From our District Councillor
It looks like 2005 is going to keep us councillors on our toes. So far, along
with our scheduled council meetings there have been seminars on Emergency
Planning, The East Cambs Local Development Framework, Waste Management, and
Planning Issues.
The Local Development Framework and Waste Management are both issues with long term implications for our district. Then for those of us on the Licensing Committee, there was a one day training session to give us a better understanding of the implementation of the new Licensing Act.
By the time this magazine drops though your letter box, we as a council should have come to a decision on two issues.
Firstly, this years budget and council tax level. East Cambs is a council with no party in overall control, each group has formulated its own proposals. Hopefully the council tax will show a very small increase. Secondly there is the office accommodation issue, there is at present a short list of four sites. We should have chosen the preferred site before the end of February. On a more local level, there have been several matters to deal with.
The problem of travellers on Headlake Drove has been resolved. I can report that after ten weeks of continuously working with Brian Hicks, our Travellers' Liason Officer, we have managed to move them on. The area has also been cleaned up.
I have been working with Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council to have a plastic bottle recycling point sited in the village, this should now soon be a reality.
The local shop and PO is often an integral part of the local community. In our ward, we once had both of these in Reach and Swaffham Prior, but now sadly only in Swaffham Bulbeck. Recently, myself and two parish councillors had a meeting with the owners of Swaffham Bulbeck Stores to see if there was a way that we could increase public awareness and therefore the shop's use. There is no doubt that the present owners have greatly increased the range of goods on offer.
Unfortunately, because of this government's policy of now having benefit and pension payments paid into bank accounts rather than post offices, our post office will have a drop in income. But it does offer a range of services including the sale of foreign currency. So remember - use it or lose it.
Lastly there has recently been a case of distraction burglary in our ward, and three in the surrounding area. The victims are generally the elderly. Do not let anyone into your house that you are unsure of and who doesn't possess identification and have a phone number you can ring to check. If you do have a suspicious caller, then please ring the police.
Thank you for taking the time to read this report.