The following were amongst items discussed at Parish Council meetings and information received by the Clerk. The full minutes may be found here.

Parish Council Meeting 15 September
The Council welcomed its new temporary Clerk, Linda Miller. Linda does sterling work administering the Pavilion and sports facilities, and has agreed to take on the extra role of Clerk until we can make a permanent appointment.

The Council received the latest draft of the Village Plan and after a thorough discussion agreed that some minor changes were needed before full acceptance and implementation. The Village Plan Committee was congratulated and thanked for all its hard work. A meeting is planned for 11 October to present the Plan to the whole Village.

There has been significant subsidence at a plot in Weavers Field, and the insurers have approached the Council requesting permission to remove some of the planting which they fear is implicated. The Council will be investigating how the site should be re-planted when the work is done, to maintain the character of this area.

The Council agreed to postpone a decision on the sale of part of the landscape strip between 121 Girton Road and Weavers Field, to enable access to a building plot in the garden of 121 Girton Road. The proposed sale raises a number of issues which Councillors felt needed prior consideration.

The Council also noted the concern of some residents after a newsletter was put about the Village which seemed to suggest that the Wellbrook Way bowling green was not to go ahead. The Council is actively seeking ways of making up the cost shortfall, while still working hard to enable the land to be handed over to the Council at the earliest possible time. We shall also be meeting the Bowls Club to discuss how the site should be run.

Wellbrook Way Dog Bins
Residents have requested more dog bins at Wellbrook Way, but the District Council has refused our request. However, it may be possible to re-locate the green dog bin, which does not seem to be much used, at a more convenient location.

Councillor Vacancy
SCDC has informed the Council that as no residents have requested an election, we may fill the Councillor vacancy by co-option. If you are interested in serving your community as a Councillor please contact the Clerk as soon as possible, and at the latest by 10 October.

Pavement Cycling
The Council has received a letter from a resident who was nearly knocked over by three teenage cyclists as she alighted from a bus. While the police are tolerant of primary school children cycling on the pavement all others should use the road. We are aware that some find the traffic intimidating, and one part of the Parish Plan focuses on the need to provide better cycling facilities through the Village. And for any who cycle on footpaths which are designated as shared-use, please always give consideration to pedestrians.

Parish Questionnaire
The Questionnaire in the July GPN attracted nearly 50 responses and these have now been analysed. The results are on the Parish website and will be very helpful in giving the Council an understanding of the views of Parishioners.

Girton Oil Club?
The Chairman has been informed of a successful `oil club' in Barton, where villagers work together to buy heating oil in bulk through a local company which organises volume discounts and also makes a donation to a local charity (of the Club's choice) on behalf of each customer who purchase over 1000 litres in a year. If any resident would be interested in starting such a club for Girton, the Clerk has contact details.

Bench at Redgate Corner
It was brought to the Council's attention by a resident that the bench by the Village sign was in a dangerous state. With the help of Sam Clift the Chairman removed the bench, and the Council will now consider a replacement. The original bench could be repaired but would probably not be strong enough for anything but light garden use, so if any parishioner would like a souvenir please let us know.

Forthcoming Meetings
The next Parish Council meetings will take place on 20 October and 17 November starting at 7.30pm at St Vincent's Close Community Centre. Residents are always welcome and may speak to the Council during the public session at the start of the meeting.