ANNUAL RETURN 2003/2004.

COMMONS.

CCTV SYSTEM ANNUAL REPORT.

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE COMMUNITY STRATEGY.

J L Wignall
Clerk of the Council
6th June 2004 

District Councillors Mr CW Fordham and Mr JH Humphreys

ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
Councillor Mrs FE Ross was elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
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 and the Chairmen of the other Standing Committees.

Planning
Mr CM Palmer, Mr PG Beer, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mrs PA Tuite, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon & Mr J Kirkham

Cemetery and Allotments
Mrs PL Gibbon, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr PS Lane, Mr H Davies, Mr CM Palmer, Mrs ME Dwyer & Mrs PA Tuite

Community Amenities
Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr J Kirkham, Mr CM Palmer, Mr PS Lane, Mr PG Beer & Mrs PA Tuite

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                       - Mr CM Palmer
Cemetery & Allotments - Mrs PL Gibbon
Community Amenities   - Mr AJA Hinsley

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
RESOLVED that the following Councillors be approved as Town Council representatives on the relevant outside bodies:
Councillor Mrs PA Tuite - Governors, Soham Village College
Councillor Mrs PL Gibbon - Governors, Weatheralls Primary School
Councilors Mrs PL Gibbon & Mr D Bradley - Trustees, Soham United Charities
Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley - Trustees, Soham Moor, Old Grammar School Fund
Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison, Mrs FE Ross & Mr J Kirkham - Soham Town Forum
Councillors Mrs PL Gibbon & Mr PG Beer - Barway Community Committee

NOTED that Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison declared a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct when Barway Community Committee was discussed.

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 - 5th April 2004
Planning             - 5th April 2004

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - APRIL 2004
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 30th April 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
Councillor Mr J Kirkham reported to the Council an update on the development of information set up by the working group.
A draft of a possible 'Public Information' booklet had been produced and Councillors were requested to bring any comments and suggestions to the next Council meeting to be held on 14`1 June to further progression on ways of information being disseminated ad likely costs.
NOTED that a stall was to be manned at the Soham Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday, to be run in conjunction with the Soham Town Forum. Councillor Mr J Kirkham agreed to organise a time-table for this event and any Councillor available to assist should contact Councilor Mr J Kirkham direct.

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 12 namely Application for Financial Assistance - Winged Fellowship Trust, Soham On-Line and Newmarket Youth Fund respectively, 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.

APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Consideration was given to applications for financial assistance from Winged Fellowship Trust and Soham On-Line towards their running costs and Newmarket Youth Fund for the hiring of skateboarding equipment for a Fun Day to be held in June 2004.
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:-

Winged Fellowship Trust - £215.00
Soham On-Line              - £250.00

NOTED that the Council acknowledged the commitment and work involved in running Soham On-Line and it was therefore resolved that Soham On-Line be requested to provide more detailed information on it's running costs on receipt of which further consideration would be given to it's request for financial assistance.

RESOLVED further that the request from Newmarket Youth Fund not be acceded to as Soham already has it's own skateboarding facility.

LODESTAR
NOTED that as Councillor Mrs FE Ross had produced the 'Councillors Comments' article in the 'Lodestar' for the past two years, Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley volunteered to take-over its production with immediate effect.

REGISTERS OF INTEREST OF GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY
NOTED the clarification on the relationship between the register of gifts and hospitality and the need to declare personal and prejudicial interests.

SOHAM AND DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION
RESOLVED to approve a request from Mr Andy Parker and the Ross Peers Sports Centre to hold a Football Fun Week coaching course on the Soham United Football Ground, Qua Fen Common from Monday 16th to Friday 20th August 2004 inclusive.

SOHAM TOWN FORUM - EVENING CAR PARKING
A request from Soham Town Forum for the car parking in Fountain Lane to be reviewed was noted.
RESOLVED that as car-parking in Soham was the responsibility of East Cambridgeshire District Council then the request for a review of extended evening opening in both Fountain Lane and Clay Street car parks should be forwarded to them.

SOHAM BURIAL RECORDS
NOTED that Cambridgeshire County Council Records Office had acknowledged receipt of Records of Soham Burial Board dating from the mid eighteen hundreds, which had been discovered in the Town Council office and passed to the County Archives Department for safe keeping.

TREE PRESERVATION ORDER E/12/00
NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council  had approved works to be carried on trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order at 5d Broad Piece, Soham.

RE-NAMING OF PROPERTY IN SOHAM
NOTED that the property formerly known as Willowside, 2 Barcham Road, Soham will now be known as Willowside House, 2 Barcham Road, Soham.

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
NOTED that the next meeting of Community Safety Partnership Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12th May from 10.00am to 1.00pm in the Council Chamber at East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Ely. The meeting will cover Crime and Disorder issues in the East Cambridgeshire District.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACRE
NOTED that a meeting of the Cambridgeshire Rural Forum Conference 2004 will take place on 19th May 2004, at the Maltings, Ely between 9.30am - 4.00pm and will include a 'Cambridgeshire Lunch' made from locally sourced ingredients.