Joint District Councillors’ Report for October 2021
District councillors’ monthly report for the communities of Histon & Impington, Orchard Park and King’s Meadow.
Your Councillors are always ready to help. If you have any questions about these – or indeed any other – matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Steve Hunt: 01223 455180 Cllr.HuntS@scambs.gov.uk
Martin Cahn: 07826 748407 Cllr.Cahn@scambs.gov.uk
Pippa Heylings: 07837 228416 Cllr.Heylings@scambs.gov.uk
You can also follow us on our webpage & blog at http://hiopcouncillors.org, where this report and previous ones can be read or downloaded in PDF form. Keep in touch with us on Twitter @pippa4hiop @stevehunt4hiop, and on Facebook @pippaheylings4hiop
Update on the development of the next Local Plan
The consultation period on the ‘first proposals’ stage in the development of the joint Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Local Plan began on November 1st and runs until 5pm on December 13th. The proposals were published in August by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (GCSPS) for consideration by parish councillors, residents, district councillors and other stakeholders.
Planners from the Councils will be holding virtual and in-person drop-in events over this whole period. Some dates of interest may include:
- Wednesday 24 November, 12 to 1pm: Online event: Biodiversity and green spaces. Join via Zoom, passcode 482734.
- Thursday 25 November, 12 to 1pm: Online event: North East Cambridge: the Area Action Plan and the Local Plan. Join via Zoom, passcode 400405.
- Thursday 25 November, 3 to 7pm: In-person drop-in event: Arbury Community Centre
In order to make it easier and more accessible for residents, GCSPS has gathered together key links for documents and slide packs connected to the Local Plan.
The Local Plan homepage, which includes event listings: https://www.greatercambridgeplanning.org/localplan
An interactive map of the sites in the ‘preferred options’:
A library of all the documents published in with at the ‘first proposals’ stage:
An explanation of how to comment on the proposals, including links to a quick survey and how to submit more detailed responses:
As with the First Conversation consultation, your District Counillors are willing to organise Histon, Impington and Orchard Park presentations where they will share a short presentation and collate your responses and questions. Such submissions (results of a community meeting) are considered as valid and equally important consultation responses and will be recorded and considered by the Planners. We will liaise with the Parish Council to organise date(s).
COVID Update
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been granted Enhanced Response Area status by the Government for five weeks from 1 November. This was requested by local Public Health colleagues, with support from local political leaders, in recognition of the above-average COVID-19 case rates across the region, and the pressures currently facing the NHS locally (with local hospitals all at or very nearly at maximum capacity).
The granting of this status means that additional resources are available to support work to accelerate vaccination and testing programmes, to establish some bespoke measures in settings such as schools (face coverings, reduced visits etc.) and to encourage mask-wearing in public places.
Post-Covid Community Support Workshop
South Cambs District Council will run an onlineworkshop on 22nd November from 6-7pm for parish councils and community groups interested in taking community action post-Covid.
The hour long workshop will include details of the support we can offer, information on Community-led plans, local case studies as well as a chance to ask any questions at the end.
To attend, please register via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/201496410187
Guidance on local events following the Enhanced Response Area status
Public Health colleagues at Cambridgeshire County Council have provided this advice for event organisers following the move into an Enhanced Response Area.
- Legal requirement – Complete a risk assessment which includes the COVID risks (this can be as part of the normal Health and Safety risk assessment and/or Event Management Plan). For the indoor part of the event, please note any indoor area needs sufficient ventilation. You need to assess the level of ventilation in indoor spaces, as per the HSE guidance, and include that in your risk assessment. A simple ventilation toolkit to assess the ventilation can found online.
- As we are now in an Enhanced Response Area we strongly recommend:
- that you use the NHS Covid Pass system as per Government guidance for events
- face coverings to be worn by staff and attendees indoors and in crowded areas outside, on public transport (including for any transport arranged for attendees e.g. coaches, taxis, and/or car sharing)
- set up the event to enable social distancing
- if any attendee show symptoms of COVID, they should not attend
- staff and attendees should carry out lateral flow testing prior to the event and for four to five days after the event.
- the use of the NHS QR code to help trace and stop the spread of COVID
- regular and frequent cleaning of high frequency touch points
- regular hand washing and the provision of hand sanitisers at all events
- make COVID-safe arrangements for any food and drink offered during the event
- continued used of COVID-safe messages and posters reminding attendees to take common sense COVID precautions such as wearing face coverings, keeping a social distance, washing hands and so on, including online messaging via the event organiser’s website encouraging vaccine uptake (both COVID and Flu vaccines) and COVID testing.
Our Environmental Health Team can clarify any of this advice and answer your questions if needed. Please contact them on env.health@scambs.gov.uk.
Event organisers are also encouraged to contact the Council’s Safety Advisory Group for support in running safe events.
COVID vaccines offered to 12 to 15 year olds at vaccination centres
It is now possible to book appointments for 12 to 15 year olds at some local large scale vaccination centres via the National Booking Service (www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119). You can see in the table below a list of centres with opening times.
This is on an appointment-only basis for 12 to 15 year olds, who must also be accompanied by a parent or guardian when they attend.
| Location | Available from 4:30pm to 7:30pm | On Saturdays and Sundays |
| Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech | Mondays | 8:30am to 4pm |
| Grafton Centre, Cambridge | Tuesdays and Wednesdays | 8:30am to 4pm |
| The Eatons Community Centre, Eaton Socon | Tuesdays | 8:30am to 4pm |
| The Oaktree Centre, Huntingdon | Thursdays | 8:30am to 4pm |
| Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough | Thursdays | 8:30am to 4pm |
Alternatively, parents and young people can still choose to access the vaccination programme being delivered in schools by Hertfordshire and East Anglia Community School Aged Immunisation Service. The NHS will communicate directly with the parents or guardians of 12 to 15 year olds who are eligible for two doses to explain arrangements for accessing their second dose.
Walk-ins for booster shots
The Government has announced that people can now access a booster shot (when eligible – 182 days after their second dose) via walk-in centres. The local Clinical Commissioning Group is working quickly to scale up staffing to support this in the coming days, and the best place to find the most up-to-date information about which vaccination centres are set-up to offer walk-in booster doses is the CCG’s dedicated vaccination website, which is regularly updated.
Guidance on COVD-19 vaccine doses
Attached to this email you can see a graphic provided by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group setting out who is eligible for one or two doses; for a booster dose; or for a third primary dose. Please feel free to share this with anyone who would find it useful.
Updated guidance for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable
You will all likely be aware that the shielding programme has ended in England. However, we wanted to let you know that the Government has this week updated its guidance to these individuals, with a few tips that people may wish to consider.
Community grant funding
This winter, grants of up to £1,000 for community groups and local non-profit organisations are being offered through the Arnold Clark Community Fund to help them continue their important work which may be at risk due to the pandemic. The focus for this round is on foodbanks, toy banks, poverty relief, housing and accommodation. The deadline is 31 December 2021.
Community support and Community Led Plans
SCDC continues to work on how we can best support our villages and towns to harness the positive community action that has taken place throughout the pandemic. A number of groups and parishes have helped us to explore this in more detail and a toolkit has now been created. This gives themes of activities groups might want to consider in their community and shares successes in other parts of the district. The project has been structured so groups looking at one issue and those wanting to develop an in depth Community Led Plan can both be equally supported.
https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-health-and-leisure/community-action/community-led-plan-toolkit/
One new “golden number” to contact SCDC
On Wednesday 10 November 2021, the Contact Centre switches to a single ‘golden number’ that customers will call when they want to speak to Customer Contact Advisors on the phone. This single number, which is 01954 713 000, will replace the existing suite of 03450 numbers. This will be easier for customers as there will be just one number to call. It will not cost customers any more money in call charges than the current 03450 number does. Meanwhile, the change will save the Council money; we currently spend around £100,000 per year on having several different 03450 numbers.
For a period after 10 November, there will be a pre-recorded message on the 03450 numbers that advises any caller to them that our number has changed, and they should redial the new ‘golden number’. This includes the automated payment line. Calls will not be automatically forwarded on though as there would be a significant cost to doing this.
The new phone number will be promoted on the Council’s website an in an upcoming edition of South Cambs Magazine.
Children and Young People’s Grants – extended deadline to apply
SCDC recently launched a new grant scheme to provide funds for South Cambridgeshire projects that support children and young people. The deadline for applications to this scheme has now been extended to Tuesday 30 November at 5pm. This is to allow more time for organisations and groups to submit their applications. See https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-development/grants/children-and-young-people-grant-fund-2022 for full details and application forms.
GCP travel consultations
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has launched two public consultations on proposals to help people move in and around Cambridge easily and more sustainably.
The first consultation is called Making Connections (see http://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/making-connections-2021) and is asking for people’s views on proposals to radically enhance bus and active travel journeys. It runs until Monday 20 December.
The second consultation is titled Cambridge Eastern Access (see http://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/NewmarketRd2021)and offers more specific proposals for improving cycling and walking journeys along Newmarket Road. This consultation runs until Wednesday 22 December.
There will be a public event consisting of two identical sessions on Wednesday 1st December at 1600-1745 and again from 1800-1945. Each session will include a presentation on each of the two consultations, followed by a question-and-answer session. The public consultation events are as follows:
The venue for these events will be the Abbey Stadium, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LN and entrance will be via Cutthroat Lane. Please pre-register to attend at http://ow.ly/RNZy50GC9PI . The GCP will be hosting further events online throughout the consultation period.
Flagship Homes
We note with interest the revised proposal to build dwellings and a community park on land off Milton Road, Impington, and encourage everyone to have their say in the pre-application consultation that the developer is running at www.miltonroadimpington.com – this is the community’s chance to give feedback that may help to shape the proposed outline planning application. The website has a link to a recorded webinar that is a useful introduction to the proposals.
Please not that this proposal is not yet a formal planning application or official consultation.
Christmas Market to be held in Cambourne High Street on 5 December
Next month, South Cambridgeshire District Council proudly plays host to an outdoor Christmas Market, along Cambourne High Street, which will provide small businesses with an opportunity and platform to showcase their wares. Producers, artisans and many other diverse and local businesspeople have experienced an economically challenging eighteen months, and whilst continuing to offer support across the District and on our high streets in a day-to-day capacity, the Reopening Team hopes to encourage local tradespeople to a sparkling outdoor event in December to freely exhibit what they have to offer.
The event has been organised by South Cambridgeshire District Council as part of the Reopening the High Streets Safely campaign, and is funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
There is the opportunity for performers to entertain the crowds with slots of around 30 minutes for each performance available. If you would like to take part, email the reopening team with what type of performance you can offer, how many participants, and if there are any accessibility issues or special requirements.
Naturally SCDC will continue to assess and follow Government guidelines closely between now and December with the safety of all attendees firmly a priority. Any change to Coronavirus legislation will be adhered to and the webpage will update with important information in that event. In order to keep this event safe, you can help by wearing a face covering, doing a rapid test before attending and having your vaccinations and boosters.
For more information, please visit: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/business/south-cambridgeshire-outdoor-christmas-market/
Contact reopening@scambs.gov.uk with any queries.
Council services to support people to live independently
Residents and local community groups may like to know about a few Council services that are in place to support people to live independently at home, to keep connected and to know that someone will regularly be in touch with them or on the end of the phone if they need some practical help.
South Cambs’ Visiting Support Service is free for people over the age of 65, with a short-term focus to support people in their home – perhaps someone recovering from an operation, or who will be on their own for a short period of time, or who is having an unexpected crisis. The Community Warden Service is longer-term, and a nominal fee is payable; clients can be of any age, and the wardens will ring up or visit on a regular basis, and can help with tasks such as form-filling, picking up some essentials from the shop, or just being a friendly face. The Community Lifeline Service (under £4.50/week) provides a worn pendant that individuals of any age can press in an emergency, such as if they have a fall at home on their own. You can find out more about all of these services on our website:
- www.scambs.gov.uk/visitingsupportservice
- www.scambs.gov.uk/mobilewardenscheme
- www.scambs.gov.uk/lifelines
We have produced some leaflets and posters to raise awareness of these services. If you would like some leaflets or a few posters to display, please email Lesley.McFarlane@Scambs.gov.uk.
Meetings in October
| 13th | Planning Committee | Pippa, Martin |
| 14th | Scrutiny | Martin, Steve |
| 18th | Street trading workshop | Steve |
| 18th | Full Council (extraordinary) | Steve, Pippa, Martin |
| 26th | First Options Local Plan briefing | Steve, Pippa, Martin |
| 27th | JDCC (re-scheduled) | Steve (TBC) |
Meetings in November
| 4th | JDCC Development Control Forum | Steve |
| 10th | Planning Committee | Martin, Pippa |
| 11th | Scrutiny and Overview Committee (Local Plan | Martin, Steve |
| 17th | JDCC | Steve |
| 23rd | Climate Change and Envt Committee | Pippa, Martin |
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