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Present: |
Councillors Mrs RR Aitchison (Chairman), Mrs
FE Ross (Vice Chairman), Mr H Davies, Mr GR Ginn, Mr CK
Hempstead, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr J Kirkham, Mr PS Lane and
Mesdames Mrs M Count, Mrs ME Dwyer, Mrs PL Gibbon and Mrs PA Tuite |
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In Attendance: |
District Councillors Mr MJ Duckworth, Mr CW Fordham and Mr JM Palmer
PC Kevin Humble, Cambridgeshire Constabulary |
| Apologies: |
Councillors Mr PG Beer, Mr G Fisher and Mr CM
Palmer
County Councillor Mr J Powley
District Councillors Mr JH Humphreys and Mr AR Parramint |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman reported that the MAGPAS First Responder Scheme will be
going 'live' on Thursday, 18th November 2004.
A letter of thanks had been received from the 'Reading Roller Coaster'
for the support given to the scheme in 2004. It was agreed that the
Council should again support the scheme in 2005. |
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171/04 |
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 11TH OCTOBER 2004
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true
record. |
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172/04 |
MATTERS ARISING FROM
THE MINUTES.
Policing Strategies (158/04)
PC Kevin Humble reported that there were 31 crimes reported in the Soham
area between 12th October and 8th November 2004.
These consisted of 1 burglary, 6 assaults, one possession of a bladed
article, 9 thefts, 1 arson and 13 criminal damage.
Between 12th October and 8th November there were over 700 calls received by
the police relating to the Ely Sector Area, 110 of which related to Soham.
NOTED that Incident Referral Forms for Anti-Social Behaviour are available
from the Council office. These are an initial reporting form for any
incident of Anti-Social Behaviour. They should be completed as accurately as
possible at the time of the incident and can be returned to the office for
forwarding or sent direct to Brian Tully, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator
at Ely Police Station.
Highways, Footpaths etc. (158/04)
Speed Management Review Programme
NOTED that with the Chairman's approval, the Clerk submitted a bid to the
jointly Funded Minor Improvements Scheme for the introduction of a 30mph
speed limit and the installation of interactive speed reduction signs and
associated road markings to run from the Shade roundabout to Townsend.
Development of Land off Townsend (162/04)
The Chairman reported that following representation by Town Council Planning
Chairman, Councillor Christopher Palmer, District Councillors Mark Duckworth
and John Palmer and also residents of Thorn Close, Soham a deferment of
decision by the East Cambridgeshire District Council, Planning Committee had
been achieved, to allow time for a public exhibition and consultation
process to take place.
NOTED that a provisional date for the exhibition has
been booked for Friday, 19th November 2004 at the Pavilion.
Cambridgeshire Drug & Alcohol Action Team (168/04)
NOTED that Lucas Oliver, Community Support Worker, Cambridgeshire Drug & Alcohol
Action Team will now attend the December 2004 Council Meeting to inform
Councillors about DAAT and its work and to gather information about the
community. |
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173/04 |
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 October & 2nd November 2004
Planning
- 11th October 2004
Cemetery & Allotments - 2nd November 2004
Community Amenities - 2nd November 2004 |
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174/04 |
PAYMENTS AND
SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - OCTOBER 2004
RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances, and
Summary of Income and Expenditure as at 30th September 2004 which are
printed and attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and
approved, and were in accordance with Council's financial regulations. |
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175/04 |
SOHAM TOWN FORUM PROGRESS
REPORT
NOTED that following the completion of the initial stages of the Soham
Healthcheck, Soham Town Forum had agreed at its last meeting that the next
stage of the process was the formation of Focus & Action Groups under the
themes of Town, Transport and Community. The first of these meetings will be
Town and will take place at the Pavilion on Tuesday 16th November 2004,
followed by Transport on Wednesday, 24th November 2004 and finally Community
on Wednesday, 1st December 2004.
Following a Design Group 'Walkabout' held on Thursday, 7th October 2004 a
number of issues were raised and a copy of these has been passed to the Town
Council for information.
Several projects aimed at Youth Provision were being considered, including
the possibility of a Youth Town Council. |
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176/04 |
PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION
NOTED that the `Information Booklet' is progressing and it was agreed that
Councillors telephone numbers could be included, unless they were
ex-directory, it was not felt necessary to include photographs. However,
photographs could be on the Town Council Notice Board at the Pavilion and it
was agreed that the Clerk would take the necessary pictures after the
December meeting.
NOTED also that it had been arranged that an information stall would be open
in The ARC on the evening of late night shopping on Friday 10th December
2004, any Councillors available to help on this occasion should give their
names to the Clerk.
Councillors Mr H Davies, Mrs FE Ross, Mrs PA Tuite, Mrs RR Aitchison and Mr
J Kirkham had already agreed to be available during the evening. |
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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 7 namely Application for Financial Assistance -
SACT, 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.
Meeting was closed to press and public at 8.25pm. |
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177/04 |
APPLICATION FOR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - SACT
Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley declared a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with
paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct.
Consideration was given to an application for financial assistance from SACT
towards the recurring running costs of the Soham Christmas Lights.
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:
SACT - £1,000 |
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The meeting re-opened to the press and public at
8.28pm. |
|
178/04 |
MOTORCYCLE CUSTOM SHOW -
2005
A letter giving details of a proposed 'Motorcycle Custom Show' to be held at
the Comrades Club, Market Street on Sunday 29th May 2005 was received.
RESOLVED that Mr C Martin be informed that the Town Council have no
objections to the proposed event. |
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179/04 |
STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE AND ENERGY
NOTED the Street Lighting maintenance charges for the period 1st April 2004
to 31st March 2005 are £15.58 per lamp and for the period 1st April 2005 to
31st March 2006 will be £16.16 per lamp, energy charges for 2004/2005 are
estimated at £569 and £770 for 2005/2006. |
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180/04 |
BUSINESS RATES
RE-VALUATION - THE PAVILION
NOTED that the new rateable value of the Pavilion effective from 1st April
2005 will be £3,750. |
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181/04 |
TREES
NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council had granted permission for
the felling of a Copper Beech tree due to decay at 'Copperfield', 20 Pratt
Street, Soham.
NOTED also that a replacement tree will be planted. |
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182/04 |
ECDC - DRAFT STATEMENT OF LICENSING
POLICY LICENSING ACT 2003
NOTED the Licensing Act 2003 transferred the responsibility of liquor
licensing from the Magistrates Courts to local authorities. East Cambridgeshire District Council are
preparing a Statement of Licensing Policy in consultation with interested
parties and are holding a series of meetings to discuss transitional
arrangements.
RESOLVED that the Chairman attend. |
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183/04 |
GOALPOST SAFETY
NOTED that East Cambridgeshire District Council were conducting a survey of
potentially dangerous goalposts following receipt of a leaflet from the
Football Association. |
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184/04 |
NEW ETHICAL FRAMEWORK REGULATIONS
NOTED that the Local Authorities (Code of Conduct) (Local Determination)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004 will come into force on 4th November 2004.
Copies of the statutory instruments can be found on the OPSI website at
www.opsi.gov.uk. |
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185/04 |
"ORGANISING EVENTS ON ROADS"
A new information leaflet issued by Cambridgeshire County Council called
"Organising Events on Roads", that aims to make life easier for those who
may be looking to organise events, such as street parties or fun runs on the
roads of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was received. |
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186/04 |
CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - LOST
HIGHWAYS PROJECT
NOTED the County Council has set up a project to
collect data about that "lost" historic paths which could be extinguished as
public rights of way. The County propose to register historic public rights
of way having regard to both the rights of the public and owners and
occupiers of land, and have therefore introduced a ranking procedure. |
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187/04 |
WINTER GRITTING PROGRAMME
Details of the Cambridgeshire County Council Highways winter gritting
programme were received.
Further updates, latest decisions on gritting and details on weather
conditions can be found by logging onto the website at
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Reference was made regarding the gritting arrangements for Barway Road
considering the number of lorries which use it to and from G's Fresh Foods.
The Clerk said that he believed G's had a private arrangement with the
County Council for this particular road. |
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188/04 |
PAPERS TABLED
Cambridgeshire County Council
- 'Time & Space to Play' - Consultation Draft September 2004.
East Cambridgeshire District Council - Leisure & Tourism Strategy 2005/2008
- Consultation Draft.
ODPM Committee
- Press Notice - Homelessness
ODPM Committee
- Press Notice - Annual Report & Accounts 2004.
Cambs. County Council
- Countryside Services Team, Annual Report April 2003 - March 2004.
Environment Agency
- Flood Awareness Campaign 2004/2005.
Health & Safety Executive
- 'Health & Safety in your Business'
East Cambridgeshire District Council - Business Update, Autumn 2004. |
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189/04 |
DATE OF NEXT REGULAR
MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm,
Monday 13th December 2004. |
