Posted inmeetings minutes

Minutes of the October 2024 meeting

04/11/2024

The minutes of the October 2024 meeting, below, are 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 7th October 2024

Those present were:

  • Parish Councillor Nick Ginn (chairman);
  • Parish Councillor Michael Capps;
  • Parish Councillor Cathy Davis;
  • Parish Councillor James Catmur; and,
  • Parish Councillor Nigel Day.

Also present: County Councillor Stephen Ferguson, District Councillor James Catmur and 9 members of the public.

  1. The meeting was opened with a silent prayer.
  2. Apologies for absence:
    Parish Councillors Chris Bane, Paul Greenland, Andrew Pett and Alan Rowbotham.
  3. Declarations of Interest:
    Councillor Day declared an interest in item 15.
  4. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 2nd September: the Minutes were proposed by Councillor Day, seconded by Councillor Ginn and unanimously approved.
  5. Open Forum:
    • Report from County Councillor Stephen Ferguson highlighting:
    a) the HDC Local Plan consultation,
    b) his support for retaining the Crown & Cushion as a community pub.

• Report from District Councillor James Catmur highlighted:
a) the four proposed development sites reviewed in the HDC Local Plan consultation, although only two were meeting the possible new HDC criteria and that comment was important,
b) the next CIL funding round starting November 2024,
c) 23rd October – next Huntingdonshire Town & Parish Council Forum.
d) now is the time of year for councillors to check that their Register of Interests’ is up-to-date.
e) his support for retaining the Crown & Cushion as a community pub.

• Mandene Gardens ‘play area’ and Dutton Gardens ‘greenspace’: Residents of Dutton Gardens requested that these ‘greenspaces’ be put back in use, that the former play area be replaced and that the Parish Council take forward this request. The history of the Parish Council actions in respect of these areas and the problems in achieving the desired outcomes was explained. It was noted that the sum of money allocated for play equipment in the Mandene Gardens S106, was now with the Parish Council. However, the sum is insufficient for purchase of any single new item of play equipment.

• Reading Room – blocked veranda rain water drain: the blocked drain has been partially cleared by the chair of the Reading Room Committee, but complete unblocking is needed.

• Broken baby swing: the fact that the broken baby swing has been put back in use, was brought to the attention of the Parish Council. It will be put out of use again pending repair.

  1. Matters Arising:
    6.1 MUGA 6-monthly inspection report
    Will Bentall has undertaken the 6-monthly inspection of the MUGA and provided his Report. He was thanked for all his volunteer time in helping to reduce the MUGA noise to an acceptable level.
    6.2 Crown & Cushion: An enforcement notice has been served by HDC concerning the significant length of time with sole use as residential and inviting the owners to make an application or for the cessation of the residential use as sole use.
  1. RoSPA Play Safety Inspection Reports – update and quotes: Quotes have been requested from several firms, but no responses received as yet.
  2. Mandene Gardens ‘play area’ and Dutton Gardens ‘greenspace’: Agreed, to write to the HDC Funding Project Manager, (who has dealt with other matters concerning these sites), to see if she can assist in clarifying the ownership and management responsibilities for these two areas.
  3. Winchfield greenspace: Agreed, to arrange a meeting with Winchfield residents concerning the ‘greenspace’.
  4. Community Right to Buy: Noted, the recent report on this issue from Power to Change. Also, the King’s speech in July, outlined empowerment of local communities with a new ‘right to buy’/ first refusal for valued community assets
  5. Reading Room: A report from the recent Reading Room Committee meeting was provided to councillors: Cleaning: a new cleaning contractor has been employed. The cost of the 2 x 2hrs cleaning / week was highlighted.
    Gardening: whilst the Reading Room cottage is untenanted, its front garden and back courtyard will be kept trimmed by the gardeners to the Reading Room.
    Reading Room Extension Project: a successful meeting has been held by the Reading Room Committee and the project architect with HDC Planning and Conservation. In principal approval has been given to make a full planning application for the extension. Fund raising will also now be taken forward.
    Broadband & phone connection: The Reading Room Committee has agreed to take over the broadband service. It will also investigate a cheaper contract / provider.
  6. Reading Room Cottage: A listed buildings contractor is visiting on 9th October, to provide recommendations / a quote for any work related to the damp issues.
  7. Mowing Specifications for cemetery and churchyard: Councillor Capps has discussed the churchyard management requirements with the churchwarden. Agreed, Councillor Capps and the Clerk to draft Specifications for approval.
  8. RFO’s Financial Statements and Budget Review:
    The Financial Reports for August and September 2024 and Budget Review August and September 2024 were proposed by Councillor Catmur, seconded by Councillor Capps and unanimously approved.
  9. Payments for Approval:
    The payments were proposed by Councillor Ginn, seconded by Councillor Catmur and approved.

Payments for approval at the Parish Council Meeting on Monday 7th October 2024

Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable October 2024

  1. Mr R McIntosh (Garden of Remembrance) £7.50
  2. The Mower Shed (cut & strim churchyard 2/9) Inv 1968 £144.00
  3. The Mower Shed (cut & strim cemetery 2/9) Inv 1969 £156.00
  4. The Mower Shed (cut & strim churchyard) £144.00*
  5. The Mower Shed (cut & strim cemetery) £156.00*
  6. Brookfield Contracting (cut sportsfield 9/19/30 Aug, 13/24 Sept) £840.00
  7. Huntingdonshire DC (cottage council tax for October) £176.00
  8. Mr Nigel Day – 1 year renewal of website & 1 year renewal of email hosting
    for 3 accounts £143.61
  9. Sharon Brown – clerks mobile phone expenses Nov 23 to June 24 £65.00
  10. Reading Room – Gardening & Cleaning 30 June to 30 Sept) £457.12
  11. Mr Andrew Pett (Microsoft 365 September & Oct) £3.98
  12. Clerk’s Salary – October 2024 £717.80
  13. RFO’s Salary – October 2024 £345.20
  14. HMRC Tax & NI (Month 5 ending 5 October 2024) £119.80

Automated Payments payable October 2024

  1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £47.86
    (3 October 2024)
  2. DD SSE – Street lighting £203.39
    (1 October 2024)

*Invoice expected, but not available in time for meeting
**Approximate amount. Subject to slight variation. (Not available in time for meeting)

  1. Conclusion of Audit 2023/24: The Conclusion of Audit has been published on the Parish Council website and noticeboard. Noted.
  2. Draft Budget 2025/26: The RFO provided a draft budget showing the generally projected 2.5% inflation for 2025/26.
    Agreed, a Finance Working Group of Councillor Ginn, Pett and Catmur, to look at any additional projects that should be brought forward for action and to put the final budget and precept 2025/26 proposal to the November meeting.
  3. Highways & Rights of Way
    • Any repairs or maintenance needed: the repaired hole at the top of Church Street is now sinking again and will be reported.
    • LHI bid 2024/25: Noted, that the Caxton Road traffic calming bid was not successful.
    • LHI round 2025/26 – Expressions of interest: Agreed, to submit an Expression of Interest.
    • Proposed meeting with Local Highways Officer: Agreed, Councillors Ginn, Pett, Capps and Catmur to attend to the meeting with the LHO.
  4. Correspondence & Consultations:
    19.1 Banner on lychgate for F4 (Friendship, Fellowship, Food & Faith) Church services: Agreed, the positioning of the F4 (Friendship, Fellowship, Food & Faith) Church services banner on the lychgate, with the proviso that it is taken down / moved for any funeral or other sensitive event.
    19.2 HDC Local Plan Engagement – 18th September to 27th November 2024: Agreed, further discussion at the November Parish Council meeting.
    19.3 Lithium-Ion Batteries Campaign: update 1st October: Agreed, to write to Baroness Jones in support of comprehensive bill becoming law.
    19.4 Highways and Streetlighting Contracts for CCC – Stakeholder surveys – 2024: Agreed, a response to the Highways Contracts Survey. The clerk to collate councillors’ notes.
  1. Planning Applications:
    None.
  2. HR Committee Update: In line with the legislation below*, this item was closed to the public.
  3. Date of Next Meeting: Monday 4th November, to commence at 7:30pm.

The meeting ended at 9:30 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.’

Last updated on 04/11/2024