Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of Soham Town Council will be held in The Council Chamber, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 8th May 2006 commencing at 7.00pm with up to 15 minutes of public comment time on Agenda Items, followed by the formal business, and you are summoned to attend for the transaction of the following business:-

The Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday 8th May 2006 at 8.00pm at the Walter Gidney Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Soham.

The Annual Soham Town Council Meeting will be held in Hall 1, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 8th May 2006 commencing at 8.00pm.

Minutes of a meeting of the Soham Town Council held at The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 10th April 2006.

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs FE Ross (Vice-Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr HJ Davies, GR Ginn, G Fisher, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane & Mr C Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon & Mrs PA Tuite.
In Attendance:	County Councillors Mr J Powley & Mrs J Broadway District Councillors Mr JH Humphreys, Mr J Palmer & Mr C Fordham Mr Fred Langford, Ely & Soham Dial-a-Ride PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Apologies:	-
51/06	PUBLIC COMMENT TIME Mr Carl Wheeling made comment regarding Agenda Item No. 15 - Grazing Tenders.
52/06	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 13TH MARCH 2006 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
53/06	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (36/06) PC Humble reported that there had been 33 crimes recorded for the Soham area between 13th February 2006 and 12th March 2006. These consisted of 2 dwelling burglaries; 2 commercial burglaries; 1 shed burglary; 1 theft of a motor vehicle; 7 thefts from motor vehicles, three of which occurred in Barway, the property from one was recovered close by; 7 thefts, three of which were shoplifting and on re a telephone kiosk; 4 criminal damage; 4 assaults, two of which involved the same family, one was a road rage type incident, the other involved teenagers; 3 interference with motor vehicles; and 1 making off without paying for petrol. During the same period there had been 700 telephone calls to the police for the East Cambridgeshire District Council area, of those calls 95 were for the Soham area. PC Humble confirmed that this would be his last attendance at a Council meeting as he was transferring out of the area and being replaced by PC's Andy and Anna Day as the Community Beat Managers for the Soham area. The Chairman and Councillors thanked PC Humble for his work in the town and wished him well in the future.
54/06	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 - 13th March 2006 Planning - 29th March 2006
55/06	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - MARCH 2006 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st March 2006, and Quarterly Budget Statements as at 31st March 2006 attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
56/06	ELY AND SOHAM DIAL-A-RIDE (ESDA) Fred Langford, Ely and Soham Dial-a-Ride attended for this item and gave a presentation to the Council covering the objectives, work and financial needs of the dial a ride scheme. It presently runs 3 minibuses all fully accessible and has a total membership of 480, 65 of whom live in Soham. 83% of its members live alone and 80% of these are single ladies. The projected annual expenditure of operating ESDA is £113,000 and forecast income is £43,000. Grants and donations to meet the deficit of £70,000 are now being sought.
57/06	ANDREZIEUX-BOUTHEON - SOHAM TOWN TWINNING CEREMONIES The motion that Council reaffirms its desire to strengthen the bonds of friendship which have been forged between the people of Soham and those of Andrézieux-Bouthéon and authorises the Chairman of Council to sign the Twinning Charter at Andrézieux-Bouthéon on 15th April 2006 and at Soham on the 29th May 2006 was debated. Some concerns were expressed at the wording of the Charter and specifically that referring to the "Mayor of Soham" and an amendment requiring this wording to be removed was proposed but not seconded. RESOLVED to accept the signing of the Charter in France as it stands, provided the Chairman inserts "Chairman of Soham Town Council' after her signature, and to ensure that the reference to Mayor is changed for the counterpart Charter to be signed in Soham on 29 May 2006.
58/06	SOHAM TOWN PLAN Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley reported on the amendments made to the draft Town Plan, incorporating comments received from residents etc. RESOLVED to approve the final draft Town Plan and to submit this to East Cambridgeshire District Council for inclusion in its Local Development Framework. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley for all his work.
59/06	BRIDGE OF REEDS PROJECT Details of the proposed 'Bridge of Reeds' Project by Greater Cambridge Partnership were received as part of its Public Consultation process. RESOLVED that it was not appropriate for the Town Council to comment as a body, but that individual Councillors should reply independently if they so wished.
60/06	LOCAL BUS SERVICES NOTED changes to local bus services were received from Cambridgeshire County Council. RESOLVED that copies of the new timetables be requested.
61/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS The East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood News, distributed by East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Policing Team, Ely Sector was received. The Clerk reported that next 'surgery' to be held by Gaynor Foster, Police Community Support Officer would on Tuesday, 18th April 2006, 7.15pm-7.45pm outside the Co-op Store in the High Street, Soham.
62/06	REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Consideration was given to requests for financial assistance from:- (i) Cambridgeshire Council for its Summer Reading Challenge 2006 (ii) The WRVS in support of its Ely Emergency Services (iii) Soham & Ely Dial-aRide, towards it running costs for the coming year. Councillors Mesdames Mrs PA Tuite and Mrs M Count declared a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct for item (iii) Soham & Ely Dial-a-Ride and retired from the meeting during it's discussion. 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: Cambridgeshire County Council's 'Summer Reading Challenge' 2006 - £350 Soham and Ely Dial-a-Ride - £1,000 RESOLVED further that no grant be made to the WRVS at this stage but that more information be obtained regarding its work particular to Soham..
63/06	REPORTS FROM DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS Due to the extended time of the meeting all District and County Councillors present declined to make a report.
64/06	ANNUAL TOWN MEETING RESOLVED that the Annual Town Meeting should be held on Monday 8th May 2006 at 8.00pm.
	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 at Agenda Item No. 15 namely Grazing Tenders, 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 9.05pm
65/06	GRAZING TENDERS The following tenders had been received: Back and Front Angle Common - Mr A Barnett - £550 Qua Fen Common (cutting only) - Mr A Barnett - £100 Qua Fen Common (no details) - Mr J Wilson - £150 Qua Fen Common (grazing horses & cattle) - Mr J Vinden - £650 Back East Fen Common (grazing cattle) - Mr J Paice - £150 Back East Fen Common (grazing horses & cattle) - Mr J Vinden - £1,000 Front East Fen Common (grazing & cutting) RESOLVED that tenders received from Mr A Barnett for Back & Front Angle Common and Mr J Vinden for grazing horses & cattle Qua Fen Common and grazing horses & cattle Back East Fen Common and tethered grazing & cutting Front East Fen Common be accepted.
	The meeting re-opened to the press and public at 9.10pm.
66/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE FAMILY PROJECT NOTED a letter of thanks was received from East Cambridgeshire Family Project for the Council's recent donation towards its funding.
67/06	THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION NOTED a letter of thanks was received from the Soham Branch of The Royal British Legion for the 50% reduction in the normal hire of the Pavilion for an event to commemorate the Queens Birthday.
68/06	CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES NOTED information was received from Cambridgeshire County Council on the new Concessionary Bus Fares. Several comments were made on the unfairness of the new system.
69/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK NOTED that a series of consultations meetings had been arranged by East Cambridgeshire District Council, Soham being held at the Walter Gidney Pavilion on Tuesday, 30th May 2006 at 7.00pm. RESOLVED that Councillors Mrs FE Ross, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr PG Beer & Mrs PL Gibbon would attend.
70/06	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Notification of staff changes at Cambridgeshire County Council, Highways Division affecting the Soham area were received.
71/06	DEFRA Notification was received from DEFRA on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. For the first time it will allow parish councils, following relevant staff training, to issue fixed penalty notices for litter, graffiti and fly-posting offences. Alongside this, 'dog control orders' will replace the current byelaw system.
72/06	PAPERS TABLED Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Fire Authority - Fire Authority Plan 2006/2007 Joint Tourist Information Centres - 'Visit Cambridgeshire' 2006 Andrézieux-Bouthéon - No. 85 April 2006 Cambridgeshire County Council - Park & Ride Surveys 2006 Hereward Housing Association - Home & Away, Issue 13 Spring 2006 Cambridgeshire County Council - Statement of Community Involvement East Cambridgeshire District Council - Business Update, Spring 2006 Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - Highlights of the Week 17/3/06 to 7/4/06.
73/06	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.00pm, Monday 8th May 2006. Followed by the Annual Town Meeting at 8.00pm.