(These minutes of the May 2023 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.)
Minutes of the Parish Meeting held on 2nd May 2023
Those present were:
- Nick Ginn, Chairman;
- Andrew Pett, Vice Chairman;
- Michael Capps, Parish Councillor;
- James Catmur, Parish Councillor;
- Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor;
- Nigel Day, Parish Councillor;
- Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor.
Also present: District Councillor Richard West, County Councillor Stephen Ferguson (from 8.30 pm) & 7 members of the public.
1. The meeting was opened with silent prayer.
2. Election of the Chairman and signing of the Declaration of Office.
The proposal was made by Councillor Day that Nick Ginn be re-elected as chairman for the following year. This was seconded by Councillor Davis and approved by the council with one abstention.
3. Apologies for absence.
Councillor Bane.
4. Declarations of Interest:
None.
5. Election of Officers:
The following post holders stood for re-election and all were unanimously re-elected.
- 1. Vice Chairman: Councillor Pett.
- 2. Cemetery Manager: Councillor Day.
- 3. Playing Field Manager: Councillor Pett
- 4. Reading Room Committee Representative: Councillor Davis.
- 5. Gransden Society Representative: Councillor Capps
- 6. Sportsfield Association Representative: Councillor Ginn.
- 7. Tree Warden: Councillor Capps.
- 8. Little Gransden Airfield Local Consultative Committee Representative and Gliding Club Consultative Committee Representative: Councillor Ginn.
- 9. Communications Officer: Councillor Day.
6. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting were approved with the rewording of the final paragraph including ‘play area’ provided not ‘playground’, and ‘used as a RAF dispersal site’, not ‘used by the army’.
Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on 3rd April: The Minutes were proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Ginn and unanimously approved.
7. OPEN FORUM: The meeting was closed for 10 minutes to enable members of the public to bring any matters to the attention of the Parish Council.
District Councillor Richard West firstly congratulated Councillor Ginn on his re-election as chairman.
Issues commented upon included:
Crown & Cushion – noted it to be a complex case and that HDC needed to respond positively to the situation.
Land NE Mandene Gardens S106 open space land: noted that this situation needed HDC to agree to meet the Parish Council for an on-site discussion.
Mandene Gardens Street Lighting: noted that the excess lighting issue needs to be resolved between the developer and the lighting company.
16 Sand Road planning application: Pleased to note that the Parish Council has obtained an extension to the planning consultation period.
E-W Rail: No further actions have come forward.
A428: The judicial review has been refused.
County Councillor Stephen Ferguson provided an overview and comment on a number of matters:
Free school bus petition: supports this endeavour to resolve the anomaly that Great Gransden children do not have free school transport. Concerned that the refusal to fund the transport was apparently a fait accompli before the presentation of the petition.
Damaged mini-roundabout and sign: asked that first-hand information be forwarded to him if possible.
Aircraft Noise: has worked with Councillor Richard West on this issue.
Crown & Cushion: supports the actions of the Parish Council to apply for the ACV extension.
Cambridge to Cambourne Busway: has voted in favour of the route via Coton Orchard.
Cambridge congestion charge: Noted that Greater Cambridge Planning is clear that it does not represent Huntingdon District. Further noted that he will probably vote against the charge.
A resident put forward the BCN Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Award Scheme for consideration by the Parish Council. There was discussion of the value of churchyards including actions that the Parish Council takes already, the patronage of the Bishop of Ely and the benefits of increasing biodiversity for people and as a learning opportunity. It was proposed to take this forward as an agenda item at the June Parish Council Meeting.
8. Matters Arising:
8.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan: It was noted that the first refusal of planning permission citing specific policies of the Neighbourhood Development Plan has taken place.
Agreed that 10 hard copies of the Plan would be purchased as this reduced the price per copy to £18.90. Councillor West and Peter King both requested copies.
8.2 Litter Bins: The location has been agreed with HDC as approximately opposite Williams Close and will be installed soon.
8.3 Blocked Brook: The brook is being monitored but there is no urgent work at present.
8.4 Crown & Cushion: The ACV is due for renewal in July. A first draft of the application for renewal will be bolstered and refined. Agreed that Councillor Ginn would contact the ‘Open the Crown and Cushion’ Group and revise the draft ACV application.
9. Playground:
9.1 MUGA sound reduction: A date for the MUGA inspection by ETC Sports is awaited. Advice on the torque for the bolts will also be obtained. Clerk to follow up.
It has been found that the litter bin is being moved into the MUGA to act as a cricket wicket.
9.2 Public Relations: Noted that May / June / July are the criticalmonths for ensuring that the MUGA use education programme works. A further reminder to be put in Roundabout.
10. Reading Room Cottage Water Supply: Councillor Pett will take the matter forward.
11. Reading Room: Building Project: Noted, that the chair of the Reading Room Committee had written in some detail to the Planning Department and been advised to submit for pre-application advice. The next meeting of the Building Group of the Reading Room Committee is 15th May.
12. Welcome Event for new residents to village 22nd April: the event was extremely popular with many new residents attending. Councillor Ginn gave a short speech and the event provided the opportunity to bring village and local activities to the fore. Thanks were given to those involved in the organisation and catering.
- There has been good publicity for the event including in Roundabout, on Touchbase and on posters.
- Councillor Rowbotham noted that the football team will be tidying up their field.
14. Green Space Land North East of Mandene Gardens. S106 Agreement under planning application 17/01375/OUT (‘Dutton Gardens greenspace’): Councillor West and Councillor Pett now have several emails unanswered by HDC. Again noted, that the high boundary fences around the ‘Mandene Gardens Play Area’ mean it is not suitable for play in its current condition and the Parish Council would not agree to continuing the lease. There was discussion on the objectives for the Parish Council: requirement that the fence to be taken down; a possible pathway linking ‘Dutton Gardens greenspace’ the land with the neighbouring Mandene Gardens play area; a site meeting with HDC. Other objectives suggested, included wildflower grassland management and formation of a community group to manage the Dutton Gardens greenspace area. Councillor Ginn will pursue the matter with HDC.
15. RFO’s Financial Statement for April 2023 and Budget Review: The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated. The Statement was proposed by Councillor Capps, seconded by Councillor Pett and unanimously agreed.
16. Payments for Approval:
The payments below were proposed by Councillor Catmur, seconded by Councillor Day and unanimously approved by the Council. The matter was raised of the transfer to the free County Broadband service. Clerk to confirm the installation with the company. The regular high payments to the HR company were also questioned, but the service was considered essential.
Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 2nd May 2023
Cheques / Bank Transfers payable May 2023
1. RFO expenses for April 2023 £65.26
2. Human Capital Department £178.80
(Retained HR support)
3. Buchans Landscaping £332.08
4. The Mower Shed £156.00
5. Groundwork UK (NDP Grant underspend) £452.06
6. Clerk’s Salary – May 2023 £466.44**
7. RFO Salary – May 2023 £244.40
(28th May 2023)
8. HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th June 23) £116.40**
Automated Payments payable May 2023
1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £ 44.90*
(11th May 2023)
2. DD SSE £ TBC*
(DD 18th May 2023)
*Invoice expected, but not available in time for meeting
**Payslips not available at time of meeting so may be subject to slight variations based on calculated PAYE contribution.
17. Purchase of new computer – RFO use: Purchase was proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Ginn and unanimously agreed. A sum of approximately £500 + VAT + accessories was agreed and Councillor Day authorised to undertake the purchase.
18. Review of cemetery charges, contribution towards churchyard maintenance and ‘Roundabout’ Costs:
The cemetery charges and contributions towards churchyard maintenance and ‘Roundabout’ costs to remain the same: proposed by Councillor Day, seconded by Councillor Pett and unanimously agreed.
19. Review of Risk Management Policy, asset check and risk assessments: The Risk Management Policy, the updated Asset check and the risk assessments proformas to remain the same and to be updated with the date of this meeting: proposed by Councillor Catmur, seconded by Councillor Pett and unanimously agreed.
20. Review of Internal Control and Appointment of Internal Auditor: Consideration was given to the matter ofinternal financial controls. Reappointment of the same internal auditor was agreed.
21. Approval of the Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 – Section 1: The responses to the questions posed in the Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 were all agreed in the affirmative and Section 1 duly signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.
22. Energy Contract: Councillor Pett will take the matter forward.
Any repairs or maintenance needed:
- It was noted that the many winter pothole repairs had not been well done and would need future work. Various residents are also clearing up gravel / rubble left behind by repair contractors.
- The suggestion was put forward that the three tree stumps by the church could be used as planters. However, it was noted that these were Elm stumps with the suckers still being sprayed off and that it may be necessary to grind out the stumps at a later date.
- Mill Road repairs have been done.
- Pothole repair near the Crown & Cushion is completed.
- Mini-roundabout – has been planted up by the Guides and the sign straightened, but the longer term repair is awaited from Highways. Information will be supplied to Councillor Ferguson concerning the bus accident.
- Mill Wier: as non-village people have been found fishing here, the fishing rights were questioned. It was confirmed that only local residents can fish. However, this is difficult to enforce as the Parish Council does not have a Water Bailiff. Councillor Capps noted that the Parish Council used to harvest the fish to raise funds.
- 20mph zone: although the scheme has been approved, no start date has yet been given by Highways.
- Playing Field – hand rail at Little Lane steps: The Local Highways Officer has advised that an LHI or PFHI will be required, thus funding for the handrail falls to the Parish Council, though as part of the rail would need to be on Highways land, restrictions as to what can be placed will arise.
- LHI bid – Meadow Road – submission next bid round Q3/4: Councillor Catmur has prepared a LHI bid for Meadow Road, which would need to be submitted in the next funding round, probably in quarter 3/4 this year. Item to be taken forward the September meeting.
- Lamp – corner Sand Road / Mill Road: Mended very quickly after being reported.
- Rubbish dumping on road sides: Noted that HDC clear road side dumping within a week in the countryside. It was considered that there was sufficient information on Touchbase as to how individuals can report incidents
24. Correspondence
1. Lych gate – bottom bolt / cracked stone: The photos taken by Councillor Day noted. A handyman will be sought to repair the cobbles and cobble block.
2. Playground – hole top Little Lane steps: Councillor Pett reported that this ‘hole’ is in fact more of a shallow dip in the ground. Agreed that action was not required.
25. Planning Consultations:
1. Settlement Hierarchy Methodology.
2. Land Availability Assessment Methodology.
3. Call for Sites.
Noted the above three consultations and that they did not propose radical changes in methodology. It was highlighted that the loss of the pub in the village would reduce the points score of Great Gransden.
26. Planning Applications:
1. 22/02382/FUL Construction 2no 2 bedroom maisonettes /Land At 16 Sand Road Great Gransden. Revised Application: Noted the difference in the revised planning application, – the roof has been turned 90 degrees giving a blank wall to the neighbouring Dutton Gardens property. All previous issues noted, except the overlooking windows now removed, remain of great concern to the Parish Council. The Parish Council would also like to refer the planning authority to the excellent response from the neighbouring resident of 2 Dutton Gardens. Proposal, – to continue objection to the planning application on the above grounds, proposed by Councillor Ginn, seconded by Councillor Pett and unanimously agreed.
2. REF. 23/00628/HHFUL Alteration to an existing garage roof, including dormer, rooflights, solar panels and ancillary development to create a hobby room/home office and an attached carport. 25 Fox Street Great Gransden Sandy SG19 3AA: Noted that the roof is now proposed to be higher, but not considered a problem. It is not thought that solar panels facing the road in a Conservation Area currently follow national planning policy, however, this might change in the future. The application was considered in relation to the newly adopted Great Gransden Neighbourhood Development Plan. Proposal by Councillor Ginn – to support the planning application, seconded by Councillor Capps and agreed with one abstention.
3. Planning enforcement case 20/00173/ENBOC – Land North East of Mandene Gardens, Great Gransden: Noted.
4. Application Number: 22/01631/PIP – Refusal of Permission in Principle – Proposal: Permission in principle for residential development containing up to eight dwellings (rural exceptions housing) Site address: Land West Of 35 To 41 West Street Great Gransden: Noted.
27. HR Committee Update: A confidential minute has been prepared.
28. Date of Next Meeting.
The next meeting has been arranged for Monday 5th June 2023, at 7:30pm.
This meeting closed at 9:25 pm.