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 February 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 G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane & Mr C Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon & Mrs PA Tuite
In Attendance:	District Councillors Mr JH Humphries County Councillor Mr J Powley Darren Hill, Economic Development Team Leader, East Cambridgeshire District Council Brian Tully, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Ely Police Station PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Apologies:	Councillors Mr CK Hempstead County Councillors Mrs J Broadway District Councillors Mr J Palmer
01/06	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 19TH DECEMBER 2005 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
02/06	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (202/05) PC Kevin Humble reported that there had been 33 crimes reported in the Soham area between 17th December 2005 and 13th January 2006. These consisted of 2 assaults; 4 dwelling burglaries; 2 commercial burglaries; 2 shed/garage burglaries; 15 thefts these consisted of 6 from motor vehicles, 3 bilkings (non payment for petrol) and 1 theft of fuel from a farm; 1 taking a vehicle without owners consent; 6 criminal damage consisting of 4 vehicles damage, 1 damage on a building site, and 1 damage to commercial premises; and 1 possession of a controlled drug. In total there were over 700 calls made to Cambridgeshire Constabulary relating to the Soham area during the same period. Draft Town Plan (202/05) NOTED that so far 7 replies had been received in respect of the 'Draft Town Plan' and that 16th January 2006 was the last day for comment sheets to be returned for consideration. Traffic Calming - Hall Street (207/05) NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council had been informed of the Town Council's support for the request for a traffic calming scheme in Hall Street.
03/06	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 - 19th December 2005 Planning - 4th January 2006
04/06	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - DECEMBER 2005 AND QUARTERLY BUDGET STATEMENT - DECEMBER 2005 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st December 2005 and the Quarterly Budget Statement as at 31st December 2005, which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
05/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL DRAFT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Darren Hill, Economic Development Team Leader, East Cambridgeshire District Council gave a comprehensive presentation on the proposed Economic Development Strategy 2006-2011. Council thanked Mr Hill for his presentation and, in particular, for is assurance that increased effort would be made to promote sustainable development in the Town. However, in the ensuing discussion Councillors reminded him that similar assurances had been received previously but that no positive action had followed. Council hoped that the town would enjoy obvious benefits when the strategy was implemented.
06/05	ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ORDERS (ASBO'S) Brian Tully, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Ely Police Station attended for this item and gave a presentation to the Council on his work and explained what Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are. An ASBO is basically behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people, but not in the same household as the offender. Actions that may be described as Anti-Social Behaviour could be begging, street drinking, substance misuse, prostitution, abandon vehicles and noise nuisance. Powers can be used under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, to tackle drugs, by the use of closure notices for premises proven to be dealing in drugs; the dispersal of groups; illegal possession of firearms (air guns/imitation guns); public assembly offences, which could involve 2 or more persons and also high hedges causing neighbour disputes. Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators can be either Council or Police based, Brian Tully explained that he was Police based but worked closely with East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership. The East Cambs. Anti-social Behaviour Group consisted of the Council, Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Education, Mental Health, Housing, Social Services, the Probation Service and Youth Offending team. ASBO's in general were seen as a last resort, they normally run for a 2 year term and although being served with an ASBO is not a criminal offence the breaking of one is.
07/06	SOHAM TOWN PLAN - DRAFT HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT GUIDE The Council considered the Soham Town Plan Draft Housing and Development Guide. RESOLVED to accept the Draft Housing and Development Guide in its present form and to distribute to local Architects, Surveyors etc. for consultation.
08/06	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS The East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood News, distributed by East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Policing Team, Ely Sector was received. NOTED that the distribution of this publication was intended to rule out the necessity of regular attendance of Community Beat Managers or CPSO's at Council meetings.
09/06	MAYOR OF SOHAM Councillor Mr J Kirkham proposed the motion that "From this day forward and regardless of gender. In accordance with the Local Government Act of 1972 Section 245 (Paragraph 6). For the Town of Soham the titles Chairman of the Council be changed to Mayor and Vice Chairman of the Council be changed to Deputy Mayor". The motion was seconded by Councillor Mr PG Beer. Following much discussion it was RESOLVED (by 5 votes to 4 with 5 abstentions) that the motion be defeated.
10/06	REPORTS FROM DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS District Councillor Mr JH Humphries said that there was as yet, no resolution to the car-parking problems in Ely. He then proceeded to report that the Budget for 2006/07 was of prime importance and that the District Council were looking towards a 2% rise in the Council Tax for this period. The expansion of the Green Waste scheme was progressing well, with the Council now recycling 35% of its waste. The trial of two weekly refuse collections was also very successful, and it was considering extending this scheme to other areas of the district. So far East Cambridgeshire District Council had resisted the introduction of wheelie bins in the area, as they felt that with its large populous of elderly residents such bins would be unsuitable. East Cambridgeshire District Council were also deemed to be the best assessment ever done by the assessors for "Investment in People". County Councillor Mr J Powley then reported on Cambridgeshire County Councils Budget proposals for 2006/2007. Government grant had been reduced compared with last year and as the Government expects, Local Authorities to keep Council Tax increases below 5%, 'capping' powers are available to enforce them, this could mean a reduction in County Council service levels in 2006/2007. Cambridgeshire County Council would be fixing its rates on 21st February 2006 and it is likely that a 5% increase will be applied.
11/06	QUA FEN COMMON The Council considered a letter which had been received from a resident of Qua Fen Common complaining about the improvement works being undertaken. It was noted that the Council had received many positive comments on the works being carried out, on both East Fen and Qua Fen Commons and that this had been the only negative response received. The Clerk reported that a site meeting had been arranged, with the resident concerned, Cathy White, (Tree Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council), Richard Gowing, (Commons Reeve) and himself to address the issues raised.
12/06	CPRE - PLANNING NOTED that the Campaign to Protect Rural England would be holding a workshop on Saturday, 11th March 2006 at Thomas Eaton County Primary School, Wimblington to provide guidance on how to influence Planning decisions RESOLVED that the Chairman, Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison and Vice Chairman, Councillor Mrs FE Ross would attend.
13/06	SOHAM COMMUNITY HISTORY MUSEUM & HISTORY GROUP The Clerk reported that Mrs Donna Martin, Chairman of the Soham Community History Museum had sent apologies for not responding to the Council's letter regarding the proposed memorial in respect of the Soham Rail Disaster. However, an invitation was extended to any Councillor who wished to attend the groups AGM being held at the Pavilion on Thursday 19th January 2006 at 7.30pm when full details of the memorial would be available for discussion.
14/06	WINTER GRITTING NOTED that an e-mail had been received from a resident of Broadpiece, requesting that the Council approach Cambridgeshire County Council Highways Department with a request that its Winter Gritting Schedule be extended to include Broadpiece. Councillors agreed that this length of highway was extensively used by commuters and that during very icy conditions could be treacherous. RESOLVED that Cambridgeshire County Council be requested to include Broadpiece within its Winter Gritting Schedules.
15/06	CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH FIRE AUTHORITY - PRECEPT 2006/2007 The draft budget of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Fire Authority 2006/2007 was received. Any comment should be received by the Authority by the 23rd January 2006. NOTED that a breakfast consultation meeting will be held on 19th January at 8.00am at Fire Service Headquarters, Huntingdon.
16/06	CAMBRIDGESHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY BUDGET - FINANCIAL YEAR 2006/2007 NOTED that a budget meeting of Cambridgeshire Police Authority for East Cambridgeshire - North & South, to explain the Police Authorities part of the annual precept will be held on Thursday 26th January 2005 at Soham Baptist Church, Clay Street, Soham at 7.30pm.
17/06	CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM NOTED that meetings of Cambridgeshire Local Access Forum will be held on Tuesday 31st January 2006 - Anglesey Abbey, Lode; Thursday 30th March 2006 - Oliver Cromwell Hotel, March; and Tuesday 30th May 2006 - Hinchingbrooke County Park all meetings start at 6.45pm.
18/06	PAPERS TABLED Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Standards of Conduct in English Local Government: The Future. Cambridgeshire Business Services - East Cambs. Management Development Network 2006. Andrezieux Boutheon - L'envol, No. 82 January 2006 East Fens Directory - January-March 2006 Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - Highlights of the Week, 14 Jan 2006. European Union Regional Policy - Inforegio News, November 2005.
19/06	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.15pm, Monday 13th February 2006..