From our District Councillor
We have published the Council's fourth Best Value Performance Plan, which is available in public libraries, on the website and by request from Simon Fraser, Corporate Strategy Officer (01353 616351). This describes how we performed in the past year, and what we are planning to do this year, highlighting areas of good and bad performance and showing how improvements will be made. The Council's performance against Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI's) is included. The document also contains a wealth of background information about East Cambridgeshire.
The Local Government Association has chosen an East Cambs project for inclusion as a good practice example in the area of poverty and social inclusion in their UK National Action Plan. The "Breaking Through the Barriers" project which draws 'women returners' back into learning through involvement in the Understanding Communities programme has been successfully run in Littleport and High Barns, Ely.
The final UK On-Line Inspection visit to East Cambs On-Line has praised the project, saying that 'The project has developed well, responding to changes in local needs and resources. An effective Management Team, backed by sound partnership support, ensures that the best use is made of the facilities in a variety of rural centres'.
There are a variety of concerts coming up in Ely during August. These are free and if the weather is nice the concerts in Jubilee Gardens are a good opportunity for relaxing to live music - many people bring a picnic and while away the afternoon (for details see page 3).
I hope that you will have a Green Waste collection in Swaffham Prior by the end of September. You will get a leaflet through your door to let you know when it will start and how it works. In the meantime you can use your black box to recycle newspapers, magazines, Junk Mail, white telephone directories, yellow telephone directories and cardboard (please flatten boxes etc). You can also put out washed cans, green glass, brown glass and clear glass in separate bags. We cannot yet collect plastics, textiles or green waste.