‘It has come to my attention that some developers claim to be unable to secure RSL partners for the social housing units stipulated as part of their section 106 on planning consents. (I refer members specifically to item 19 of the planning committee meeting 13th January.)
What steps can this council take to support local developers in finding suitable RSLs and ensure local social housing is being provided as fully as possible within the district? Are there any ways in which the council can ensure the paperwork on our side is processed more efficiently to reduce the timescales involved in such transactions?’

Frances is commited to ensuring social housing is a priority for South Cambridgeshire District Council  and will continue to raise this as an issue at every available opportunity.

Frances says” Homelessness is one of those issues no one really likes to tackle. It is often an invisible problem with rough sleepers being just the tip of the iceberg where people are on a downward spiral of B and Bs, sleeping on friends floors (using up favours until they have no social network left) and then hostels and finally the street. When you have no fixed address you virtually become a stateless person- no access to a bank account, no access to regular health care, no vote, no access to employment. There are many reasons for homelessness- family breakdown and substance abuse are just two, but there are lots of others. I’m raising money for Jimmy’s night shelter because they help at the sharp end of the homelessness spectrum, but I am also keen to raise public awareness to the issue of homelessness as a whole. As a country we need to review our provision of social housing and to address the growing need for it.”

Event: Classic Café - Fortnightly

Over 60’s Café

Special events during October

Date/time: 2nd, 16th, 30th October

2.30-4pm

Venue: Teversham Chapel,

Teversham

Contact: Tony Sharpe

Tel 01223 292052

Event: Hope Celebrates Age

Afternoon Tea

Followed by special service

from 5-6pm celebrating the

important place of older people

in our community

Date/time: 11th October 3.30- 6pm

Venue: Teversham Chapel, Teversham

Contact: Al MacInnes Tel 01223 249454

Event: Tea and Chat

Older residents of Fen Ditton

invited to visit the school, have

a cup of tea and talk to the

children about their memories

Date/time: 12th October 1.30-3pm

Venue: Fen Ditton Community Primary

School, Horningsea Road

Contact: Liz Bassett Tel 01223 292342

head@fenditton.cambs.sch.uk

I am passing these on to the council department concerned and trying to obtain a confirmed date for these to be dealt with. The current response is that there are financial problems relating the provision of landscaping maintenance in that location and basically no money available at present.

I am working together with the Parish Council to arrange a meeting to discuss this issue further with SCDC and see what progress can be made.

I know which I would favour if I was faced with having to choose for a close relative, but with my council hat on, I’d be really interested to know what your thoughts and experiences of this are on this issue.

The results are:

Yes: 27.4%
No: 72.6%
Turnout: 73.4%

This means the Council will continue in its role as landlord.

An advisory ballot of leaseholders was also held.  The results of this ballot are:

Yes: 46.6%
No: 53.4%
Turnout: 61%

Frances says”Common sense has prevailed. In the current financial climate this was the best decision since the risks associated with transfer had not been fully explained to tenants. My main concerns now are that a significant amount of money has been spent on trying to persuade tenants to vote for transfer (plan A) and that now the council needs to clarify exactly what plan B is.”

Frances says “I have regularly used freecycle and think it is a great concept. Anything that can reduce landfill and make your money go further has to be a good thing. ”

If you want to find out more there is a link on the left.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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. (more…)

Frances is campaigning for action on speeding through Teversham Village. Many local residents responded to Frances’s survey saying speeding was a problem. Frances and the local Lib Dem team are supporting the 20 is plenty campaign to reduce speed limits in residential areas - but the Tory County Council has just made it harder to create new 20mph zones. (more…)

Local resident and Lib Dem district council candidate Frances Amrani is campaigning for the many cracked and dangerous pavements in Teversham to be repaired. This was one of the main issues that came up in Frances’s recent residents survey, and is clearly a frustration for many local people. –>

South Cambs District Council is pushing to privatise its council houses and its plans to sell the homes of dozens of Teversham residents to a private landlord are costing local taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds. (more…)

A campaign has been launched to stop Tory cuts to the number 10 bus service The Conservative County Council is proposing to make cuts to the number 10 bus service, used by many Teversham residents to get to Cambridge, Bottisham and Newmarket. The changes being considered could mean all Sunday services, and evening servies from 6.30pm onwards are scrapped. (more…)

The Wicken Fen Vision is an ambitious plan to create a new nature reserve covering around 56 square kilometres (22 square miles) between Cambridge and Wicken Fen. This will be the biggest project of its kind in lowland England which may take up to 100 years to complete. Currently, the National Trust owns 930 hectares (around 2,300 acres) in the area.

(more…)