clarion in the near future – a member of public offered to assist with Chapel End deliveries.
288.15 Update on the Parish Clerk vacancy
The closing date for applications is 17 December 2015, there has been 1 applicant.
289.15 Finance
a) Payment of accounts
Expenditure:
All items on the agenda were agreed
(Eastern Tree Surgery – see above, payment was to be deferred).
Receipts: None
b) Noted
c) C Bradley (Parish Clerk) has completed the Barclays Bank Change of Mandate form and has provided an accompanying letter to confirm removal of her name from the list of signatories. Cllr Alexander will post the form and letter.
290.15 Items for discussion on next agenda

  • Appointment of Parish Clerk
  • Cllr Hodson requested that, if possible, the Parish Clerk candidate be interviewed and, if accepted to post, be introduced at the next Parish Council Meeting.
  • Trees
  • New Parish Councillors
  • Playing field – orange barrier around area where slabs removed, needs backfilling with soil.

291.15 Date of next meeting 19th January 2016
Meeting closed 8.15PM

Tour Of Cambridegshire (Gran Fondo)

Tour Of Cambridegshire (Gran Fondo)

The first cycling Tour Of Cambridgeshire took place in June 2015 The route on public roads that were closed specifically for the race to happen. Around 5000 cyclists were reported to have signed up to take part. So on a stunningly glorious day we watched and waited to see what 5000 cyclists looked like speeding through the village. What a spectacle apart from the heads down first few hundred who were on a mission to win the great mass of riders responded in kind to the roadside cheering and reserved clapping that Brits do so well. It was a grand spectacle and is to be repeated in 2016 on the same route. A Gran Fondo is a cycling event on closed roads for mass participation.

It should be noted that there were a few grumbles and the notification process before hand could have been more robust. The idea of the roads closed for 12 hours was a nonsense and should never have been allowed to be displayed, despite rectification the die had been cast. Hopefully the organisers will take this on board and make bigger efforts to contact affected buisnesses on route and make it clear that nobody is trapped in their homes.

The plus side of all this is Gidding is on the map and not some backwater beyond Sawtry and Stilton. It provided grand entertaiment on the roadside at no cost and no doubt charities were the biggest winners.

Parish Council looking to appoint a new Clerk and RFO

PARISH CLERK AND RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER (RFO) VACANCY

GREAT & LITTLE GIDDING PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council are looking to appoint a new Clerk and RFO.
This paid role is for 6.5hrs per week which includes 1 evening meeting per month.

If you are interested and would like some more information, or even an informal chat about the role, please contact:

The Parish Clerk, giddingspc1@btinternet.com or call 01832 293068.

Closing date: 17th December 2015

Download GG Clerk RFO Job description (PDF)

Download GG Application form for Clerk RFO role (PDF)

2015 10 Agenda 20th October Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity Trustee Meeting

Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity Trustee meeting
on Tuesday 20th October 2015 – to follow the Parish Council meeting
in the Village Hall, for the purpose of transacting the following business.

AGENDA

66.15 Apologies and reasons for absence
67.15 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
68.15 To confirm and accept minutes of 15th September 2015
69.15 Matters arising from minutes (information only)
70.15 Update on 48 Main Street boundary
71.15 Feedback following the public meeting regarding the future of the Village Hall on 13th October 2015
72.15 Items for discussion on next agenda
73.15 Date of next meeting

2015 10 Agenda 20th October Parish Council Meeting

Great & Little Gidding Meeting of the Parish Council
on Tuesday 20th October 2015 at 7.30pm
in the Village Hall, for the purpose of transacting the following business.

Members of the Press and Public are invited to attend and participate.  If you wish to address the council, please inform the Clerk or Chair ahead of the meeting.

AGENDA

225.15 Chairman’s Welcome
226.15 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
227.15 Member’s Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
228.15 Public and press participation session with respect to items on the agenda
229.15 To confirm and accept minutes of 15th September 2015
230.15 Matters arising from minutes (information only)
231.15 Communication from District and County Cllrs
232.15 Communication from Parish Cllrs
233.15 Communication from Village Hall Committee (VHC)
234.15 Clerk’s report, inc:-
a) Care Network to go ahead and endeavour to set up a coffee am/pm in the village
b) Clerk to take holiday Monday 26th and Thursday 29th October
235.15 Correspondence received, inc:-
a) Letter – HDC, Environment Maintenance Request
b) Email – CCC, Cllr Bywater, Cambs Budget Challenge Consultation Launch
c) Email – GG History Group, request for funding to cover rental of the Village Hall
d) Email – Speedwatch, request for funding to purchase 2 x ‘Speedwatch Operates in this Village’ signs
e) Email – Tour of Cambridgeshire 2016, invitation to Public Authorities meeting 29th October 6pm
f) Email – HDC, B Halford, Invitation to participate in tree planting scheme
g) Letter – HDC, request for information regarding playground maintenance
236.15 Finance, inc:-
a) Payment of accounts
Expenditure
£305.21 – Salaries (STO)
£108.36 – C Bradley, additional Hours (10, to complete on-line ILCA course) (CHQ)
£13.80 – (£2.30 VAT) BT September payment (DD)
£85.00 – Milton (Peterborough) Estates Company, Car Park Rental (CHQ)
£514.44 – (£85.74 VAT) CGM, grass cutting
£39.37 – Anglian Water at the Recreation Field (DD)
Receipts
None
b) To note the reconciled bank account balance
237.15 Planning
238.15 Health and safety matters, inc:-
Update on:
a) Fallen branch from poplar tree on the recreation ground – Cllr James
b) Gains Lane, overhanging branches – Clerk
c) Brook at the back of the jitty – Cllr Giddens
d) Overgrown vegetation on the bend, leading to Winwick – Cllr James
239.15 Update regarding recent drain work in Gains Lane – Clerk
240.15 Update on Chapel End surface dressing – Cllr James
241.15 To approve the request from the Speedwatch Volunteer Group to fund the purchase of 2 yellow Speedwatch signs @ £88.00 plus VAT, per sign
242.15 Discussion of Parish Councillor’s/Trustee’s training needs
243.15 Tree survey, update – Clerk
244.15 Update on Village Sign work – Cllr James
245.15 Policy review, inc:-
a) To adopt the Risk Assessment – Cllr James
b) To adopt the Risk Management Policy accompanying the Risk Assessment – Clerk
246.15 To consider maximising investments – Clerk
247.15 To note the completion of the audit process and receive the comments from the external auditor
248.15 Items to be included in the next CLARION
249.15 Items for discussion on the next agenda
250.15 Date of next meeting
This section of the meeting is closed to the public
Staffing Matters
251.15 To discuss an increase in the Clerk’s weekly hours
252.15 To approve a request for the Clerk to work from home on 2nd November due to a teacher training day

Great Gidding History night – report and photos

Great Gidding History night - report and photos

On 30th September 2015 two talks were given to an audience of more than 60 people in Great Gidding Village Hall.

History and extent of the Fitzwilliam Estate

Mr Robert Dalgliesh – Chief Agent to the Fitzwilliam Estate – began by describing the history and extent of the Fitzwilliam Estate and later concentrated on that part based upon Milton Hall and the Milton Estates near Peterborough.

He finally zoomed in upon the Fitzwilliam history and interests in Great Gidding, and some of the slides that he used to illustrate the latter part of his talk are shown below.

Mr Dalgliesh also brought some very interesting historical documents, maps and charts from the Milton Hall archive, including the Deed dated 1827 whereby Great Gidding was part of a sale of property by the Watsons of Rockingham Castle to the Fitzwilliam Estate. Also included were maps and associated lists from 1869 and 1889 showing the occupiers and owners of the village property which warrant further study.

More Great Gidding History

During the second part of the evening Patrick Ellis, who has been researching the history of Great Gidding for more than 15 years, described two results of this research :

Firstly the history of how the village was laid out and organised and the duties of the village officials was included in a book jointly compiled with David Shepherd entitled A Millennium History of Great Gidding. This was first published in 2001 and reprinted last year.

All Great Gidding History booksA Millennium History of Great Gidding (left) and More Great Gidding History (right)

Secondly a new book, concentrating on the people who lived in the village and answering the question “Who lived Where ?”. This new book is called More Great Gidding History and also includes a number of photos, and especially some aerial photos and maps which have come to light since the first book was compiled.

Both the reprint of the 2001 book and the New Book may be obtained from the Village Stores.

Patrick Ellis. October 2015

Consultation on the future model for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services

If you are interested in taking part in this consultation, I have the consulation documents in the Parish Council Office at the Village Hall.
Please contact me by email, giddingspc1@btinternet.com, and I would be happy to drop the booklet through your door.

This consultation closes on 19th November 2015.

With thanks

Caroline Bradley
Parish Clerk

Are you interested in a coffee morning or afternoon?

The Care Network are wondering if Gidding would like a coffee morning to be set up, specifically for the older generation in our village. I understand that there is already one that runs, however, would anyone be interested in perhaps a coffee afternoon at another point in the week?

Please would you let me know your thoughts by either phoning 01832 293068 (please leave a message if I am not in the office), or by emailing me, giddingspc1@btinternet.com

I look forward to hearing from you. Any other suggestions would be very welcome.

Caroline Bradley
Clerk to the Parish of Great & Little Gidding