Your District Councillor

Charlotte Cane Tel. 742509       e-mail ccane@cix.co.uk

District Council Notes (Dec / Jan 2002)

Happy New Year, I hope you all had a good Christmas holiday.

The Farmers Markets in Ely have proved to be so popular with producers and customers that they are to continue to be held every fortnight throughout the year. They are held on every second and fourth Saturday of the month in the Market Place. The next two will be on Saturdays 9^th and 23^rd February, starting at 8.30 am.

I am sorry that the recyclable rubbish collection did not happen on 15^th January. I have raised this with the Council Officer concerned, and will let you know his response in the next ‘Out of Reach’. However, I do know that our contractor, Cleanaway, has been struggling to keep up with demand because recycling has risen by 20%. We are working closely with Cleanaway to resolve their problems, so please continue to collect your recyclable rubbish and put it out on the set days.

The Local Government Commission has published their draft report on the ward boundaries in East Cambridgeshire. The aim of their review is to ensure that the number of electors represented by each Councillor in East Cambridgeshire is as nearly as possible the same, taking into account local circumstances. Under the Commission’s proposals the average number of electors per Councillor will be 1,473. The smallest number of electors represented by a Councillor will be 1,340 and the largest number 1,635. The Swaffhams Ward has 1,530 electors. To achieve this they are suggesting that the number of Councillors should increase from the present 37 to 39. The two extra Councillors will represent Ely, which will also have an extra ward. This reflects the growth in the population of Ely. The Swaffhams Ward, which is made up of Reach, Swaffham Bulbeck and Swaffham Prior would remain as it is under the Commission’s proposals with a single Councillor. Burwell would also remain as it is. But our other neighbours would change dramatically. Bottisham and Lode are currently one ward with 2 Councillors and the Dullingham villages are 1 ward with 1 Councillor. The Commission is proposing that the Bottisham ward is enlarged to become Bottisham, Brinkley, Burrough Green, Lode and Westley Waterless which would be represented by 2 Councillors and the Dullingham Villages would become Dullingham, Stechworth and the Woodditton rural ward. Many of the Parish Councils affected and many District Councillors are not happy with the Commission’s suggestion. The Council have therefore suggested an alternative warding structure in this part of the District, which would involve the Swaffhams Ward joining with Bottisham and Lode to become 1 ward represented by 3 Councillors. If you want to see the report, I have one, you can see it at the Council’s offices in Ely or you can read it on the internet at http://www.lgce.gov.uk/reports/periodic/east/cambs/draft/reports/EastCambs.pdf

Over Christmas the Minister for Health announced his decision that East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Group and Fenland Primary Care Trust would merge. He made this decision despite the overwhelming public concern and health professionals’ concerns that this was not the best option for the people of East Cambridgeshire. I think the decision is regrettable but will now play my part in making sure that the new structure is one which will deliver high quality health care for the people of East Cambridgeshire. Our first task is to ensure that this is a genuine merger with a new Management set up, as was promised in the Health Authority’s consultation document. Unfortunately, the proposals made to us before Christmas were for a takeover by Fenland Primary Care Trust with 2 or 3 extra places being created on the existing Management Board for people from East Cambridgeshire. I understand that the Minister has said that this is not acceptable and that there must be a genuinely new structure properly representative of the new area as a whole.

The Community Safety Panel has published its audit of Crime and Disorder in East Cambridgeshire in the financial year 2000/01. It shows a rise in crime over the year of 6% - 204 cases – taking total recorded crime in East Cambridgeshire to 3,607 incidents. This works out at 52 crimes per 1,000 people, which is well below the national average and below the rate for Cambridgeshire as a whole, which is 71 per 1,000 people. For most crimes we are also below the average for our family group. However, there are three areas where we are above the national average and the crime is rising – sexual offences, thefts of motor vehicles and thefts from motor vehicles. This ward is even safer than the average for East Cambridgeshire with just 20-40 crimes per 1,000 people. So we should not be frightened of crime in this area, but nor should we be complacent. In particular, please make sure that you do not leave valuables visible in your car and that you make sure that your car is securely locked whenever you leave it.

Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Swaffhams and Reach

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