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 18th 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.
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 17th 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 4th 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 1st 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. 9th January 2026. Replacement router to enable connection.
- 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 18th 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 17th 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 17th 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 6th December 2025
0107.25 Items for next meeting:
Car parking area for Village Hall
The next meeting will commence at 7.30pm on 20th January 2026
in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
Meeting closed at 21.44
