From our Local County Councillor
The Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee met with the County Council's Climate Change Strategy and an update on the Guided Busway the main agenda items.
The Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee held its first meeting, which largely centred around developing a work programme for the coming year for this new committee. We agreed that the first topic for a member-led review should be an in-depth look at how the Integrated Offender Management programme is to operate in future.
Full Council met in July. The major debate regarded the plans to enter into a shared services agreement with Northamptonshire County Council. This way forward was agreed by Council and as time goes on should deliver real savings to council tax payers in both counties. A labour party motion criticising the ability of Schools to apply for academy status was defeated as was a Lib Dem motion about creating publicity to say that Council accounts are available for people to inspect. I attended member seminars regarding the PFI scheme to replace street lights across the County, academy schools and the school transport system, where we are looking to better co-ordinate activities to deliver savings, whilst still meeting our obligations.
The Neighbourhood Panel hosted a special meeting at Bottisham Village College devoted to the Wicken Vision, which gave members of the public an opportunity to question a range of speakers.
I attended a meeting of the East Cambs Community Safety Partnership. A recent increase in burglaries and vehicle crime across the District was discussed, with the Police indicating that the majority of offences were caused by 3 individuals, recently released from prison, both of whom have been arrested and charged. The CSP felt this highlighted the need for better information-sharing when known offenders are released from prison. The proposed closure of Ely magustrates court was also discussed as was work surrounding under-age sales of alcohol.
I also attended a public meeting at Swaffham Prior regarding ECDC proposals to site a 6-pitch gypsy site on County Council owned land at Heath Road, Swaffham Prior.