Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

A meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held at the Pavilion, Soham, on Monday, 9th February 2004 commencing at 7.30pm, to transact the following business:-

Minutes of a meeting of the Soham Town Council held at the Pavilion, Soham, on Monday 12th January 2004.

Present:	Councillors Mrs PA Tuite (Chairman), Mrs RR Aitchison (Vice-Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr H Davies, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane, Mr CM Palmer and Mesdames Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon and Mrs FE Ross.
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr J Powley. District Councillors Mr JH Humphreys, Mr CW Fordham.
Apologies:	Councillor Mrs M Count District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth and Mr AR Parramint. PC Mark Hobson, Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
01/04	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 15TH DECEMBER 2003 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
02/04	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (173/03) NOTED that PC Mark Hobson had tendered his apologies for the meeting, due, but that recorded crime figures for December 2003 had been furnished by Kate Kent, Community Contact Officer, Ely Police. The number of offences for December totalled 13, of these 5 were criminal damage, 3 burglaries, 2 theft of motor vehicle, 1 theft from a motor vehicle, 1 theft of a bicycle and 1 arson. One of the incidents of criminal damage had been captured by CCTV and the offender was identified and arrested. The Chairman asked that a warning be issued to primarily female drivers to be vigilant following an incident that had been brought to her attention, this regarded a female driver whom, whilst filling her vehicle with petrol one night, was alerted by the kiosk attendant to a male person who had secreted himself in the back of her car unnoticed. A spate of these types of incidents had also been reported not only at filling stations, but also at late night shopping outlets. It was noted that a letter of thanks had been received from Victim Support for the Council's donation towards their costs. Application for Financial Assistance (178/03) NOTED that some information had been received from The ARC Project as requested, but still further information was required before this could be considered further. Skateboard Ramp (179/03) NOTED that the Clerk was in the process of obtaining quotations from qualified companies, for the essential works needed to be carried out to the Skateboard ramp as detailed by Zurich Municipal's engineer.
03/04	MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF STANDING 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 - 15th December 2003 Planning - 15th December 2003
04/04	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - DECEMBER 2003 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st December 2003 and Quarterly Budget Report which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
05/04	PRECEPT 2004/2005 Consideration was given to the anticipated out-turn of Income and Expenditure for 2003/2004 and the estimates for 2004/2005, details of which are printed and attached to these minutes as an appendix. RESOLVED that the Precept for the ensuing year be set at £107,000 on the basis of the following allocation: Commons & Footways - £3,130 General, Administration & Contingencies - £40,150 Litter Control - £7,880 Pavilion & Recreation Grounds - £15,050 Street Lighting - £1,400 Burials & Cemetery - £4,390 Town Centre Development - £20,250 Capital Schemes - £14,750
	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 6, namely New Flooring at the Pavilion, 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 7.58pm.
06/04	NEW FLOORING AT THE PAVILION Consideration was given to quotations received from 3 specialist companies for the installation of Imperial Vinyl or similar to approx. 234m2 comprising a large L shaped room, kitchen and passageways as follows: Allsquare Flooring Limited - £5,278.09 Floorstor Carpet & Vinyl Centre - £4,106.50 Andy Knott Construction Limited - £4,890.95 RESOLVED that the quotation from Floorstor Carpet & Vinyl Centre be accepted, subject to obtaining a 'method statement' and samples of materials.
	The meeting re-opened to the Press and Public at 8.03pm.
07/04	SOHAM FESTIVAL 2004 Councillors Mrs PA Tuite, Mrs RR Aitchison, Mr PG Beer, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs M Dwyer and Mr GR Ginn declared non prejudicial interests in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct as members of Soham Town Forum. NOTED that the Soham Festival Committee had requested the use of the Pavilion and Recreation Ground on 28th, 29th & 30th May 2004 for various events and also for the carnival funfair to be allowed to operate for one extra day on Saturday 29th May 2004. RESOLVED to accede to these requests and that the bookings be made free of charge.
08/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET FOR 2004-2005 NOTED that public meetings are being held to discuss the options being considered by the County Council and to gauge the level of support for a proposed 6% increase and that a public budget surgery is being held at Ely library on 22nd January between 5.30pm and 7.00pm.
09/04	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL - BENCHES NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council have a few benches surplus to requirements and would welcome requests from Parish/Town Councils for the installation in their localities. RESOLVED to request extra benches to be installed within the Conservation Area, providing they are covered by CCTV and that the Clerk ascertain how many would be available.
10/04	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE PARISH FORUM NOTED that the next Parish Forum will be held at the Grange in Ely at 7.00pm on Monday 16th February 2004. RESOLVED that the Clerk and Councillors Mrs PA Tuite and Mrs RR Aitchison will attend.
11/04	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL - TREE WORKS NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had approved works to fell two trees within the Soham Conservation Area as follows: Lime at Bank House, High Street Sycamore at 48a High Street.
12/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - BUS SERVICES NOTED that the procurement process for the annual changes to the Contracted services have commenced and further details will be forwarded when tenders have been received.
13/04	PLANNING APPLICATIONS WORKSHOP NOTED that the Campaign to Protect Rural England will be holding a one day Planning Application workshop on Saturday 6th March 2004 at Wimblington, Cambridgeshire.
14/04	PAPERS TABLED Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Services - Risk Management Plan 2004/2005. East Cambs. & Fenland Primary Care Trust - Agenda, Public Board Meeting, 14/1/2004. Association of Burial Authorities - ABAinfo, No. 24, Winter 2003 Environment Agency - Floor Action, Issue 2, Nov 2003 East Cambs. & Fenland Primary Care Trust - Health Forum, 17 Nov 2003 The Countryside Agency - Community Renewables Initiatives. Cambridgeshire County Council - Highways Review, Issue 5, November 2003. Cambridgeshire County Council - County Farms News, Dec 2003. Parish Path Partnership - PP3 Bulletin, Autumn 2003. Parish Path Partnership - Annual Report 2002/2003. Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire - HLEC News, Dec 2003/Jan 2004 European Union Regional Policy - Inforegio Panorama. Fens Tourism Group - Fens Tourism News Jan 2004.
15/04	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 9th February 2004.