A Councillor's Comments - July/August 2007

At our July 2007 meeting no one took up the option of "Public Comment Time", so the meeting proceeded with the Chairman's Announcements. On this occasion it was notification of the meeting for our two committees, and councillors were asked if they had any agenda items to bring before the meetings they would attend. There was some discussion as to which order the meetings would be held but we were told we would be notified.

Annual Return for the year ending 31st March 2007: It is required of Councils to complete an annual return summarising their annual activities at the completion of each financial year. Members of the Council are responsible for ensuring that financial management is adequate and that it has a sound system of control. So, guided by the clerk we worked through the various pages of the return.

At the recent election there was one seat left unfilled on the North Ward of Soham and three people indicated they would like to serve on the Council, and at this meeting the elected members held a secret ballot and Nigel Driver was the successful candidate.

Future Section 106 expenditure: There was a list of some eighteen items that were considered worthy of S106 money being spent on them, but it was thought it was necessary to put them in order of preference so they would be ready when the next development comes along.

Local Development Framework: This is something that the planning committee had looked at and Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley had put a lot of work into, to convey the Soham Town Council's response to East Cambridgeshire District Council as to what we would like to see happen regarding future development and where it should take place.

At this meeting we all received the New Parish and Town Councils Model Code of Conduct, this is something for us to take note of and be guided by as we serve as councillors. In the booklet that we received, right at the beginning, and set out as Table 1, were the ten general principles of public life. They are; Selflessness, Honesty and Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Personal Judgement, Respect for Others, Duty to Uphold the Law, Stewardship and Leadership. If we achieve these as individuals and as a council all should go well.

There was a request for financial assistance from the Soham Staploe Medical Centre regarding a counselling service that they were offering for Soham residents. Looking at the request we noted that it was part of a wider scheme under the name of "Cogswheel" covering a wide area. There was some concern that if we responded to the request would our money go directly for the counselling costs of Soham people, or simply go into the common fund? We await further clarification on this although the scheme itself has general approval.

Kindest Regards

George Ginn
Soham Town Councilor