(These minutes of the March 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.)
GREAT GRANSDEN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Meeting held on 6th March 2023.
Those present were:
- Andrew Pett, Vice Chairman
- Chris Bane, Parish Councillor
- Michael Capps, Parish Councillor
- Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor
- James Catmur, Parish Councillor
- Alan Rowbotham, Parish Councillor
Also present: District Councillor Richard West & 1 member of the public.
1. The meeting was opened at 7:30 pm with a silent prayer.
2. Apologies for absence.
Councillor Nick Ginn & Councillor Nigel Day.
3. Declarations of Interest:
None.
4. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on 6th February: corrections – Minute 13. South Road should read Sand Road; Minute 14.5 Mandene Gardens with a ‘path to no-where’ should read Dutton Gardens. With the corrections the Minutes were proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Catmur and unanimously approved.
5. 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 provided a written report and elaborated on the issues: a) Green Space North East of Mandene Gardens S106 Agreement, b) MUGA – willingness to help with any leafleting of usage information c) HDC Council Budget and the HDC Climate Strategy passed by full Council.
A local resident noted that they were pleased to see the quotes obtained for the MUGA maintenance and also that the usage information is to be publicised again before the higher use during the lighter evenings.
6. Matters Arising:
6.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan: The referendum is this week, on 9th March. A final notice of the date will be put on Touchbase.
6.2 Dog Poo Bins, costings and progress: The new bin has still not been put in place. Correspondence from a village resident suggests siting the bin north (rather than south) of Dutton Gardens near the 40mph sign. Noted, that HDC would need to agree.
6.3 Memorial Bench update: Councillor Pett has contacted the applicant again. The matter will be put on hold until there is further discussion.
6.4 Green Space Land North East of Mandene Gardens. S106 Agreement under planning application 17/01375/OUT: There is continued confusion as to the land in question – whether that at Dutton Gardens or Mandene Gardens. Noted that the Dutton Gardens open space area has a ‘water feature’, new fencing would be needed fairly soon, the ground surface is very uneven and there is a fence across the ‘path to no-where’. Amalgamating the two open space areas might be considered. Noted that decisions have been made by HDC without consulting the Parish Council which was the tenant of the previous play area at Mandene Gardens, nor has GGPC received the £2600 in compensation, when its swing was removed during the house building. Noted also, that this sum would not be sufficient to pay for a new swing. The remaining land area available at Mandene Gardens is considered unsuitable for children’s play. Agreed that it is imperative that HDC come to a site meeting to discuss the issues and to see directly the state of the two open space sites. Councillor Pett will action the matter.
7. Playground:
7.1 Maintenance: Painting will be finished during good weather.
7.2 Development: The new playground equipment has been installed. The CIL monies to be used for this project still to be received from HDC.
7.3 Maintenance contract quotes: Agreed to accept the quote from ETC Sports Surfaces for a 3-year MUGA maintenance contract. Proposed by Councillor Capps, seconded by Councillor Bane and unanimously agreed.
Clarification of the material used for the ‘rubber’ inserts will also be sought from Zaum, the original supplier, before further consideration of noise reduction actions.
7.4 Public Relations: The usage information for the MUGA will be publicised again, before the end of March, on Touchbase, in the GGPC digest in Roundabout and a leaflet delivered to residents.
8. Reading Room Cottage Water Supply: Councillor Rowbotham provided information on a sub-meter that could be installed between the Reading Room and the Cottage. Pursuance of this option was proposed by Councillor Capps, seconded by Councillor Pett and agreed unanimously.
9. Reading Room: Building Project: The feedback from the public consultation was generally positive. Concern was raised by Councillor Rowbotham as to the spiralling costs of the project and was supported by Councillor Capps. Noted, that in its present form the proposed extension would block a window of the Reading Room Cottage / cause overlooking of the Reading Room with potential safeguarding issues. The listed building status will also be looked into in relation to the project.
10. Car Park Lighting – Reading Room / Playground: Councillor Rowbotham will investigate low voltage lighting options.
11. RFO’s Financial Statement for October 2022 and Budget Review. The sheet filed as Appendix 1 had been circulated. The Statement was proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Catmur and unanimously agreed.
12. Payments for Approval
The payments below were proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Catmur and approved by the Council.
Payments for approval at the Parish Council meeting on Monday 6th March 2023
Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable March 2023
1. RFO expenses for February 2023: £15.59
2. HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Apr 23): £0.00
3. Human Capital Department : £178.80
(Retained HR support)
4. Wicksteed Leisure Ltd: £43,489.00
(Playground Improvements)
5. Emma Anderson : £30.00
RR Cleaning Invoice No 21
5. Emma Anderson: £30.00
RR Cleaning Invoice No 22
5. Emma Anderson: £30.00
RR Cleaning Invoice No 3
8. Mr R McIntosh: £7.50
8. Clerk’s Payment (inc expenses): TBC
9. RFO Salary – Feb 2023: £244.40
(28th March 2023)
Automated Payments payable March 2023
1. DD BT – Broadband Reading Room: £ 38.78
(11th Mar 2023)
2. DD SSE: £ 103.36
(DD 11th Mar 2023)
13. Purchase of ‘Local Council Administration’ by Charles Arnold Baker: Proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Bane and unanimously approved.
14. Energy Contract: Clarity will be sought on the energy contract proposal, with further proposal(s) sought in due course, as it appears energy prices are going down at present. Noted that the street lighting is on unmetered supply. Councillor Pett with follow up the matter.
15. Highways
Any repairs or maintenance needed:
- Waresley Road pothole has been well repaired.
- Caxton Road – very large pothole repair breaking up already.
- Crow Tree Street – one pothole well repaired, another not so.
- Concern was expressed, that it depended on the contractor, as to whether pothole repairs were adequate.
- Entrance to Sand Road industrial estate: Councillor Capps raised the fact that the wall and hedge at the entrance is probably on Highways land and also that they block the site lines to the road. Councillor Catmur agreed to look into the matter.
- Playing Field – hand rail at Little Lane steps: A positive response to the proposal has been received from CCC Highways, although the cost if installation by Highways maybe high. Councillor Pett will pursue the matter.
- Great Gransden 20MPH Zone – Formal Consultation: No adverse comments were received to the consultation. The section of Mill Road round the bend to the speed sign in Little Gransden has been included in the scheme. As the County Council has transferred the scheme to its 20mph projects for this year (1 of only 8 in the county), this is no longer a LHI bid and Great Gransden Parish Council is not required to provide a percentage of the funding.
- The 30mph monitoring equipment will be returned later this month, as it does not record down to 20mph.
- Meadow Road was discussed as a possible option for a future LHI bid. Agreed to allow time for the new 20mph zone to be assessed before making a future bid.
16. Correspondence
16.1 Meadow Road – need for speed reduction: There was general agreement with the correspondents that speeds along Meadow Road are too fast and that residents there will have difficulties existing on to the road. Noted that the Parish Council has in the past made proposed speed reduction measures here, but been informed that these would not be supported by the police, due to it not being self-regulating.
16.2 GRSA – request for support from GGPC for grant application: Agreed to support the GRSA in its application for grant aid. Proposed by Councillor Pett, seconded by Councillor Bane and unanimously agreed.
16.3 Blocked brook: Councillor Day has made an inspection. Nothing is impeding the flow, but a fallen fencing and a small a leaning tree will be removed. Councillor Catmur noted the brickwork capping had not been undertaken as agreed. Councillor Pett will follow up the matter.
16.4 Alternative Land Management options: Agreed to arrange a meeting with the representative from HDC to discuss wildlife conservation options. Councillor Bane and Councillor Davis will attend the meeting.
None.
18. HR Committee Update: A confidential minute has been prepared.
18. Date of Next Meeting.
The next meeting has been arranged for Monday 3rd April 2023, following on from the Annual Parish Meeting which will commence at 7:30pm.
This meeting closed at 9:05pm.