(The minutes of the August 2023 meeting given below are also available in PDF form, primarily for offline reading and printing. Please note that all minutes are draft until approved at a subsequent Parish Council meeting. Appendix 1, the financial statement referenced in item 15, is available in PDF format as a separate download.)
Minutes of the Parish Meeting held on 7th August, 2023
Those present were:
- Nick Ginn, Chairman;
- Michael Capps, Parish Councillor;
- Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor;
- Nigel Day, Parish Councillor;
- Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor.
Also present: District Councillor Richard West, and 5 members of the public.
1. The meeting was opened with silent prayer.
2. Apologies for absence.
Councillors Andrew Pett, James Catmur, Chris Bain and Sharon Brown (Clerk)
3. Declarations of Interest:
None.
4. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 3rd July: The Minutes were proposed by Councillor Ginn, seconded by Councillor Day and were approved,
5. OPEN FORUM:
A member of the public reported that a slate missing from the roof of the Reading Room. Councillor Davis to inform RR Committee Chairperson.
It was noted that the 30 mph still needs to be changed to 20 mph still on West Street.
Councillor Richard West, HDC, reported that he was sad to see Dutton Gardens still on the agenda but HDC now willing to have a meeting towards the end of August. The Clerk has emailed the relevant contacts.
Changes to the Green Bin – the conservatives are meeting on 10th August to discuss trying to change the decision, as green recycling was on their manifesto.
The Crown and Cushion ACV has been renewed – Councillor West thanked Councillor Ginn and Pett for their hard work in this process.
6. Planning Applications:
6.1. REF: 23/00491/FUL – 20 Little Gransden Lane Great Gransden Sandy, erection of detached dwelling utilising and existing vehicular access.
As agreed, the council went through the guidelines on the Neighbourhood Development Plan. On this basis it was decided to reject the planning application as it is outside the Development Plan area, could lead to ribbon development and there was no consideration of the public footpath which runs alongside the rear of the property.
Proposed Councillor Capps, seconded Councillor Ginn and unanimously approved.
6.2. REF. 23/01381/S73 – Variation of condition 2 (Approved Plans) of 8/01916/HHFUL, 23 Meadow Road, Great Gransden Sandy SG19 3BD.
It was noted that the proposal was mainly cosmetic with not major differences. Conservation rooflights had already been used and this application was to add additional rooflights. The council approved the application.
Proposed Councillor Ginn, Seconded Councillor Day and unanimously approved.
6.3. General planning enquiries to the Parish Council.
A query had been received about converting a music room to an AirBB. The council noted that this was an issue for HDC. Renting for holiday use is time limited and can be reported to HDC if the occupation of the dwelling is exceeded.
7. Crown & Cushion – Asset of Community Value – decision by HDC.
HDC has renewed the Asset of Community Value for the Crown and Cushion public house. It was renewed without any time lapse. HDC were very thorough and took legal advice. The advice also gives evidence that an ACV can be used to prevent change of use in any future planning application. The owners are able to appeal this decision. As a point of information, the Crown and Cushion is now listed for sale on Rightmove, Commercial. The advert does not mention that the pub is Grade II listed and in a Conservation Area. The moratorium period of six months does not prevent a sale during that time, but contracts could only be exchanged after the moratorium ends.
8. Playing Field.
The parish council recognises that there needs to be continued engagement with Mr Bentall between meetings and will get ETC and Zaun to arrange another meeting to ask that the MUGA be brought up to the current standards. The council has already agreed funds to improve the MUGA and Councillor Pett will be asked to contact Mr Bentall to move this forward.
8.2 Public Relations. Adequate information has been publicised for the present.
9. Sportsfield.
A quotation has been received to do some building work on one of the changing rooms, blocking it off from the nursery and giving it a second outside entrance, shower toilet and disabled toilet. The GSRA has funds available for this. These improvements will provide
- Toilet facilities which are needed – tennis club only building one toilet.
- More storage for the nursery – including, boarding out loft, extra cupboards, rent review.
No planning permission is required.
10. Hedge cutting and trees managed by GGPC.
Councillor Capps noted that the Parish Council needs to undertake regular tree inspections for everything on parish land and that it is time for another inspection. The previous company, OMC – Cambridge has all the information.
Councillor Capps will telephone and organise this once it is known if we need more quotations.
11. Defibrillator – checks.
The defibrillator is now operational, the new pads expire at the end of 2025. The new battery is guaranteed for 7 years. Best practice is to have a second set as can only be used once.
The council voted to accept the action taken by the Chairman, to renew the battery and pads in the Great Gransden defibrillators (Reading Room and Sportsfield) when it was discovered they were out of date.
Councillor Rowbotham proposed we buy 2 x new pads, Councillor Ginn seconded.
Defibrillators Checks – responsibilities:
Regular checks need to be done every 3 months to check battery and expiry dates as the defibrillators automatically de-register when the pads go out of date.
3-monthly Checks
Kirsty from the Football club has volunteered to check the one at the sports field.
Reading Room committee – it was suggested that a volunteer comes from that committee. Councillor Davis to contact them as their representative.
Annual Check
The PC will do a yearly check every June.
12. Reading Room – Building Project.
Councillor Davis reported that the trustees had met and agreed that the pre-app stage with the conservation officer can be initiated, subject to architect recommendations. Councillor West informed the parish council that as a public listed building a pre-app cannot be refused by HDC and offered his support if it were needed.
13. Green Space Land Northeast of Mandene Gardens. S106 Agreement under planning application 17/01375/OUT (‘Dutton Gardens openspace’).
The site meeting will be arranged soon, once everyone is back from holidays. It was noted that no CIL money had been received for the two new housing association houses. Additionally, there has still not been any reimbursement for the swing which was removed.
14. Green bin charge.
Councillor West reported that the Conservatives were meeting on 10th August to try to register their disagreement with this new policy. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about the decision that HDC will make regarding this. The Council agree that there had been poor communication from HDC and it was discouraging people from being environmental in their disposal of garden and food waste.
15. RFO’s Financial Statement July 2023 and Budget Review.
The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated.
Proposed – Councillor Capps. Seconded – Councillor Day.
Reading Room Cottage Insurance:
A letter had been received from NFU Insurance informing the council that the payment of £600 covered buildings insurance when the cottage is occupied. An additional payment will need to be made to cover the unoccupied status of the cottage until the new tenants move in at the end of September.
16. Payments for Approval
The payments below: Proposed Councillor Ginn. Seconded Councillor Rowbotham.
Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Monday 7th August 2023
Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable August 2023
1. RFO expenses for July 2023 £15.59
2. Human Capital Department (Retained HR support) £178.80
3. Buchans Landscaping £185.92
4. Mr N Ginn
(Reimbursement for defib pads) £475.19
5. Mr A Rowbotham
(Reimbursement for cricket equipment – MUGA) £22.00
6. Mr A Pett £7.96
(Reimbursement for Microsoft 365 Basic (April – Aug)
7. Mr R McIntosh (Garden of Remembrance) £7.50
8. Clerk’s Salary – August 2023 £676.00
9. RFO Salary – July 2023 £0.00
(28th August 2023)
10. HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Sept 23) £23.40
Automated Payments payable June 2023
1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £44.36
(11th August 2023)
2. DD SSE £ TBC*
(DD 18th August 2023)
*Invoice expected, but not available in time for meeting
17. Bank signatories
The council agreed the Parish Clerk should contact the RFO to ask her to chase up Nat West Bank. They need to email Councillor Capps and Councillor Davis a form so they can provide a signature.
18. County Broadband connection to Reading Room.
Councillors approved connection to County Broadband which will be free, a phone isn’t needed. Once it is connected then the BT contract can be ended.
Proposed: Councillor Day. Seconded Councillor Ginn.
19. Highways.
- Any repairs or maintenance needed.
- There is lots of yellow paint so some work may be upcoming.
- Ask highways who is responsible for making good the pavements after broadband installation. Gigaclear have made lots of mess putting in new cables and shoddily repairing. County Broadband used some of the open access network from BT and should be improving it. Gigaclear should be able to use this. Councillor Day will look into this further and write to project manager
- Middle Street – pot hole needs reporting
- Keep reporting 20 and 30 mph signage – lots of discrepancies which need constantly reporting so they will get sorted.
- AA autos – there is a new hedge planted on highways land further down the road towards the village. Highways need to cut the verge as it is highways land
Action: to write an official complaint to Highway to say this has not been dealt with . - Waresley Road is still flooding – highways need another reminder about this – enquire about progress on flooding issue on Waresley Road.
- Community Gritting Scheme applications for Winter 2023 – 2024
Noted – perhaps members of the community would like to volunteer for this scheme – follow the link and send your completed form by 31st October 2021.
“I will need a form for each of your volunteers, including those who have volunteered before. The form is required annually ensure our health and safety standards are being met.”
See below for a link to the Community Gritting registration form:
http://cambridgeshire-self.achieveservice.com/service/Community_gritting_registration_form
20. Correspondence
20.1 Noticeboard repair.
GGPC has received a suggestion of repair to the two noticeboards outside the Reading Room. The council acknowledged that theyneed repainting and slight repair. As it is likely to be a small amount, we are only required to get one quote.
20.2 Upcoming closures of Waresley and Gransden Woods, and Gamlingay Wood Nature Reserves
“Waresley and Gransden Woods will be closed during the week commencing 21st August for tree felling and extraction. This will be for approx. 6-8 weeks, (depending on the weather). The car park and Brownes’ Piece will remain open.
Once the work in Waresley and Gransden is complete, Gamlingay Wood Nature Reserve will then be closed for same works but probably 4-6 weeks. This closure covers the whole site. We would really appreciate your help in making sure local people are aware of the closures and that they stay out of the woods for safety reasons.”
Waresley Parish council has complained about unnecessary closure and attitude to general public but did not have a favourable response. It was agreed that Great Gransden Parish Council would draft a letter asking for further information and ask that they keep part of the wood open for public use.
20.3 Water pollution under Mandean Bridge. Councillor Day has complained 3 times about the smell and was told it was pumping station. He wrote again to say sewage could be seen and was told it was stagnant water from the road drains.
After rain on Saturday, it was very smelly – someone came out to inspect and reported that there was a concrete drain under which is a large puddle where it is getting stagnant. Sewage goes alongside brook to the pumping station
Anglian water say it is a highways problem, and not theirs.
The councillors support Councillor Day to write a letter to Highways on behalf of the Parish Council.
20.4 Gigaclear works – concerns. discussed earlier in the meeting – see Highways.
21. HR Committee Update. In line with the legislation below*, this item will be closed to the public.
22. Date of Next Meeting: Monday 4th September 2023 which will commence at 7.30pm.
The meeting ended at 21:20.
(Appendix 1 available here: Financial Statement – Parish Accounts July 2023.)
*‘Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960
(2) A body may, by resolution, exclude the public from a meeting (whether during the whole or part of the proceedings) whenever publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated in resolution and arising from the nature of that business or of the proceedings; and where such a resolution is passed, this Act shall not require the meeting to be open to the public during proceedings to which the resolution applies.’