Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

A meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held at the Pavilion, Soham, commencing at 7.00pm on Monday, 9th May 2005, to transact the following business:-

Minutes of a meeting of the Soham Town Council held at the Pavilion, Soham, on Monday 11th April 2005.

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr H Davies, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer and Mrs FE Ross (Vice Chairman)
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr J Powley District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth, Mr CW Fordham, Mr JH Humphreys and Mr JM Palmer PC Kevin Humble - Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Mrs Cathy Gray - Chairperson/Senior Project Worker, Life Project Mrs Ali West - Treasurer, Life Project Mrs Kate Ashby - Youth Worker, Life Project
Apologies:	Councillors Mr CM Palmer and Mrs PA Tuite District Councillors Mr AR Parramint, and
53/05	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 14TH MARCH 2005 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
54/05	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (36/05) PC Kevin Humble reported that between 15th February and 11th April 2005 there had been 47 crimes recorded in the Soham Area.The crimes ranged from murder to criminal damage and harassment. In addition to the recorded crimes the Ely Sector had also received 280 telephone calls relating to the area. PC Humble also advised the meeting that two CPSO's had now commenced work in Soham. Town Council Publicity and Information (Inc. Twinning) (42/05) Twinning Councillor Mr J Kirkham reported that the fact finding visit to Andrezieux-Boutheon will take place from Friday 6th May - Sunday 8th May 2005. Soham will be represented by The Chairman, Councillors Mr J Kirkham and Mr PG Beer and Mr C Scurrah of Soham On-Line. Representatives from Andrezieux-Boutheon have been invited to visit Soham from the 10th-12th June 2005. A suitable programme of visits and events is being arranged. Publicity The Chairman reported on a meeting attended by herself and Councillor Mr J Kirkham with the Editor of the Ely Standard, the local correspondent of the Ely Standard and the Chairman of Soham Association of Commerce & Trade (SACT). The Ely Standard proposed to publish a supplement, dedicated to Soham, on a regular basis. The first publication is on the third Thursday in May 2005 with monthly editions thereafter.
55/05	MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF STANDARD COMMITTEES RESOLVED that the minutes of the following committees which are printed and attached to these minutes be confirmed and approved and the recommendations contained therein be adopted: Finance & Policy - 14th March 2005 Planning - 14th March 2005
56/05	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - FEBRUARY 2005 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st March 2005 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations..
57/05	LIFE PROJECT Representatives from the Life Project outlined the aims and objectives for its work in Soham. These were fully supported by the Council and the Life Project was invited to present a review of its first three months work at the Council meeting in September 2005.
58/05	GRAZING - 2005 SEASON RESOLVED to approve the usual tender process for the letting of Qua Fen, East Fen and Angle Commons for the 2005. Power delegated to the Chairman of the Council, Chairman of Recreational Amenities and the Clerk to finalise these arrangements.
59/05	PUBLIC REPRESENTATION AT FUTURE MEETINGS - CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT I have been asked on many occasions (and so have the Clerks) why the public are not allowed to speak at Council meetings. This has worried me for sometime and I was aware that other Councils did allow members of the public to put their views forward.We have looked into the feasibility of introducing a time for the public to speak. The most popular way o f doing this appears to be to set aside a period of time for the public to address the Council on items on the agenda. I am therefore putting forward this proposal:- That the Council set aside 15 minutes before the start of a Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council. Each individual to be allowed 2 minutes to speak on an item on the agenda, provided that the intention to speak has been notified to the Clerk at least 24 hours previously. This proposal also applies to Planning Committee meetings. RESOLVED to approve the proposal and to introduce the procedure at the June 2005 meeting.
60/05	JOINT PARISH FORUM NOTED that the first joint East Cambridgeshire District Council/CALC Parish Forum will take place on Wednesday 25th May 2005 in the Council Chamber, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely at 7.00pm. NOTED also that any items to be included on the Agenda should be submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council by 28th April 2005. RESOLVED that The Chairman and Councillor Mr J Kirkham will attend.
	It is hereby resolved in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 that as publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential or special nature of the business about to be transacted as Agenda Item 9 namely Application for Financial Assistance - Ely & District Citizens Advice Bureau, it is advisable in the public interest that the. public and press be temporarily excluded from this meeting and they are herewith instructed to withdraw.
	Meeting was closed to press and public at 8.33pm.
61/05	APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - ELY & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Consideration was given to an application for financial assistance from Ely & District Citizens Advice Bureau towards costs of providing its advice and information service. RESOLVED that the Council in accordance with its powers under sections 137 and 139 of the Local Government Act, 1972 should incur the following expenditure which, in the opinion of the Council, is in the interests of the area or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:- ELY & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU - £1,000
	The meeting re-opened to the press and public at 8.35pm.
62/05	HANGING BASKETS Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd March 2005 were received.
63/05	THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS NOTED that the Wildlife Trusts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northampton and Peterborough were proposing to erect fencing at Soham Meadow to contain animals whilst grazing. RESOLVED that no objection were raised to the proposal.
64/05	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - SURFACE DRESSING 2005-2006 NOTED several areas in Soham will be subject of surface dressing during late June/early July 2005.
65/05	APPLICATION FOR STREET TRADING LICENCE NOTED that an application for a street trading licence to serve hot food and drink between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday at Regal Lane, Soham had been received by East Cambridgeshire District Council.
66/05	WESTBURY HOMES NOTED that a public exhibition of a proposed development off The Birches, Soham, is to be held at the Pavilion on Wednesday 27th April 2005 between 3.00pm and 8.00pm.
67/05	STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING Notification of revised street numbering for new dwellings 54b, 54c and 54d Fordham Road, previously plots 1, 2 and 3 Hereward Construction..
68/05	TREE WORKS NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had approved a schedule of tree works to be carried out at 3 Brewhouse Lane, 6 Red House Gardens and 66 Hall Street.
69/05	CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM Notification of forthcoming Local Access Forums were received.
70/05	PAPERS TABLED Cambridgeshire Probation Service - Annual Report 2003-2004 Soham Community History Museum - Minutes, Meeting, 24/02/2005 Soham Town Forum - Minutes, Meeting, 10/03/2005 Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - 'Highlights of the Week' Newsletter from 18th March 2005 to 8th April 2005 (Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Vibrant Local Leadership & Citizen Engagement & Public Services East Cambridgeshire District Council Leisure Team - Sports & Play Newsletter March 2005 Cambridgeshire ACRE - Harvest, March/April 2005 Cambridgeshire County Council - County Farm News, Lady Day 2005
71/05	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.00pm, Monday 9th May 2005 and the Annual Town Council Meeting will be held after the Council Meeting at 8.00pm, Monday 9th May 2005.