Your County Councillor

COUNTY COUNCIL LETTER

 Mid April / May  2002

The other day I attended the launch of the OLDER PEOPLE:'S-ADVISORY GROUP at the Maltings in Ely.

The movement aims at better government for older people. Those present, representing many groups of Cambridgeshire's over 55 year olds were briefed on what is already available to help people towards older age and what we might hope for in the future, if all the lobbying groups are in any way successful on behalf of their causes.

The County Council has already supported this month's launch of the Cambridgeshire Older~People's Advisory Group (COPAG) which is making its views known far and wide.

It is the hope of COPAG members that people who are coming to retirement and beyond will contribute their experiences and needs to the Group so that we achieve a better life for older folk as well as, for instance, children before and at school, ethnic minorities, those on low incomes, and women seeking better jobs which feature among our present priorities.

In the group at my table we discussed such problems as more older friendly bus services, possible age discrimination in A & E departments at hospitals, forced retirements at relatively early age, difficulty in obtaining foreign travel insurance for the over 70's. The discussion ranged widely and it was a very interesting morning. The Chairman of COPAG said that a Guide for Older People is in preparation, In addition there are many separate leaflets on particular subjects, like tax advice, making wills, reduced cost bus travel (including half-fare bus prices from Park & Ride , help for carers and many others. Should you wish to enquire further, contact Jane Mansfield, on 01223 - 717644, or Jane.Mansfield Cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

HOUSE PRICES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE are still rising. The average price for a house in Cambridge is now £180.000. Outside Cambridge house prices in the county rose by about 10% in 2001. The Land Registry figures seem to point to an average price round here at the end of last year of £120.000.

In previous years there have been some opportunities for people on lower incomes to buy houses in East Cambs. but these are reducing rapidly. In 2001 just 7% of sales in East Cambs were for homes costing £60.000 or less. We need more affordable homes for part purchase as well as rent... The two Hastoe projects at Barkways, Burwell and now Bell Road, Bottisham are very welcome. Let's hope we can extend such opportunities to other villages in our area.

A new BRIDLEWAY is on the horizon between Swaffham Bulbeck behind Rayner s farm and the A1303 at Drage's farm, Bottisham. This will make good new links to the path network in Bottisham and Burwell and should be in place by the autumn.

Each year at about this time I attend your Annual Parish Meeting and give a personal view of what the County Council has done over the past twelve months that might be of interest to you.

Over a few minutes I describe the main events of the year and then try to pick out how it has affected the six villages within the Bottisham -Burwell Division.

Perhaps it is not surprising that so few people come to the parish meetings as they sound pretty dull if you read the bare agenda. Maybe people are expecting to be bored or have clashing activities but nevertheless it is an obligation for us, your publicly elected servants, to report annually and do our best to answer your questions. This will be the thirteenth such occasion for me. In view of the likely audience I think it makes sense to tell you in this report most of what I will say. My apologies to those who did turn up for the repetition.

Last June you re-elected a hew Council of 59 Members. There was a surprisingly small change in spite of individual gains and losses. The Conservatives retained control and the Liberal Democrats remained the main opposition party. My thanks to those who voted for me locally.

We have worked to a new Constitution - a Leader, Keith Walters, and a Cabinet of 9. The rest of us from all parties make up Scrutiny committees, Services Development Groups and one or two other bodies like Standards and Development Control.

In addition we are all more involved in the Government's addiction for monitoring and consultation so the job seems to get bigger and bigger.

Cambridgeshire provides a lot of services but Education dominates. Other mainline (and costly) spending goes on Social Services, Libraries and Heritage, Public Transport and Roads, Fire Protection and Rescue. Trading Standards and Environment.

The Council had to vote in a 9.3% increase in Council Tax in order to maintain services in the face of low Government Grant and faster than general inflation all in the context of a rapidly growing population.

Last year the Council voted Longstanton/Oakington as the recommended new town site - not Six Mile Bottom.

Cambridgeshire educates 71.250 pupils at 255 schools and last year our GCSE results (A - C level) was 7% above the national level.

We are trying to achieve less than 30 pupils per class at I of the primary schools. Local schools have had good OFSTED reports but are already close to capacity. I have asked for a seminar to discuss how we fit in more pupils expected in this area over the next 5 years.

We provide 41 Libraries plus 7 mobiles. Although the book stock is suffering from limited funds we have money to spend on I.T. ۩r those who do not have it already.

Cost us £84m net of charges and the County provides care at home for 3000 frail elderly people. As you may know, Queens Court, Bottisham, has at last been sold to Hereward Housing and is due for expansion shortly.

Working with Addenbrookes, Social Services is hoping to continue the trend downwards in the number of over 75s stuck in hospital with no suitable accommodation to go to outside.

There were 12.000 emergencies to rush to last year in addition to the peak demand for help at the time of the Autumn floods. Fortunately for us the nearest was Waterbeach.

Burwell Fire Station is operating temporarily on some extra land beside the Station which it is hoped to buy in due time.

With about 20 services/day (M - Sat.) our local bus service should be satisfactory. However, there are major problems on timing from/to Cambridge. Traffic congestion and shortage of drivers are the excuses most used by Stagecoach. Complaints about timing to Shire Hall (Alex Gee) as soon as possible after the delay may help us put on extra pressure.

Although improvements to the A14 and the Fordham By Pass are ;still some way off, we are getting nearer to some activity on the latter.

Last year I spent a lot of time on trying to get money for traffic calming in Burwell and Swaffham Prior. We keep getting tantalisingly near to big funding of the three main entry roads to Burwell and I shall be working on that this coming year.

We have some limited money for "soft" traffic calming along; Mill Hil: Swaffham Prior and that will be discussed with the Parish Council shortly.

The interactive road signs on the A1303 at the Swaffham Bulbeck/ Heath Road turn work well.

Lastly, the long-awaited cycle-ways from Lode to Swaffham Bulbeck and ~ to Bottisham are now realities and my next goal is to link the two Swaffhams.

James Fitch

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