SOHAM TOWN FORUM - Representative to attend.

GRAZING TENDERS.

Mr J L Wignall
Clerk of the Council
26th March 2004 

County Councillor Mr J Powley.
District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth, Mr CW Fordham.
PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Policing Strategies (17/04)
PC Humble reported on recorded crime figures between 9th February and 7th March 2004 in the Soham area.
The number of offences reported totalled 51, these included 7 Residential Burglaries, 2 Garage Burglaries, 2 Thefts of motor vehicles, 2 taking vehicle without owners consent (one person charged and one on police bail), 3 thefts of pedal cycles, 4 thefts from motor vehicles, 3 making off without payment, 6 thefts (these include wallets, mobile phones etc.) 1 deception, 14 criminal damage (7 of which relate to residential premises), 6 assaults (only one of which appears unprovoked), and 1 nuisance telephone call.
NOTED that the police were investigating several complaints of unsociable behaviour by groups of youths gathering around the Weatheralls Primary School and Weatheralls Close areas.

New Flooring at the Pavilion (17/04)
NOTED that installation of the new flooring is confirmed to take place week commencing 22nd March 2004.
NOTED also that all organisations concerned have been informed of the closure of the Pavilion facilities for that week.

Review of East Cambridegshire District Local Plan (24/04)
The Clerk reported on the progress achieved in organising the production of a Town Plan.
NOTED that Mrs Karen Wickham, Parish Plans Assistant, Cambridgeshire ACRE will attend the May Council meeting and the Annual Town Meeting, to advise Council on the procedures etc. required in producing a Town Plan.

Application for Financial Assistance - CAB (25/04)
A reply had been received from Ely and District Citizens Advice Bureau thanking Town Council for its contribution and support.
NOTED that five new advisors have recently been appointed and with the contribution from the Town Council it is hoped that once their training has been completed in June, then the outreach service can be extended by another day in Soham.

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 - 9th February 2004
Planning             - 9th February 2004

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - FEBRUARY 2004
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 29th February 2004 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with Council's financial regulations.

TOWN COUNCIL PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION
NOTED that Councillors agreed that the Town Council needs to be more proactive in its approach towards publicity and information to the public.
It was agreed that a working party be formed and Councillors Mrs FE Ross, Mr J Kirkham, Mr H Davies, Mr GR Ginn and Mr PG Beer volunteered as members and agreed to meet and bring suggestions on how this can be achieved to a future full Council meeting.
NOTED that CALC can arrange in-house 'Council Awareness Days' for Councillors at a cost of £12.50 per head plus, trainers travel costs.
RESOLVED that the Clerk make arrangements for in-house training to take place.
NOTED also that the name of Soham was lacking on many highway signs in the area, especially 'green' signs from the A14.
County Councillor John Powley agreed to explore the reasons with highways department of the County Council.

PERIODICAL ELECTORAL REVIEW - DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS
NOTED that the Draft Recommendations for electoral arrangements in Cambridgeshire had been published by the Boundary Committee for England, and that comments on these recommendations should be made by the 26th April 2004.
The Boundary Committee proposal is to amend the County Council proposals to create a revised Soham North division comprising the District Wards of Soham North, Isleham and Wicken parish of Soham South District Ward, and a revised Fordham Division comprising the District Ward of Fordham Villages and the remainder of Soham South District Ward.
County Councillor Mr J Powley indicated his opposition to this proposal and his reasons for doing so.
The Town Council view previously submitted to the County Council appeared to have been either ignored or misunderstood by the Boundary Committee and the new proposal takes no notice of geographical features, established communities, and most importantly the wishes of the community. Further more such proposal is anti-democratic and has no justification either morally or within the principles listed for the carrying out of the review. It would appear that the only justification for the division of Soham is an attempt to obtain equality of numerical numbers of electors within wards.
Any division of Soham is totally unacceptable to the Town Council and will be vehemently opposed as will the proposal to reclassify "half" of the residents of Soham as Fordham Villages, together with any future proposals which are divisive to the residents of the community who consider Soham as a separate entity.
RESOLVED that the Boundary Committee for England be informed of these views and that the Town Council reiterate its objections to the proposals in the strongest possible terms.

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE URBAN CAPACITY STUDY
NOTED that an updated version of the above study, which concentrates on the main settlements of Ely, Soham, Littleport and Burwell had been received from East Cambridgeshire District Council. The study assesses the potential to re-use land and buildings for residential purposes and will be fed into the next review of the local plan, which will help to inform the process of planning for housing, including the need for new housing allocations on green field land.
NOTED also that the total capacity potential for Soham by 2016 is 824 and that seven specific sites are constrained.

LEISURE FACILITIES
RESOLVED that Agenda Item 8 be referred in its entirety to the next meeting of the Community Amenities Committee, to be held at 7.00pm, Monday 22nd March 2004.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
RESOLVED that the Annual Town Meeting be held at the Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Soham on Monday, 10th May 2004 at 8.00pm.

HEDGE REMOVAL NOTICE
NOTED that an application had been received by East Cambridgeshire District Council for removal of a section of a hedge for ditch improvement work at land adjacent to 1 The Shade.
RESOLVED that the Town Council object to the removal as the hedge adjoins a designated footpath included in one of the Town's Millennium Walks and forms an important feature of the landscape.

FORDHAM ROAD - TRAFFIC CALMING
RESOLVED to fully support the proposal to replace the existing road humps in the area between Regal Lane and Orchard Row with speed cushions as part of the re-surfacing proposals.

BUS SERVICES
NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council had received registrations to alter the X12 service.

CALC
Agreed to support the holding of a one-off meeting with parishes within East Cambridgeshire to see if benefits can be obtained from a closer working relationship and an improvement in representation to the District Council.

DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 5th April 2004.