MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES (copies attached).
a) Finance and Policy        - 9th June 2003
b) Planning                       - 9th June 2003
c) Cemetery & Allotments  - 23rd June 2003
d) Communities Amenities - 23rd June 2003

FINAL ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL RETURN 2002-2003 (see attached)

SOHAM FESTIVAL

J L Wignall
Clerk of the Council
4th July 2003 

County Councillor J Powley.
PC Mark Hobson.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
RESOLVED to amend Standing Order 53 and appoint the following Standing Committees:
a) Finance & Policy
b) Planning
c) Cemetery & Allotments
d) Community Amenities
RESOLVED that the constituent Standing Committees of the Council be comprised of the following members

Finance and Policy
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council other Standing Committees

Planning
C Palmer, PG Beer, HJ Davies, CK Hempstead, AJA Hinsley, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs M Count and Mrs ME Dwyer

Cemetery & Allotments
Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs FE Ross, Mrs ME Dwyer, G Fisher, GR Ginn, PS Lane, HJ Davies and C Palmer

Community Amenities
AJA Hinsley, GR Ginn, CK Hempstead, J Kirkham, C Palmer, PS Lane, PG Beer and Mrs FE Ross

NOTED that in accordance with the Council's Standing Orders that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council are ex-officio members of all the constituent standing committees.

RESOLVED also that the Chairman of the relevant committees for the ensuing year be as follows:-

Planning                      - C Palmer
Cemetery & Allotments - Mrs PL Gibbon
Community Activities    - AJA Hinsley

NOTED also that the Committee meetings will be held as follows:-

Finance & Policy - Before each Council Meeting
Planning - After each Council Meeting
Cemetery & Allotments - 3 per year - June, October, January
Community Amenities - 3rd Monday in Month

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SOHAM UNITED CHARITIES AND SOHAM MOOR OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FUND
RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs P Gibbon be appointed as the Council's representative to the board of trustees of Soham United Charities as from 7th July 2003 when Miss P Kirk's term of office expires and that Mr D Bradley be requested to continue as a Town Council representative.
RESOLVED also that Councillor AJA Hinsley be appointed as a Nominative Trustee to Soham Moor Old Grammar School Fund and that Mr D Bradley be requested to continue as a Town Council representative.

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 12th May 2003
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Policing Strategies (71/03)
The Clerk reported that PC Mark Hobson was unable to attend the meeting due to other commitments within the area.
NOTED that information on recorded crimes fro May 2003 had been made available.

Periodical Electoral Review of Cambridgeshire County Council (75/03)
County Councillor J Powley said that proposals would be reported to the July 2003 meeting of the County Council and anticipated that further consultation would be considered in the early Autumn.

Police Community Support Officers (78/03)
NOTED that due to lack of funding from the Constabulary, the proposed Police Community Support Officer meeting that was arranged for 4th June 2003 had been postponed.
However, the Constabulary remain committed to deploying PCSO's in communities suffering from high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, so the meeting will be arranged for later in the Summer, when funding and deployment proposals are clearer.

Training Days for New Councillors (80/03)
The clerk reminded new Councillors of the training day to be held in the Council Chamber, at the Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely on Saturday 12th July 2003 and reiterated that any new Councillor interested in attending should contact him as soon as possible.

DELEGATED PLANNING DECISIONS
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning decisions taken by the Chairman and Vice Chairman under delegated powers on Monday 12th May 2003, and printed and attached to these minutes be confirmed and approved and the recommendations contained therein be adopted.

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - MAY 2003
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, as at 31st May 2003, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st May 2003 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with the Council's financial regulations.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT - BANCROFT LANE
Mr Nick Williams, Circle 33 Housing Trust and Mr David Page, David Page Associates (Architect) attended the meeting and introduced the proposals for a development of Affordable Housing on land at Bancroft Lane, Soham, to be rented through East Cambridgeshire District Council.
Mr Williams firstly outlined the remit of Circle 33 to develop and manage quality affordable housing and general needs rented accommodation.
Mr Page as the Architect of the proposed scheme then gave a full account, assisted by plans, of the intended layout of the development and type of accommodation being proposed, these consisted of 8 three bedroom houses, 6 two bedroom houses and 4 one bedroom flats, all to be in semidetached form and car parking for one vehicle per property.
Landscaping of the 1.5 acre site would be carried out to merge with common land bordering the development.
RESOLVED that ECDC be informed that Soham Town Council support the planned development in principle.

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 8, namely Application for Financial Assistance 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 8.15pm.

Councillor Mrs FE Ross declared a prejudicial interest and vacated the Council Chamber during this item.

APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Consideration was given to an application from Soham Holiday Playscheme for financial assistance towards its funds.
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:

£325 towards its funds.

RESURFACING AND RECONSTRUCTION & OTHER WORKS
NOTED several resurfacing and reconstruction works are to be carried during the coming year commencing in July 2003.

PUBLIC FOOTPATH NO’S 66 AND 84
Confirmation of Public Path Diversion Order 2003 were received in respect of Footpath No’s 66 and 84.

STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING
Notification of revised street numbering for new property Holly Farm, Barcham Road and re-naming of Hatches Farm, Chapel Road, Soham to Fenning Farm, 1 Chapel Road, Soham were received.

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
NOTED that East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership is supporting a multi-agency graffiti project that aims to tackle graffiti in the District, using a three pronged approach, these being Prevention, Physical Security Improvements and Detection & Enforcement.
Councillors were asked to help identify graffiti ‘hotspots’ by pointing out any areas that they would like to be referred on to the Probation Services, who will strive to send supervised offenders on Community Punishment
Orders to remove graffiti, within 1 week of the referral as part of the project.
NOTED also that the Partnership is holding a workshop on how Parish and Town Councils can get involved in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the community. It is being held between 7.00pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday, 30th July 2003 in the Council Chamber at East Cambridgeshire District Council.
RESOLVED that the Chairman and Vice Chairman would attend the workshop.

SOHAM ON-LINE
NOTED that thanks had been received from Mr C Scurrah, Editor of Soham On-Line Community Website for the Council’s donation made towards stationery and running costs of the site.
NOTED also that Soham On-Line has recently been nominated for the Cambridge Evening News - Community Awards 2003 which are to be held on Thursday, 17th June 2003 in Cambridge.

ELY AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
NOTED that Ely and District Citizens Advice Bureau would be holding it’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 20th June 2003 at 12.30pm in Hereward Housing Association’s Committee Room, St Mary’s Lodge, St Mary’s Street, Ely.
RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs FE Ross would represent the Town Council at this meeting.

DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 14th July 2003.