Minutes of the January 2022 PC meeting

(A copy of these minutes are available in PDF format for offline reading and ease of printing. Minutes are assumed to be draft until approved at a subsequent meeting of the Parish Council.)

Those present were:

  • Nick Ginn, Vice Chairman
  • Diane Taylor, Locum Clerk
  • James Catmur, Parish Councillor
  • Cathy Davis, Parish Councillor
  • Andrew Pett, Parish Councillor
  • Vikki Murphy, Parish Councillor
  • Peter King, Parish Councillor
  • District Councillor Richard West

…and 2 members of the public

  1. The meeting was opened at 7:30 pm with a silent prayer.
  2. Apologies. Apologies were received from County Councillor Stephen Ferguson and Parish Councillors Giles Scott, Michael Capps and Nigel Day.
  3. Declarations of Interest. There were no declarations of interest.
  4. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on the 6th December 2021 were approved and
    signed accordingly by the Vice Chairman.
  5. OPEN FORUM. The meeting was closed for 20 minutes.

    District Councillor West made reference to item 14.4 on the agenda, highlighting the continuing
    delays and failures of HDC to act upon the planning conditions relating to the Sand Road
    development. There is still no date for the variation of the condition to go before the
    Development Management Committee for determination, although the target date was November 6. When asked, Councillor West hoped that Highways would again be looking at the junction but it
    was unclear why the matter was taking so long.
    Councillor West also reported that he has asked the Enforcement Officer to become involved in an
    issue of light pollution, raised by a resident living opposite the Sand Road development.
    Finally, Councillor West also agreed to chase the 3 planning applications on the agenda if they were not resolved by their internal target dates.

    A resident spoke about his concerns to allow commercial activities to be permitted on the Muga,
    citing a number of objections,
    • The unrestricted availability for all residents would be curtailed;
    • Use of the facility by non-resident adults;
    • Setting a precedent for future commercial use;
    • Environmental concerns and increased noise/nuisance levels.

    A resident also spoke about speeding traffic along Meadow Road, particularly outside the 40mph
    zone, with no footpath, limited visibility exiting driveways and an increase in traffic including
    lorries. Councillors confirmed they were aware of the issues; the Parish Council had in the past
    tried to seek a lower speed limit but this was not supported by the Police. Councillors had also
    sought funding to improve signage along the road, but with the departure of the then Highways
    Officer, the matter could not be pursued. Councillors agreed to take the matter up again with the
    newly appointed Highways Officer. Councillors also provided information on the Ting bus
    project, suggesting residents should lobby Cambridgeshire County Council and the Mayor of the
    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to extend the bus service south of the
    A428 to include Great Gransden.
  6. Matters Arising

    6.1 Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr King provided councillors with an update on the progress of the
    Neighbourhood Plan. The consultation period is now scheduled to start early February, having
    been pushed back due to Covid. All the reports have been done, google forms prepared and the
    printing company is on standby to print the Residents’ Notification Letter. Statutory bodies will
    also need to be notified, of which approximately 85 have so far been identified. Councillors were
    asked to continue to test the website before the 6-week pre-submission consultation begins.

    6.2 Use and Management of the Muga. Cllr Murphy had prepared a draft policy for commercial
    use of the Muga. A number of residents who attend circuit training had asked the Parish Council
    to reverse its decision refusing use of the Muga for commercial purposes. The policy had been
    drafted to try to prevent use of the facility by outsiders, whilst continuing to allow use by residents,
    for example, the circuit training classes presently provided at the Sportsfield. Councillors, whilst
    recognising the benefit to villagers, had concerns about excess litter, noise from music, availability
    of the facility. The Parish Council had previously decided not to permit commercial use. (Minute
    15.4 Minutes 12th April 2021). Cllr King responded to the points of concern raised by the resident
    in open forum whilst noting the many positives of the facility. As the commercial use had been
    requested by the organiser of circuit training, Cllr Murphy agreed to find out further details of the
    frequency and timing of classes, with councillors then commenting further on the draft policy. It
    was agreed that the facility, if made available for commercial use, should continue to be primarily
    for residents of Great Gransden and the Bluebell Community. Public Liability insurance will be
    checked with the Parish Council’s insurers.

    6.3 Speeding Vehicles. Cllr Catmur had obtained an estimated cost of £2,500 for an MVAS sign
    which records speed. Such signs can also be rented at a cost of £645 per week excluding vat.
    Councillors considered whether the collection of such data would benefit a future Local Highway
    Improvement Bid for speed reduction measures along Caxton Road, an issue which had been
    raised at the last meeting. Possible solutions included extending the 30mph, but data collection
    would not help as such a measure would not be supported by the police and widening the footpath
    would be too expensive. Data collection for Meadow Road speeds could be useful to make a case
    for reducing the limit or moving the existing speed limit. Cllr Catmur advised that any data
    collected must come from a Home Office approved sign. In view of the high costs, councillors
    agreed to await the decision of a neighbouring Parish Council to whom a request had been made
    to borrow their sign.
  7. Recruitment of a replacement clerk. Councillors agreed to place an advert in Roundabout as
    well as advertise the post on Touchbase.
  8. Financial Statement for December 2021. The sheet filed as Appendix No. 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 December 2021.
  9. Cheques for approval. The following payments were approved:
    (Proposed Cllr Ginn, seconded by Cllr Pett)
    Payments previously approved and paid since 6th December 2021:
    The Mower Shed (Invoice no 1114) £120.00
    Cheques/ Bank Transfers payable January 2022:
    RFO expenses for December 2021 £24.38
    HMRC – PAYE (period ending 5th Feb 22) £0.00
    Mr N Day £549.99 (Purchase of new PC Laptop)
    Mr N Day £19.39 (Purchase of Office 2019 Professional Plus for
    use on PC Laptop)
    ICO Renewal Fee 2022 £40.00
    Cambridgeshire ACRE Renewal 2022 £57.00
    Cambridgeshire ACRE £945.00
    (NP Consultancy Support in line with May 21
    Support proposal)
    Mr R McIntosh £7.50 (Garden of Remembrance)
    Human Capital Dept £178.80 (Retained HR Support)
    DM Payroll Services Ltd £55.00 (Payroll administration Nov 21-March 22)
    Caretaker Salary –January 2022 £684.38 (28th January 2022)
    RFO Salary – January 2022 £467.77* (28th January 2022)
    Locum Clerk Fee and expenses, December 2021 Mrs D Taylor £225.85
    Automated Payments payable January 2022
    DD BT – Broadband Reading Room £30.16 (11th January 2022)
    DD SSE £ 118.61 (DD 16th Jan 2022)

    *To include 15 hours December 2021, January Salary payment and tax rebate as advised by HMRC.
  10. Great Gransden Church Wall. Cllr King reported that the structural engineers’ report
    recommended the displaced stone capping be reinstalled. Councillors noted that although the
    wall fell within Little Gransden boundary, the responsibility for repair fell to Great Gransden
    Parish Council as owners of the cemetery including the section of the wall running along Home
    Dole Brook. The Parish Council agreed to arrange for the repair to be carried out. It was noted
    that the vertical crack in the brickwork was not of immediate concern although the report
    recommended the wall is inspected by an engineer every 2 years.
  11. Reading Room Cottage Repairs. A report had been prepared by Cllr King. Councillors
    agreed the recommendations to hire an electrician, plumber and handyman to carry out the
    repairs identified. (Proposed Cllr Pett, seconded Cllr King). Councillors to arrange estimates.
  12. Highways.
    Cllr Pett had reported the flooding along Waresley Road and received a response from Highways
    promising to rectify the issue. Councillors noted a number of issues including a pothole
    developing in Meadow Road and the collapsing drains on Church Street. The new Highways
    Officer had agreed to walk the village with councillors to discuss ongoing highways problems
    and how the issues can be prioritised. Councillors agreed to carry out their own survey first,
    walking the village to note the outstanding issues before confirming the meeting with the
    Highways Officer.
  13. Correspondence.

    13.1. CIL Funding Round 2. Letter from the District Council inviting applications for funding
    from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The funding application is for projects that are
    ready to commence as the closing date is 21st January 2022. Councillors discussed possible
    projects as there will be opportunities for a future funding application to be made to HDC.
    Councillors agreed Cllr King’s recommendation to improve the playground area. Quotes would
    be needed to write a bid application. Cllrs Murphy and Davis agreed to investigate and progress
    this project.

    13.2. Celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Councillors agreed to plant
    trees to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee. Cllr Pett agreed to follow this up. Further suggestions
    will be brought to the next meeting for consideration.
  14. Planning

    14.1. PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 21/01851/HHFUL
    Single storey rear extension with pitched roof and internal layout changes
    30 Winchfield Great Gransden Sandy SG19 3AN
    Councillors unanimously agreed to recommend ‘Approval’ on the ground that there are no
    reasons to object. (Proposed Cllr Catmur, seconded by Cllr Pett).

    14.2. PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 21/02673/HHFUL
    Proposed rear and side extensions, ridge height of existing extension to be raised to create
    additional rooms, demolition of garage and re-build brick boundary wall to match existing.
    1 Middle Street Great Gransden Sandy SG19 3AD
    Councillors considered the application to be a major alteration to the property, with a proposed
    2-storey extension nearer to the boundary, leading to a loss of light to the neighbouring listed
    property. The proposed extension and alterations would have an impact and cause
    overshadowing. Cllr Ginn proposed ‘Refusal’ on the grounds of the impact upon and the
    overshadowing of a neighbouring listed property. Seconded by Cllr Pett and carried
    unanimously.

    14.3. PARISH COUNCIL CONSULTATION – APPLICATION REF. 21/02728/HHFUL
    Fit 18 solar panels onto our Garage and shed, these are detached outbuildings.
    The Manor House 10 Manor Lane Great Gransden Sandy SG19 3RA
    Councillors noted this application had been considered at the October meeting and had now been
    re-submitted without the application for listed building consent. Councillors unanimously
    agreed to recommend ‘Approval’ on the grounds that there are no reasons to object. (Proposed
    Cllr Pett, seconded by Cllr Ginn).

    14.4. Hayfield Homes Development, Sand Road, Great Gransden
    Councillors noted there are no light conditions with the planning consent. It is hoped that
    planning enforcement will look at the light pollution complaint raised by a resident. Cllr West
    has asked the Enforcement Officer to investigate.
  15. Review of HR Policies and Procedures through external consultancy.
    In line with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 this item was considered in closed
    session.
  16. Date of next Meeting
    The Next Meeting has been arranged for Monday 7th February 2022 at 7:30pm

    This meeting closed at 9:27pm