SOHAM TOWN FORUM PROGRESS REPORT
Mrs Alison Callaby, Town Centres Manager, East Cambridgeshire District Council will attend for this item.

POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS (See Attached)
Ms Julie Buck, Community Safety Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council will attend for this item.

APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
a) Soham Association of Commerce & Trade
b) The ARC Project
c) Victim Support

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr J L Wignall
Clerk of the Council
8th December 2003 

Councillors , Mrs PA Tuite (Chairman), Mrs RR Aitchison (Vice-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 and Mrs PL Gibbon and Mrs FE Ross.

County Councillor Mr J Powley
District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth and Mr JH Humphreys
Mr John Selby, Conservation Officer, ECDC
PC Wayne Davies, Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Policing Strategies (141/03)
NOTED that PC Mark Hobson had tendered his apologies for the meeting, due to other commitments, but that PC Wayne Davies had attended on behalf of the Police.
PC Davies reported on the overall crime figures for the period August 2003 to October 2003.
The main concerns were in relation to vehicle crime, and extra patrols were being mounted, it was believed that just one individual was responsible for most of the vehicle related crimes in the area and an arrest had been made. PC Davies then answered questions from Councillors and warned that due to the dark winter nights, extra vigilance must be taken with regards to strangers etc. and it was also wise to leave a light on in properties at all times, in order to deter would-be burglars.

Area Resource Centre - East Cambs. (141/03)
The Chairman reported that the official opening of the Area Resource Centre (ARC) had been well attended and that the refreshments provided by the Town Council were well received.

Soham Festival Update (141/03)
Councillors Mrs PA Tuite, Mr PG Beer, Mrs PL Gibbon, Mrs ME Dwyer and Mr J Kirkham declared non-prejudicial interests in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct as members of Soham Town Forum.
Councillor Mr PG Beer said that a quiet period of consolidation was taking place, however it was planned to hold a ‘giant’ Christmas Draw and he would be asking Town Councillors to either buy or sell at least 3 books of tickets to help with the raising of funds towards the Festival.
Councillor Mr PG Beer also requested that if Councillors had any suggestions of businesses of individuals who may be willing to donate either cash or prizes for the draw, then he could be contacted on his home telephone number.

Pavilion Floor (146/03)
NOTED that the Clerk was in the process of obtaining quotations to be included in the budget process for alternative flooring for the Pavilion.

Soham Cricket Club (152/03)
Councillors Mr PS Lane and Mr CK Hempstead declared non-prejudicial interests in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct as members of Soham Cricket Club.
NOTED that a meeting had been arranged on Monday 17th November 2003 with Soham United Football Club, (with whom the Cricket Club share facilities) to discuss tenancy arrangements etc for the next financial year.

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 - 13th October 2003
Planning             - 13th October 2003

Matters arising:

FP24/03 - SACT
NOTED that further details had been received from SACT, but unfortunately too late for the November 2003 agenda.

PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - OCTOBER 2003
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 31st October 2003, which are printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and were in accordance with Council’s financial regulations.

H.E.R.S. UPDATE
John Selby, Conservation Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council attended for this item.
The Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme totalling £180,000 over a three year period is jointly funded by English Heritage and East Cambridgeshire District Council.
The whole of the area has been surveyed and to date there are 31 schemes of “improvements and repairs” in process on which 7 grant offers ranging between £780 and £20,000 have been made. These schemes include repairs to windows etc. at Soham Pottery and the corner of Market Street, restoration of frontage at ARC, alterations to windows and shop front to former Paper Chain premises and other minor projects. Some problems are being experienced in respect of the Old Grammar School site and Colville Chambers but it is hoped that these can be resolved in the near future. The present level of success could not have been achieved as quickly without the help of the Design Group of the Soham Town Forum.

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL PRINCIPLES FOR 2004/05 - 2006/07 FINANCIAL STRATEGY
The District Councils Principles for 2004/05 - 2006/07 Financial Strategy were circulated for comment.
NOTED that no comments were received from either Town Councillors or District Councillors.

1st ANNUAL CCTV REVIEW
The Chairman read a report from the 1st Annual CCTV Review meeting, which had been attended by Councillor C Hempstead and the Clerk.

SOHAM METHODIST CHURCH
A letter of thanks had been received from Soham Methodist Church, for the free of charge hiring of the Pavilion for its fund raising events held on Saturday, 18th October 2003, which had been a great success.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE
NOTED that an invitation had been received to attend a presentation evening on 27th November 2003.

LAND ADJACENT 12A THE CAUSEWAY, SOHAM
NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council requested the Town Council’s views on a request from the householder at 12a The Causeway to purchase part of public open space to the side of his property, with a view to building a garage on the land.
RESOLVED that there were no objections to the proposed sale provided that there were objections from neighbours, and on condition that in the event of the tree being felled it being replaced with a suitable alternative within the remaining area of open space, and request that the proceeds of sale be used to upgrade or maintain other open space within Soham.

STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE AND ENERGY
NOTED the Street Lighting maintenance charges for the period 1st April 2003 to 31st March 2004 are £15.61 per lamp and for the period 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2005 will be £15.58 per lamp.

CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS SERVICES
The next set of changes to local bus services that will be happening throughout Cambridgeshire from the start of November 2003 were received.

BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Town Council considered a proposal by BT Payphones to remove a low usage payphone situated in West Drive.
RESOLVED that BT be informed that the Council appreciate the need to rationalise service provision to meet the public’s changing communication needs and do not argue with the judgemental criteria used in making changes. However, in the Council’s opinion, demographic and geographic factors should also be taken into account. The area serviced by the payphone in question has a high incidence of elderly persons and the alternative payphone situated in High Street within a 200 metres distance appears to assume a ‘straight-line’, whereas the physical route from the West Drive area entails a more “twisty”journey. Consequently it is considered that this journey may be physically, or otherwise, beyond capabilities of the residents concerned.

DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 15th December 2003.