Little Gidding

Minutes of the meeting held at Great Gidding Village Hall on Tuesday 17^th May 2022

Present:  Cllrs Hodson, Pudney, Bolton, D’Altilia and Maciag,  and the Clerk.

2 members of the public were present  

 Annual Parish Council Meeting

1.  Parish Council Chairman – Councillors Bolton and Pudney proposed Cllr Hodson as Chairman, who accepted the office
2. Parish Council Vice Chairman – Councillors Bolton and Hodson proposed Cllr Pudney as Vice Chairman, who accepted the office
3. Acceptance of Office forms – were completed. In addition Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest forms and Election Expenses forms were completed

018.22 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.

019.22 Apologies were received from County Councillor Gardener and District Councillor Alban, who were both attending other meetings.        

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

021.22  There was no participation from members of the public. 

022.22  Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th April 2022  were confirmed as a correct record by Cllrs Pudney and Hodson                       

023.22  Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item:

            Cllr Hodson wished to thank Nick Hill for his help and support with the Speed Activation Sign.  A solar battery has been installed on the post outside Church Farm and the sign located at that position.

            Clerk advised that, following the Annual Parish Meeting, the resident who highlighted the danger of leaving the Village Hall car park had forwarded examples of proposed signage and a copy of his request to Highways Department.  A response from Highways Department is awaited.     

024.22 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk:

            There were no reports from Councillors.      

025.22 An application for Co-option to the Parish Council has been received from Ms Karen Moody.  Cllr Hodson proposed acceptance of the application and this was seconded by Cllr Bolton.

026.22 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

            a) Barclays Bank statements was shared

b) PAYMENTS – the following online payments were approved:

	Who	What for	TOTAL	VAT	Authorised	Authorised
	Elan City Paid outside of meeting	Purchase of additional solar panel for MVAS	469.12	~	JRT
	BHIB	Insurance renewal	566.80	~	JRT
	Village Hall (&Recreation Ground Committee	Hire of Parish Office and Village Hall	550.00	~	JRT
	J R Trolove	Wages for March (29 hours)	Xxx	~	JRT
	Bradgate Ground Maintenance	Grass cutting of Rec Field (623)	199.32	33.22	JRT
	Jan Maciag *** (UK Timber Ltd)	Refund of payment in respect of oak for Rec Ground bench	188.28	31.38	JRT
	Jubilee events S Jarvis  *** A Underwood ***	Posters for Village Hall display Funding for BBQ and drinks	45.72 Up to £300	~ TBA

***     BACS details required to enable payments to be made

( discussion followed regarding the Jubilee events – up to £300 for food and drink for the BBQ and Boules event, no charge to those attending but any donations (and any remaining funds) received will be forwarded to the Great Gidding Charity).

• Clerk’s working hours for April, a total of 36, were approved by Cllrs Bolton and Hodson
• The Annual Governance Statement and Certificate for Audit were reviewed and completed.  A Certificate of Exemption will be requested from the External Auditor
• CANALBS will carry out annual internal audit (arranged for Tuesday 7^th June)
• The Parish precept payment has been received into the bank account

027.22 Planning Applications and Planning matters – there are currently no applications

                In response to the Planning Application for a MUGA, Tim Alban has advised :

I have just received the following from the Senior Planning Officer covering the north of the district, which looks like good news.

“I’ve liaised with Debra on this. The application is on target be issued by 27^th May and can confirm that it will not have to go to DMC for determination.”

Cllr Maciag advised that (as an architect) he has several planning applications that are outstanding for long periods of time with the District Council.

028.22 Huntingdonshire District Council’s revised Code of Conduct – this had been shared prior to the meeting and was unanimously approved by Parish Councillors.      

029.22 Asset Register – this had been shared prior to the meeting and was agreed as a correct record by Parish Councillors.

030.22 to discuss whether the Parish Council should engage with social media and, if so, with which providers, and types of information that could and would be shared:

            Cllr Hodson explained that the village website was available to other organisations and individuals to post items, including businesses and local activities – the hosting fee is paid by the Parish Council.  The “village” Facebook page was set up and by a resident, as is the WhatsApp group.  Gidding News is published and circulated to all residents 3 or 4 times each year.

            Cllr Pudney has offered to post Parish Council/items affecting residents that are deemed urgent or needing to be shared (ie road closure).

            Cllr D’Altilia proposed a text message system, sent out to those that sign up to the service, that contains information only – he will research further and establish GDPR requirements.

031.22 Training opportunities for Councillors and Clerk:

            Councillor Training (online via ZOOM)

Saturday 21^st May

Wednesday 8/15/22^nd June – 3 sessions

            Saturday 23^rd June –

032.22 Recreation Ground:

            a) Trespass by motorbike users – there have been no further reports of noise or nuisance and it was agreed that the best course of action was to report future incidents to the Police.

            b) Cllrs will arrange a date to refurbish the slatted seat.

033.22 Correspondence received since 16^th April 2022 (other than that discussed in agenda items above).

            a) NALC newsletters – dated 10/5, 4/5, 29/4, 26/4, 22/4,  21/4, 19/4

            email dated 12/5 –  online survey on local elections 2022 – closing dated 24/6/2022

            Chief Executive’s bulletin dated 6/5

b) Neighbourhood Alert – 3/5 newsletter

email dated 28/4 – online survey regarding Neighbourhood Watch

email dated 4/5 –  Latest News from The Courts

email dated 5/5 – Protecting your home this ‘National Garden Day’

email dated 12/5 –  online survey regarding crime in the area

email dated 21/4 – seeking volunteers for Crimestoppers Trust committee

c) Cambridgeshire ACRE – email dated 9/5 offering safeguarding training sessions

email dated 6/5 regarding risk assessments for Jubilee events.

d) CAPALC email dated –4/5 bulletin including available training sessions,

e) Cambs CC email dated 10/5 regarding County Transport Strategy Stakeholder Engagement Survey 2022 – online survey

email dated 4/5 – Cambridgeshire Local Heritage List, in conjunction with Neighbourhood Plan provision

email dated 29/4, Highways Department – regarding repairs to Footpath 4 through Churchyard – they will assess if work required.

email dated 27/4 – online survey from Highways Department regarding the service they provide

email dated 26/4 – Think Communities newsletter

email dated 26/4 – Cambridgeshire Matters newsletter

email dated 20/4 – Highways Dept report – 40MPH sign on Winwick Road – 12 weeks

f) Hunts DC email dated  29/4 – press release regarding £150 refund on Council Tax

g) Economic Development Huntingdonshire DC invest@huntingdonshire.gov.uk – weekly Business News – email dated 5/5, 12/5, 28/4, 21/4

h) The Combined Authority Local Transport and Connectivity Plan team – email dated 12/5 – consultation on a development plan for better transport

i) Zurich Insurance – organising a safe event (in relation to the Jubilee Celebrations)

j) email dated 10/5 – confirmation of auto enrolment with the Pensions Regulator for G&LG PC

k) North Northamptonshire – email dated 9/5 regarding Strategic Planning Scope – online – Clerk regularly checks planning applications due to being on the County Boundary and the increased activity of businesses along Hemington Lodge Road

l) Cambs and Pboro Fostering Service, email dated 6/5– raising awareness of service during Fostering Fortnight, start date 9/5

m) email with attached posters promoting Shakespeare at The George (in Huntingdon)

n) invitation dated 29/4 to join Henry Morris Centenery Conference – education through village colleges and community support and engagement – Thursday 30^th June at Bottisham Village College

o) Grantway – email advising of new grant application portal

p) email from Edward Groome regarding Jubilee events – including message from HM The Queen regarding tree planting

If you wish to see items of correspondence or obtain the links to online surveys, please contact the Parish Clerk.

034.22 Items for next meeting:

Co-option of Parish Councillor

Review of Standing Orders

Review of Financial Regulations

Review of Budgets

035.22 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 21^st June 2022

starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.

Meeting closed at 20.48

Minutes of the meeting held at Great Gidding Village Hall on Tuesday 19^th April 2022

Present:  Cllrs Hodson, Pudney and Maciag, County Councillor Gardener, and the Clerk.

2 members of the public were present   

001.22 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting

002.22 Apologies for absence were received:

            Cllr Bolton – holiday

            District Councillor Alban –  ill health

003.22 There were no Member’s declarations of Disclosable Interests.

004.22 No members of the Press were present.  Members of the Public were in attendance to observe the meeting.

005.22 Minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March 2022 were confirmed as a true and correct record by Councillors Pudney and Maciag                       

005.22 There were no matters arising from those Minutes. 

006.22 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk:

            County Councillor Gardener

The County Council are considering implementing 20MPH zones throughout the county – details regarding funding and how to apply are not yet available. 

A reduced £1 rate has been introduced for under 19s using the TING bus. 

A Ukraine Response Group has been formed by the County Council, which includes welcome, welfare and education support for refugees.  25 households in the Hunts DC area have offered accommodation to refugees.

Cllr Gardener left this meeting to attend another.

Clerk – update on plans for Jubilee Weekend events in the Parish, which will include a boules tournament with “bring along” picnic in the Community Orchard, in addition there will be a display in the Village Hall of events/groups/clubs over the last 70 years – details will be distributed during May to parishioners.

Clerk – update on Milking Slade Lane, LHI signage etc.  Highways Dept have responded to residents concerns and will take action to alleviate the issues.

Cllr Pudney – asked if the Parish Council had been made aware of the intended closure of Main Street by Anglian Water, as this had caused concerns on local social media.  Clerk advised that the Parish Council have not received correspondence from any organisation regarding road closure in the Parish but, several weeks ago, she had reported the sinking of the road surface between Church Farm and the Village Hall to CambsCC Highways Dept and Anglian Water, and assumes this closure was to enable this to be repaired. 

Cllr Pudney requested that use of social media be added to the agenda of the next meeting.

Cllr Pudney advised that a 40MPH sign has been damaged along Winwick Road, Clerk has already reported this (and the sign indicating a right turn into Hemington Lodge Road) to CambsCC Highways Department who, in turn, have responded that this will be addressed within the next 12 weeks.

007.22 An Application  has been received from Fabio D’Altilia to join as a Parish Councillor

Cllr Hodson proposed acceptance of the application and seconded by Cllrs Pudney and Maciag

008.22 FINANCIAL MATTERS:

            a) Barclays Bank statements for Parish Council account was shared prior to the meeting.

b) The following payments were approved:

	Who	What for	TOTAL	VAT	Authorised	Authorised
	SLCC	Annual subscription	36.00	~	JRT
	Canalbs (paid outside of meeting)	Internal audit 2020/21	136.50	~	JRT	PH
	Cambridgeshire County Council	MVAS sign ( incl. £628.92 from CIL tax) LHI contribution for B660 scheme	2247.92   1000.00 TOTAL £3247.92	~	JRT
	Huntingdonshire District Council	Annual Rates for Rec. Field	11.26	~	Direct debit
	McAfee NOT PAID – free package from AVG subscribed to	Renewal of anti virus for 1 year	44.99	~	NOT PAID
	Microsoft 365 – payment made by J R Trolove	Renewal of device package	59.99	~	JRT
	J R Trolove	Wages for February (29 hours)	Xxx	~	JRT
	Bradgate Ground Maintenance	Grass cutting of Rec Field (573)	83.05	16.61	JRT
VH	Tally Ho Cleaning	Village Hall cleaning	32.50	~	JRT

d) Clerk’s hours worked between 1^st and 31^st  March (29 hours) – approved by Cllr Pudney

e)  Proposal to purchase an additional solar unit for the second MVAS post was made by Cllr Hodson, a price of £469.12 was quoted by ELAN City quote, this was seconded by Cllr Pudney

f) Proposal to accept pay increase for Clerk’s hours in line with NALC guidelines (an increase of 21p per hour) was made by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Pudney.

009.22 Planning Applications and Planning matters:

A) Great Gidding C of E School – retention of existing canopy and covered play area until 31 August 2027 (Ref: CCC/22/024/VCR3)

b) Great Gidding C of E School – retention of the 1 x 8 bay and 1 x 2 bay mobile classrooms until 31 August 2027  (Ref: CCC/22/026/VCR3)

No observations, either for or against, were made on both applications.

010.22 Huntingdonshire District Council’s revised Code of Conduct

            Proposal to adopt this Code of Conduct – Clerk will send out the Huntingdonshire District Council Code and the Parish Council’s current Code of Conduct to enable a decision to be made at the next meeting.

            Completion of revised Disclosable Pecuniary Interests form by Parish Councillors – these will be brought back at the next meeting.

011.22 Asset Register – to view the current register – this matter held over until the May meeting.

012.22 Request (verbal) from St Michaels Parochial Church Council to support them with funding works to trees within then Churchyard.  Discussion followed and the request to fund works to trees within the Churchyard was declined.  Clerk will advise the PCC.

013.22 Training opportunities for Councillors and Clerk:

            Saturday 21^st May – 9.00 to 15.30 – Councillor Training (online via ZOOM)

014.22 Recreation Ground:

            a) Trespass by motorbike users –  a parishioner had reported that small motorbikes had been seen on the Recreation Ground, on one occasion resulting in a family leaving the area.  PH suggested a kissing gate at the Winwick Road entrance but this would also make it difficult to gain access with a pram/pushchair/bike etc., ground barriers would also cause access issues.  It was felt that signs would not be effective. Advice will be sought from the Police.

            b) Cllr Hodson proposed that Wicksteed Leisure be instructed to carry out annual inspection of play equipment – Cllr Pudney seconded.

c) Planning application for MUGA – it has been indicated by Hunts DC planning Department that this will be discussed at their May meeting.

d)  Cllr Maciag has the oak for renovation of the bench, a working party to be organised in the near future.

015.22 Correspondence received since 15^th March 2022 (other than that discussed in agenda items above).

            a) Updated version of Operation London Bridge from SLCC – Clerk gave an outline and from the discussion Cllr Pudney suggested a flagpole be sited at the Village Hall – this will be added to the next agenda of the Village Hall & Recreation Ground committee.

b)NALC newsletters – dated 18/3 Chief Executive’s bulletin, 22/3 events details, 23/3 newsletter, 24/3 newsletter, 25/3 bulletin, ¼ bulletin, 5/4 Events, 5/4 Practitioner’s Guide, 6/4 newsletter, 8/4 Chief executives bulletin, 13/4 newsletter, 14/4 Chief executives bulletin

c) NALC -email dated 14/3/2022 briefing regarding Ukraine

d) Neighbourhood Alert – dated 21/3 re. drink drivers, 21/3 protecting your home, 29/3 robbery at Yaxley shop, 5/4 April newsletter, 6/4 remote access scams

c) Cambridgeshire ACRE – dated 17/3 – 

Ramsey RiverCare Group cleans up again!

Support for Ukrainian refugees – The role of village halls Newsletter including use of Bouncy Castles and insurance risk Email dated 24/3 – Charity purposes and rules Email dated 25/3 –  Food, farming and Countryside commission online event Email dated 29/3 – funding a project Email dated 8/4 – managing finances for Trustees

d) CAPALC email dated – available training sessions, 1/4 monthly bulletin and more

e) Cambs CC email dated 15^th March with link Flood risk management -Cambridgeshire County Council

email dated 21/3 with Cambridgeshire Matters newsletter

email dated 7/4 – transport strategy plan – Parish Council comment – Await further information.

Email dated 14/4 – Local Highways 2022 Micro Asphalt / Gripfibre Carriageway Surface Treatment Program – no planned work in Great & Little Gidding

f) Hunts DC email dated 26/3/2022 – Press release regarding St Neots Riverside Park

Email dated 18/3 – Funding approved for Hinchingbrooke Hospital improvements

Email dated 18/3 – Huntingdonshire District Council following a successful bid to the Together for Our Planet funding programme

Email dated 18/3 – Hunts DC press release on the approval of new CIL funding bids

Email dated 22/3 – distribution of Business Support grant

Email dated 23/3 – Think Communities newsletter

Email dated 25/3 – Changing Places Fund Announcement

Email dated 28/3 – Development Plan to 2036 with link

Email dated 29/3 – link to Landscape and Townscape Supplementary Planning Document

Email dated 6/4 – Election Nominations Closed – Great & Little Gidding has been notified that it is an uncontested Election for this Parish.

g) Economic Development Huntingdonshire DC invest@huntingdonshire.gov.uk – weekly Business News – 17/3, 24/3, 31/3, 7/4, 14/4

h) Chesterton Parish Meeting chairman – email dated 20/3 regarding warehousing development on A1/A605 junction in Chesterton/Alwalton parish

g) County Councillor Simon Bywater – email dated 21/3 re bridge over footpath in Steeple Gidding Parish – await further updates as it is not in our Parish

i) Grantway email dated 22/3 regarding grant search portal

j) Parish and Town Council survey completed by Clerk – dated 22/3 regarding playing pitch strategy

k) FWAG email dated 23/3 – funding for wildlife ponds – Clerk advised FWAG that our ponds had been assessed, newts present, funding not available for our ponds

l) SLCC email dated 23/3 – early day motion re Standards in Public Life

m) PKF Littlejohn – email dated 24/3 – external auditor requirements and paperwork

n) District Councillor Marge Beuttell – email dated 28/3 – minutes of the Combined Parishes meeting

o) North Northamptonshire planning policy with link dated 28/3

If you wish to see items of correspondence, please contact the Parish Clerk.

016.22 Items for next meeting:

              Annual Parish Council Meeting – appointment of Chairman, Vice Chairman and completion of Acceptance of Office forms and Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest forms.  Also Election Expenses forms

              Adoption of the Huntingdon District Council Code of Conduct

                        Review of Parish Council Asset Register

                        Review of the Parish Council budget to 31 March 2022

               Completion of the Annual Governance Statement and Certificate for Audit

                        Approval of proposed Internal Auditor

                        Parish Council use of social media

                        Flag pole at the Village Hall (this will be discussed at the Village Hall & Recreation Ground Meeting).         

017.22 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 17^th May 2022

starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.

Meeting closed at 9.31PM