MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10th MARCH 2003. (copy attached).

MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. (copies attached).
a) Finance & Policy - 10th March 2003
b) Planning             - 10th March 2003

PAYMENTS OF ACCOUNTS MADE IN MARCH AND STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS AT 31ST MARCH 2003. (copy to follow).

INSURANCE REVIEW.

J L Wignall
Clerk of the Council
8th April 2003 

Councillors G Fisher and RS Lane

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Policing Strategies (17/03)
There was not a police presence at this meeting and the Clerk reported that no crime statistics had been received.

ECDC Pilot Scheme - Dog Fouling Bins (20/03)
The Clerk reported that since the last meeting it had been observed that the price list supplied by ECDC had been out of date and the cost of Dog Fouling Bins had increased by approximately £50 each. However, it was confirmed that the cost could still be met out of reserves already allocated to Dog/Litter bins.
RESOLVED to still participate in the scheme.
The Clerk also reported that as a further link in the chain, ECDC have now authorised a number of officers to issue £50 fixed penalty notices to dog owners who allow their animals to foul on designated public land. Two of these ticket have already been issued and the fines paid by the dog owners concerned. This tactic will be used particularly where dedicated dog waste bins have been installed since their presence limits the defences available should the matter go to court.

Soham Town Council/Soham Town Forum Easter Favre (21/03)
Councillor Mrs PA Tuite disclosed a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with part two of the Code of Conduct in respect of this item.
NOTED that ideas for an Easter Fayre had been so prolific that the Town Forum had suggested that it would better served by having a two day ‘festival’ possibly later in the year instead.
RESOLVED to agree to the suggestions but that the painting competition for the primary schools should still take place during the Spring and possibly in time for the Easter Bank Holiday.

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 - 10th February 2003
Planning             - 10th February 2003

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - FEBRUARY 2003
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, as at 28th February 2003, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 28th February 2003 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Jo Barrett, Principle Housing Officer, ECDC attended for this item and outlined what the term ‘Affordable Housing’ means. Affordable Housing is usually rented or shared ownership housing and would be let only to people local to Soham.
She explained that although the District Council is not a direct provider of affordable housing it has an important statutory role to play in balancing the right location and at the right price for the current and future population. In 2002 they had commissioned a Housing Need Study and interim findings indicate a need to provide 529 new affordable housing units each year in the district to meet the need.
50 new homes were provided in the district in 2001/2002 and in 2003/03
106 new homes are expected to be completed. There is a high level of affordable housing need in Soham because it is a town with a good range of facilities and is a sustainable location. In September 2002 there were more than 200 households on the waiting list who were waiting for accommodation in Soham as their first choice.
RESOLVED to support the provision of affordable housing development on sites outside the development envelope and ask that ECDC consider the merits of sites presently identified at Bancroft Lane and Fordham Road.

DEVELOPMENT FOR SOHAM
Councillor C Palmer declared a personal and prejudicial interest under Part 2 of the Code of Conduct in this item.
Mr Geoffrey Hall, Principle Forward Planning Officer, ECDC attended for this item. He explained that an outline planning application had been received by ECDC for land North West of Soham, part of which the developer was seeking to stretch the boundaries beyond the current development envelope.
Part of the land was proposed to be used for affordable housing under the ‘exception policy’, one of the criteria being that there must be a demonstrable need for affordable housing that cannot be reasonably met on existing allocated sites within the area, or within the built up area. It was also proposed to use half the land outside the site provision as open space or an alternative proposal could be a 1 0 acre Country Park. Concerns were expressed regarding drainage of the site and surrounding areas and Mr Hall agreed that such issues would need to be addressed thoroughly.
RESOLVED to agree to discussions to proceed on the basis outlined, subject to further discussion on adequate drainage and satisfactory S.106 agreement provision taking place and that a public consultation exercise is undertaken.

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 Items 7 and 8 namely Pavilion Refurbishment and 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 8.18pm.

APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Consideration was given to an application for financial assistance from Cambridgeshire County Council, Libraries & Information Services towards the cost of running The Reading Game at Soham Library during the school Summer holidays.
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:-

The Reading Game - £300.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
RESOLVED that the Annual Town should be held at The Pavilion, on Monday 12th May 2003 at 8.00pm.

CLAY STREET CAR PARK
Letters were received from residents of Ennion Close, requesting Town Council’s support in their attempts to persuade ECDC to take action in respect of unsociable behaviour on its Clay Street Car Park.
RESOLVED that although Clay Street Car Park does not come under the Town Council’s jurisdiction, that it would support any measures the District Council decided to take in its attempt to deal with the perceived problems.

LAND TO THE REAR OF THE BEECHES, CLAY STREET
RESOLVED that there be no objections to the name ‘St Andrew’s Park’ being adopted for the above development.

HISTORICAL RESOURCE AND CULTURAL CENTRE
Details of Cambridgeshire County Council’s proposed Historical Resource and Cultural Centre to be built on the Northern fringe of Cambridge were received.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN
NOTED that the main consultation period for Cambridgeshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan 2003-2011 is scheduled to begin in early May 2003 and close on Saturday 7th June 2003. During the consultation period a number of road-show’s will take place at various locations throughout the County, arriving in Soham on Monday 19th May between 2.30pm and 7.00pm.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
NOTED that the Cambridgeshire County Council has a new duty under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) to set up a Local Access Forum advise them on its management of countryside access and related issues.
RESOLVED to suggest to Cambs. CC, that provided he is agreeable, Christopher Turnbull, Chairman, Soham Footpaths Society, would be a an ideal representative for Soham on the Forum.

STANDARDS COMMITTEE
NOTED that the Standards Committee were currently meeting and it is anticipated a number of guides will be issued on compliance with the Code of Conduct and that these will take immediate effect.

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