Those present were Chairman Cllr Lambert, V/Chairman Robinson, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, Pearson, Moseley and Aves; also C/Cllr Fitch.

The X11 bus service is under threat as it is not used enough to justify the cost. Stagecoach has intimated that it wants to save money by cutting evening and weekend services on other routes. Alex Gee is the contact for bus services at County. Drummer Street bus station is to be re-constructed.

Cllr Fitch showed councilors a survey detailing, amongst other things, the number of under-18 pregnancies in the ward.

Cllr Fitch said that Bottisham Village College was functioning with a tight budget. The college was to have new mobile classrooms and the main hall had been refurbished.

The Fire Service had produced a leaflet about deep-pan fires.

A debate on the future and state of Cambridgeshire showed the fenland as an area of unrealised potential. There had been a growth of hi-tech industry, which with its feeder suppliers employed a lot of people.

Alysoun Hodges from County was carrying out the 4-yearly survey of the state of the county’s footpaths between May and October. Anyone interested in helping should contact her.

Cllr Robinson commented that footpaths were for people and not for people riding bicycles.

The Highways department are to provide better drainage in Reach.

Cllr Lambert proposed discussing this while Cllr Fitch was present in order that he might clear up any points raised.

Cllr Lambert went over the Code in detail and Councillors decided that they would all sign to say they would abide by it. Councillors had now to register their interests and send them to the Monitoring Officer at Ely.

Cllr Moseley said that the school budget, although tight, had been approved and adopted. There would be 18 children in the reception class for the new school year. The date of the next OFSTED inspection still wasn’t known.

Cllr Summers reported underage children driving unlicensed cars locally on the road, and also in Reach wood where they were spoiling the grass and trees. The police had been informed.

Councillors decided to decline an invitation to join the Calor Gas Village of the Year 2002.

Wicksteed Leisure had sent a reminder for the playing field’s annual inspection. It was decided this was a requirement for insurance and so should be done.

Planning permission approvals – 27 Great Lane (conversion of garage to living space); 22 Fair Green (two-storey extension).

The Clerk to Lode Parish Council had written asking for Reach PC to support their opposition to a proposed installation of an electricity transmission line across Lode Fen. This was agreed.

The clerk tendered her resignation from the Parish Council. It was agreed to try to find another person to take on the job and discuss at the next meeting.

A sub-committee had discussed ideas for celebrating the forthcoming Jubilee celebrations.

Cllr Aves pointed out that the bus shelter near Ditchfield was still not repaired.