From our Local County Councillor
Road Safety
£30,000 has been allocated from the 2008/9 Minor Highways Improvement Schemes
Budget to address road safety issues on the B1102 at Mill Hill. It was one of
six successful bids in East Cambridgeshire. Another bid has gone into the
Medium Sized Schemes Programme but that has not yet been decided.
Registration Service
From 1st October 2007, all of Cambridgeshire became one Registration District, which means customers can go to their most convenient office, register an event and receive the certificate. The joint bereavement service offered at Addenbrooke's Hospital since 1st August 2007 has proved very successful
Contact Centre
The Single Assessment Process (SAP) has been implemented for the Learning Disability Service. SAP will be rolled out to Occupational Therapy, Physical Disability and Older People's Services from early October.
Environment Strategy
Highest priority activities should be:
- improving public transport
- making Northstowe and other major developments in Cambridgeshire exemplars for environmental sustainability
- climate change adaptation
- environmental assessment of potential projects and initiatives
- water efficiency in new Council buildings
- procuring/generating renewable energy for our buildings
Infrastructure
The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) have commenced bidding for Growth Area Funding. The County is working closely with partners to submit projects worth £15.6 million. Key projects include: Cambridge Green Necklace (linear access/wildlife corridors and site-specific projects surrounding Cambridge), Northstowe Countryside Access, and Country Parks at Ely and March.
Mereham
The County Council is working closely with East Cambridgeshire District Council on the planning inquiry which starts in early October. This proposal, for 5,000 new homes near Wilburton, sits outside the current strategy for the Cambridge sub-region and is strongly opposed by all the local authorities.
Tobacco Age Change
From October 1st this year the age limit for buying tobacco rose from 16 to 18. To assist retailers with the age increase Trading Standards are providing traders with an education programme
Parking Policy/ Decriminalised Parking
Consultations on new parking policies are coming to a close with Cabinet expected to adopt a new policy in October. This will then lead on to a decision on whether to expand decriminalised parking to the whole of the county.
Community Speed Watch
The trial Community Speed Watch project was set up in 2002 and ran successfully for more than 2 years. Funding pressures forced cessation of the project in 2005. 16 Parishes are still eager to participate and enquiries are frequently received from others. Currently, a bid is being made to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership for funding.
Cambridge East
Marshalls, City Council, South Cambs and the Learning Skills Council have agreed to contribute to the consultancy costs of a study into secondary education provision at Cambridge East
Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
The first sections of guideway track were placed on 3rd September at Longstanton.
The Long Road cycleway underpass was completed to programme under a full closure during the school holidays.
Work has started at Addenbrooke's Bridge, relocation of railway equipment has also begun at Cambridge Station. Junction works have also commenced in advance of the guided busway
Transport Innovation Fund
Work on the development of the Transport Innovation Fund (including congestion charging) proposals is continuing. Consultation on the current proposals will commence in November.
Scrutiny Management
Three of the pieces of work that will be undertaken by Scrutiny are - out of county placements of children and young people, rural passenger transport, the learning disability services and the IT contract for SWIFT.
Countryside paths
The County Council looks after 1,900 miles of rights of way and works with landowners to keep them cut and clear of vegetation. The latest survey shows that 72% of paths were easy to use, up on the 60% figure of last year.
Inspection of Older Peoples Services
Main conclusions include:
- Some people are being served well but there is the capacity for the council to improve services.
- Concern about the lack of co-ordination on IT between Health and Social Care.
- Worries about not having a joined up assessment process
- Too many people staying in hospital too long after treatment - prior to social care packages being in place.
- Older people with mental health difficulties get a lesser range of services.
- Occupational Therapy waiting times are too long.
Bottisham Village College
The OFSTED Inspection team have classified the school as 'good with many outstanding features'.
Housing completions 1999-2007
Burwell 271
Reach 4
Swaffham Bulbeck 28
Swaffham Prior 3
It was interesting to note that Ely has had 2117 new homes completed only 200 less than the new town of Cambourne.