Those present were Chairman, Cllr Aves,
V/Chairman Cllr Lambert; Cllrs Summers, Pearson, Robinson, Harrison and Moseley; also C/Cllr Fitch.
Reports
Chairman
Cllr Aves reported that this had been another good year for Reach Parish Council. The purchase of the Old Burial Ground had been completed and the pub re-opened after a proposal to change it back into a house had been opposed. The PC had received 25% of the profit of Reach Fair 1999 which was used to open an amenity fund. A road sign had been replaced in Great Lane using money from the fund and celebrations to mark the millennium were organised using funds.
A millennium committee was formed. Free commemorative mugs were produced and given to village children under 18, as well as those over 18 who had lived in the village all their lives. A seat for the church garden had been provided and a village book was being published later in the year.
Cllr Aves spoke of the sad death of Albert Johnson, a Councillor for over 20
years, many of those spent as Chairman.
The Chairman thanked the volunteers who cut the grass in the village; also Cllrs
Fitch and Cane, the Parish Councillors and the Clerk for their hard work and
support over the year.
County Council
C/Cllr Fitch spoke of the problems faced by Cambridge with its enormous rate of population growth and commented on the fact that this was at both ends of the age range.
The closure of Post Offices was a growing threat in our local communities. Swaffham Bulbeck Post Office had applied for a change of use back into a house - a group had been set up to fight the closure. Cllr Fitch said there seemed to be a gap between the intentions of the present government and the carrying out of those intentions.
Council tax had gone up by 8.5% but this was still below most counties in the UK.
An increase of £10m had been put into education, all schools in the county were
benefiting. Bottisham Village College had produced a high rate of GCSE passes
last year. Cambridgeshire libraries were all now on the Internet.
Social services had been sorting out their problems and children were now a good
deal better off. Old people's homes were being sold off - Queen's Court in
Bottisham had been sold to Hereward Housing. £11-12m was being put into 'care
in the home'.
Cllr Fitch reported on the 50% increase in traffic over the last year. Some
buses had been re-routed which was a great help to residents in Longmeadow.
The Park and Ride at Newmarket had been an enormous success and was expanding. Their buses were now running from 07.00 to 08.10. A study of the A14 had been advanced thanks to a campaign by the Cambridge Evening News; the two-year programme was now underway, one of the problems under scrutiny was the noise problem suffered by residents living near the road.
Cllr Fitch reported on the progress of cycleways in the County. These he said
cost £100,000 per kilometre. Reach would be hooked in 'long-term' as it was
regarded as more of a leisure route.
Re-cycling was going well.
County farms was doing well with 380 tenants and 36,000 acres. Surplus monies
from rents were ploughed back into services.
The Fire service was providing a good service; Reach is well placed being
between Burwell and Swaffham Bulbeck fire stations.
Police figures report burglary and vehicle crime down by 6% in the County.
There was now 1 officer to 560 residents but 36 new officers
were being trained. It was hoped that there would be increased funds from July.
PC Davies from Burwell was now based in Hinchingbrooke.
Proposals to expand local housing were going ahead.
Question
Cllr Fitch was questioned about reports in the media about the proposed flooding of Wicken Fen. He assured Councillors that this was not imminent
as suggested.
District Council
In her absence Cllr Cane's report spoke of the District Council being in the control of the Liberal Democrats following the elections in May last year, with Cllr Cane elected as the Leader of the Council. Six pledges had been achieved in the first year as follows:-
1. The first full Council meeting to be held outside Ely had been held at Bottisham Village College. It was hoped to have at least two such meetings each year.
2. All meetings of Council, its Committees, Panels and Working Parties are now open to the public with some meetings held in the evening.
3. Council have introduced a 15-minute question time at the beginning of each meeting. The right to present petitions and speak to council has also been introduced.
4. It had been hoped to consult the public, through a residents' survey, over the proposed expenditure programme. This had only partially been met so the Council intends to bring all consultations forward so that they are happening at a time when the budget can really be influenced.
5. The Council had published two District newspapers. Unfortunately there were significant problems with the distribution of the first, the second edition should have reached all residents.
6. A Citizens' Panel had been set up. The first survey concentrated on how satisfied people were with the services provided by the Council and the second concentrated on what improvements people would like to see.
Cllr Cane said the Council were working on the other promises in its Manifesto, as well as on delivering the many other aspects of the Corporate
Plan. She then gave a breakdown of the Council Tax of £768.09 which is amount for a Band D taxpayer.
Reach Matters
The cul-de-sac from Great Lane is still in bad condition. Now the ban on repairing cul-de-sac has been lifted by County Highways it was suggested
contacting Steven Hill
A millennium tree had been planted by the District Council on Fair Green.
The organiser had suggested planting another tree to replace the Jubilee tree in future years. PC thought this was not a good idea.