Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

A meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held at the Pavilion, Soham, commencing at 7.30pm on Monday, 14th February 2005, to transact the following business:-

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs FE Ross (Vice 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, Mr CM Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon and Mrs PA Tuite
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 Lucas Oliver, Community Support Worker, Cambridgeshire Drug & Alcohol Team.
Apologies:	District Councillors Mr AR Parramint
190/04	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 8TH NOVEMBER 2004 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
191/04	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (172/04) PC Kevin Humble reported that there were 50 crimes reported in the Soham area between 9th November 2004 and 13th December 2004. These consisted of 10 assaults, 21 thefts, 1 arson, 14 criminal damage, 2 harassments and 1 affray (public order offence). Between 9th November 2004 and 13th December 2004 there had been over 700 telephone calls to the police relating to the Ely Sector Area that are recorded relating to the Ely Sector Area, 192 of which related to Soham. Development of Land off Townsend (172/04) The Chairman reported that East Cambridgeshire District Council Planning Committee would consider the housing layout etc. plans at the meeting on 5th January 2005. Further amendments and information had been received on the siting of the 3-storey blocks of flats, approved housing sites by the individual developers, and views of the Police Architectural Liaison Officer. The Town Council will continue to press for the relocation of all 3-storey development.
192/04	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 - 8th November 2004 Planning - 8th November 2004
193/04	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - NOVEMBER 2004 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 30th November 2004 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
194/04	SUBSTANCE MISUSE A presentation on the misuse of substances particularly alcohol and drugs was given by Lucas Oliver, Community Support Worker from Cambridgeshire drug and alcohol action team. The results from a survey of young people indicated that the level of drug taking etc. was actually lower than the perception within the community and indeed lower than "admitted" within the group surveyed as the tendency was to boast to impress their peers. Equally research indicated that most young drug users outgrew usage by their mid to late twenties. A number of initiatives were available through doctor's surgeries, drug treatment testing orders, police and support teams. Pointers were given of the signs to look for by parents, teachers etc. and the drug and alcohol action team are available to meet with any group who would like further information.
195/04	SOHAM REVIVAL PROJECT The Chairman reported on the sculptures being commissioned as part of the Soham Revival Project. These would be positioned around the Soham Millennium Walks and would take the form of the old fashioned 'Waymarkers' standing approximately 2.4 metres in height, casted in metal with concrete foundations with resin anchored fixings. Each would have a theme and plaque explaining the meaning of the design which could also be used by 'brass rubbing' enthusiasts.
196/04	PRECEPT 2005/2006 Consideration was given to the anticipated out-turn of Income and Expenditure for 2004/2005 and the estimates for 2005/2006, details of which are printed and attached to these minutes as an appendix. It was proposed that the contingency item within the estimates for 2005/2006 be increased by £3,000 to £6,000 to provide for additional expenditure which may arise in respect of hanging baskets and tubs, preparation of a Town Plan, progression to Quality Council Status and Skateboard Park repairs. RESOLVED that the Precept for the ensuing year be set at £105,800 on the basis of the following allocation:- Commons & Footways - £ 4,220 General, Administration & Contingencies - £45,375 Litter Control - £ 8,190 Pavilion & Recreation Grounds - £14,760 Street Lighting - £ 1,625 Burials & Cemetery - £ 3,630 Town Centre Development - £23,000 Capital Scheme - £ 5,000
197/04	PLAYPARKS EQUIPMENT The Clerk reported that following the annual equipment inspections minor repair works have been necessary to the children's play equipment on the Recreation Ground and at Downfields. The engineer's report on the Skateboard Ramp stated that all decking plates are damaged, cross timber on platform is damaged, and the temporary repair to one of the platforms is not acceptable and the timbers require replacement, and that these defects should be remedied as soon as is reasonably practicable. Concern was unanimously expressed that the repair work recently carried out at a cost of approximately £3,000 had again been vandalised in such a short space of time. RESOLVED that the provision and/or repair of the skateboard ramp be considered in the Spring of 2005 and that in the meantime, whilst the ramp remained serviceable, a notice emphasising the need to take care because of the required repairs be affixed to the ramp and in the event of further damage the facility be closed until after the Spring review.
198/04	TWINNING Consideration was given to an invitation received from Madame Martine Crawford, Chairwomen of Andrezieux-Boutheon a town in France similar to Soham in size, for Soham to twin with them for the purpose of exchanges. RESOLVED that a reply be sent to Madame Crawford expressing the Council's interest in such an exchange, but requesting more information on the type of area that Andrezieux-Boutheon is situated in i.e. rural/agricultural.
199/04	STANDARDS BOARD FOR ENGLAND Copies of a guidance booklet from the Standards Board for England, entitled `Local Investigations - Guidance for monitoring officers and standards committees were received and tabled.
200/04	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL - OFFICE ACCOMMODATION NOTED that the decision on the office accommodation had been deferred to give East Cambridgeshire District Council the fullest opportunity to negotiate the best possible deal on all sites for the Council. The final decision will now be made by full Council on 22nd February 2005. The meeting will be held in public and commence at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber.
201/04	TREE WORKS NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had approved a schedule of tree work to be carried out at St Andrew's Park, Clay Street.
202/04	STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING Notification of additional house name at 33 Sand Street and 5d Broad Piece. NOTED that a new street name will be required in respect of Circle 33 Development in Bancroft Lane, and suggest that Herbert Clarke be incorporated in recognition of his involvement in the Station disaster.
203/04	ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - GRAFFITI FORMS NOTED that graffiti could be removed free of charge by completion of an indemnity form supplied by East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership.
204/04	FORDHAM ROAD TRAFFIC ORDERS NOTED that County Council had advertised proposals for:- a) the removal of automatic 30mph speed limits b) installation of raised carriageways c) installation of toucan crossing.
205/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH FIRE AUTHORITY Received copies of the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2005/2006 for comment.
206/04	CALC - EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE ASSOCIATION NOTED that the next meeting will be held on 10th February 2005 and will concentrate on Section 106 agreements and that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillor Mr PG Beer will attend.
207/04	SOHAM UNITED CHARITIES RESOLVED to re-appoint Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison as a Town Council trustee of the above named charities.
208/04	PAPERS TABLED Soham Town Forum - Agenda, meeting 20th January 2005 Cambridgeshire County Council - Corporate Plan 2005-2009 Soham Community History Museum - Newsletter, Autumn 2004 Hereward Herald - Winter 2004 Zurich Municipal - LCAS Bulletin Cambridgeshire ACRE - 2003-2004 Annual Review Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire - HLEC news, November 2004 Cambridgeshire ACRE - Harvest, November/December 2004
209/04	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 10th January 2005.