Minutes of the August 2022 meetings

There were two Parish Council meetings in August: the regular one at the start of the month, and an extra meeting to discuss a planning application. The minutes of both follow, and are also available in PDF format:


Minutes of the meeting on August 1, 2022

Present:

  • Nick Ginn, Chairman
  • James Catmur, Parish Councillor
  • Nigel Day, Parish Councillor
  • Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor
  • Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor
  • Michael Capps, Parish Councillor
  • District Councillor Richard West

… and 4 members of the public

1. The meeting was opened at 7:30 pm with a silent prayer.

2. Apologies.  Apologies were received from Parish Councillors, Andrew Pett, Chris Bane,

3. Declarations of Interest.  Nigel Day declared an interest in Item 12.1.

4. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on the 4th July 2022 were approved and signed accordingly by the Chairman.

5. OPEN FORUM.  The meeting was closed for fifteen minutes.  

District Councillor West thanked the Chairman and Councillor Pett for agreeing to organise a meeting with residents to discuss their concerns regarding the MUGA. 

He also indicated his support of the planning application to build a 4 bedroom dwelling with attendant access adjacent to 43 Mill Road. He reassured councillors that if they held a different view he would ensure their comments were passed on for consideration by the planning officer. 

Councillor West had attended the full council meeting regarding the State of the District and reported that Councillor Conboy and others were in agreement. 

He will be attending a meeting at Luton airport to discuss the many complaints from local residents about Aircraft noise in the Bluebell villages.

In addition Councillor West will continue to support the changes needed to the junction and lightning in the Sand Rd development.  A meeting is yet to be arranged due to holidays.

One resident spoke about the erection of telephone poles by County Broadband which has involved the damage to trees near and on Little Lane.  Councillor West and Councillor Capps agreed to contact HDC about this.

A resident spoke about the new planning application for a 4 bedroom bungalow at 43 Mill Rd. It was pointed out that previous letters of local support had not been made public.  The resident reassured the council that it was a careful build which had taken into account the local area.

Another resident spoke regarding the MUGA and the statement from the last meeting which had different wording to the written policy.  The minutes will remain the same as this does not change the original wording in the policy. New signs will have ‘silent’ fixings and be placed carefully to avoid noise.  It was agreed that Councillors Ginn and Pett will meet privately with the residents to discuss issues further.                                          ACTION: NICK ANDREW

A resident spoke relating concerns to the verge/hedge abutting the Industrial Estate on Sand Road. It is not clear if the land is owned by highways or is privately owned.  The owner would like to work with the council to find an amicable solution. He asked to see copies of any complaints made to assist with this.                                              ACTION: ANDREW

6. Matters Arising: 

6.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan.There was an update from Councillor Pett on the progress that included the following points:

·        A further grant of £3500  has been awarded.

  • County Broadband have promised to meet with the Parish Council – 

ACTION NIGEL

  • It was noted that County Broadband are digging up pavements relating to installation of new fibre broadband and the question arose about who was responsible for the making good of pavements afterwards.  Councillor Ginn to check this and write to Stephen Ferguson.

ACTION NICK

6.2 Multi-Use Games Area. Councillor Ginn confirmed that the minutes would remain the same and not be amended as requested.  New notices have been ordered and ‘silent’ fixings obtained. They will be sited carefully to avoid excess noise.                                    ACTION: NICK, MICHAEL

6.3. Recruitment of Replacement Clerk/RFO. Councillor Ginn updated the meeting on progress.  Sharon Brown, clerk of Longstowe Parish Council has verbally accepted the post of Parish Clerk to Great Gransden Parish Council and will start at the October meeting. Catherine Fox, will remain as Responsible Financial Officer of Great Gransden Parish Council. 

6.4. Sand Road/Industrial Estate Verge. 

There is an ongoing concern regarding visibility and safety of the hedge and grass verge, with questions surrounding the infill of the ditch. The reply from Highways was inconclusive over ownership. Highways will assess the visibility issue on their next site visit.  The flood and water team have been contacted about the infill of the ditch. It was agreed to wait for further information from Highways.

6.5. Defibrillator Information

The Parish Clerk is responsible for maintenance of the defibrillator including checking batteries.

6.6.         Huntingdonshire District Council’s Parish Forum , July 20th 2022 – feedback from Councillor Catmur

Councillor Catmur reported that the meeting had been very useful and informative.  The District Council are willing to work with Parish Councils but also implied they intend to utilise resources where they can to save money.  Any CIL applications relating to roads, community and sport, green spaces and infastructure, should be focused on growth and not replacement.  Only fully completed application forms will be considered.

6.7. Mandene Gardens Play Area.  Councillor Pett and District Councillor West will have a site meeting when everyone has returned from holiday and is available.

7. Playground Maintenance Quotes.  

Councillor Davis reported that at present they had one quote for repairs as recommended by the ROSPA report June 2021. They are still waiting for a second quote.  Councillor Davis is meeting two more playground contractors in August.

The estimated cost to resurface under the existing swings, replace hexigrip panels on the climbing frame and edge repairs is around 7000 pounds.

The parish council approved a budget of up to 7500 pounds for maintenance when 3 quotes had been received. Councillor Davis will circulate these when available.

Proposed Councillor Ginn, Seconded Councillor Day

A working party of volunteers will be set up for small jobs such as repainting the train. 

                                                                                                                        ACTION CHRIS

8. Clerk’s Financial Statement for July 2022.  The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated.  The statement was unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman.  Councillors also noted the budget review as at the end of June 2022.

9. Cheques/Payments for Approval 

 Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Monday 1st August 2022                                                                   

 1.        RFO expenses for July 2022                                                              £14.39

 2.        HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Sept 22)                                         £0.00

 3.        Buchans Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance                                £307.51

 4.        Cambridgeshire ACRE

            (Consultancy Support – NDP)                                                            £1500.00

 5.        bb+c architects                                                                                    £527.80

6.         Human Capital Department                                                                £178.80

            (Retained HR support)

 7.        RFO Salary                                                                                         £244.40*

 8.        Caretaker Salary – Aug 2022                                                              £577.40*

            (28th Aug 2022)

 Automated Payments payable August 2022

 1.        DD                  BT – Broadband Reading Room                                £31.78

                                    (11th Aug 2022)

 2.        DD                  SSE                                                                             £ TBC**

                                    (DD 18th Aug 2022)

 *Final figures may vary slightly. Payslips not yet received at time of publication.

 **Awaiting bill at time of publication

10. Highways.

  • Any repairs or maintenance needed; Sand Road Kerb still waiting repair and work on Waresley road should be done now to prevent future flooding. Salt bins need filling.

            ACTION – NICK to write at beginning of Sept with reminders, copying in Stephen Ferguson.

  • 20 mph speed limit application, approval of £2,000 for Parish contribution has been confirmed by the Parish Clerk.  Proposed: Councillor Ginn, Seconded: Councillor Capps

Councillors had looked at the plans and had the following suggestions

  • Extend 20 mph zone up to the Riddy on Eltisley Rd (end of houses)
  • Extend 20 mph zone to new chicane on Meadow Rd/Lady’s Hill
  • Ask if can use existing street furniture, duel purpose signs
  • Ask for clarification of buffer zones
  • Who is responsible for the public consultation

11. Correspondence.

1.     Reading Room Cleaner – The PC approved a fee of up to 17 pounds an hour for cleaning.  To be reviewed in 6 months.

Proposed: Councillor Capps, Seconded: Councillor Ginn

It was noted that the outside of the reading room needed improving.  The PC to ask the Chair of the Reading Room committee for an update, including a list of ideas from the Reading Room Committee.                                   ACTION CATHY

2.     Wildlife Trust BCN Summer events were noted.

3.     Gigaclear Proposed Rollout – their letter indicated that residents will receive letters notifying them if and when work will begin in this area.

12. Planning.

12.1.    PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 22/01340/FUL Erection of a single, 4 bedroom dwelling with attendant access and landscaping work. Land adjacent to the North West of 43 Mill Road Great Gransden

Councillor Day left the meeting. Although changes had been made to the planning application, the proposed building still lies outside the village boundary of Great Gransden as outlined in the neighbourhood plan. Therefore the council proposed rejection of the application as it lies outside the emerging NDP village boundary.

Proposed: Councillor Catmur, Seconded: Councillor Ginn

13. HR Committee Update. In line with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 this item was considered in closed session.

14. Next Meeting Monday 5th September 2022 at 7:30pm

The meeting closed at 9:45 pm

Minutes of the meeting on August 16, 2022

Those present were:

  • Nick Ginn, Chairman
  • Andrew Pett, Vice Chairman & Acting Clerk
  • James Catmur, Parish Councillor
  • Michael Capps, Parish Councillor
  • Chris Bane, Parish Councillor
  • Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor
  • Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor

… and 8 members of the public.

1. The meeting was opened at 7.30 pm with a silent prayer.

2. Apologies.  Apologies were received from District Councillor Richard West and Parish Councillor Nigel Day.

3. Declarations of Interest.  There were no declarations of interest.

4. OPEN FORUM.  The meeting was closed for fifteen minutes. 

No one member of the public spoke in favour of the planning application under consideration at this meeting.

Several members of the public spoke about their objections to this application noting that as this is for Planning in Principle one is only allowed to comment upon, Location, Land Use and the Scale of the development. It was noted that although this is for a Rural Exceptions Site with affordable housing it was felt by members of the public that the Housing Needs Survey was already over 4 years old and that that might need updating. Since 2018 when that survey had been undertaken there had been 16 affordable homes built in Dutton Gardens and 2 more in Mandene Gardens.

It was felt that both the HDC Local Plan to 2036 and the submitted Great Gransden Neighbourhood Development Plan had policies that this application contravened. The Green spaces around the village plus the Valued Views had both been heavily supported in the consultation stage and during the drawing up of the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

One member of the public talked about the footprint of the village being gradually filled in not allowing for wildlife corridors for such as deer, foxes, bats, rabbits and badgers to inhabit.

A member of the public pointed out that these fields are good examples of ridge & furrow agriculture emphasising the ancient meadow status of this area.

5. Planning

5.1. PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 22/01631/PIP Land to the West of 37 to 45, West Street

Following a lengthy discussion around some of the main points raised by members of the public both in person at this meeting and also in letters of objection from the HDC Planning Portal it was decided that Councillor Pett would write a report for HDC to consider as well as making the Parish Council’s recommendation.

The Council refused this application for the following reasons.

  • The location of this site means that significant harm would be caused to the character of the village, its setting or the countryside in contravention of HDC Local Plan (LP28)
  • The use of this land would lead to the whole or partial loss of an area of open space of public value causing significant adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area.

It would harm the character of the surrounding area as it affects a valued view, valued green space, ridge and furrow heritage and biodiversity. (LP32)

  • This amount of development outside the Built Up Area Boundary agreed by HDC Planners, in the submitted Neighbourhood Plan, cannot be supported as the circumstances are not exceptional in this case.

 Proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Ginn and carried by 6 votes to 1.

6. Date of Next Meeting.

The next Parish Council meeting has been arranged for Monday 5th September 2022 at 7:30pm

This meeting closed at 8:33pm.