Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

A meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held at the Pavilion, Soham, commencing at 7.15pm on Monday, 13th June 2005, to transact the following business:-

Present:	Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs FE Ross (Vice Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr H Davies, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane & Mr C Palmer and Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer & Mrs PA Tuite
In Attendance:	County Councillors Mrs J Broadway & Mr J Powley District Councillors Mr CW Fordham & Mr JH Humphreys Ms Eleanor Hoggart, Executive Director, Legal and Democratic Services, East Cambridgeshire District Council
Apologies:	PC Kevin Humble - Cambridgeshire Constabulary. District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth, Mr JM Palmer and Mr AR Parramint
73/05	ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
74/05	DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE NOTED that Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of Mr D Giles, the Clerk and Proper Officer of the Council.
75/05	ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN Councillor Mrs FE Ross was elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
76/05	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 (Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham & Mrs PA Tuite. Cemetery and Allotments Mrs PL Gibbon (Chairman), Mr H Davies, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mr G Fisher, Mr GR Ginn, Mr PS Lane, Mr C Palmer, & Mrs PA Tuite Community Amenities Mr AJA Hinsley (Chairman), Mr PG Beer, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK Hempstead, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane, Mr C Palmer, & 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 C Palmer Cemetery & Allotments - Mrs PL Gibbon Community Amenities - Mr AJA Hinsley
77/05	APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES RESOLVED that the following Councillors be approved as Town Council representatives on the relevant outside bodies:- Mrs PA Tuite - Governors, Soham Village College Mrs PL Gibbon - Governors, Weatheralls Primary School Mrs RR Aitchison & Mrs PL Gibbon & Mr D Bradley - Trustees, Soham United Charities Mr AJA Hinsley - Trustees, Soham Moor, Old Grammar School Fund Mrs RR Aitchison & Mr J Kirkham - Soham Town Forum Mrs PL Gibbon & Mr PG Beer - Barway Community Committee
78/05	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 11TH APRIL 2005 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
79/05	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. Policing Strategies (54/05) In the absence of PC Kevin Humble, the Clerk Mr David Giles reported that between 12th April 2005 and 6th May 2005 there had been 19 crimes recorded in the Soham Area. The crimes ranged from burglary to theft, criminal damage and assaults. In addition to the recorded crimes the Ely Sector had also received 120 telephone calls relating to the area. Town Council Publicity and Information (Including Twinning) (54/05) Twinning The Chairman gave a brief report on the fact finding visit to Andrézieux-Bouthéon which had taken place the previous weekend. Publicity Councillor Mr J Kirkham reported that the production of the publicity booklet had taken a bit of a 'back-seat' during the preparations for the Twinning. Grazing - 2005 Season (58/05) NOTED that the following grazing tenders for the 2005 Season had been received and approved, by the Chairman, Chairman of Recreational Amenities and the Clerk under delegated powers: Qua Fen Common (cutting only) - Mr A Barnett - £10 Back Angle Common (cutting only) - Mr A Barnett - £500 East Fen Common - Mr J Vinden - £600
80/05	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 - 11th April 2005 Planning - 13th April 2005 & 27th April 2005
81/05	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - APRIL 2005 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 30th April 2005 which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
82/05	CODE OF CONDUCT Ms E Hoggart reminded Councillors of the work of East Cambridgeshire District Council's Standards Committee and the duties and responsibilities of all Councillors. She emphasised the need for all elected members to declare all financial and other interests and to register all gifts and hospitality received. Eleanor Hoggart said that she was the Monitoring Officer to all Councils in East Cambridgeshire District and, as such, she was responsible for maintaining all the information.
83/05	STREET NAMING - RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, LAND OFF TOWNSEND NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had requested that the developers liaise with the Town Council in order to agree a suitable 'theme' for the naming of streets on the above development. NOTED also that Councillors be requested to consider and bring forward any suggestions to the June 2005 meeting.
	The Meeting was adjourned at 8.00pm in order to hold the Annual Soham Town Council Meeting and it reopened at 9.15pm.
	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 as Agenda Item 12 namely Application for Financial Assistance - Soham On-Line, 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.
	Press and Public left the meeting at 9.16pm
84/05	APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - SOHAM ON-LINE Consideration was given to an application for financial assistance from Soham On-Line towards running costs of providing the Soham On-Line Community Website www.soham.org.uk. 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: SOHAM ON-LINE - £350.00
	The Press and Public were re-admitted at 9.19pm.
85/05	Mr J WIGNALL NOTED a card was received from Mr J Wignall expressing his thanks for the gifts given to him by the Council on his retirement as Clerk to the Council.
86/05	CCTV SYSTEM - ANNUAL REPORT The Cambridge City Council's annual report on it's CCTV System from 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2005 was received.
87/05	TREE WORKS NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had approved a schedule of tree works to be carried out at 12 Northfield Road.
88/05	ANNUAL LCAS SEMINAR 2005 NOTED that this years Local Councils Advisory Service, Health and Safety Seminar is to be held on Wednesday, 6th July at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon. RESOLVED that the Clerk would attend.
89/05	PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP SCHEME NOTED that under the P3 Partnership Scheme a sum of £600 had been granted for 2005-2006.
90/05	STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING Notification of revised street numbering for new dwellings 18b Townsend, 93 & 95 Clay Street and 103 Station Road were received.
91/05	TRAFALGAR WEEKEND NOTED that there will be a special church service held during the Trafalgar Weekend Celebrations 21st - 23rd October 2005.
92/05	CALC - DISTRICT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS NOTED the next Area meeting of CALC will be held on 26th May 2005.
93/05	ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - 60TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS An invitation was received from the Soham Lodge Hotel & Windmill Restaurant to members of the Council to the above celebrations. These will be held on Sunday 10th July 2005 beginning with a Church Service 12.00pm to 12.50 followed by a variety of activities at and in the grounds of Soham Lodge Hotel. Anyone interested in attending these celebrations should inform the Clerk as soon as possible.
94/05	ST ANDREW'S CHURCH PCC A letter of thanks was received from St. Andrew's Church PCC, to the Council and in particular the Council operatives, Mr Colin Bullman and Mr Mick Hobbs for the work done in maintaining the Churchyard.
95/05	SOHAM LIFE NOTED that Soham Town Forum in conjunction with the Ely Standard is to produce a community newsletter, provisionally called "Soham Life". It will be a four-page pull-out in the Standard with extra copies available at various outlets. It is hoped that the first edition will be in the Standard on 26th May 2005 to coincide with the carnival. The co-ordinators, Mr Lawrie Budd and Mr Geoff Griggs will need items and articles on Soham people and organisations as well as items for a "Whats On" section.
96/05	SOHAM CARNIVAL NOTED that a letter had been received from the Chairman of the Soham Carnival Committee, thanking the Council for the free use of the Recreation Ground and Pavilion on Monday, 30th May for the 52nd Soham Carnival and Heavy Horse Show 2005.
97/05	PAPERS TABLED ADeC - Guide, What's On in East Cambridgeshire May 2005 Soham Community History Museum - Minutes, meeting 7th April 2005 Soham Town Forum - Minutes, meeting 21st April & Agenda, Meeting 2nd June 2005. The Fens News - Summer 2005 European Union - Inforegio News, February 2005 & March 2005 Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith - 'Highlights of the Week' (Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council)
98/05	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 13th June 2005.