Frances Amrani

Parish Council Report February 2009       Councillor AmraniUpdate on outstanding issues from previous parish meetings 1.      Post at #8 Marshalls Close has been replaced

2.      Street signs at

have been moved next to each other so clear where one begins and one ends. Had suggested adding names of villages underneath, but this solution was the compromise reached.

3.      Post on cyclepath

was removed as a safety concern by Highways.

4.      Lifelines issue- Louise Moulding confirmed that there was no record of the lifeline being there when property was cleared in

.

5.      Cllr Amrani will be meeting with Housing officer and Trees Officer to inspect trees around

in February.

6.      Area around garages in

appears to have been cut back.

7.      No news about bin outside spar although has been chased.

Meeting with

After a serious fire at home in Ferndale in November, it became apparent regular electrical safety checks had not been carried out for several years in some 1,200 South Cambridgeshire council properties. After Frances contacted the housing officer it was agreed that safety checks would be carried immediately for Ferndale properties and that a further £100k would be allocated in next year’s budget for a programme of electrical safety checks in other properties around South Cambs. This was confirmed at the full council meeting on 29th January.

At the last full council meeting in January I asked Councillor Manning why the cabinet had disregarded local opposition via a parish council survey to a proposed boundary change and what benefit such a change would provide to South Cambs residents. I was disappointed with the response I received which amounted to the fact that the area needed ‘tidying up’ and that even though a majority of Teversham residents who had replied to the survey indicated they wanted to stay with SCDC  and, as I pointed out, there would be a  severe impact  on the precept money available to the parish in future, he felt this was not relevant in the scheme of things. Although a boundary review has now been requested, this is not the end of the matter. At the moment we are looking at a boundary review not a change. It will take several years before any boundary change could be put into effect and there are still further stages where local consultation will take place. I would like to see a balanced debate on the matter where residents voices are heard, respected and  any questions they have are answered. There may well be advantages to boundary change for some residents and I would be interested to hear your views on the matter.

I held my first surgery for residents on Monday 5th January. I intend to be hold these on a monthly basis before each Parish council meeting so residents can contact me with any problems or concerns they have.

If you would like to book an appointment please contact me in advance. Alternatively there will be two drop-in appointments available at each surgery.

It will be a privilege to serve as the new District Councillor for the Teversham ward. The result of yesterday’s by-election was:

Frances Amrani (Liberal Democrat): 269
Colin Barker (Conservative): 237
David Kellaway (Independent): 191.

I look forward to serving everyone living in Teversham ward. To those who voted for me, I say thank you. To those who did not, I take it as a challenge to prove myself to you. I will be working hard on your behalf, for example in pressing for more money for basic local services, and for more action to be taken on speeding along Gazelle Way.

My contact details are on the right. Please contact me at any time if I can be of help.

Frances Amrani has spoken out against the one-sided information being sent to council tenants on the transfer of their homes to a private landlord. At the last full Council meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Liberal Democrat councillors put forward a joint motion urging the Council to present a more balanced view. Part of the motion read:
“The Council will ensure that in all future communications with tenants equal weight will be given to the advantages and disadvantages of remaining with SCDC and the advantages and disadvantages of transferring to a housing association”.

All opposition parties and independent councillors voted in favour of the motion – but the Conservatives voted against. Frances said “These are people’s homes we are talking about. It’s not right that the council is presenting such a one sided view. Tenants should get the final say – and be given a fair choice, not swayed by Tory spin. The Liberal Democrat line from the start has been to support the tenants in whatever decision they make. We do know that four years ago when they were last asked, over 80% of tenants were against transfer.”

Frances Amrani is urging local residents to send her their views on the 16/17 bus service, after it was announced that the County Council has begun a consultation on the future of the services.

Last week in FOCUS we reported on the threat to the number 10 bus service. This week it was announced that a consultation on the future of the 16/17 service has begun. These consultations happen every few years, and the service is not necessarily threatened with cuts, but this is the time for local residents to voice their views on the service.
Frances said “Teversham village is poorly served by buses. The 16 and 17 services go all round the houses and take ages to get anywhere, and they don’t run nearly frequently enough. I hope local residents will send me their views, so that I can lobby the County Council more effectively for a improved service”.

Frances Amrani would like to see large green bins provided for all flat residents in the ward whose needs, ever since the beginning of the green-bin system, have largely been neglected. Frances said “Although I am pleased that we finally have a kerbside plastics collection now, after years of campainging for one, I am disappointed that South Cambridgeshire District Council has decided to withdraw all the larger recycling centre collection points for plastics. I think there is still a continued need for at least some of these as well.”

The junction as you enter Teversham Village outside the school has been a problem in the village for many years. The current roadworks have gone on for weeks and only add to the chaos.

Frances is calling on the County Council to take action and make this part of Teversham safer for all concerned.

The current problems are numerous – inadequate lighting, speeding by cars along Airport Way and Church Road, and a disabled parking bay in entirely the wrong place, before the zebra crossing!

Frances said “The temporary road works aren’t making things any easier, but there are long running problems that need addressing outside the school. The lighting is very poor – a particular concern now that the clocks have gone back. Speeding is also a constant worry – particularly outside the school. I have written to the County Council to ask them what their plan is to sort this junction out – and will keep up the pressure until we see improvements.”

In fact some would say that recycling on it’s own is not green at all. Unless we precede recycling by reduction, ie stop waste at source, and re-use, eg using our garden waste in the garden and not sending it off in the green bin, maximising recycling simply looks good but doesn’t address the fundamentals. Read the rest of this entry »