1

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Gamlingay Parish Council

Annual Report 2012 -2013

www.gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

2

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Chairman’s Report

What have the Parish Council been busy with this year, from April 2012 to April 2013? 11 Full Council Meetings (monthly) 19 Planning meetings (usually fortnightly) 9 Finance & General Purpose meetings 6 Special meetings (3 public meetings on the Egg Farm, the Green End Industrial Estate and the Station Road Development) 1 staffing and 2 consultation meetings – one with the Police Panel and one with the Doctors surgery regarding a shared car park, plus one with the Village College to discuss and action the access to the Multi Use Games Area from the playing field side, which involved part paying for a new secure fence and gate. In addition we have held management group meetings for the WI Hall, Old Methodist Chapel, allotment project meetings, Millbridge Brook project meetings, Gamarch meetings, and meetings with the trustees of the Hub, known as GCC Ltd. This year we gained two new councillors – Catherine Titmus and Rachel Mercer and also lost two - Lewis Girdwood and Christine Emery. Sadly, we are also about to lose our previous Chair and vice Chair, Nick Telford Reed as he has moved out of Gamlingay to live in Bassingbourn. This will shortly leave us with two vacancies which we are looking to fill. As a Parish Council we have given a total of just over 26 and a half thousand pounds to a range of village groups and charities, including GAMARC (Gamlingay Archaeologists); the Football club, Gamlingay Environmental Action Group; Sunshine Playgroup; St Mary's Good Neighbours and we have donated to other organisations like the Wildlife Trust, Medical charity MAGPAS and Victim Support. We helped support the recent, very successful Bookfest, held here in the Hub; gave a donation to ensure that the Village College continues to run their summer playscheme and put wooden bollards at the end of the Hub car park to stop cars going on the playing field, put in a Jubilee bench by the entrance to the Hub and created the big new Notice Board. Through Forward Gamlingay, we fund the Youth Cafe and Youth Club, held at the Hub on Thursday nights, which has been very successful in engaging many of our more disadvantaged youngsters, and through supporting a wide range of youth work and mentoring, I believe has been responsible for the dramatic drop in anti-social behaviour and vandalism.. My own feeling is that this past year has been a very productive and positive one. The Hub, which we worked so hard to build, has proved to be a warm, friendly and active space that the whole village now feels at home in, and this facility is set to improve still further when we get going on the phase 2 extension and improvement programme which will result in more room inside, and a much prettier and more functional exterior, with landscaping and a better car park. The Hub has also given a new lease of life to the library, that is now an integral part of this building. Right from when we opened the Hub last February, we saw visitor numbers to the library increasing dramatically, and our library manager has recorded a total visitor footfall of 4,901 people for last year. The Station Road Development, now called Millbridge Meadows, is set to start in earnest this year with the first houses due to be built this summer, and we have been working hard with Keir Homes to help plan every aspect of this development, from the shape and style of the houses, to the landscaping around them, to the development of the road and cycleway running past it and of course, the recreation space beside it, Millbridge Brook. As has been said before, the benefits for the village from this housing development are very great, both in terms of money, and also in land. I felt the hand of history on my shoulder this year when I signed the agreements to transfer the Millbridge Brook field; the Lower Field opposite on the other side of Station Road, and St Mary’s Field (behind the Emplins) from Merton College back to the village of Gamlingay. These fields, which are so well used by walkers, have been in the ownership of Merton for around 8 or 900 years, and I felt it was a very significant moment in our village history to finally have them back, not just as rentals, but as ours to own in perpetuity. It is also important to acknowledge the everyday, sometimes mundane stuff that goes on all year, and is only noticed when it doesn't happen. The grass in all our public areas is cut regularly (and there is a LOT of grass!), our cemetery is tidy and cared for, the trees are trimmed and made safe; the pavements and roads are largely tidy and free of litter; paths are cleared of snow, playground

3

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

equipment is repaired; benches and dog bins, fences and hedges are mended and tidied, the wall around St Mary's church repaired, and the church paths redone. Our village buildings – the WI hall and the old Methodist Chapel get repaired, decorated and heated. Even the telephone box outside the church, broken since 2003, is now working again! Without all this everyday effort, we would end up living in a shabby and unloved place, where no one cares, and no one takes pride in living. If we could only solve the dog poo problem, we would indeed be truly blessed! Of course, there is, and always will be a series of challenges to face. In 2012, we successfully fought off a plan to put 20 homes on the Lupin Field at the bottom of Greenacres – a plan which the whole village strongly opposed, but we know, at some point, the owners will try again. The proposal to extend the Egg farm out on Station Road also caused some controversy as the owners did the work and then applied for retrospective planning permission. Our current challenges include the imminent loss of our bus services 18; 18A and 28 to Cambridge, but we, and other Cambridgeshire villages are in talks with the County to see how we can maintain and even improve a bus service between us and the rest of South Cambridgeshire, albeit in a different form. Currently, Central Bedfordshire Council are planning to create a new Gypsy and Traveller site on our border with Potton, and we are working with the residents of the Heath who live next to the proposed site to help them challenge the Council on this proposal. I'd like to finish by thanking the people without whom, the Council just couldn't function. Firstly, our Handyman, Mr Keith Woolcott who has single handedly kept the paths clear of ice/snow all winter long as part of the winter gritting volunteers programme, and is to be found most Monday mornings clearing the recreation ground of the weekend litter. If you walked safely down Holly Walk, or around the sheltered housing areas during the snow or you enjoy the fact that our public areas are largely litter free, then it is down to him. People have been noticing, and we have received many positive comments on his efforts. He has also attended playground safety and tree safety courses this year. We must also thank Mr Daisley. who does metalwork repairs and it is down to him that our 50 year old roundabout in the Butts playground is still going! He has also mended the latch on the gate of the cemetery, made a new handle for the old hand roller, sorted bolts on the skatepark and mends our metal fencing. Library manager Kate Laugharne has done a wonderful job this year with all the challenges that running a busy library gives her, and I would like to thank her and all her volunteers who man the library and welcome so many adults and children to the Hub on a daily basis. Sebastian Kindersley and Bridget Smith deserve our thanks and praise for all their constant efforts as our District Councillors. They attend every full council meeting to update us on what we need to know, and are always there for advice and help when we need to liase with South Cambridgeshire District Council or the County. As most people know, Bridget, in her role as project facilitator for the Hub and Recreation spaces, is a human dynamo who gets more done in a day than most achieve in a week. We are always grateful to her energy, cheerful spirit and ability to care about even the smallest detail. We are so lucky to have our excellent clerks, Kirstin and Leanne, without whom, the Council would simply grind to a halt. I have loved working with both of them this year and have been very grateful for their expertise on all things procedural and financial. I have learnt a lot from them both and thank them for their continued support. And last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank my fellow councillors for their time and energy this year. All have been willing to give up their evenings, some straight off the London train, to attend meetings, and give their wise counsel over the range of subjects that we have to deal with. It is much appreciated, thank you.

Sarah Groom, Chair – Gamlingay Parish Council

4

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Welcome to the Annual Report on the activities of the parish council.

The parish has: 3865 electors 15 parish councillors

Gamlingay parish council was reaccredited with Quality Status on 17th July 2012. With the exception of August, the parish council meets on the second Tuesday throughout the year. The Finance and General Purposes committee meets on the fourth Tuesday each month. Both this meeting and the council meeting are preceded by a meeting of the Planning committee. With a few exceptions, all meetings now take place at the Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay. Agendas are posted on notice boards outside the Eco Hub, the Almshouses on the corner of Church Street/Stocks Lane, on Mill St and on the website www.gamlingay-pc.gov.uk Responsibilities

• Allotments – at Green End and now at Long Lane (opened May 2013).

• Recreation ground, Butts playground, Skatepark, BMX track, Millbridge Brook field and the lower field, St Marys field, Merton Field (off Greenacres – leased from Merton College),open space at Chapelfields, Northfield Close and the Pitt on Waresley Rd and Cinques Common (managed by the wildlife Trust on the PC’s behalf)

• The Old Methodist Chapel and WI Hall

• Cemetery

• Maintenance of closed churchyards (St Mary’s and the Baptist Chapel)

• Gamlingay Eco Hub (leased to Gamlingay Community Centre Ltd)

• Grass cutting of the above areas and verges within the village

• 47 street lights Staff All part time - 2 clerks (job share), grounds man, 2 cleaners , library manager and project facilitator.

Plans for 2013-2014 Allotments at Long Lane Millbridge Brook Meadows New Cemetery Parking improvements for Church Street New permissive footpaths Improvements to the football pitches Phase 2 of the Eco Hub – car parking, landscaping and extension Youth pavilion Improvements to street lighting Other potential projects – cycle way to Potton, community transport scheme.

5

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Affordable Housing

Significant housing development is planned for this community, with building due to start in July 2013 including affordable housing for local needs – 34 units of various sizes and types will be built on Station Road with a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership.

New Allotments – now open for business!

The parish council is delighted to announce that around 70 new allotments for the parish are now available.

The allotments are situated on the North side of Long Lane, adjacent to the track that leads up to

the permissive path to Gamlingay Woods.

A new Gamlingay Allotment Gardeners Association (GAGA) will be responsible for the running of the allotments. They can be contacted on gamlingay.allotments@gmail.com

Some allotments are still available. If you live in the parish and want to add your name to the list please contact GAGA direct or you can ring the parish council on 650310 or pop in to the Eco Hub

to enquire.

Below – Long Lane allotments Hedge planting working party March 2013.

6

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Summary of Accounts 2012-13

Expenditure Budget Total

Staff(LGA 1972 s.112) 94,412.00 85,864.76

Subsidiary Powers(LGA 1972 s.111)

Office expenses 8,000.00 10,557.77

Training/Recruitment 700.00 860.90

Insurance (LGA 1972 S112-119) 3,800.00 3,637.16

Info. Gazette/Website 1,500.00 1,544.00

Village Maintenance

Grasscutting 23,211.00 19,551.87

Refuse 500.00 590.55

Playground 14,420.03 2,032.12

Street Lighting 1,500.00 1,043.04

Closed Churchyards(LGA 1972 s 215) 28,000.00 21,330.07

Recreation Ground Station Rd 10,000.00 6,519.92

Footpaths/highways/other 8,428.28 4,415.63

Public Buildings(LGA 1972 s.133)

Office

Rent 3,000.00 4,561.96

Rates 1,000.00 1,224.31

Utilities 640.00 623.31

Methodist Chapel

Mortgage 2,500.00 2,764.69

Rates 0.00 0.00

Utilities 2,000.00 1,371.08

Maintenance/Sundries 4,340.00 4,290.21

Women's Institute Hall

Rates 750.00 888.75

Utilities 1,000.00 1,727.79

Maintenance/Sundries 4,000.00 3,940.96

Community Centres(LGA 1976 s.19)

Eco Hub

Sinking Fund 21,000.00 21,000.00

Loan repayments - PWLB/CB 24,000.00 24,606.72

Finance support 22,000.00 10,000.00

Eco Hub 73,500.00 57,217.62

Library

Telephone 30.00 0.00

Rent/Sundries/Stationary 3,000.00 1,606.97

Cemeteries

New Cemetery(LGA 1972 s.214) Current Yr 10,000.00 6,680.00

Rates(LGA 1972 s.214(6)) 340.00 351.00

Water(LGA 1972 s. 214(6)) 60.00 61.58

Maintenance(MPA 1970 s.1) 5,100.00 1,152.34

Allotments

7

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Allotments Current Year 6,000.00 8,264.30

Community Projects

Forward Gamlingay!/support of charities 20,000.00 14,927.65

Holiday Camps/youth work 500.00 500.00

Section 137(LGA 1972) 1,000.00 1,057.08

Support of the arts 500.00 500.00

Contingency 20,500.00 2,225.36

Total ex Vat 424,481.31 329,741.47

Vat 0.00 27,820.87

Total including vat 424,481.31 357,562.34

INCOME

Burial Fees 3,200.00 3,505.06

Allotment Rent 140.00 104.91

Interest 500.00 2,827.36

Recreation Ground Income 750.00 1,283.51

Cinques Common 50.00 50.00

Grasscutting Contribution 750.00 1,139.64

Methodist Chapel

Rainbow 4,000.00 4,619.55

General 100.00 73.43

Library 200.00 600.16

WI Hall

Main users 5,000.00 10,352.16

General 500.00 840.51

Section 106 St Rd 56,800.00 100,000.00

Grant Awards 0.00 29,986.20

Precept 157,600.00 157,600.00

Other 0.00 6,806.53

Total ex Vat 229,590.00 319,789.02

Vat refund 0.00 71,708.50

Total including vat 229,590.00 391,497.52

8

gamlingay-pc.gov.uk

Contact Details To contact your local parish councillor please either – Write to the clerks (Leanne Bacon/Kirstin Rayner) at The Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay, SG19 3JR Telephone us on 01767 650310 E –mail the clerks at clerk@gamlingay-pc.gov.uk Your parish councillors are-

Sarah Groom (Chairman)

Nick Telford Reed

Chris Tomsett

Rachel Mercer

Jayne Wright

Jason Nicholas

Gerry Burne

David Finnigan

Peter Dolling

Jackie McGeady

Cindy Moreau

Catherine Titmus

Colin Smith

2 vacancies