From our District Councillor
FIGURES RELEASED by the National Audit Office have revealed that East Cambs
District Council has one of the best and most successful collection rates of
Council Tax across the eastern region. (Hmm... that really warms the cockles of
our hearts! Eds)
Alex Colyer, Executive Director of Finance, said "We have been working with our revenues contractor Capita for several years in developing efficient council tax collection and payments systems, and have been awarded government Charter Mark status in recognition of the high quality of our service."
"From being one of the best collectors of council tax in the region, our target is now to become one of the best in Britain, and we are introducing new and easier ways for residents to be able to make their payments."
The government proposes to replace our county police forces with a larger regional force. I suspect this is all part of their longer term aim of replacing our district and county councils with a much larger and remote East Anglian Regional Council.
Cambridgeshire's three options on regional policing are -
- Made up of six forces. Cambs \ Norfolk \ Suffolk \ Hertfordshire \ Bedfordshire \ Essex.
- North \ South split. Cambridgeshire \ Norfolk \ Suffolk.
- East \ West split. Cambridgeshire \ Hertfordshire \ Bedfordshire.
At East Cambs District Council's full Council Meeting on December 6th the Conservative group proposed the following motion.
"This Council rejects the Home Office's three options to restructure Cambridgeshire Constabulary to create a strategic force which are:
- A single force covering the Eastern Region.
- Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
- Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
This Council supports the current single force option ie. no change, as it believes it is a simpler and more cost effective solution to ensure that the Force is fit for purpose. This Council is concerned at the travel time costs and pressures on Police Authority Members and Senior Officers who would have to travel more under each of the three Home Office options. Furthermore, these proposals could also lead to a geographic concentration ofjobs out of the Cambridgeshire area. This Council also believes it is not necessary for Forces to merge to "bring about efficiencies" as this could be achieved through improved collaboration across boundaries.
However, if the Home Office are to pursue their proposal to continue with Regional Restructuring of the Force, this Council would prefer the third option to merge with the neighbouring counties of Norfolk and Suffolk with the assurance that the level of front-line policing in Cambridgeshire remains the same or higher".
A large majority carried this motion. It is to be hoped that other local authorities make known their opposition to the Home Office's proposals.
I would like to finish by wishing all of the residents of the Swaffhams Ward a happy new year and pledge to continue work diligently on your behalf.