Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 16th September 2025Present: Councillors Hargrave,Nankivell, Downer, Bolton, Hodson and the Clerk 0055.25 Councillor Hargrave, welcomed those present to the meeting0056.25 To receive apologies and reasons for absence County Cllr Gardener – another meeting District Cllr Alban – at another meeting 0057.25 There were no Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda0058.25 No members of the Public & Press were present0059.25 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th August 2025 were declared as a correct record by Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave0060.25 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.Clerk – District wide Parish Council meeting takes place on 1st October – Clerk + 2 x Councillors to attend. District Cllr Alban has offered to arrange a meeting with the Senior Planning Officer to discuss the Call for Sites and the Local Plan – responses requested.Cllrs Nankivell and Downer booked onto CAPALC training day at end of September. Cllr Downer – following the last meeting, he was able to advise that Minutes should be published within 30 days of the meeting, even if a draft copy.
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Cllr Hargrave – the produce show was successful and well attended. Cllrs recommended that the organisers are encouraged to apply for Section 137 funding in advance of future Village Shows *** or explore the possibility of the Village Hall underwriting any loss. Ownership of the cups also needs clarifying and Clerk advised that a valuation should be obtained for the prizes/cups to ensure they are covered by insurance. Future events are a Macmillan coffee morning, Quiz night supper and Christmas event.Cllr Hargrave will include another reminder about dog fouling on the village newsletter as there has been an increase in incidents. 0061.25 FINANCIAL MATTERS: a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank o Parish Council (everyday) Account – balance as at 4/9/2025 £9961.55 (includes £500 bequest and £2500 grant)o Parish Council Deposit Account – balance as at 4/9/2025 £21755.36o Defibrillator account – balance as at 4/9/2025 – £210.81 b) PAYMENTS – to approve online payments in respect of the following *** Bradgate sent a statement regarding an outstanding payment from 2021 – Clerk advised that this invoice was paid at the time – Bradgate informed. | Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised |
| Staff costs | Wages for July (28 hours) HMRC National Insurance | 415.52 NIL | NIL | JRT | |
| WEL Medical PAID after August meeting | S137 funding of replacement pads for defibrillator | 132.25 | N/A | | |
| R P Tree Care PAID after August meeting | URGENT Removal of vegetation at junction | 250.00 | NIL | | |
| Bradgate Maintenance | Grass cutting – invoice from 2021 *** | 199.32 *** | | | |
| Bradgate Maintenance | Grass cutting – invoice no 3207 | 253.03 | 210.86 | | |
c) Clerk’s working hours for August, 29 hours was approved by Cllrs Bolton and Hargrave.d) PKF Littlejohn, external auditor, has confirmed Exemption in respect of the AGAR.e) SECTION 137 fund Softball group have confirmed their Constitution, bank account now set up – all criteria have been met and the payment of £800 will be made.0062.25 PLANNING applications and matters: a) There are no new applications for Parish Council decisions (as at 12th September). Tree works – reduction of elms and horsechestnut in vicinity of 23 Gaines Lane b) Neighbourhood Plan – Notices and website updated on 22nd August, paper copies made available to the public in all parishes. Meeting takes place on 20th September at 10.30 am in the Village Hall c) The Baptist Chapel – wall removed …. Conservation Area and Listed Building consent are required – nothing showing on Hunts DC website as at 12/9/2025 – email sent to Conservation Officer on 5/8/2025, no response yet. Resident has sent a selection of photographs of the wall to show works carried out. District Cllr Alban advised …. Response from Senior Planning Officer (see email 27/8). Further groundworks have been carried out recently – Clerk requested that she be informed to enable further correspondence with Conservation Officer/Planning Dept. d) Resident shared her correspondence with HuntsDC regarding excessive number of disabled parking bays on Main Street0063.25 Village Maintenance – A) The Jitty – Milton Estates have been asked to cut back vegetation (later in the year), also to change the gate latch at Mill Road entrance to Footpath 6, and to cut down and cut back vegetation along Main Street. Also to cut back vegetation on both approaches to Little Gidding to allow clear view at the junction.B) Rec Field – it was agreed that a contractor should be asked to cut back the perimeter hedge.C) Grass cutting of the Rec Field – Bradgate had been seen cutting the area on the day of the meeting and will be reminded that the contract is for 12 cuts per year.Cllr Hodson suggested that at least 1/3 of the Rec Field should only be cut once a year as it is not in use and could save on costs. Area to be defined before the grass cutting contract is renewed.D) Junction of Hemington Lodge Road and Main Street – vegetation removed and sight line improved but village name sign with gate structure is part of the hazard.E) Clerk resubmitted Highways report regarding missing “Little Gidding” sign. 0064.25 Allotments – Gidding Charity Trustees advise that rent will increase to £500 mainly because there has been a significant rise in water rates. After much discussion it was agreed to increase the annual rent to allotment holders by £5 to £30, and a review of the rent paid to the Charity in 2026 . Clerk will send out Annual Rent requests will be sent our prior to renewal date on 1st October, and allotment holders will be advised of the potential further increase in rents at 2026 renewal date. It was noted that two allotments had not been fully planted or well tended and the allotment holders will be contacted direct asking to consider giving up their tenancy DECISION to be reviewed in August 2026 – to accept rise in amount of annual rent for allotments. DECISION – to increase annual rent to allotment holders to £30 with effect from 1st October 2025. 0065.25 Correspondence received since 18th August 2025 : a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition for July, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads (2 in Huntingdonshire during last month), Local Authority reorganisation – email dated 4/9/2025 forwarded to Cllrs prior to the meeting.Highways events during coming months – none locally, Community Food initiative small grants available in respect of food poverty, Local Highways Initiative – 2026/27 expression of interest The Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough regionInformation about replacement Highways asset management system, known as Aurora – clerk has attended online information session. ALSO system will be offline from 18th to 21st September.c) Huntingdonshire District Council – · Town and Parish Council Newsletter (includes weekly food waste collection from April 2026), · invitation to Annual Climate Conference takes place on Wednesday 5th November at Burgess Hall – looking for attendees and stall holders, · next CIL round funding starts 27th October for applications to be submitted,· online events to encourage residents to stand in May 2026 pollsd) Cambs &Pboro Combined Authority – monthly newsletter, includes busese) Cambs ACRE – AGM on 8th October 2.00 – 3.00PM, via ZOOMg) Parish Online monthly newsletter h) Windows 11 support ends on 14th October (before the next meeting) – email showing options – laptop is not suitable for upgrade – Clerk requests advice and Cllr Bolton advised that this should not affect future use.i) Cambs CC Highways advise Hemington Lodge Road will be closed on Sunday 5th October to allow UK Power Networks to replace a telegraph pole. ALSO B660 in Winwick will be closed from 20 October 2025 – approx 1 weekj) ELAN CITY advise that warranty on one of the units will expire in January 2026 – can be extended for 3 years – £199+VAT each year – it was agreed not to pursue the warranty. 0066.25 Items for next meeting: The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 21st October 2025 in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
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