Soham Town Council - Minutes of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Soham Town Council will be held in Hall One, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 12th November 2007 commencing at 7.15pm with up to 15 minutes of public comment time on Agenda Items, followed by the formal business, and you are summoned to attend for the transaction of the following business:-

Minutes of a meeting of the Soham Town Council held at The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Recreation Ground Fountain Lane, Soham on Monday 10th September 2007.

Present:	Councillors Mr CM Palmer (Chairman), Mr N Driver, Mr G Fisher, Mr AJA Hinsley, Mr GM Hobbs, Mr PS Lane & Mr D Schunmann and Mesdames Mrs J Gipp, Mrs AEY Pallett, Mrs PA Tuite & Mrs JA Webb.
In Attendance:	County Councillor Mr JA Powley District Councillors Mr T Cornell, Mr J Humphreys & Mr J Palmer
Apologies:	County Councillor Mrs J Broadway Councillors Mr T Brown, Mr GR Ginn, RR Aitchison & Mrs PL Gibbon
142/07	PUBLIC COMMENT TIME There were no representations from members of the public.
143/07	CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman welcomed co-opted Councillor Mr N Driver to his first Council Meeting and also advised Councillors of the forthcoming 'Open Day' at Ely Police Station on Sunday 24th September 2007 between 12.00pm and 4.00pm.
144/07	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS There were no declarations of interests from Councillors in respect of items on the agenda.
145/07	MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 9TH JULY 2007 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting be approved and signed as a true record.
146/07	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Appointments of Representatives to Outside Bodies (127/07) NOTED that the Clerk had not yet received a response from Barway Community Committee. Hall Street/Speed Lane Junction (139/07) NOTED Councillor Mr AJA Hinsley's report that the recently introduced traffic calming measures appeared to be effective.
147/07	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 - 9th July 2007 Community Amenities - 16th July 2007 Cemetery & Allotments - 16th July 2007 Planning - 25th July 2007 & 29th August 2007 Matters Arising Forthcoming Court Case (FP38/07) NOTED that the Clerk reported that Council would be represented by Zurich Municipal Insurance Company in this case. Fencing on North Boundary of Recreation Ground (COM02/07) NOTED that the Community Education Officer had agreed to carry out this work when resources permit. Higher Level Stewardship Agreement (COM04/07) NOTED that the Clerk and Commons Reeve had discussed a preliminary work programme and that quotations for some of the proposed capital schemes were being obtained. Once received, a further meeting would be arranged with the Natural England Scheme Manager. Alter Cloths - Cemetery Chapel (CA2/07) RESOVED to purchase the Council's own altar cloth for use in the Cemetery Chapel. NOTED that Councillor Mrs J Webb is awaiting details of brass candlesticks that may be available to purchase. Memorial Safety in Cemetery (CA4/07) NOTED that a representative from Ely City Cemetery had offered to advise the Council when the proposed safety check is progressed.
148/07	PAYMENTS AND SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS - JULY & AUGUST 2007 RESOLVED that the schedule of payments and statement of balances as at 31st July 2007 and 31st August 2007, attached to these minutes as appendices, be confirmed and approved, and are in accordance with Council's financial regulations.
149/07	ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2006/2007 NOTED that Moore Stephens, the Council's Auditor, have now signed off the accounts for the last financial year without comment and that the audit was now closed.
150/07	INTERNAL AUDIT 2006/2007 RESOLVED to accept East Cambridgeshire District Council's Internal Audit report of the Council's affairs for the last financial year and to confirm that the audit addressed the major issues.
151/07	CCTV STEERING GROUP Councillor Mrs PA Tuite reported on the recent meeting of the Steering Group and in particular on the possible relocation of the Church Alley camera to the front of The Walter Gidney Pavilion. The estimated costs for this work vary from £8,000 - £10,000. A possible grant of £2,000 might be available towards the total but the balance of the costs would fall to Soham Town Council. RESOLVED that due to the high costs associated with relocation of the camera and the possible introduction of a wireless system in the near future, Council would not proceed with the relocation and that East Cambridgeshire District Council be informed accordingly.
152/07	COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN SOHAM WORKING PARTY. NOTED - Minutes of the Working Party Meeting held on 6th August 2007.
153/07	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS & SOHAM AREA NEIGHBOURHOOD PANEL NEWSLETTER. NOTED East Cambridgeshire District Council Neighbourhood News report for June, July & August 2007 and that the next Neighbourhood Panel Meeting would take place in Chippenham Village Hall at 7.00pm on Wednesday 3rd October 2007. RESOLVED the Clerk write to the Sector Inspector at Ely requesting that the local Beat Manager or Police Community Support Officers attending future Town Council Meetings.
154/07	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY 2008 RESOLVED in view of the apparent complexity of this topic, to invite a representative from East Cambridgeshire District Council to give a presentation to Council at its October 2007 meeting.
155/07	REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT 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 with the expenditure: Staploe Medical Centre - £1,000 to enable it to provide, through the Cogwheel Trust - Counselling Services for Soham Residents.
156/07	SOHAM TOWN FORUM NOTED Minute of meeting held on 23rd August 2007. RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs RR Aitchison be asked to advise the Forum of the Council's Higher Level Stewardship programme for the Town's commons.
157/07	PARISH COUNCILLORS REGISTRATION & DECLARATION OF INTERESTS RESOLVED Councillors complete the appropriate forms and return them to the Clerk within the next 14 days so that they may be sent en-bloc to the Monitoring Officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council..
158/07	PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES NOTED (1) The revised arrangements from bus travel from Cambridge rail station. (2) The existence of the County Council's 'Have your say on Bus Services' programme. The County Council seeks a wide response and the survey can be accessed on www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/consultations/bussurvey
159/07	PARISH REMUNERATION PANEL NOTED letter from East Cambridgeshire District Council advising of the procedures to be followed by the Panel should parish/town councils wish to use its services.
160/07	RECREATION GROUND TREES & TRIM TRAIL NOTED email received from a resident whose property adjoins the Recreation Ground. RESOLVED (1) to refer the question of replacement trees to the next meeting of the Community Amenities Committee and (2) to retain the sections of trim trail referred to in the email. The Clerk was instructed to advise the resident accordingly.
161/07	BT PAYPHONE CHARGES NOTED that the Payphone in Staples Lane was to be converted to a 'cashless' facility.
162/07	EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY NOTED letter from East Cambridgeshire District Council advising Council that their licensing policy was currently under review and that any comments would be welcomed. Comments should be made before the 24th October 2007.
163/07	CAMBRIDGE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE NOTED a letter detailing the success of the Environmental Action Day held in Soham.
164/07	PAPERS TABLED Cambridgeshire County Council - Cambridgeshire Scrutiny: working to improve services for Cambridgeshire people booklet. East Cambridgeshire District Council - Off Street Parking Places Order 2007. Cambridgeshire ACRE - Community Action Autumn 2007. Cambridgeshire ACRE - Reaching out to Local Communities. Soham Town Forum - Minutes of Meeting 12 July 2007. East Cambridgeshire District Council - Highlights of the Week -July & August 2007. MAGPAS - Magazine July 2007. Andrézieux-Bouthéon - No. 100 August 2007
165/07	DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOTED that the next regular meeting of the Council would be held at 7.15pm on Monday 8th October 2007.