A Councillor's Comments - April 2002

Hi everyone - it’s Anne Tuite again, a quick update on Soham Town Council’s meeting on 11th March. On Matters Arising there was no police presence but crime figures during February were mainly damage and theft, although unfortunately two incidents were of racist nature and arrests are expected.
On the Model Code of Conduct for Councillors ECDC’s solicitor Eleanor Hoggart was in attendance so it was an Agenda item. On the Queen’s Golden Jubilee the Town Council supported in principle a firework display, but safety and timing needs to be addressed fully.
Agenda items included, Replacement Windows for the Pavilion - a tendering process will decide Best Value. Code of Conduct - Eleanor Hoggart cleared up any misunderstandings Councillors had regarding the ethical framework, i.e. register of interest and signing of New Declaration of Acceptance of Office, which all councillors in attendance signed. She was also able to advise us regarding questions raised by the Commons Working Group Chairman, Rosemary Aitchison. Rosemary and councillor George Ginn went walkabout on Qua Fen Common on Saturday, 2nd March to see for themselves what had been done and what needed to be done. Listening to Eleanor Hoggart and what information we had, together with correspondence from the Lord of the Manor’s agent it was decided to request a face to face meeting to try to resolve the many problems regarding the trespass, etc which has arisen, plus the Council’s role.
Lastly, item nine, Public Conveniences - ECDC’s Community Service Committee are currently undertaking a Best Value review of public conveniences and, although it was not the aim of the review to reduce the quality of these conveniences, the options set out to us seemed to lean towards the Town Council taking on the responsibility for ours in Fountain Lane and Clay Street. We have informed them that it is their role to maintain our public conveniences. Dare I say that it is not convenient for us to do it.
Councillors were asked to note that 13th May is the set date for our Annual Town Meeting.

Anne Tuite
Soham Town Council Vice Chairman