Minutes of the November 2022 meeting

(These minutes of the November meeting are available in PDF form for offline reading and printing. Please note that all minutes are draft until approved at a subsequent Parish Council meeting.)


Those present were:

  • Nick Ginn, Chairman;
  • James Catmur, Parish Councillor;
  • Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor;
  • Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor;             
  • Andrew Pett, Parish Councillor;
  • District Councillor Stephen Ferguson;

… and 8 members of the public.

1. The meeting was opened at 7:30 pm with a silent prayer.

2. Apologies for absence.  Apologies were received from District Councillor Richard West and Parish Councillors Chris Bane, Michael Capps and Nigel Day.

3. Declarations of Interest.  No declarations of interest.

4. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on the 3rd October were approved and signed accordingly by the Chairman.

5. OPEN FORUM.  The meeting was closed for 10 minutes.  

County Councillor Stephen Ferguson reported on:

  • Local bus routes and funding: Village bus routes have been saved for 6 months with the funding obtained by Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority. Councillor Ferguson has received much correspondence on the issue from Great Gransden. Bus route 18 has actually been extended through to St. Neots. Great Gransden has not yet been included in the new trial by Ting. The current CPCA consultation Making Connections considers some rural transport issues.
  • Local Highways Improvement grants: application for new grants will be open between October 31st 2022 to 6th January 2023. Changes to the criteria for application take in a slightly broader range of initiatives.

6. Matters Arising: 

6.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan:  The Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group gave an update. The Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan is now at stage 10 of 12. An update is posted on the Great Gransden website. The examiner has given a preliminary response, which took into account the NDP public consultation. The NPWG has replied to initial questions. The examiner will also visit the village this week and a further response is expected shortly afterwards. It is not anticipated that any major modifications will be required. It was noted that the assistance of HDC and services of a consultant have been very helpful.

6.2 Multi-Use Games Area: Maintenance: The surface spraying still needs to be done.

6.3 Dog Poo Bins, costings and progress: HDC will be siting a trial bin with a view to finding the level of use, before any permanent bin be agreed. There is some concern amongst various residents that a new bin should not be sited outside their homes.

6.4 ACV on Crown and Cushion: A reply has been received from HDC noting that an application to renew the ACV cannot be received prior to 8 weeks before the lapse of the previous listing. The Parish Council will be informed at that time that the current ACV is about to end. There was discussion about planning restrictions on the property, noting that small repairs or replacing like for like did not usually require planning permission or notification to the planning authority. There were also queries about the pub sign.

6.5 Memorial Bench update: A meeting of councillors at the churchyard still needs to convene to establish the siting of the proposed new bench.

6.6 Warm Spaces Activity: Councillor Davis reported that 4 out of 5 days are covered in local villages with various halls open to all and that these are fully publicised.

7. Playground Maintenance and Development:

  • Maintenance: Painting of the train has been started, but now curtailed by inclement weather. It was agreed to wait until the Spring before further painting. Councillor Capps will be asked to take the fence down and put it in store for the winter. The repair to the surface under the swings has not happened. A commencement date will be requested from the firm undertaking the work, although this may again be weather dependent. Agreed that quotes would also be obtained for the painting of the main posts of the climbing frame.
  • Development: Both the CIL funding – £20K and the National Lottery grant application – £10K, have been successful. With the match funding of £10K from GGPC funds, already agreed, the full project can be achieved. The Playing Field Sub-committee was congratulated. Agreed that the Playing Field Sub-committee would review quotes and bring recommendations to the next Parish Council meeting. It was further noted, that a public meeting will be held to discuss the proposals, once these recommendations have been received.

Noted that there may also be monies forthcoming to the Parish Council from the Mandene Gardens development. Councillor Davis will pursue the matter with HDC. There is now an area at the foot of Mandene Gardens surrounded by a high fence supposedly for a play area. However, as it is without public view it is currently unsuitable for children’s play. Concern of local residents about development of a play area on this site was noted.

8. Reading Room Cottage Water Supply: A quote of £2935.20 has been received for the division of the cottage water supply from that of the Reading Room. The cost includes the possible need to close the road to undertake the work. The matter will be referred back to the Reading Room Committee. It was noted that the quote was in fact not excessive and that the separation of water supply and metering would in the end be advantageous.

9. Reading Room:

9.1 Building Project: A further meeting is needed with the architects concerning the proposed extension. There will then be consideration of the plans by the full Parish Council in closed session. Once the plans are at a relevant stage, the Parish Council will hold a village wide open consultation, with exhibition of the proposals. 

9.2 Maintenance: There has been the need for minor repairs and some painting.

10.1 Clerk’s Financial Statement for October 2022 and Budget Review.  The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated.  The statement was unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman.

10.2 Precept 2023/24: A correction to one small point in the calculations of the proposed precept is required. This does not affect the final proposal that the precept should remain the same as for 2022 /23 at £39K. This was proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Ginn and unanimously agreed. Noted that funds had been built up in the last two years by previously raising the precept, thus placing the Parish Council in a reasonable financial position for the coming year.

11. Payments for Approval

The proposed payments below, were approved, apart from item 10 which was queried. Parish Council approval for the expenditure on item 10 will be checked.

Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Monday 7th November 2022

Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable November 2022

1. RFO expenses for October 2022: £14.39

2. HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Dec 22): £0.00*

3. Buchans Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance (Invoice no 3097): £307.51

4. Buchans Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance (Invoice no 3066): £353.78

5. Buchans Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance (Invoice no 3025): £353.78

6. Human Capital Department (Retained HR support): £178.80

7. Mrs C Davis (Paint for Train (Playground Maintenance): £106.75

8. Cambridgeshire Acre – CiLCA Training (Invoice no 3579): £400.00

9. Mr A Pett(Expenses incurred during temporary covering of Clerk Position): £35.33

10. bb+c architects (Structural & Quantity Surveying Services for RR): £2003.40

11. The Mower Shed (Invoice 1346): £156.00

12. Mr R McIntosh (Garden of Remembrance): £7.50

13. Clerk’s Payment (inc expenses): £1015.48

14. RFO Salary – Nov 2022 (28th Nov 2022): £244.40

15. Caretaker Salary – Nov 2022 (28th Nov 2022): £0.00

Automated Payments payable October 2022

1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £ TBC * (11th Nov 2022)

2. DD SSE £ 103.36 (DD 18th Nov 2022)

*Awaiting bill / invoice at time of publication

12.Complaints Procedure – development: The NALC format to be adopted, with the document published on the GGPC website. Proposed by Councillor Pett and seconded by Councillor Catmur, with unanimous approval.

13. Highways.

  • Any repairs or maintenance needed:
  • Mandene Gardens – the displaced kerb stone and broken pavement surface have been reported. The kerb stone has been put back but not fixed in place, therefore remaining a hazard, thus it will be reported again on the CCC Highways Road Fault Report website.
  • Waresley Road flooding – There has been no action by CCC Highways to clear the debris filled drain. Noted that Waresley Road will be closed for telecommunications works in January and that this would be a good opportunity for Highways to clear the blocked drain nearby. Contact to be made with Highways in this respect.
  • Road markings by Crown and Cushion: The worn-out markings have been reported to CCC Highways.
  • Caxton Road  – There are many Road Fault Reports on the Highways Fault Report website. Noted that everyone, individuals and Parish Council, needs to continue reporting the issues here, including the narrow pavement, in order to highlight the importance if the problems. Noted that there is a projected 70% increase in traffic flow in both directions during the forthcoming A428 widening works. Concern was expressed that, although monitoring of the current traffic flow has begun, there is no proposal to mitigate for the A428 development until after monitoring shows any changes. This road is thought to be an ideal candidate for an LHI submission.
  • Footpaths (Councillor Rowbotham): the footpath across the arable land towards Leycourt Farm has still not been reinstated. This will be reported on the CCC Highways Road / Path Fault Report system.
  • Transport Strategies Huntingdonshire & Fenland (see email in report): The submission from Great Gransden Parish Council noted: a) no actions in the consultation relevant to reducing high volumes of peak-time traffic through villages and that Great Gransden suffers from such traffic; b) GGPC would like to see more coherent and coordinated actions on the ‘A428 avoidance’ routes, such as better public transport, improved footpath network in heavily trafficked villages, more cycling routes (eg Cambourne-> Caxton-> Gransden-> Waresley-> Abbotsley-> St Neots), traffic calming, lower speed limits and RASS (Radar Activated Speed Sign).
  • Great Gransden 20MPH Zone – Formal Consultation: A submission has been made by GGPC. There was discussion on the need for 30mph zones to be extended where there are currently 40mph sections.
  • Making Connections 2022 consultation: The GGPC submission notes that the consultation is concerned with the towns and proposes little for the villages. Noted that proposed Cambridge congestion charge needs to be ringfenced for rural public transport and that if rural connectivity is enabled, it might be a success.
  • TTRO application, Proposed closure Waresley Road, Great Gransden 16/1-18/1/23: Noted, the proposed closure for telecommunications works.
  • LHI Process 2023/24 (email already circulated): Councillor Catmur has agreed to prepare a proposal for LHI submission to be submitted in the current funding round. Noted that the Parish Council would be required to fund 50%. Contact will be made with the nursery, playgroup and the Gransden Sports Field Recreation committee concerning possible funding and community bids. Noted that many ideas for possible LHI inclusion were submitted during Neighbourhood Plan consultation. Further ideas for road / path improvements will also be sought from the parish via Touchbase.

14. Correspondence.

14.1 Meadow Road Speeding Traffic: No further action to correspondence required at this time.

14.2 Bus stop Meadow Road: A reply to be sent to District Councillor West to assist him in his response to this concern expressed to him.

14.3 Anglian Water’s proposal for a new reservoir in the Fens: consultation (non-statutory) 12/10 – 21/12/2022: Noted. Considered that further water resources are needed in the region.

15.  Planning: No planning applications received this month.

14.  HR Committee Update. 

In line with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 this item was considered in closed session.

15. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting has been arranged for Monday 5th December at 7:30pm.

This meeting closed at 9:20pm.