Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held in Hall One, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 12th May 2008 commencing at 7.15pm 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:-

Minutes of a meeting of Soham Town Council held at The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 14th April 2008.

Present:	Councillors Mr CM Palmer (Chairman), Mr N Driver, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr GM Hobbs, Mr PS Lane & Mr D Schunmann and Mesdames Mrs RR Aitchison, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs J Gipp, Mrs AEY Pallett, Mrs PA Tuite & Mrs JA Webb
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr JA Powley District Councillors Mr T Cornell, Mr M Duckworth, Mr J Humphreys & Mr J Palmer Councillor Peter Moakes, Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council Strategic Development Committee.
Apologies:	County Councillor Mrs J Broadway District Councillors Mr T Parramint Councillor Mr T Brown
	A minute silence was held in memory of the late Mr Ronald Manning who had served the Council for several years and was Chairman in 1972.
58/08	PUBLIC COMMENT TIME Mr Anthony Morbey and Mr Alastair Morbey attended the meeting at the Council's request (Minute FP28/08) and outlined the format of Dance Island 2008. The event takes place on 5th July 2008, was fully licensed by East Cambridgeshire District Council and was expected to attract 10,000 people. Residents of Gunton's Close, who had hoped to address the Council on a forthcoming planning application, were invited to the Planning Committee Meeting on Wednesday 30th April 2008 when the application in question would be considered.
59/08	CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman announced that the Council office will be closed on Tuesday 15th April 2008; the Annual Town Meeting would be held on Monday 28th April 2008 in The Pavilion and that the Scouts would be holding a St. George's Day Parade held on Sunday 20th April 2008 followed by tea in The Pavilion. He also stated that he had attended a meeting with a representative of Ely & Soham Dial a Ride (ESDAR) regarding its proposal to operate a community 'shuttle' bus in the Town.
60/08	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS There were no declarations of interest from Councillors in respect of items on the Agenda.
61/08	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 10TH MARCH 2008 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
62/08	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Fountain Lane Car Park (52/08) East Cambridgeshire District Council had replied to the request from Town Council for the Fountain Lane Car Park to remain open until 10.30pm and hoped that the Town Council would agree to the opening times remaining unchanged while the effectiveness of the new signage was being monitored. RESOLVED that East Cambridgeshire District Council be informed that although Councillors welcomed the new signage for the car park itself, they were most disappointed with the suggested 'status quo' approach and felt that lighter evenings meant greater visibility and this should help restrict the likelihood of anti-social behaviour.
63/08	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 - 10th March 2008 Planning - 26th March 2008
64/08	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - MARCH 2008 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances as at 31st March 2008 attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
65/08	SOHAM MASTER PLAN - A VISION OF THE FUTURE Councillor Mr P Moakes, Chair of East Cambridgeshire District Council's Strategic Development Committee gave a presentation on Masterplans. The Masterplan process was started in Ely because there was pressure from large 'out-of-town' retailers and Ely's Masterplan was on path for consultation in September 2008 and the report would be going to it's Strategic Development Committee on 15th April 2008, the process for Soham also begins on Tuesday, 15th April 2008. The procedure was to gather peoples ideas about what they want for the future of Soham, for example a considerable body would like to see the Railway Station opened, the number of houses to be built and the number of places for people to work in the town, 65% of people commute out of town to work, and there was considerable growth, therefore it would look for more variety of jobs. The Ely document is an aspiration for the future with Country Parks, large shops etc. and the same model would be adopted in Soham. County Councillor Mr JA Powley said that although East Cambridgeshire District Council must be the driver in the project he felt that the County Council may be able to help in many ways. Councillor Mr M Duckworth reiterated his and his fellow District Councillors commitment to the Soham Master Plan.
66/08	SOHAM & EAST NEIGHBOURHOOD PANEL Councillor Mrs PA Tuite reported on the recent meeting of the Soham and East Neighbourhood Panel meeting. Several things were brought to the attention of Panel. Poor communication between East Cambridgeshire District Council and Parish Councils, i.e. the number of its staff leaving and Parish Councils not being informed until the particular member had already moved on, therefore breaking all continuity with officers; the sporadic collection of recycling; the lack of Community Police attendance at Town and Parish Council meetings and also since the police office had been opened in Soham the lack of visual patrols by PCSO's in the town. It was noted that the police were continuing to monitor the 'hotspots' of anti-social behaviour in the town, these being Weatheralls, High Street, Clay Street and Fountain Lane Car Park. Dog fouling was also a problem and the Dog Warden would be carrying out extra patrols in the area.
67/08	POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE NOTED Cambridgeshire County Councils proposed action to possible Post Office Closures in the County.
68/08	REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE A request for financial assistance was received from WRVS towards supporting its WRVS Cambridgeshire Emergency Services. RESOLVED not to accede to the request at this, time, but the Clerk to ascertain details of the WRVS in East Cambridgeshire and in particular local points of contact and information regarding its work in the Soham area.
	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 13 namely Tenders for Grazing of Soham Commons 2008, 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 8.43pm.
69/08	TENDERS FOR GRAZING OF SOHAM COMMONS 2008 The following tenders had been received:- Back Angle Common - Hay Cutting & Animal Grazing and Front Angle Common - Hay Cutting Mr AJ Rix - £620.00 Qua Fen Common - Horses Grazing Mr J Vinden - £650.00 Back East Fen Common - Animal Grazing / Front East Fen Common - Horses Grazing Mr J Vinden - £650.00 Angle Common - Hay Cutting Mr M Rix - £200.00 NOTED that two further tenders were unable to be considered as these were received after the published closing date of 12.00pm Monday 7th April 008. RESOLVED that tenders received from Mr AJ Rix for Hay Cutting of Front Anqle Common and Hay Cutting & Grazing Animals on Back Angle Common and Mr J Vinden for Horses Grazing Qua Fen Common and Animal Grazing Back East Fen Common and Horses Grazing Front East Fen Common be accepted. RESOLVED also that the Chairman, Chairman of Community Amenities Committee and the Clerk make final the decision on the numbers of cattle grazing when more information is received.
	The meeting re-opened to the press and public at 8.47pm.
70/08	COMPLETION OF WORKS - NEWMARKET RAIL BRIDGE SOUTH OF ELY NOTED that the public footpath on the west bank of the River Great Ouse, which has been closed since the derailment last Summer will be reopened from 1st April 2008.
71/08	DOG WASTE BIN - NORTHFIELD ROAD NOTED that Scampers, had declined the Council's request for support in installing a dog waste bin in Northfield Road.
72/08	SOHAM BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION - SOHAM CARNIVAL A letter of thanks was received from the Soham Benevolent Association for the Councils concession to use the Recreation Ground and Pavilion free of charge for its 55th Soham Carnival and Heavy Horse Show to be held on Monday 26th May 2008.
73/08	CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS NOTED that CALC's existing website closed in March and its new website www.cpalc.uk is currently being tested. Councillors wishing to have access to the new website must have their own individual name and password and provide a valid email address, as passwords cannot be shared.
74/08	SOHAM TOWN FORUM Agenda for meeting of the Soham Town Forum to be held Thursday 24th April 2008 and Minutes of meeting held 13th March 2008 were received. Councillors Mr CM Palmer and Mrs J Gipp reported on the meeting which they both attended as Council representatives on 13th March 2008.
75/08	ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR SURVEY NOTED that the joint Police/Sanctuary Hereward Anti Social Behaviour Survey covering West Drive, West Drive Crescent and West Drive Gardens had now been completed and residents had been contacted with the outcome. NOTED also that 153 survey letter were delivered, however only 9 residents responded. The detailed findings of the survey are confidential, but the key points are: There is no widespread concern of ASB in the survey (6% response rate); but there is a concentration of concern in that some residents are deeply affected by ASB; the greatest concern in the survey was drug activity and the criminal and nuisance issues that go along with it, this was being addressed by Police and Sanctuary Housing); followed by fly-tipping and litter.
76/08	CAMBRIDGESHIRE LIBRARIES - SUMMER READING CHALLENGE An e-mail had been received from Richard Young, Cambridgeshire County Council thanking Council for its grant of £500 towards this years Summer Reading Challenge to be held at Soham Library.
77/08	NATS - TERMINAL CONTROL NORTH/PROPOSED CHANGES TO AIRSPACE NOTED that consultations were commencing on the proposed changes to airspace over parts of London, Southern and Eastern England. This airspace is called 'Terminal Control North' (TCN) and is the most complex airspace in the world. Copies of leaflets which provide a general overview of the proposals were tabled.
79/08	CAMBRIDGESHIRE'S REGISTERED TRADER SCHEME NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council's Trading Standards service has recently got together with local traders and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Rogue Trader and Distraction Burglary Task Force to promote a Registered Trader Scheme. The Registered Trader Scheme promotes a 'fair day's work for a fair day's pay' and puts Cambridgeshire residents in touch with over 50 traders who can cope with most jobs in and around the home.
80/08	HANGING BASKET COMMITTEE NOTED that the minutes of the meeting of the Hanging Basket Committee held on Thursday 13th March 2008 were received.
81/08	PAPERS TABLED East Cambridgeshire Disrtict Council - Highlights of the Week, 14th March - 11th April 2008 Cross Party Inquiry - Report, July 2007 - Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and power lines. Cambridgeshire ACRE - Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Community Life Awards 2008. Cambridgeshire Green Vision - Green Vision News, Issue 1, March 2008. Cambridgeshire County Council - Councils Integrated Plan for 2008 European Union - Inforegio News, January 2008, No. 164 and February 2008, No. 165. Cambridgeshire ACRE - Local Network Fund Brochure 'Making a Difference' MAGPAS - Magpal, Friends of Magpas, March 2008 Cambridgeshire County Council - Family Directory of Childcare & Children's Services, Issue 10, March 2008. Cambridgeshire ACRE - Community Action, Spring 2008
82/08	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.15pm, Monday 12th May 2008.