REPORTS BY REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES.

PAVILION FLOOR.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

County Councillor Mr J Powley.
District Councillors MJ Duckworth, JH Humphreys

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Policing Strategies (104/03)
The Clerk reported that PC Kevin Humble had again tendered his apologies and was unable to attend the meeting, due to other commitments within the area.
NOTED that information on recorded crimes for July and August 2003 were made available.

Trees - Cemetery and St Andrews Churchyard (105/03)
NOTED that approved tree works to be carried at Soham Cemetery and St. Andrew’s Churchyard had been completed.

Pavilion - Maintenance and Minor Improvements - Hall Floor (105/03)
NOTED that the Clerk had contacted Crystal Cleaning Services with the purpose of obtaining a further quotation for improvements to the floors at the Pavilion.

Application for Financial Assistance (108/03)
NOTED that a letter of thanks had been received from The Winged Fellowship Trust.

Hanging Baskets (117/03)
NOTED that continuation of the scheme was dependant on ECDC funding on which a decision was still awaited.

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 July 2003
Planning              - 14th July 2003 & 6th August 2003

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

AREA RESOURCE CENTRE - EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE ON-LINE AGREEMENT
Councillor Mrs PA Tuite declared a non-prejudicial interest in accordance with paragraph 9.2 of the Code of Conduct as a trustee of ARC.
RESOLVED to formally sign the East Cambridgeshire On-Line Agreement for computer equipment to be installed at the Area Resource Centre.
RESOLVED also that Councillor M Count be appointed Town Council’s representative on the Board of Trustees.

SOHAM FESTIVAL - UPDATE
Councillors Mrs PA Tuite, Mr PG Beer, Mrs PL Gibbon 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.
NOTED that earlier this year Soham Town Forum had put forward the idea of a ‘Festival for Soham’ to be held in the run-up to the Soham Carnival in May 2004.
Councillor Mr PG Beer briefly outlined the proposals so far, one of which was a family disco and fireworks finale to be presented by the Town Council, similar to the event which had been held at the time of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2002.
RESOLVED in principle to provide a family disco and fireworks display as a conclusion to the Festival.

SOHAM TOWN FORUM FUNDING
Councillors Mrs PA Tuite, Mr PG Beer, Mrs PL Gibbon 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.
NOTED that the Forum are in the process of updating the Business Plan to reflect the situation relating to ongoing projects and to include other schemes which will be undertaken in the near future, two of which, a “Health Check” and a “Revival Regeneration Programme”, will require funding by partnership agencies and for which the Forum are likely to request assistance from the Council.
NOTED also that the need for an overhead projector has been identified by the Forum.
RESOLVED to agree in principle to provide appropriate funding to Soham Town Forum in respect of applications made in accordance with the approved business plan, and as a projector would also be beneficial to the Town Council the cost to be shared on a 50/50 basis, and purchased by the Council on behalf of the partnership.

JOINTLY FUNDED MINOR HIGHWAYS IMPROVEMENTS - 2004 BID
RESOLVED not to make a bid for 2004/2005 but to consider schemes for the following year based on the priority scoring criteria of the scheme.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
It was reported that a potential site for affordable housing had been identified on land sited between 53 and 55 Fordham Road and that East Cambridgeshire District Council were seeking the views of the Town Council on this proposal.
RESOLVED to support the provision of affordable housing on this site..

TOWN COUNCIL WEB-SITE AND E-MAIL
It was reported that the Town Council could now be contacted via a Website, www.soham-tc.gov.uk and by E-Mail: . The Website was still being developed and the Clerk requested that all Councillors consider what personal details should be included.

TREE PRESERVATION ORDER - ST. ANDREW'S PARK, CLAY STREET
NOTED that permission had been given to carry out work on trees at the above site.

BRIDLEWAY 125 AND 126
NOTED that the Secretary of State had made modifications in respect of the above.

DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.30pm, Monday 13th October 2003.