From our District Councillor
Reducing Your Energy Bills
East Cambs residents now have the opportunity to cut their household energycosts through a new energy saving project launched by Cambridgeshire CountyCouncil. Energy meters are available for free loan from Ely library. For moreinformation visit:
www.cambridgeshire.gov.UK/environment/energy/meters
The free loan scheme aims to help householders to become more energyefficient. Where energy meters have been used elsewhere in the UK, householdershave typically saved between 5 and 15 percent of their annualelectricity bill.
The Wards Salt Bins
During the recent cold weather I toured the ward, checkingwhich salt bins needed refilling. I then gave the relevantinformation to the county highways department. I was mostimpressed with the fact that the highways department refilled allof the wards salt bins within the next two days.
10 And 10A Bus Service
As of February the 14th, stagecoach has made cuts to the local bus service.The half hour weekday service has been cut to hourly. The last weekday busfrom Cambridge is now 18:35 instead of 23:00.
The last weekday bus from Reach via Swaffam Prior and Swaffam Bulbeck toCambridge is now 17:49 instead of 21:52 from Swaffam Prior.The Sunday number 10 service has been replaced by the 12A service betweenCambridge and Burwell, via Newmarket and vice versa. This means that there is noSunday service through the Swaffams Ward.
Your county councillor and I were given very little notice of these changes. Asthe new service is very unsatisfactory we are working to obtain improvements to it.
Plastic Recycling Banks
It has been recommended at East Cambs Council that a mapping exercise beundertaken to identify the locations of plastic recycling banks in the district andestablish any gaps in provision. The information from the exercise would beincluded in an information leaflet which could be provided for every household inthe District.
The District Councils Budget
The council will be approving the 2010/11 budget as its Full Council Meeting onFebruary the 23rd, after I have written this report.
As with many councils up and down the country we are having to makesubstantial savings to achieve a balanced budget.
This year there are no easy options, but we are seeking wherever possible to maintain our core services and give help to the most vulnerable members of our District.
We know that we will not please everyone but we must achieve a balanced budget with as small a council tax increase as possible.