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, 14th March 2005, to transact the following business:-

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane, and Mesdames Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs FE Ross (Vice Chairman) and Mrs PA Tuite
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr J Powley District Councillors JH Humphreys and CW Fordham Fiona Coulson, Circle 33 Housing Association David Page, David Page Associates (Architect)
Apologies:	Councillors Mrs M Count, Mr H Davies and Mr CM Palmer District Councillors Mr AR Parramint, and MJ Duckworth and Mr JM Palmer
	CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT The Chairman announced that this meeting was the final one for Mr John Wignall before his retirement at the end of March 2005 and thanked him for his valued service during his period as Clerk to Soham Town Council..
35/05	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 14TH FEBRUARY 2005 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
36/05	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (22/05) In the absence of a police presence, there were no crime figures available. Flooding - The Butts, Soham (27/05) NOTED that a reply had been received from David Groom, Divisional Maintenance Engineer, Cambridgeshire County Council Highways Department pointing out that the County Council were responsible for the draining the public highway and that they would be working closely with residents to alleviate the possibility of surface water from the highway entering private properties. Application for Financial Assistance - Cambridge & Ely Victim Support (29/05) NOTED that a letter of thanks had been received from Victim Support for the Council's donation in support of it's work. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (30/05) The Chairman reported on the Seminar organised by CALC. CALC - Quality Town & Parish Council Initiative (31/05) The Chairman reported on the above conference attended by herself and David Giles. Local Development Framework Councillor Dwyer reported on the Seminar in respect of the above and for the need to have a Town Plan as part of the new framework.
37/05	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 February 2005 Planning - 14th February 2005.
38/05	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - FEBRUARY 2005 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 28th February 2005 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations..
39/05	ANNUAL AUDIT 2003-2004 NOTED the audited accounts for year-end 31st March 2004 were received and that no items had been raised.
40/05	CIRCLE 33 - AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE Fiona Coulson, Circle 33 Housing Association and Mr David Page, David Page Associates (Architect) attended the meeting and introduced proposals for a development of Affordable Housing on land at Station Road, Soham. Ms Coulson firstly outlined the remit of Circle 33 to develop and manage quality affordable housing. 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 one bedroom flats, 18 two bedroom houses, 25 three bedroom houses and 16 four bedroom houses with 2.5 car parking spaces per property. RESOLVED to support the planned development in principle..
41/05	COUNTY WILDLIFE SITE RE-SURVEY A request was received from The Wildlife Trust for permission to carry-out a re-survey of the Cemetery, Fordham Road, Soham which is a designated 'County Wildlife Site' RESOLVED that permission be given to survey the land in relation to the above project.
42/05	TOWN COUNCIL PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION (INC. TWINNING) Councillor Mr J Kirkham reported on the progress of the Information Booklet being produced and informed the Council that a stall had again been booked for Town Council publicity etc. at this years Carnival on Monday, 30th May 2005. Councillor Kirkham also tabled up to date information on the developments concerning Town Twinning and informed Council that an invitation was awaited from Andrezieux-Boutheon to representatives of Soham to visit their Town. The Chairman thanked Councillors Mr J Kirkham and Mr PG Beer for their efforts in gathering all relevant information and also for entertaining Madame Crawford on her un-official visit to Soham. It was noted that a visit to Andrezieux-Boutheon was necessary to agree that twinning was suitable, and that if so it would be necessary to form a Twinning Association incorporating other organisations etc. within Soham. RESOLVED that the sum of £500 be made available from the contingency item within the budget to progress the suggestion and that the possibility of twinning be mentioned at the Annual Town meeting to encourage residents to become involved..
43/05	ANNUAL TOWN MEETING RESOLVED that the Annual Town Meeting be convened on Monday, 9th May 2005 at the Pavilion commencing at 8.00pm, and that specific mention should be made of the Town Plan and possibility of Twinning.
44/05	EAST FEN QUA FEN AND ANGLE COMMONS The Clerk reported that the initial management recommendations for the above commons for 2005 had been received from The Wildlife Trust for approval following further consultation if necessary. RESOLVED that an item be included on the agenda for the April meeting to discuss the proposals in detail..
45/05	LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK A draft baseline sustainability report had been received from East Cambridgeshire District Council the aim of which is to appraise the economic, social and environment effects of policies and proposals in local development documents. Its purpose is to lay down the guidelines and policies to determine how the district will develop in the period up to 2012. The draft baseline sustainability report sets out the base information and starting point on which the framework will be built. A major element of the Framework will be consultation with the public and all relevant interested parties and 'partners' a report detailing how East Cambridgeshire District Council intend to undertake this consultation should be available by the middle of the year. RESOLVED that East Cambridgeshire District Council be informed that the Town Council have no specific comments to make on the contents of this draft report and look forward to being fully involved as the Development Framework process progresses particularly as the Town Council proposes to prepare a Town Plan for inclusion in the final document..
46/05	CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT BILL NOTED that this bill includes specific recognition of the important roll of Parish and Town Councils in respect of a number of measures outlined in the bill.
47/05	TREE WORKS NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had approved a schedule of tree work to be carried out at 41 Hall Street..
48/05	STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING Notification of revised street numbering for new dwelling 39 Primrose Lane and 37 The Bungalow, Primrose Lane, previously 6 Townsend was received.
49/05	FORDHAM TO SOHAM CYCLE ROUTE NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council propose to install crossing facilities in Fordham Road, Soham to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Fordham and Soham. These will comprise of a raised table crossing in the vicinity of 64a Fordham Road and signalised 'toucan' crossing on Fordham Road to coincide with the footpath leading from Cornmills Road.
50/05	THE STANDARDS BOARD FOR ENGLAND An introduction to the review of the Code of Conduct for members was received.
51/05	PAPERS TABLED Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - 'Highlights of the Week' Newsletter (Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council) Cambridgeshire County Council - Draft for Statutory Consultation Cambridgeshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Association of Burial Authorities - abainfo, Number 28, Oct-Nov-Dec Winter 2004. Association of Burial Authorities - abainfo, number 29, Jan-Feb-Mar Spring 2005. Hereward Housing - Hereward Herald, Spring 2005.
52/05	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 11th April 2005.