This meeting will take place on Tuesday 19th April 2022
Starting at 7.30PM
At Great Gidding Village Hall
This is not a formal Parish Council meeting. It is an opportunity for residents of Great and Little Gidding to find out more about the work that the Parish Council are doing, to raise any issues they wish regarding the village and comment on plans for the coming year.
All are welcome to join.
AGENDA:
Chairman’s welcome
Minutes of the meeting, held via Zoom, on 20th April 2021
The Chairman’s Annual Report from the Parish Council
Update on current tasks within the Parish and plans for 2022-23
For members of the public to present, discuss and resolve any other matters related to Great and Little Gidding Parish.
Present: Cllrs Hodson, Bolton and Pudney, County Councillor Gardener and the Clerk.
154.21 Cllr Hodson, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.
155.21 There were no apologies for absence
156.21 There were no Member’s declarations of Disclosable Interests
157.21 No members of the Public or Press attended the meeting
158.21 Minutes of the meeting, held on 18th January 2022, were confirmed as a true and correct record. Acceptance proposed by Cllr Bolton and seconded by Cllr Pudney.
159.21 There were no matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
160.21 Reports from Councillors and Clerk:
Clerk enquired of County Councillor Gardener details of the proposed change of Parliamentary Constituency boundaries, whereby our Parish may become part of South Peterborough (currently North West Cambridgeshire). This is a process that takes place from time to time as area populations increase to level up the constituency areas – consultation period has now closed and decisions are awaited.
County Councillor Gardener
Councillor Steven Ferguson is now Chairman of the County Council.
The County Council element of Council Tax will increase by 1.99%, and Adult Social Care to increase by 3%. The income generated is anticipated to be £6.9m and this will be allotted to Council Reserves.
There will be an increase of £20 to those persons receiving Universal Credit.
Cllr Gardener left the meeting after advising on item 163.21a
161.21 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) to note Barclays Bank statements for Parish Council account
b) Annual Finance review – a list of spending to date, together with a budget spreadsheet were shared at the meeting. Cllr Hodson explained about precept/income and expenditure/assets and budgets to Parish Councillors.
c) PAYMENTS of the following items was approved by Cllrs Bolton and Pudney
Who
What for
TOTAL
VAT
Authorised
Authorised
Catalyst Design
Setting up Noticeboard page on website and training of Clerk
336.00
56.00
JRT
PH
CAPALC
Annual subscription
57.00
~
JRT
PH
J R Trolove
Wages for December (18 hours)
Xxx
~
JRT
PH
WAVE/AWA
Final invoice for Rec Ground toilet unit
5.06
~
Direct debit
PH
Paul Hodson
Capping off Toilet unit supply
15.92
~
JRT
JP
d) Clerk’s hours worked between 1st and 31st January (29 hours) approved by Cllr Bolton and Pudney.
162.21 Planning Applications and Planning matters: NONE received as at 11/2/2022
163.21 Highways and Footpaths:
a) LHI bid for 2022-23 – Nick Hill had submitted a presentation to Parish Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. A response from CambsCC indicated that there would be minimal improvement to traffic calming/road safety if the proposed measures were implemented. County Cllr Gardener advised that the proposal could still be submitted, but would be unlikely to gain sufficient support to be successful based on the County Council comments. Cllr Gardener has had considerable experience of the Local Highways Bid Scheme and suggested an approach for a future bid for the Little Gidding junction. He offered to arrange an on-site meeting with a Highways officer to consider the options.
Based on these comments, Cllr Hodson proposed that the current application be withdrawn, with a revised proposal to be submitted for 2023/24 bid. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Bolton.
b) Parishioner requested discussion of condition of various public footpaths + another enquiry. Emails have been received with concerns regarding aspects of various footpaths in the Parish. CambsCC have contacted the Clerk regarding one of the enquiries and the Clerk has requested a meeting or discussion with a CambsCC representative to address other issues regarding public footpaths.
164.21 Training opportunities for Councillors and Clerk
February 16th – Councillor Training, split session – 6.30 to 9PM
23rd – Councillor training, split session – 6.30 to 9PM
More online training options are now being offered by CAPALC and details are shared on their monthly newssheet, a copy of which is forwarded to Councillors.
165.21 Recreation Ground:
Mole problem will be addressed by Arrestapest
Toilet unit has been disconnected from the Main Sewer and final invoice received from WAVE/AWA. The toilet will be removed when ground conditions allow. The concrete base that the toilet stood on will remain in situ.
166.21 Correspondence received since 18th January 2021 (other than that discussed in agenda items above).
See attached list, discussion on the following items:
j) Cllr Hodson and the Clerk will attend a meeting to share thoughts and ideas with District Councillor Alban and other local Parish Council Chairmen and Clerks on Wednesday 9th March.
l) CambsCC response dated 7/2/2022 to request for a further grit bin on Chapel End. A price has been quoted and CambsCC would need to identify a site where road visibility was not impaired. Councillors discussed and agreed that this bin would not completely solve the problem of ice on the roads and footpaths in this area. A request has been made on the most recent parish newsletter for volunteer footpath gritters and, at this stage, a grit bin will not be ordered.
p) following a request for the provision of equipment for litter picking around the parish, the Clerk will research prices and submit to the March meeting.
167.21 Items for decisions at next meeting:
Prepare for Co-option of Parish Councillor
168.21 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 March 2022
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding.
Over the Jubilee Bank Holiday we would like to display any photographs/newspaper cuttings/certificates, in fact anything that reminds us of events that have happened in the Giddings, over the last 70 years……it may be pantos, various clubs, sporting activities, groups, societies, fetes, community picnics and dances to name just a few.
Have you anything that we could use and put on display? Please help us if you can by making sure any personal memorabilia you have is clearly identifiable with the date and event name and also clearly marked with your name and contact no. The cut off date for getting those memories out of the attic and over to us is the end of April so there’s not much time.
All will be brought together for the Jubilee Bank Holiday and displayed at the Village Hall for everyone to come along and share the memories….
This coming Saturday, 5th February, there will be a working party in the Jubilee Wood, to tidy up the recently trimmed shrubs and trees. Michael will be there from 9.30AM, come along with heavy duty gloves as the main activity will be to add to the “dead hedge” (a structure made of the trimmings/prunings, to create a habitat for wildlife – come and see or take a look at the video below).
In addition, thanks to donations to the Great Gidding Charity, fruit trees have been purchased to be planted in the remaining spaces in the Orchard. These fruit trees have Royal associated names and will be planted to mark the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, and the start of her Platinum Jubilee Year. At 11.00AM, there will be a rest from the activity, bring along a flask (you choose the contents), there will be cake, and we will drink a toast to Her Majesty.
Please spread the word to your neighbours, and join us at 9.30 AM or 11.00 AM.
The PCC of Great Gidding is proposing to replace the outer doors to the south porch of St. Michael’s Church with new glazed doors of similar design. To do this we need to obtain a faculty (i.e. permission) from the Diocese of Ely. A condition for granting a faculty is that the PCC has consulted parishioners on the proposal. Hence this note.
If you wish to object
If you wish to object to any of the works or proposals you should write stating the grounds of your objection to:
The Diocesan Registrar, The Bishop of Ely’s Registry, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3JT;
so that it reaches the Registrar no later than: 10th February 2022
A letter of objection must include your name and address and state whether you live in the parish and/or your name is entered on the church electoral roll of the parish or any other basis on which you have an interest in the matter.
For further information
If you require any further information please contact John De Val on johnedeval@hotmail.com
St Michael’s Church is now closed until further notice.
This is to enable large scale restoration work to take place at the east end of the north aisle. It is anticipated that this work will last until early March. Access to the church will be for authorized personnel only. The scale of the work does not permit us to set aside a limited space in the church for private prayer and quiet.
Little Gidding Church open
However, please note that St John’s Church, Little Gidding is open seven days a week between the hours of 10am and 4pm.
Services in the Baptist Church
The Baptist Church has very kindly offered the use of their building during this period. Therefore on Sunday 16th January, there will be a service of Evensong in the chapel, taken by our churchwarden John De Val and starting at 4pm.
Enquiries
If you have any enquiries regarding the closure or services, please contact John De Val, telephone number: 01832 293417
The First Communion of Christmas takes place, on Christmas Eve, in St Michael’s Church, starting at 9pm. The seating at this service will be ‘socially distanced’. Again, we seek your support in asking that you keep your masks in place when singing carols during this service.
The following day, Christmas Day, there is a service of Holy Communion at Hamerton Church, starting at 9.30am Finally, a very happy Christmas to everyone.
Our thanks to those people who decorated St Michael’s Church. This was very much a case of people ‘doing their own thing’ and results were stunning. Thank you so much.
Main Street in Great Gidding was temporarily blocked off on Tuesday 21st December 2021 whilst the newly refurbished school bell tower was lifted into place prior to refitting.
Sadly, it has been decided to CANCEL the Family Carol Service in St Michael’s Church, scheduled for this Saturday 18th December.
The decision was not taken lightly, but inevitable in the light of rapidly increasing COVID infections. We hope you understand the difficulty in making that decision but being safe came out as the top priority for our community.
How lovely to be able to meet up with people again’
The village hall looks spectacular’
A great Great Gidding event’
So good to do something normal and Christmassy again’
Those are just a few of the comments made by visitors to our second Christmas Cornucopia in the Village Hall on 27 November.
Despite the weather doing its best to discourage anyone from leaving the warmth of their home, you came in your droves to support the first ‘proper’ event in the village hall since the pandemic put paid to so many plans.
With a wide-ranging array of quality goods and crafts, there was plenty to attract those in search of Christmas gifts for youngster and oldster alike. All the stallholders reported a busy afternoon while the tombola was as popular as ever.
The main hall was, indeed, beautifully arrayed in a festival of lights and greenery, all adding to the festive atmosphere. In the small hall, tea, coffee and cakes were popular and gave people who hadn’t seen each other for some time the chance to sit and chat for a while.
A huge thank you
Such a successful event doesn’t happen by accident and our thanks go to everyone who played a part in making this such an enjoyable afternoon, with lots of smiles and happy faces. So, to the organising and hall decorating teams, the printing and publicity gurus, our brilliant stallholders, the people who so generously donated to the tombola and the raffle hamper and, of course, to everyone who visited and contributed so much to the atmosphere, a huge THANK YOU!
Raffle winner
Many congratulations to Sue Beck. You are the lucky winner of the Christmas Cornucopia Raffle Hamper, with the ticket number 358.
PS: Although everyone complied with Covid recommendations and the hall was kept well-ventilated throughout, we were sorry to hear that some people (both visitors and stallholders) were ‘pinged’ after the event, to advise they had been close to someone who had tested positive. Happily, as far as we know, all those contacted subsequently tested negative for Covid.
