The minutes of the March 2024 meeting, 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, and in any conflict between the version below (provided for ease of access online) and the PDF version, the latter shall be deemed authoritative.
Minutes of the Parish Meeting held on 4th March 2024.
Those present were:
- Councillor Ginn, Chairman;
- Councillor Pett, Vice-chairman;
- Chris Bane, Parish Councillor;
- Michael Capps, Parish Councillor;
- James Catmur, Parish Councillor;
- Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor;
- Nigel Day, Parish Councillor;
- Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor.
Also present: 2 members of the public.
1. The meeting was opened with a silent prayer.
2. Apologies for absence.
Councillor Richard West, HDC and Parish Councillor Paul Greenland.
3. Declarations of Interest:
Councillor Capps declared an interest in item 12. Caxton Road pavement and item 14.
4. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 5th February: The Minutes were proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Bane and unanimously approved,
5. OPEN FORUM:
- 20mph zone – speeding concerns: A resident brought forward concerns that the 20mph zone is not being adhered to by many drivers, including those leaving the industrial estates at the same time as children leaving school. The council agreed a letter of concern be sent to the factories.
- Speedwatch volunteering: A local resident asked to join the Speedwatch Group. A further request for volunteers will be put in Roundabout and on Touchbase.
- MUGA hours and Rules of use: The Parish Council was thanked by a resident, for republicising the reminder of opening times and Rules of Use for the longer daylight hours.
6. Matters Arising:
- Mandene Gardens and Dutton Gardens open space areas – site meeting with HDC:
A positive site meeting has been held with an HDC Planning representative, who agreed to look into the points of concern and future use of these adjacent, but unconnected open spaces. Councillor Pett will seek an update from HDC on agreed actions.
- Grass cutting – Buchan’s quote 2024: Noted that the Clerk has made ongoing attempts to obtain several quotes. Proposed that should other quotes not be forthcoming, Buchan Landscapes be reappointed. Proposed by Councillor Ginn, seconded by Councillor Capps and unanimously agreed.
- Council email addresses and website: Agreed that comparison options and costs be obtained.
- Festival of Huntingdonshire: Councillor Bane has attended an initial meeting for this HDC project.
7. Churchyard management:
A churchyard map was presented showing zones proposed for volunteer and Parish Council mowing. This was approved. Noted that suggestions for some rewilding were still at discussion stage. Proposed by Councillor Ginn, seconded by Councillor Capps and unanimously agreed that the firm mowing the Council Cemetery be approached to undertake two cuts of the Council managed zone of the churchyard this March and quotes be sought for the rest of 2024.
Churchyard cross needing repair to surround: Councillor Bane will seek advice as to a search for any living relatives. Noted, that this is not the listed historic cross, which is sited about two metres away.
8. Tree management – quotes: Three quotes were presented. Proposed by Councillor Capps, seconded by Councillor Pett and unanimously approved that the GTS quote be accepted.
9. RFO’s Financial Statement and Budget Review Oct 2023 – Feb 2024.
The ‘work in progress’ on these statements provided to councillors, was noted and approved.
10. Payments for Approval.
The payments below: Proposed by Councillor Catmur, seconded by Councillor Bane and unanimously approved.
Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Monday 4th March 2024
Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable March 2024
1. Mr R McIntosh (Garden of Remembrance): £7.50
2. The Mower Shed: £156.00
3. Reading Room Reclaim for Welcome Event: £68.48
4. The Defib Pad (Replacement Defib Pads): £77.39
5. Andrew Pett (Microsoft 365 Aug 23 – Feb 24): £13.93
6. Clerk’s Salary – March 2024: £717.80
7. RFO’s Salary – Jan/Feb 2024: £540.55
8. RFO’s Salary – March 2024: £345.20
9. HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th April): £120.00
(For Sharon Brown & Liz Woodfield)
Automated Payments payable March 2024
1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room: £44.36
(11th March 2024)
2. DD SSE: £202.86
(4th March 2024)
*Invoice expected, but not available in time for meeting
**Approximate amount. Subject to slight variation. (Not available in time for meeting)
11. Internal Audit – appointment of auditor:
The appointment of LGS Services to undertake the internal audit 2023/24 was proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Catmur and unanimously approved.
12. Highways & Rights of Way
- Any repairs or maintenance needed:
- Damaged verge near school – has been reported on the Highways portal. Highways has requested any photo evidence of the verge being driven over in order to take the matter further.
- Industrial estate exit to Sand Road – a visibility problem from recent hedge planting was again raised.
- 20 mph signs – more than one sign has been damaged and require reporting to Highways.
- LHI bid – Caxton Road: A site meeting with Highways to consider the bid has taken place. Highways will draft a scheme for speed reduction to put firstly to the Parish Council and then to public consultation.
- Caxton Road pavement
Councillor Ginn will discuss removal of soil creep and vegetation from the pathway with the adjacent landowner. Noted, that there is pathway edging stone hidden under the vegetation.
- A428 Social Value Fund:
- Little Lane Playing Field access application:
One contractor has agreed to a site visit in March.
- Sportsfield car park surfacing application:
Councillor Ginn to continue with an application.
- Meadow Road speeding:
Councillor Pett and Councillor Catmur have met with some of the Meadow Road residents to discuss speeding problems there. Past actions and possible future speed monitoring by Parish Council were discussed. The residents agreed that the MVAS monitor could be sited on their properties. Proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Catmur and unanimously agreed that the Council purchase posts for mounting the MVAS in these new locations.
- Cemetery bridge retaining wall:
The work is now completed and seems very well done. Thanks to be sent to the contractor and CCC Highways for the work. A further email to be sent to Little Gransden Parish Council as the work lies on the parish boundary.
- Waresley Road flooding:
A further request to Highways to be made for an update on the agreed investigation and timing of the project.
- Sand Road / Mill Road junction and nearby:
Noted, that Highways will be undertaking a camera investigation of drainage, within the 12 weeks from 14/2/24.
- A428 road closure – request for liaison Little Gransden PC – re. a weight limit on B1046:
Noted, the correspondence sent by Little Gransden Parish Council to National Highways and CCC Highways on the subject.
Highways correspondence:
- Weed Strategy – Highways, CCC:
Agreed to approve the resumption of the chemical treatment of weeds by Highways, with one objection.
13. Correspondence.
13.1 King Charles III portrait:
Unanimously agreed to order the portrait of King Charles III.
13.2 Yarn installation – at village sign.
Unanimously agreed to support the Village Knitting Bee in their new project at the village sign to celebrate 60 years of Britain in Bloom.
13.3 MUGA – slippery surface: The netball club has raised concerns about current slipperiness of the MUGA surface. Agreed to seek advice from the maintenance contractor as to bringing forward the jet cleaning from June each year. The cost of boot brushes will also be looked into.
MUGA – fencing up-keep: Will Bentall was thanked for the work he has done on maintaining the fence bolts at the correct torque. A request was made for either contractor input or other assistance for maintenance of the upper sections of fence. Councillor Bane agreed to assist with this work.
14. Planning Applications:
- REF. 22/00390/FUL and 22/00223/LBC (Land at Audley Barns, Great Gransden):
Councillor Pett gave an update. HDC may now apparently make a decision on these applications by delegated powers.
15. HR Committee Update. In line with the legislation below*, this item will be closed to the public.
16. Date of Next Meeting: Monday 8th April 2024 which will commence at 7:30pm.
17. Date of the Annual Parish Meeting: Monday 22nd April 2024 which will commence at 7:30pm.
The meeting ended at 21:45 pm.
*‘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.’