A Councillor's Comments - January/February 2002

By the time you read this, the festive season will be over and it will seem a long while to wait till spring & better weather, but I do wish you all, albeit late, a happy New Year, good health & luck for the future.
The December 10, 2001 meeting’s main thrust was the Council’s precept for 2002/2003.
It is important to have an ongoing programme of capital schemes to effectively & efficiently plan the development of services to the community. The general reserve fund is necessary to meet all unforeseen circumstances and should be at a level sufficient to enable the Council to continue to function and to meet its financial obligation in the event (say) of not receiving any anticipated income.
With business finished, the evening ended, as it was Christmas, with some refreshments and mince pies etc.
The Soham Town Council meeting Monday 14th January transacted business as usual Matters Arising from previous Agenda: - Pc Mark Hobson did not attend, but supplied us with figures for last year, 2001: reported crimes: 384 (for the year 2000: 489) down by 100, but many of our constituents do not report crimes, they feel it is a waste of time - a problem the police are trying to redress. The most serious are criminal damage & burglary.

CCTV
The tendering process is underway. Out of 21 Companies interested, 7 have reached the stringent criteria and tenders will be in by 21 St Feb. 02, watch this space!!! Street Lighting. Soham Town Council agreed to contribute 50% of the total cost with their partners Cambridgeshire County Council to upgrade lighting in Church Alley early in the New Year. At this stage in the Agenda, the Council was reminded that the Sand Street traffic enhancement scheme would be funded through the Joint Area Committee for Environment & Transport as once again we reached their criteria. The funding package for Soham Town Council was 60p per resident = £4,000.

Model Code of Conduct for Councillors.
All Curs had a chance to read a copy of the Town Councils Code, which came into affect 27th November 2001. There will be a new declaration of acceptance of office. November also saw the launch of the Standards Board for England, a new independent body set up to define, promote & maintain standards of conduct in local government. East Cambridgeshire District Council has also set up a Standards Committee to do the same - I sit on this committee.

Future Electoral arrangements
Soham Town Council was greatly concerned with the warding and draft recommendations by East Cambridgeshire District Council. Views and reasons why we were against them were expressed. We were advised they were noted and will be taken into account when the decision is made.

Oueen's Golden Jubilee
A representative from Soham Town Council will be attending a meeting when all parties concerned will be working towards making this a Special shared celebration.

Agenda item 6 Correspondence.
Soham Town Council had a letter of apology from East Cambridgeshire District Council regarding the state of our High Street & litter bins on Saturday 15th December the day after our Christmas late night Fayre. Litter bins should be emptied every day. I feel it is right to finish on, dare I say, a HIGH note.

Anne Tuite
Soham Town Council Vice- Chairman