Social Services Queen's Court, the old people's home at Bottisham, is to be sold imminently. Children's services will cease to be inspected in July; the risk to children is now considered negligible and the service considered to be up to standard. Police Young persons in the 11-16 age group are responsible for 50% of all crime. This is being tackled on a partnership basis (as reported in last month's minutes re 'visit'). Fire service The Audit commission showed that this is costing one quarter less than the average for England.

Education 52% of pupils in the county passed five GCSEs at A*-C grade. This is 3-4% better than the national average. Cllr Fitch pointed out that the Cambridgeshire is less well off than other counties. County Farms End of year accounts enabled £5.5m to be recycled back in the county council.

Question Cllr Pearson raised the high cost of demolishing the old railway bridge between Reach and Swaffham Prior (to make a path) and the listing position of the item in future projects. This was discussed and it was decided to write to John Edwards at Highways to ask for an additional re-costing of the path not demolishing the bridge.

Steven Hill had agreed to surface the entrance to the cemetery. He also agreed to donate spare road surface planings for the vergeside parking area on The Hythe, providing the PC lay down some hardcore to prepare the area. Clerk reported that Shirley Blake from ECDC was willing to re-consider a grant for the street light in Chapel Lane even though this would have to be done retrospectively.