(These minutes of the October 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.)
(please note that the formatting of the following went astray when the contents of the PDF were pasted into this post. This is being worked on!)
Those present were:
- Nick Ginn, Chairman;
- James Catmur, Parish Councillor;
- Nigel Day, Parish Councillor
- Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor
- Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor;
- Michael Capps, Parish Councillor;
- Andrew Pett, Parish Councillor;
- District Councillor Stephen Ferguson
… and 8 members of the public.
- The meeting was opened at 7.30 pm with a silent prayer.
- Apologies for absence. Apologies were received from District Councillor Richard West and Parish Councillor Chris Bane
- Declarations of Interest. No declarations of interest
- Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on the 5th September 2022 were approved and signed accordingly by the Chairman.
- OPEN FORUM. The meeting was closed for twenty minutes.
Crown and Cushion – update from the Open the Crown & Cushion Committee: The Committee set up an online survey during the summer, which gave a 93% positive response to continue efforts to re-open the pub. The Committee has tried to engage the landlords, who have however, requested no further contact. CAMRA and the Plunkett Foundation are assisting the Committee. The next action will be asking residents to petition HDC. County Councillor Ferguson noted that he and District Councillor Richard West continue to take the matter before HDC.
DC Councillor Ferguson also commented on:
• Local Highways Improvement grants: application for new grants will be open between October 31st and Christmas. There is now the opportunity for one application per community group / village, plus a second application from the parish council.
• The lack of free school buses from Great Gransden, which is not the case in some surrounding villages.
• Bus 18: the withdrawal of Stagecoach from running the service. HDC is applying to for £1.7 million to support bus services. There is pressure to include villages with very poor services, including Great Gransden in a new trial by Ting. The Greater Cambridge Partnership proposed congestion charge in Cambridge, this may be directed to better village bus services.
• Aircraft Noise: further information – there is no statutory duty to consult with communities that lie under 7000ft below a flight path.
Mandene Gardens / Sand Road: A member of the public raised the matter of the poor condition of the footpath along Mandene Road and the kerbstone at the corner with Sand Road.
Reading Room / Warm Spaces initiative: Information from the Reading Room Committee.
The Reading Room could be opened by the Committee for a few mornings each week. There are HDC grants available for certain aspects of the initiative.
Potential development of baby play area: a member of the public asked if there would be consultation on such a project, noting that there is local concern as to possible increased noise levels.
Pavement along West Street: a member of the public raised the issue of the poor condition of sections of the pavement along West Street. - Matters Arising:
6.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan: Continued notification that the HDC consultation will close on 7th October 2022 at 5pm.
6.2 Multi-Use Games Area:
Meeting with Residents, Wednesday 7th September at the Reading Rooms at 18.30 hrs The residents explained they had done a leaflet drop of a questionnaire and collated the results. Many of the complaints relate to not being consulted despite HDC going through the statutory planning consultation process and GGPC hosting a number of local events for residents throughout the design stages. After much discussion covering a number of topics and the residents presenting a number of solutions (CCTV, moving the MUGA, locking it, named warden etc) it was reluctantly accepted there are practical limits on the Parish Council’s obligations. It was agreed that:- There has been a reduction in out of hours use and it is important that education (Roundabout),
inspections etc. are continued next March. - The PC would review the maintenance arrangements to make sure these were aligned with
minimising any potential excess noise through an unaddressed need for routine maintenance - The PC would contact the contractors to see if any further noise reducing measures could be
considered, such as goal nets and low noise back boards for the basketball nets. - The PC would resume local education activities in March and be responsive to any reports of
out of hours use. - Richard West would speak to HDC (specifically Melanie Draper) to seek their advice as it was HDC that approved the design of the MUGA considering any environmental concerns relating to neighbouring residents.
- 6.3 Dog Poo Bins, costings and progress: A full reply to queries is awaited from HDC. 6.4 ACV on Crown and Cushion: As no reply has been received from HDC, to two previous emails in sent in September, Councillor Andrew Pett will resubmit the nomination form for the Asset of Community Value on the Crown and Cushion. Councillors Ferguson and West asked that they be kept up to date with GGPC actions so that they can support the campaign. The current ACV expires in July 2023, having been renewed when the pub was still open. There were questions as to keeping a listed building in good repair and planning permissions required.
6.5 GGPC Website: Councillor Day has prepared the website management training material. The Chairman and Clerk will undertake the training.
6.6 EWR Meeting 26th September, (verbal update from Councillor Catmur): the government now wishes to accelerate this project.
- There has been a reduction in out of hours use and it is important that education (Roundabout),
- Playground Maintenance and Development:
• Maintenance: Councillor Davis gave an update on progress. End November – Online Playgrounds will undertake resurfacing under the swings and some edge repairs (weather dependent) and fix new boards on the climbing frame. The playground will need to be closed for approximately 10 days. Paint has been acquired for repainting the train and volunteers are requested.
• Development: an Open Meeting will be arranged to discuss the proposals for the ‘early years’ and inclusive playground development. The letter of concern from a local resident, about possible noise increase with further playground development, and the reply from GGPC were discussed. Conversation with the school has highlighted the need for a more inclusive playground, with options including; a wheelchair accessible roundabout; a cradle / basket swing; early years
play provision.
• Quotes: Councillor Cathy Davis has obtained quotes.
For three items as above, the cost would be in the region of £36-39K: accessible roundabout
- £11,700; basket swing – £8K; early years play equipment £15-16K. (It was noted that the
current roundabout actually needs to be replaced soon).
Community Infrastructure Levy funding has been applied for from HDC; the response will
be during October. Match funding is required.
Three other grants have been applied for, with two refused on the grounds that Great
Gransden is too well endowed with equipment, and the National Lottery response is awaited.
The latter is only for a maximum of £10K.
There is currently £6K earmarked for play equipment in GGPC funds. Councillor Davis noted that a further £10K would be needed from GGPC to match fund the first two items.
Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Catmur, with unanimous approval, that initially, the match funding be made available from GGPC funds for the first two items of equipment.Reading Room Cottage Water Supply: The Cottage and Reading Room water supplies are - currently on the same water meter. The Reading Room Management Committee have requested this
- situation be resolved. Councillor Andrew Pett put forward the proposal to separate the supplies with
- two meters. Councillors Cathy Davis and Nick Ginn seconded the proposal. Councillor Davis noted
- that a survey was required for a business account, the cost being £120.00.
Clerk’s Financial Statement for September 2022. The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated. The statement was unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman.
Payments for Approval
Payments previously approved and paid since 5th September 2022
Mr A Hammett £307.48
(For carpentry works previously authorised and approved for the RR Cottage)
Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable September 2022
RFO expenses for September 2022 £14.39
1386
HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Nov 22) £0.00*
Mr A Pett
(Operation London Bridge binder) £40.00
Buchans Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance £353.78
(Invoice no 3066)
Buchans Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance £353.78
(Invoice no 3025)
Human Capital Department £178.80*
(Retained HR support)
The Mower Shed £156.00
(Invoice no 1324)
Cambridgeshire Acre – NDP Consultancy support £1500.00
(Invoice no 7726)
CLPM Ltd £473.40
(Balance of fee – Reading Room)
Great Gransden Reading Room Committee £465.00
(Reimbursement for cleaning – Invoice 708)
Great Gransden Reading Room Committee £441.25
(Reimbursement for cleaning – Invoice 726)
Great Gransden Reading Room Committee £20.00
(Hall Hire for NDP – Invoice 705)
RFO Salary – Oct 2022 £244.40**
(28th Oct 2022)
Caretaker Salary – Oct 2022 £577.40**
(28th Oct 2022)
Automated Payments payable October 2022
DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £ TBC*
(11th Oct 2022)
DD SSE £ TBC*
(DD 18th Sept 2022)
*Awaiting bill / invoice at time of publication
**Full payslips not yet available. Amounts may be subject to slight variations to allow for tax
liabilities.
Following a question regarding Item 12, this payment was withdrawn.
All other payments were proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Day and approved
unanimously.
Highways.
• Any repairs or maintenance needed:
Mandene Gardens – the poor state of pavements, together with the kerb stone at the corner with Sand Road will be reported to HDC.
Waresley Road flooding – Councillor Michael Capps still has no reply from Highways with respect to this problem.
• Road markings by Crown and Cushion: noted that these are worn out. Councillor Rowbotham will report these to HDC.
• Caxton Road – The footpath as far as the children’s nursery is very narrow and following an email regarding this it was noted that the speed limit along this road is 40 mph, but this is considered too fast for this section. The footpath only allows for single file. There was discussion around the width of Highways land, the CCC transport consultation coming out on Wednesday 5th October and its possible coverage of village
buffer zones / 20 mph speed limit zones / cycle path to Caxton / the effect of E-W Rail
and the development of the A428. There was also discussion about using the village VAS
(Vehicle Activated Sign) in this location. Noted that the police have previously not
supported a speed reduction along this stretch of road. It was considered that a village
Open Meeting would be needed to discuss the issues. Noted that Caxton Road line
markings are also worn out, which will be reported.
• Footpaths (Councillor Rowbotham): the footpath across the arable land towards
Leycourt Farm is difficult to use, the width reduced and very muddy. Noted that the
famer has 14 days in which to reinstate paths after cultivation. Councillor Capps will
investigate.
• Transport Strategies Huntingdonshire & Fenland (see email in report): The
consultation survey and draft strategies will be available on the Consult Cambs
website https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/ from Monday 12 September. The
draft strategies, the survey and the opportunity to speak to staff from the transport
planning team will be available at the following events:
(Events near Great Gransden)
Tesco superstore Huntingdon: Saturday 1 October, from 2pm until 5pm
St Neots Market: Thursday 6 October, from 10am until 1pm
Waitrose St Ives: Thursday 6 October, from 2pm until 5pm
Grafton Centre, Cambridge: Wednesday 19 October, from 10am until 3pm
There will also be information located in libraries across the county, so residents who are
unable to access the internet or cannot attend an event can view hard copies of the draft
strategies and complete the survey.
• LHI Process 2023/24 (email already circulated): Councillor Catmur noted that there
are quite a lot of changes to funding contained in the LHI Report. Agreed that ideas for
new Great Gransden highways actions should be brought to the next meeting. Noted that
pavements and speed limits had come to the fore during this meeting.
• Great Gransden 20MPH Zone – Formal Consultation: CCC Highways placed the
notices in the press on 5th October. Thus, the ensuing 21-day consultation period will
close on 26th October 2022.
Correspondence
12.1 Memorial Bench: the position for the memorial bench requested has been clarified with the
enquirer as the Great Gransden PC Cemetery. Great Gransden PC will make a suggestion as to
the exact site. Overlooking the stream was suggested. Also noted was that one of the benches is
in a poor state and might be replaced if not already a memorial bench. Agreed to have a site
meeting of parish councillors.
12.2 St Neots Museum Funding request: Agreed that funding would not be made by Great
Gransden PC. Noted that Great Gransden residents do not currently have free access to the
museum.
12.3 Mill Weir: A reply with request for further information has been sent to the local resident
concerned about the management of the pond. A response is awaited. Councillor Capps noted
that it is now impossible to manage the scrub at the road side, with a farm hedge trimmer, since
highways bollards were erected and reduced the width of approach for machinery.
1388
12.4 Warm Spaces activity: The Reading Room Committee has applied to District Council for
assistance in opening the Reading Room for a further three mornings under the Winter Warm
Spaces Initiative. Noted that in Great Gransden there is also the Lighthouse Café at the Baptist
Chapel on Tuesdays.
12.5 Waresley Woods Closure: Noted that there is much concern in the village about the
closure of Waresley and Gransden Woods for large scale felling. It is understood that Ash
Dieback disease has largely taken hold, however, the amount of felling, lack of consultation with
local people and the closure of the woods for months is of great concern and disappointment.
The Chairman is in correspondence with the Wildlife Trust with respect to obtaining more
detailed information than that published in the local parishes Roundabout newsletter.
12.6 Burial Policy: The burial policy for the Great Gransden Cemetery has now been reissued
and is available on the Great Gransden Parish Council website. Noted that an emergency subcommittee meeting had been held with respect to the very last minute request for a double burial.
Due to this difficult circumstance the burial was agreed. However, as the Burial Ground Policy
states this is not allowable, resolved that the above circumstance will not set a precedent.
12.7 Oil Brokerage: Noted that this is not a Parish Council matter and that an organisation
already exists for such in the village.
12.8 The Stukeleys Neighbourhood Plan Submission (email already circulated): Noted.
Planning:
13.1 PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 22/01994/HHFUL
Erection of cartlodge/store to rear of dwelling 36 – 38 Church Street Great Gransden:
Approved. Noted that this is the replacement of an old dilapidated building and that it will have
minimal impact to surroundings.
13.2 PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 22/01623/HHFUL
Construction of new metal storage barn. 46 Meadow Road Great Gransden SG19 3B:
Approval was proposed by Councillor Pett and seconded by Councillor Ginn and unanimously
agreed. The replacement and relocation of the barn was considered acceptable for modern usage.
13.3 DMC Meeting report from September 26th: It was noted that although District Councillor
West, Councillor Pett and Paul Thomas, a resident had spoken again the Alterations to the Sand
Road junction the District Council Development Management Committee had passed it.
HR Committee Update.
In line with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 this item was considered in closed
session.
Date of Next Meeting.
The next meeting has been arranged for Monday 7th November 2022 at 7:30pm
This meeting closed at 9:30pm