April / May 2002 |
Your District Councillor |
Charlotte Cane Tel. 742509 e-mail ccane@cix.co.uk District Council Notes (February / March 2002) |
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I have to start this month’s article with two apologies. In early January the recyclable waste collections were several days late and in late January the general rubbish was collected a day late. I am sorry about these problems and assure you that we are working hard with our contractor, Cleanaway to prevent them from happening again. The general rubbish was not collected because both of their refuse lorries broke down on the same day. In these circumstances they should have back-up arrangements and we are pushing to ensure that they use these in future. The recyclable collection problems resulted from over-success. Far more people are using this scheme than was predicted when we drew up the contract. Because of this, they cannot cope with their current resources. They have borrowed lorries from other parts of the County and have a trial vehicle for two weeks. This has allowed them to get back up-to-date with the collection timetable. We are negotiating with them to permanently increase their capacity to cope with what we hope will be further increases in the take up of collections for recyclable waste. Central Government have given East Cambs an award of £400,000 over 2 years to fund our continuing progress in the IT field, particularly in relation to e-government. Allied to this, we launched the East Cambs On Line project in February. This project provides computers in various locations, which anyone can use. The idea is that people can use these computers to improve their computer skills and use computerised training programmes to improve their qualifications and career prospects. Our nearest East Cambs On Line computers are at The Dykes End Pub here in Reach and Hereward Hosing, Downing Court in Swaffham Bulbeck. Our annual Business Ratepayers Consultation meeting was held at the end of January at E-space North in Littleport. For several years hardly anyone came to these meetings, so this year we put together a programme of speakers on subjects of interest to business people. This paid off with 50-60 people attending and joining in a lively discussion on next year's budget. There was also a meeting with Parish Councils at the end of February to discuss the budget. East Cambs has increased our Council Tax by 73 pence a week for a Band D property to £102.18. The County will charge £730.53 (an increase of £1.20 per week), the Police will charge £94.59 (an increase of 51p per week) and your Parish Council will charge £25.96 (a reduction of 38 pence for the year). This would make the total bill for a Band D house in Reach £953.26. I attended the first joint meeting between Fenland Primary Care Trust (PCT), East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Group, Lifespan, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Fenland District Council in mid March. The meeting considered how to carry the new East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT forward, taking the best from each of the existing bodies. It was a very positive meeting. The first appointment has been made to the new Board - Alyson Broadhurst, former Mayor of Ely and Member of Lifespan Board was appointed the new Chair of the East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT. The new Trust comes into being on 1st April. The Audit Commission has scored our Planning Service as a 'good, two star service that has uncertain prospects for improvement'. The report commends the Planning service for successfully balancing speed and efficiency with securing quality outcomes, particularly in recent new housing developments, with a high level of customer satisfaction and good record of appeal and enforcement resolution. Some concerns are raised about accessibility to the service, a lack of capacity and resources to deliver change and the need for an improved customer perspective. I am confident that we can improve the service, despite increasing pressures on it. The report is on the Audit Commission website www.audit-commission.gov.uk. East Cambridgeshire has organised a ‘Leisure Week’ between 8th-13th April. This is a chance to try out new activities from sports to arts at reduced cost. Most of the events are for children, but some include adults. There are many opportunities, including a fun session at Bottisham pool for 8+ year olds on 13th April 10-12 am, cost £1 – tel 01223 811121. Burwell Community Sports Centre has something every afternoon from 8th-12th April for 6-11+ year olds (some sessions only for the older group), cost £1- tel 01638 742125. Mepal Outdoor Centre has a holiday club from 8th-13th April for 8-12 year olds, cost for the whole week £80 with Council’s promotional leaflet (otherwise £100) – tel 01354 692251. For full details of the week’s events ‘phone Chris Fennel on 01353 616382 or check the web site - http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/html/leisure_week.asp. On a personal note, Jon and I are expecting our second child in late July. Because of this, I have been getting tired in the evenings and missing more meetings than I would like, for which I apologise. I have decided that I should stand down as Leader of the Council to allow me time with my growing family, so there will be a new Leader after our Annual Meeting in May. I hope to continue as your Councillor, but ultimately that’s a decision for you at the next election! Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Swaffhams and Reach |
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