Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of Soham Town Council will be held in Hall 1, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 13th March 2006 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:-

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs FE Ross (Vice Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr H Davies, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane & Mr C Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer & Mrs PL Gibbon
In Attendance:	County Councillors Mr J Powley & Mrs J Broadway District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth, Mr JH Humphries, Mr C Fordham & Mr J Palmer Mrs Rosie Burton, Conservation Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Apologies:	Councillors Mr G Fisher, Mr AJA Hinsley & Mrs PA Tuite
20/06	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 16TH JANUARY 2006 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
21/06	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (02/06) PC Kevin Humble stated that there had been 39 crimes reported in the Soham area between 17th January 2006 and 12th February 2006. These consisted of 3 dwelling burglaries; 1 shed/garage burglary; 1 theft of a motor vehicle; 3 thefts from motor vehicles; 8 thefts, one theft of a quad bike, recovered and the offender arrested; 12 criminal damage including 6 damage to vehicles; 6 assaults; 1 taking a vehicle without the owners consent, this was found burnt out on the Soham by pass; 1 vehicle interference; 1 threat to kill (a domestic related incident); 1 threat to damage property (a domestic related incident). Between the 17th January 2006 and 12th February 2006 there have been over 700 telephone calls to the Police for the East Cambridgeshire District. The Chairman reported on a meeting she attended on the future proposals for Community Policing in the East Cambridgeshire District and the involvement of local representatives in these proposals. Qua Fen Common (11/06) The Clerk reported on the site meeting which took place between a resident of Qua Fen Common, Cathy White (Tree Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council), Mr Richard Gowing (Commons Reeve) and himself, following the receipt of a letter complaining about the improvement works being undertaken. NOTED that in response to the adverse comments reported in the news, a letter of support for the works being undertaken on Qua Fen Common was later published. NOTED further that the residents proposed that further maintenance could be undertaken by themselves and this was approved, providing it was done under the guidance of the Commons Reeve. Soham Community History Museum & History Group (13/06) The Clerk reported that draft details of the proposed memorial in respect of the Soham Rail Disaster would be available for viewing at the Pavilion prior to Council's planning meeting on Wednesday, 22nd February 2006 at 12.00pm. Winter Gritting (14/06) NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council responded to the request for the Winter Gritting programme to include Broad Piece, by stating that although they appreciate the Town Council and residents concerns, they regret that it is not possible at this time with the resources made available to do this section of road from Julius Martin Lane to Barway.
22/06	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 - 16th January 2006 Planning - 25th January 2006
23/06	PAYMENTS & SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - JANUARY 2006 & QUARTERLY BUDGET STATEMENT - JANUARY 2006 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and summary of income and expenditure as at 30th January 2006, which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
24/06	SOHAM CONSERVATION AREA Mrs Rosie Burton, Conservation Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council attended for this item and gave a presentation to the Council on the draft proposals for the extension of the present Conservation Area in the Town. Councillors expressed concerns regarding the non inclusion of the common land within these proposals. RESOLVED to write to East Cambridgeshire District Council with the Town Council's formal comments on the draft appraisal.
25/05	ELY & SOHAM DIAL-A-RIDE Due to the non attendance of Mr Fred Langford (Ely & Soham Dial-a-Ride) this item was withdrawn from the Agenda.
26/06	GRAZING 2006 RESOLVED to approve the usual tender process for the letting of Qua Fen, East Fen and Angle Commons for the 2006 Season.
27/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS The East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood News, distributed by East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Policing Team, Ely Sector was received. The Clerk reported that Gaynor Foster, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who had been assigned to Soham for the past year and built up many contacts within the community, had been transferred to patrolling the villages in the area during the day-time and would only be in Soham after 8.00pm in the evenings. RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Sector Inspector Adam Gallop requesting an explanation why this has come about.
28/06	REPORTS FROM DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS District Councillor Mr M Duckworth said that as part of the Districts Strategic Development Plan a special 'Amnesty' was being arranged for the swift collection and disposal of burnt-out vehicles reported to the District Council. County Councillor Mrs J Broadway reported that she had also been invited to the official launch of the key-worker homes in Soham and stated that she was very impressed with the standard of housing being built. She also reported on the Police Authority meeting she had chaired and which had taken place at the Baptist Church, Soham. The police budget proposals for the next financial year would most probably be set at 4.9% which equated to an increase of 50p per household per month. More PCSO's were being recruited and hopefully Soham would benefit from this new influx of recruits. District Councillor Mr C Fordham stated that he was very concerned that the 'key-worker' housing would not benefit local people, and would only be filled with persons coming from outside of the Town. District Councillor Mr J Humphries said that he also was concerned with the necessity of building 'key-worker' homes in the District, as there were some premises still standing empty in the Ely area, due to the lack of those requiring homes who meet the set criteria for 'key-worker' housing. He then proceeded to report that East Cambridgeshire District Council Budget for 2006/2007 was being set and it had been agreed that a 2% increase in the Council Tax for this period would be necessary. He also reported that The Grange needed very extensive improvement works to comply with disabled access, fire safety etc. County Councillor Mr J Powley stated that he also felt that the 'key-worker' housing schemes would fail in this area, he then went on to report that a 5% Council Tax increase is expected to be applied by Cambridgeshire County Councils for 2006/2007. He also reported on his concerns for a 'Planning Gain Supplement' being proposed by the government. This he felt was a stealth tax on building land and the net effect would be to dry up the supply of development land resulting in less finance available for Section 106 Agreement payments. He estimated that this could add about £9,000 per house developed.
29/06	LAND ADJACENT TO 65 EAST FEN COMMON The Chairman confirmed that the Council is in full communication with East Cambridgeshire District Council, following the fire which had taken place at the above site.
30/06	LIFE PROJECT The Clerk gave Councillors the quarterly report on the work of this project. The Life Project had held a 'Funday' for young people in August 2005. The weather was glorious and approximately 60 young people attended on the Recreation Ground for a Barbeque and free use of a climbing wall. Two more volunteers have joined the team, one being a psychiatric nurse and the other having valuable life experience. Links have also been made with Centre 33 in Cambridge and a successful trip took place on 14th January 2006. The development of The Project much depends on the amount of funding received. The team will mainly be working on the streets of Soham during the coming months. NOTED that no specific request for funding had been received by the Town Council from The Life Project at this time.
31/06	CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH MINERALS & WASTE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. NOTED that following consultations, the draft proposals for mineral extraction and waste management facilities are now available on deposit at several locations throughout the County including East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Ely. Maps showing the proposed locations, each with a set of questions seeking views, can also be viewed at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk and www.peterborough.gov.uk. The closing date for comments is 13th March 2006.
32/06	NICOLA O'LEARY The Chairman reported a letter she had received from Miss Nicola O'Leary, a university research student studying for a doctorate on how high-profile crimes affect the community. She is hoping to speak to around 50 Soham residents about how the tragic event in the Town affected them. Anyone who feels they may be able to help with Miss O'Leary's study can contact her at n.oleary@hull.ac.uk.
33/06	PAPERS TABLED Cambridgeshire ACRE - Briefing, January 2006 Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire - hlec news, Winter 2005/2006 Soham Town Forum - Agenda, 23rd February 2006 & Minutes, 12th January 2006 CCTV Steering Group - Notes, Meeting 18th January 2006 Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - Highlights of the Week, 20 January 2006 - 10 February 2006 Inclusive East Cambridgeshire Domestic Violence Forum - Cambridgeshire Challenging Domestic Violence Cambridgeshire County Council - Cambridgeshire Archaeology - Events 2006 Andrézieux-Bouthéon - L'Envol, No. 83 February 2006.
34/06	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.15pm, Monday 13th March 2006.