West Area Neighbourhood Panel

Monday 16 April 2012 – Village Hall

PRESENT:

Cllr Nick Border Coveney Parish Council Cllr Owen Winters Parish Council Cllr Peter Goddard Haddenham Parish Council Cllr Jean Ballantyne Parish Council Cllr Elizabeth Stazicker Mepal Parish Council Cllr Gordon Foster Sutton Parish Council Cllr Ashley Bamforth Witcham Parish Council Cllr Alan Shields Parish Council Cllr Bill Hunt East District Council (ECDC) Cllr Peter Moakes District Council (ECDC) Cllr Gareth Wilson East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) Cllr Philip Read Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) OFFICERS Liz Knox Head of Environmental Services, ECDC Lorna Halls Sanctuary Hereward Housing Inspector Paul Ormerod Cambridgeshire Constabulary Sergeant Will Davis Cambridgeshire Constabulary John Fuller Community Engagement Manager, Cambridgeshire Constabulary Lewis Bage Project Officer (Leisure and Community Services), ECDC James Nairn Community Development and Engagement Officer, ECDC Oliver Cook Housing Development and Enabling Officer, ECDC Jane Hollingworth Head of Housing, ECDC Melanie Sage Democratic Services Officer, ECDC

IN ATTENDANCE: 10 members of the public (including 1 Little Thetford Parish Councillor, 1 Witchford Parish Councillor, 1 Mepal Parish Councillor and 1 District Councillor)

WNP11/35 Welcome

The Chairman, Cllr Elizabeth Stazicker welcomed everyone to the meeting.

WNP11/36 Introductions and Apologies

Apologies were received from Parish Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.

WNP11/37 Chairman’s Announcements and Consultation Items

The Chairman made the following announcements:

1 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc . Requested that everyone complete the attendance list including an email address and postcode. . At the end of the meeting complete the ‘Have Your Say’ evaluation form. The Chairman noted that a new question had been included – question no.8. . Highlighted the following items currently out for consultation, as detailed on the reverse of the agenda sheet:

- ShapeYourPlace – Community website launch on 5 April 2012 - Village Vision consultations for Fordham, Black Horse Drove, , and Wentworth. - Ely Traffic Improvement Fund – consultation from 13 February 2012 to 14 May 2012. - Consultation on new Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy. . Change to the agenda. The Citizens Advice Bureau was due to deliver a presentation to the meeting, but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice. , . Change to the Neighbourhood Panel Membership. Cllr Bailey had resigned as a District Council representative on the Neighbourhood Panel. The Chairman stated that she would miss her input and advice and thanked her for all that she had done for the Panel. Cllr Goodge had been appointed to this vacancy. . John Fuller, Community Engagement Manager, Cambridgeshire Constabulary – this was the last meeting that he would be attending. John Fuller had been involved with the Panels since their formation in 2008 and he had been critical to their success. The Chairman stated that he would be greatly missed and on behalf of the Panel wished him luck for the future.

WNP11/38 Neighbourhood Update

The Panel received an update on the non-policing priorities and other issues raised at the previous Panel meeting:

East Cambridgeshire District Council Update Clamp down on fly- Ten stop and search of vehicles had been carried out since the tipping, especially last Neighbourhood Panel meeting in conjunction with the tyres police. The fly-tipping of two tyres at Sutton Gault had been reported on 20 February 2012 which were yet to be collected by Veolia, but this matter is being progressed by the Council as there is a back log of collections. The area is being regularly monitored and any increase in activity will instigate further partnership working between District Council and the Police with additional assistance from Parish Councils. Reports of fly-tipping, Reports of fly-tipping have been submitted to Veolia for removal. specifically tyres at Coveney and Wardy Hill Reports of cars The issue of people driving across public open space has been damaging grass area of presented to the relevant District Council Committee three times New Close Road, Little with no definitive conclusion. Therefore, a Working Group has Thetford been established to consider the matter and whether the 3 sites where this occurs could be used as a pilot scheme to see if the

2 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc matter can be resolved. Findings will be reported back to the relevant District Council Committee in June 2012. The 3 areas are 1 in Sutton and 2 in . Reports of tyres Reports of fly-tipping have been submitted to Veolia for removal. dumped on West Fen Road, Little Thetford Planning issues The Block Fen Motor Cross planning application was refused by highlighted between Fenland District Council’s Planning Committee on 7 March Fenland District 2012. A range of objections were received from numerous Council and East parties including complaints from residents in East Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire about noise affecting quality of life and Mepal District Council Outdoor Centre. regarding Block Fen, The application was refused for various reasons, including that . the applicant failed to submit a noise/acoustic report clearly showing background noise levels, the impact of motorcycle Residents concerned by meetings on these background noise levels, identification of the motor-cross taking place residential or other properties likely to be affected by noise and in the gravel pits, the measures required in order to mitigate potential noise particularly noise issues. nuisance. Residents expressing loss of confidence with It was noted that the East Cambridgeshire District Council planning process Environmental Health Officer had also objected to the planning (Fenland and ECDC application on noise grounds. cross-border issue) Inconvenience and The storage of straw is generally not a planning matter, smell pollution caused although in some instances this can be considered depending by straw fires. on the quantity of straw. The Health and Safety Executive have Calls for storage of straw advice available via the following link: to be regulated by East http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg125.pdf Cambridgeshire District Council County Council Update In the absence of Cambridgeshire County Council representative, the Head of Environmental Services, East Cambridgeshire District Council delivered an update on the non-policing priorities and other issues raised at the previous Panel meeting relating to Cambridgeshire County Council. Concerns raised Around 80 per cent of public transport in Cambridgeshire is run regarding bus service commercially with the remaining 20 per cent being subsidised cuts (106) in by the County Council, at a cost of around £2.7 million per year. Haddenham. Work is already underway with operators to see if changes to routes and timetables could make some marginal subsidised journeys commercially viable and therefore reduce this financial commitment. The County Council has also reviewed the way subsidies are currently paid and has started a phased three year change programme. Over the next three years the Council will be transforming how these subsidised services are delivered, resulting in an annual investment of £1.5 million. Before any subsidy is removed, it is planned to conduct consultation to find out people’s public transport needs. Everyone will be invited to contribute and work together to find

3 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc the best and most cost effective way of meeting that need. The results will vary across the County and one size will not fit all. Solutions may include local operators, smaller vehicles, links to commercial hubs as well as direct routes to certain destinations and flexible dial-a-ride type services. If there is enough demand it could lead to more travel opportunities, not less. If the best solution to deliver an essential service is to retain the current form of subsidy, then that will still be an option. The new initiatives will be rolled out under the banner of Cambridgeshire Future Transport starting from April 2012. Subsidised services have been grouped into 13 geographical areas, which have transport links within them, and these areas will be reviewed in three tranches over the next three years. This is so that the services can be looked at as a whole and alternatives explored. More information will be released and public engagement will be carried out as each phase of reducing the subsidy starts. Dips in road reported Many roads across Cambridgeshire founded on peaty soils, on Black Bank and particularly in and bordering the Fenland area, are suffering near Pymoor. from structural deformation as a result of drying out and shrinkage of the underlying substrate. The Highways Team is doing its best to keep such roads in a safe and usable condition, and prioritising repair work to those most in need of it. Where repairs are needed but there are insufficient funds available to undertake the work at the present time, warning signs are being placed and maintained to alert road users of the potential hazards. In recognition of the problem Cambridgeshire faces, some £1.9m of funding is anticipated in 2012-13 to tackle drought damage problems on some of those routes most in need. Priorities, and suitable treatments, are currently being developed. It is anticipated that the principal focus will be addressing damage on the most significant routes; since these contribute most to the corporate priorities of the authority including supporting economic recovery and growth. However welcomed this sum will be insufficient to address the problems already experienced across much of the county. Consequently Cambridgeshire is also, alongside other highways authorities across the eastern region, bidding for a further £20m to tackle the problems more comprehensively. That is the sort of value needed to put the network into reasonable shape. Communities can certainly help by raising awareness of the particular problems Cambridgeshire faces with local MPs etc. Issues regarding A10 The proposal for a 50mph speed limit at the Little Thetford improvements junction - an outcome from the A and B road speed limit review - (including getting out received no objections and is going ahead, hopefully completed of Lt. Thetford junction in the next 2 to 3 months. safely) Whilst there may be a community desire for a 'better' junction, it

4 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc is unlikely, unless there is a safety case, for this to be a funding priority for the County Council. It is understood that there has been only one accident at this location in the last 4 years - that was quite serious, a child pedestrian incident last year. However, in comparison with the Local Highway Authority’s cluster sites, this site would not rank very highly. Therefore, this is not a priority for casualty reduction measures at the moment. Reports of tankers The HRC site is secure. going into Grunty Fen As part of a discharge consent for the site still held by the Recycling plant at County Council there is a need, on occasion, to remove water 10:30pm – would like to from an underground tank on the site by vacuum tanker. The know what the tankers company used is ADC Ltd. This has occurred on the following are doing there and dates and the tanker was on site for the approximate times that the site is safe and listed: secure. 22 December 2011, between 8.15 am and 10.15 am 4 January 2012, between 11.15 am and 12.30 pm 7 March 2012, between 8.00am and 9.30am. On other occasions, Andrew Sykes are on site to pump water from an underground tank to an above ground settlement tank. This occurs on an ad-hoc basis but is always during the daytime. The location of and access to Grunty Fen HRC site is also the site of Grunty Fen landfill site operated by Waste Recycling Group but currently closed. A contact at Waste Recycling Group is Ian Brown 01480 810543 A10 improvements - In addition to the update provided regarding the introduction of a 50mph speed limit at the Little Thetford junction, Cllr Hunt explained that initially the 50mph restriction had been proposed on the A10 from the Science Park in through to Ely. Cllr Hunt had objected to a 50mph restriction over such a length of the A10 as it was impractical and overly bureaucratic. However, he had fully supported the introduction of a 50mph restriction at the Little Thetford junction. Cllr Hunt explained the two points where the 50mph restriction would commence on the A10 and hoped that this would provide greater protection for users of the Little Thetford junction. Recycling Site – Sutton - Cllr Foster of Sutton Parish Council noted the excessive fly- tipping experienced at the recycling site in Sutton. Cllr Foster had gone through a number of the black bags that had been dumped at the recycling site and had found a postcard to provide evidence as to who had committed the fly-tip. Having contacted the East Cambridgeshire District Council with this information Cllr Foster had been extremely disappointed with the response. Cllr Foster had been informed by East Cambridgeshire District Council that they were aware of the issue at the site, which was being monitored and that evidence should not be removed from the site. Cllr Foster was then further exasperated having referred to the number of ‘Fly Tipping Reports and Enforcement Actions for 2011/2012’ contained within the West Neighbourhood Panel Update report that 435 fly-tipping reports were investigated. However, no warning letters were issued or prosecutions made for this offence. Cllr Foster noted that Sutton was not the only Parish to experience this problem.

5 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc Block Fen Motor Cross – A member of public noted that racing at the track was still occurring. The Head of Environmental Services, East Cambridgeshire District Council, explained that it was a matter for Fenland District Council to enforce as the site was within their district boundary. A member of public informed the Neighbourhood Panel that the applicants could appeal the decision of Fenland District Council’s Planning Committee, which could take up to two years to be considered by the Secretary of State. The Chairman reiterated that this was a matter for Fenland District Council to enforce as the site was within their district boundary. However, the Chairman suggested that Mepal and Witcham Parish Councils jointly speak to Fenland District Council. Bus Service Cuts in Haddenham – In addition to the update provided, Cllr Wilson noted that Dews and Dial-A-Ride were considering providing alternative bus services and that consultation had been conducted with Haddenham residents. Cllr Wilson stated that he would report with outcome of this consultation to a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting.

WNP11/39 Neighbourhood Update

The Panel received an update on the policing priorities and other issues raised at the previous Panel meeting from Sergeant Will Davis.

Acquisitive crime The Police have continued to focus resources on theft related across the Panel offences, which had mainly revolved around the theft of metal, area theft of motor vehicles, theft of cable and theft of fuel. Police had visited local scrap dealers on a daily basis, recording the material being weighed in and by whom in order to build intelligence. The Police had used this information to target known criminals, including a mixture of visits to their home addresses, stopping them in the street whilst carrying scrap metal and putting extra resources in vulnerable locations. By utilising the Road Traffic Act the Police are able to prevent known offenders using the roads to carry out these offences. The extra presence and scrutinising of Scrap dealer records had made the locations less appealing to criminals and has seen significant reductions in their use by the persons targeted. The operations had produced some significant results as follows: .Seizure and prosecution of a priority offender’s vehicle used to transport suspected stolen scrap metal. Prosecuted for no insurance and costs. .After lengthy enquiries priority offender wanted by the courts for 5 separate offences was eventually arrested and put before the Court. .A know offender was targeted for theft related offences, arrested, charged and remanded in Prison for her trial date due to her prolific offending. .A number of Burglary offences believed to have been committed by the same group across East Cambridgeshire and beyond into the surrounding force areas, have recently been arrested and some remain in Prison whilst the case goes to 6 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc trial. .A known metal thief in the act of cutting up a burnt out stolen lorry has been apprehended. The remains of the lorry were recovered and identified as that of the stolen lorry, the offender arrested, property searched identifying more stolen scrap and the investigation continues. The Police are confident of a charge. Support Sanctuary The Police had been supporting Sanctuary Hereward Housing and Hereward Housing in had continued to provide them with information that would affect with any tenancy agreements. current Anti Social An individual had been charged with 7 offences and had received Behaviour situation a 2 year suspended prison sentence including costs and fines. Another individual had been prevented from contacting any persons connected to a particular case. Sanctuary Hereward Housing were currently in the process of court proceedings to evict persons from a particular property. Sanctuary Hereward Housing had successfully evicted persons from a property at The Brambles in Littleport following repeated breaches to their tenancy agreement. The Panel were provided with the details 2 persons served with Anti Social Behaviour Orders.

Total crime in the West Neighbourhood Panel area had decreased compared to the previous period:

January 2011 – February 2011 95 offences November 2011 – December 2011 137 offences January 2012 – February 2012 107 offences

Total Anti Social Behaviour has decreased compared to the previous period:

January 2011 – February 2011 41 incidents November 2011 – December 2011 67 incidents January 2012 – February 2012 51 incidents

Sergeant Davis suggested that the Panel set the following police priorities:

.Continue to support Sanctuary Housing in dealing with anti social behaviour issues in Stretham and continue to involve local residents in the process.

Referring to the court proceedings that Sanctuary Hereward Housing were in the process of, in order to execute an eviction, Cllr Wilson enquired where those persons would be housed if they evicted. Sergeant Davis explained that there was no obligation for the persons to be re-housed as they had made themselves homeless. Therefore they would have to seek private rented accommodation or approach the District Council to enquire whether access to funding towards private rented accommodation was possible. Sergeant Davis explained that the Police would continue to know they resided in the district.

7 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc In response to a question by a member of the public the Sanctuary Hereward Housing representative explained that Sanctuary Hereward Housing was a registered social landlord and that prior to undertaking court proceedings to evict persons, Sanctuary Hereward Housing had tried everything to encourage persons to comply with their tenancy agreements and that Sanctuary Hereward Housing also had a responsibility to the neighbours.

The Head of Housing, East Cambridgeshire District Council, explained that once evicted the individuals were likely to approach the District Council for assistance. The District Council would assist in providing advice and assistance on how to obtain a private rented tenancy and if minors were involved the District Council would refer the family to Social Services. Social Services may then choose to house the family in private rented accommodation. In any case persons evicted from Housing Association accommodation were unlikely to obtain social housing for the foreseeable future.

Greenlaning – A member of public stated that greenlaning had been a problem for the last 7 years and was now affecting the quality of life for him and his family. In 2010 he had submitted 27 calls to the police and in 2011 he had submitted 11 calls to the police. The issue needed to be tackled quickly and effectively and he wanted to know what effective measures the police had in place to deal with the matter, as there appeared to be a lack of communication between various organisations.

In response to a question, Sergeant Davis explained that there had been a number of shed burglaries in Witchford where tools had been stolen. Each incident was investigated and investigations remain on going.

A member of the public noted that 2 burglaries had also been committed in Sutton and a further burglary in Mepal and that a number of people were door knocking in Wilburton selling dusters. Sergeant Davis explained that a group door knocking, known as the Nottingham Knockers, had been reported and that a licence was required for people to door knock.

A member of the public requested that the Panel should discuss Speedwatch.

WNP11/40 Housing Tenancy Strategy Consultation and Community Land Trusts

Oliver Cook, Housing Development and Enabling Officer, East Cambridgeshire District Council, delivered a presentation on ‘a Community Land Trust for Your Neighbourhood?’ which is available to view on the East Cambridgeshire District Council website, via the address below:

http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/wnp160412ag_LandTrustPr es.pdf

The Housing Development and Enabling Officer explained that:

.A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a non-profit, community based organisation run by volunteers that develops housing or other assets at permanently affordable levels for long-term community benefit. .A CLT is locally driven, controlled and democratically accountable although support is available.

8 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc .A CLT is not an East Cambridgeshire District Council initiative although is something that the District Council is supportive of. .A CLT must be legally constituted and a not-for-profit organisation. Existing charities can also become a CLT. .Often people do not apply to go onto the Housing Register. Therefore local needs surveys provide information as to what type of housing that is required in a particular area. .A CLT can chose the target group that it wants to help, such as, residents, workers, older people, young people. .There is a need for affordable housing as income in Cambridgeshire is less than income in the City and private rent in East Cambridgeshire is high. .Start up grants are available to introduce CLT’s .There are long-term benefits of a CLT as a CLT can be ‘asset locked’, whereby the value of the land is separated from the value of the building to ensure affordability in perpetuity. .A CLT scheme can be built on exception sites. .A CLT does not have to be for housing – can be used to build other community facilities, such as a village hall. .CLT’s had already been established across . .There were 2 CLT’s in the district - Stretham and Wilburton - that were nearly constituted and were about to commence searches for potential sites.

In response to a question from Cllr Read, the Housing Development and Enabling Officer explained that it was possible for a CLT to acquire land within a development envelope for affordable housing. The National Planning Policy Framework allowed for some market housing to be developed on exception sites. However, this is not East Cambridgeshire District Council policy.

Cllr Hunt stated that exciting things were likely to happen from the CLT’s as currently house prices were expensive and there was a danger that geriatric ghettos would occur in the future. Cllr Hunt stated that CLT’s were the way forward and could unify a community and provide for those giving to a particular community.

Subsequently the Head of Housing, East Cambridgeshire District Council, delivered a presentation ‘The Localism Act 2011 – Effects on Housing Policy’ which is available to view on the East Cambridgeshire District Council website, via the address below:

http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/wnp160412ag_HousingPre s.pdf

The Head of Housing, East Cambridgeshire District Council, explained that the presentation was the first of three presentations that would be delivered to the Panel and that the following 3 documents needed to be devised:

.Tenancy Strategy .Homelessness Strategy .Allocations Policy

The Head of Housing explained that:

.The Tenancy Strategy involves a new kind of tenancy – affordable rent. The Strategy needs to consider; who gets affordable rent and who gets social rent;

9 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc fixed term tenancies and tenancies for life; and when to grant or to refuse a new tenancy. . Housing associations are already converting existing housing stock to affordable tenancies, as this is the only way that they can get development grant funding. .The Strategic Housing Market Assessment suggests that over 70% of people on the Housing Register waiting list in East Cambridgeshire cannot afford affordable rent without housing benefit. .The Choice Based Lettings scheme had recently been modified so that refusal could be granted on the basis that the property was unaffordable to the applicant. .The principals that the Tenancy Strategy had been based on were that: - Applicants for housing continue to have choice; - People get tenancy that is best suited to their circumstances; - Housing Associations have freedom to manage their housing stock effectively; - Must assist homelessness prevention, minimise overcrowding and under occupancy, and promote social and economic mobility; - Households occupying subsidised housing who no longer need it are helped to move into the private sector. . There were concerns in establishing a Tenancy Strategy including affordability; what happens at the end of a fixed term tenancy; should the HomeLink system continue; and how many social rental properties will be left in 2025. . The draft Tenancy Strategy would be available to view on the Council’s web site. Comments could be submitted to Oliver Cook or Jane Hollingworth and the revised draft is scheduled to be presented to Committee in October 2012.

A member of public enquired how Sanctuary Hereward Housing felt about the Tenancy Strategy. The Sanctuary Hereward Housing representative stated that at this stage Sanctuary Hereward Housing were not commenting.

In response to a number of questions the Head of Housing explained that:

.Cambridge Housing Society was currently not providing affordable rent .Housing was a statutory responsibility for the District Council. However, the District Council did not provide the housing as it did not have a housing stock. .14 Housing Associations provided social housing and Sanctuary Hereward Housing was the largest provider. .Sanctuary Hereward Housing maintained the Housing Register on behalf on the District Council

A member of public provided an example of a single person living in social housing that could be better utilised for a family, but as they had lived there for 50+ years were unwilling to relocate. The Head of Housing explained that this could not be resolved via the new Tenancy Strategy as currently if a person living in social housing did not want to move, then nothing could be done. However, if a future tenancy were offered on a fixed term then someone could be relocated. The Head of Housing explained that most fixed term tenancies are likely to be for a 10-year term.

Cllr Foster worked within the private rental sector and noted that if rents were increased more benefit would be required. The Head of Housing explained that this was why it was important to dictate the type of housing someone could live in to ensure that they could afford the accommodation.

10 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc In response to a number of questions the Head of Housing explained that there were eligibility criteria for foreign nationals and migrant workers before they were accepted onto the Housing Register and that people with children or who were vulnerable were given greater priority on the Housing Register.

Cllr Ballantyne enquired why the Council had sold its housing stock. The Head of Housing explained that the Council’s housing stock had been sold to generate funds. Cllr Ballantyne noted that when the Council owned housing stock a tenant could purchase their home at a discount and the District Council retained only 10% of this money, the remainder had to be given to the Government.

WNP11/41 The Importance of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in today’s economic climate

As previously explained the Citizens Advice Bureau were due to deliver a presentation to the meeting, but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice.

The Chairman explained that the Citizens Advice Bureau provided independent and confidential advice. The Citizens Advice Bureau was dependent on grant funding and as a result of the reduction in local authority funding; the Chairman explained that the Citizens Advice Bureau had approached the Parishes for financial assistance.

The Chairman explained that her own parish was advised that it would be ultra vires to use parish money towards the Citizens Advice Bureau as it was not solely the residents of one Parish that would benefit. The Chairman was therefore enquiring whether other Parishes would be interested in joining together to establish Citizens Advice Bureau areas. The Chairman requested that fellow Parishes contact her should they be interested.

Cllr Bamforth explained that he was involved with the Citizens Advice Bureau and had instigated the circulation of the letter to all the Parish Councils. Cllr Bamforth explained that it was important to ensure that Parishes were aware of the number of enquiries that the Citizens Advice Bureau received from within each Parish. Cllr Bamforth further explained that the Citizens Advice Bureau in Ely was working together with the Fenland Citizens Advice Bureau.

Cllr Winters stated that Little Downham Parish Council had contributed to the Citizens Advice Bureau for a number of years and also contributed to Feoffes Charity, which he was a Trustee of.

WNP11/42 Discussion of Neighbourhood Issues Raised by Audience and Panel Members

The following issues were raised by Parish representatives/public:

11 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc Coveney Concerns regarding potential misuse of the car park once built for the Environment Agency wetland development. Gates re-open imminently and will encourage the return of greenlaning traffic. Number of gates do not stretch across the width of the road. Therefore traffic goes around the gate. Haddenham Speeding traffic along A1123 and A1421. Speed warning sign not working properly as constantly flashing. Little Downham Cllr Winters thanked the Police on the progress made regarding tackling metal theft. Farmers would imminently be sowing crops and therefore farm machinery would be more accessible. Cllr Winters hoped that police would be highly visible to prevent farm machinery thefts. Little Thetford A comment was made that the 50mph restriction on the A10 would not be of assistance in getting out of the Little Thetford junction. Mepal Block Fen Motor Cross - Following the fatal accident at Block Fen Motor Cross site, it was requested that a copy of the Heath and Safety Executive report be obtained. It was explained that after the inquest the report would be published.

The Chairman reported Mepal’s dissatisfaction at how the roads and footpaths had been gritted and hoped that this would be improved in the future. Stretham Not Present Sutton Recycling Site – Fly-tipping at and unsatisfactory removal of Dog Foul Bins – not emptied regularly Traffic at Oates Lane (nr church) – cars parking making it difficult to gain access/exit junction Wentworth Not Present Wilburton If toll road developed on A14 vehicle traffic will divert via Wilburton Straw lorries still driving through village – any complaints to be directed to manager of Straw Burning Plant. Witcham Greenlaning Fly tipping in village Issues regarding storage of fuel Emissions from Straw Burning Plant – increased smoke recently experienced. Witchford Increase in burglaries X9 bus service – not stopped to collect passengers twice in Witchford Litter in the verges on the approach roads to the village Cambridgeshire Scrambling bikes that are unlicensed using the roads. County Council 12 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc ECDC Members No issues were raised. Verge clearance district-wide (frequency of cleaning and coordination issues between ECDC/Veolia clearing verges and Highways cutting verges). The Head of Environmental Services agreed that there had been issues. However, Veolia had now recruited 8 more operatives so it was hoped that there would now be an improvement to this service. The Chairman requested that a report be presented to a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting regarding progress with this matter.

Speedwatch – A member of public stated that when previously in operation there used to be regular reports by the Police – is this data still available? Inspector Ormerod explained that reports are presented to those Panels that establish Speedwatch as a priority. Cllr Wilson agreed that speeding is a priority. However, assumed that Police continued to address the issue and that there were fewer people willing to volunteer for Speedwatch during the winter months. A member of public explained that when he was involved in Speedwatch that he tried to visit each village each month for 1 hour during summer and winter and that Speedwatch can be conducted from inside a car.

Cllr Foster noted that in addition to the comments that he had already made regarding the fly-tipping at the Recycling Site in Sutton that 60 BT telephone directories had also been dumped at the site.

In addition to the comments regarding greenlaning, a member of public stated that this was devaluing property and as a result affected properties can apply for a reduction to their Council tax.

Cllr Bamforth suggested that the manager of the Straw Burning Plant be invited to attend a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting. Cllr Bamforth explained that more smell was being generated from the plant and there was a constant noise that was particularly noticeable at night. Cllr Bamforth also suggested that the relevant Parish Councils express concern on the matter.

A further suggestion was made that a member from the East Cambridgeshire District Council Waste Team should also attend a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting. The Chairman stated that she would consider this in consultation with officers.

WNP11/42 Panel Prioritisation

It was suggested by Panel Members that Greenlaning and speeding should be the policing priorities set by the Neighbourhood Panel.

Cllr Winters enquired whether the Police would continue to tackle metal theft. Inspector Ormerod agreed that acquisitive crime would remain a Police priority and therefore he did not believe that the Panel needed to set this as a police priority.

For Greenlaning to be a police priority Inspector Ormerod stated that specific details would be required. Cllr Border invited the police to attend a site visit as they could then be shown where the greenlaning issues occurred. One particular area was the High Road into Coveney/Wardy Hill. There were also concerns of drug taking occurring in cars parked in the area as well as those greenlaning.

13 U:\commlive\West NP\160412 mins.doc Cllr Hunt stated that greenlaning should be set as a policing priority as it would not take may police visits to deter the activity.

Sergeant Davis stated that should speeding be set as a policing priority specific locations would be required.

Following discussion the following policing priorities were agreed:

.Continue to support Sanctuary Housing in dealing with anti social behaviour issues in Stretham and continue to involve local residents in the process. .Greenlaning . Speeding in Sutton, The Brook and The Americas and Haddenham, A1421 and A1123

WNP11/43 Forward Agenda Plans

The Forward Agenda Plan for 2012 was received.

It had already been suggested that the manager of the Straw Burning Plant be invited to attend a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting and that a member from the East Cambridgeshire District Council Waste Team also attends a future Neighbourhood Panel meeting.

It was also suggested that the Ouse Washes Habitat Creation Project update by Peter Doktor be brought forward.

WNP11/44 Date of Next Meeting

Monday 16 July 2012 - 19:00-21:00 – Witchford Village Hall

The Meeting closed at 9.20pm.

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