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, 13th September 2004, to transact the following business:-

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs FE Ross (Vice Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr HJ Davies, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane, Mr CM Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs PL Gibbon and Mrs PA Tuite.
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr J Powley District Councillor Mr CW Fordham PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary Mr Jon Neish, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Apologies:	PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Councillors Mr G Fisher and Mrs ME Dwyer. District Councillors Mr JH Humphreys, Mr J Palmer and Mr AR Parramint.
121/04	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 12th June 2004 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
122/04	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (100/04) PC Kevin Humble informed Town Council that there were 46 actual crimes reported in the Soham area between 15th June 2004 and 12th July 2004. Of these there were 6 burglaries, two of which were residential premises and the remaining 4 were commercial premises (two of the crimes relate to the same premises). 1 robbery occurred at a commercial premises and there were a total of 12 thefts. These included 4 thefts of motor vehicles (though one was not stolen, only damaged), there was 1 theft of a pedal cycle, 2 thefts from motor vehicles (one of these being theft of diesel) the three remaining thefts being shop lifting, mobile phone, drink and use of 'cloned' credit card. There were 17 criminal damage reports made, one report of arson, 5 vehicles damage, 3 residential premises damaged and 3 commercial buildings damaged and of the 5 criminal damages remaining one involved a cat being shot with possibly an air weapon. 4 motor vehicles were reported stolen and one of these offences being aggravated as the vehicle was involved in an accident. There were also 6 assaults reported, however 4 of these involved domestic situations and the further 2 involved either a neighbour dispute or persons known to each other. Over the same period there were 700 telephone calls to Ely Police, 167 of which related to the Soham area. Commons (106/04) NOTED that the meeting between the Wildlife Trust, the Lord of the Manor and the Town Council was still to be arranged. The Clerk reported on recent events concerning travellers on Qua Fen Common. He stated that with full co-operation of the Lord of the Manor, the 'mounds' have been extended on Qua Fen to include the area on which the latest encampment took place.
123/04	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 - 14th June 2004 Planning - 14th June 2004
124/04	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - JUNE 2004 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 30th June 2004 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
125/03	FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PRESENTATION Jon Neish, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service gave a presentation entitled 'Understanding the Changing Role of the Fire Service'. The existing service is historically based on number of fire appliances related to density of populations etc. rather than risk, a method that has now been called into question. A review is being carried out into risk levels in both local and district communities, the effectiveness of current arrangements, identification of opportunities for improvement and the determination of new requirements. It is expected that the future role of the Fire Service will include a legal responsibility for rescue services, a greater role in community safety and preparation for terrorist attack etc. Greater emphasis will be given in assessing risks to businesses and homes, assistance with self assessment and training, installation of sprinklers and community involvement. A number of ways of achieving these changes were outlined, including a local action day which will take place in Soham on 15th September 2004.
126/04	LAND OFF TOWNSEND - PLANNING APPLICATION Consideration was given to an application for the erection of 357 dwellings at the above site. It was NOTED that the application relates to four developers namely Barratt, Kings Oak, Wimpey and McCann, but that details in respect of affordable housing were not apparent from the submitted plans. East Cambridgeshire District Council had verbally indicated that all housing development was within the development envelope contained in the current Local Plan and that 121 affordable dwellings were being provided by McCann and that the percentage of affordable housing had been increased from 30% to 37 1/2% by an increase in site density in line with government directives and a trade off of open space to land outside the development envelope. It was understood that at a meeting held between East Cambridgeshire District Council and the developers a number of issues had been raised which were likely to result in amendments and/or resubmissions. A number of concerns were raised. It appears that all the affordable housing is concentrated in two distinct areas within the development and therefore does not coincide with a concept of integration for affordable housing. Also the trade-off of open space is likely to have the effect of the majority of open space provision being provided on the opposite side of what is likely to be a busy link road. In view of these concerns, the requirement for more information in relation to affordable homes and the likelihood of amendment and re-submission it was RESOLVED to defer making any recommendations in respect of this application until such time as satisfactory answers and any further information together with amendments and/or re-submissions have been received. Also RESOLVED that any future recommendations should be subject to satisfactory schemes in respect of drainage, roads, landscaping etc. being agreed and that there be a requirement for full public consultation by the developers.
127/04	PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION Consideration was given to several proposals produced by the 'working party' for future methods of Town Council Publicity and Public Relations. The working party reported that it was felt that there were six areas of Public Relation Strategies to be considered e.g. the need for a PR booklet, occasional A4 posters and A5 leaflets, to organise and advertise surgeries, public meetings, events and presentations, better use of free press and radio, additional use of the Council's website and possible 'Welcome Packs' for new residents. RESOLVED to adopt the above conclusions and to agree initial funding of £1,000 for PR and that this be reviewed again in 3 months. RESOLVED also that the 'working party' continue to further its actions regarding the above suggestions.
	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 as Agenda Item 8 namely Application for Financial Assistance - MAGPAS, 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 9.32pm.
128/04	APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - MAGPAS Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley declared a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct. Consideration was given to applications for financial assistance from MAGPAS towards the equipment necessary for the setting up of a Community First Responder Scheme in the Soham area. RESOLVED that the Council in accordance with its powers under sections 137 and 139 of the Local Government Act, 1972 should incur the following expenditure which, in the opinion of the Council, is in the interests of the area or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure: MAGPAS - £1,000.
	The meeting was re-opened to the press and public at 9.39pm.
129/04	VIVA YOUTH THEATRE NOTED a letter of thanks had been received from Viva Youth Theatre for the Council's donation of £500 towards its activities.
130/04	BT - TIME SENSITIVE PAYPHONES NOTED that following a comprehensive review of the provision of its public payphones BT had informed the Council that out of a total of 9 street payphones in the Soham area it had identified 2 loss making payphones that they were guaranteeing not to remove, these were in Red Lion Square and Fordham Road, however 2 further street payphones that were to be removed were situated at The Shade and Great Fen Road. RESOLVED that Council have no objections to the above proposals.
131/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Information on the Local Government Revenue Support Grant - 'Floors & Ceilings' were received.
132/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - LOCAL BUS SERVICES NOTED that notification of changes to local bus services were received.
133/04	THE COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY NOTED that provisional map for registered common land and open country for the Soham area have been published.
134/04	CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH STRUCTURE PLAN NOTED that the new Structure Plan was adopted 22nd October 2003 and is now available.
135/04	CALC Notes of the meeting to establish a Parish Council group to liaise with East Cambridgeshire District Council were received.
136/04	PAPERS TABLED ODPM - Draft Regional Assemblies Bill ODPM - Homelessness Soham Community History Museum - Minutes, meeting 6 May 2004 Standards Board for England - Bulletin 19, June 2004 Cambridgeshire ACRE - Harvest, July/August 2004
137/04	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 13th September 2004.