MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13th JANUARY 2003 (copy attached).

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. (matters not listed on the agenda below).

MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. (copies attached).
a) Finance & Policy - 13th January 2003
b) Planning             - 13th January 2003

PAYMENTS OF ACCOUNTS MADE IN JANUARY AND STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS AT 31st January 2003 (copies to follow).

ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

Mrs G Walker
Assistant Clerk of the Council
3rd February 2003 

Councillors Mrs PA Tuite (Chairman), D Bradley, HJ Davies, G Fisher, CK Hempstead, C Palmer, GR Ginn, B Houghton, RS Lane and Mesdames J Hobbs, PL Gibbon and M Count.

Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Vice Chairman) and Mrs FE Ross.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Policing Strategies (175/02)
NOTED that there had been 11 recorded crimes for Soham during December 2002, with various types of criminal damage and shed burglaries being the most area for concern this month.
NOTED also that Kate Kent, Community Contact Officer at Ely Police Station had reported that she was going ahead with initiating the Shop Watch Scheme and early feed-back had shown great support from the traders in the Town.
Concerns were again voiced by Council regarding the continuing lack of Community Police presence in the Town, and queried the status of the four Community Beat Officers which were supposed to be assigned to Soham.
RESOLVED that the Police be informed of the Town Councils concerns and to request an officers presence at the February 2003 meeting.

Parish Forum (187/02)
Delegates reported that a 5% increase in Council Tax is required to maintain and improve existing services, but that discussions are continuing and that the level may be amended.
The need for affordable housing within East Cambridgeshire was also raised and a scheme whereby land outside development envelopes could be used by housing associations to meet this need was outlined.
Council will be asked to identify sites following the issue of the delayed housing needs survey.
RESOLVED that the Principle Housing Officer, ECDC be asked to attend the March 2003 Council meeting to explain the criteria etc. for such development to take place.

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 December 2002
Planning             - 16th December 2002

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - DECEMBER 2002 AND QUARTERLY BUDGET STATEMENT.
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, as at 31st December 2002, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st December 2002 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved.

GREATER CAMBRIDGESHIRE PARTNERSHIP
Ray Harding, Executive Director, Community Services, ECDC reported that a bid for funds had been made to the Greater Cambs. Partnership to continue the upgrading of towns within East Cambridgeshire. Funds had already been used in Littleport and Ely and it was the turn of Soham.
If the bid is successful the funds, which will be matched by ECDC, could be used in conjunction with other resources such as HERS to provide a strong programme of improvements and activity within Soham over the next three years. It is anticipated that a feasibility study and a local economy health check, for which additional funds may also be available would be a starting point.

SOHAM TOWN FORUM BUSINESS PLAN AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Councillor Mrs PA Tuite disclosed a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with part two of the Code of Conduct in respect of this item.

Alison Callaby, Town Centres Co-ordinator, ECDC introduced the published Soham Town Forum Business Plan. She highlighted some of the achievements to date such as the successful implementation of CCTV, On-Line Community Web-Site and progress on Community Transport, together with detailed work carried out by Soham Design Sub Group. Mention was also made of the successful bid to English Heritage for the enhancement and regeneration of the Town Centre, particularly in Churchgate Street and High Street.
A number of areas for future work included enhancement of vacant shops, shop-fronts, community notice boards, newsletter and broadband linkage, It is anticipated that a new Community Resource Centre and revival of the market could soon come to fruition she stressed that it was important that the Town Forum should work closely with other agencies and local authorities to obtain best use of resources.
RESOLVED that the Town Council endorse the Soham Town Forum Business Plan and support the aims and objectives of the Forum and to the close working partnership between the various agencies to ensure achievement.
RESOLVED also that the grant of £1,000 approved in principle in July 2002 be released to Soham Town Forum, and that having noted the significant financial support from ECDC to review the level of grant in the new financial year.
NOTED that County Councillor J Powley pledged the support of Cambridgeshire County Council to the achievement of these projects.

AUDIT REGIME - RISK MANAGEMENT
NOTED that recent inspections of play area equipment by Zurich Risk Services indicated only minimal repair and maintenance was required.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE
The concerns expressed by St. John Ambulance Soham Division regarding access to premises at the rear of the Pavilion following the introduction of security gates at Fountain Lane Car Park were noted. It was also noted that ECDC considered that the giving of keys to individuals or organisations would render the security measures ineffective.
Following a full discussion including usage by other groups and users of the Pavilion and Recreation Ground it was decided that the existing arrangements of access by way of Gardeners Lane, and/or access via the car park for pre-booked events was satisfactory, and that the health and safety issues raised were no different to those experienced by other users.
RESOLVED that the Town Council concur with the view expressed by ECDC and that St. John Ambulance Soham Division be informed that access should be on foot by either the car-park or Gardeners Lane entrances, or alternatively prior notice given for the need for vehicular access to the Pavilion and that the organisation be charged accordingly.

DISTRICT AND TOWN ELECTIONS - 1st MAY 2003
RESOLVED that in the event of and un-contested District Election poll cards would not be issued for Town Election.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET FOR 2003-04
Copies of leaflets explaining the options, implications and impact on Council Tax for the year 2003-04 were received.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH WASTE LOCAL PLAN
NOTED that the Inspectors report on objections to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Local Plan (Revised Deposit) was now available to inspection between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday, free of charge at various locations throughout the County.

CPRE - PLANNING WORKSHOP
NOTED that the Council for the Protection of Rural England is organising a workshop on Saturday 8th March 2003 at The Pavilion, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon to improve the skills and expertise of Parish and Town Councillors when commenting on Planning Applications.

DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 10th February 2003.