County Councillor Peter McDonald’s report for November 2022

Report for Parish Councils – November 2022.

 

South Cambs District Council

Warm Hubs

The first Warm Hubs have opened their doors as part of a new initiative to support communities in South and East Cambridgeshire this winter.

Warm hub accreditation In South Cambridgeshire, the first Warm Hubs have opened at Gamlingay and Caldecote. Hardwick, Cottenham and Comberton will be the next villages to see Warm Hubs open their doors.

East Cambridgeshire Warms Hubs are at Haddenham, Soham and Little Thetford. Hubs at Ely, Burwell and Stetchworth will shortly follow suit.

More hubs will open in November across both districts. Operated from community buildings across East and South Cambridgeshire, Warm Hubs are designed to support vulnerable and isolated people, as well as those on lower incomes; at a time when the cost of living is a significant challenge.

The new initiative has been developed by South and East Cambridgeshire District Councils and funded by NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of our local Integrated Care System.

As an affiliated network, the Warm Hubs are coordinated by Cambridgeshire ACRE – the charity dedicated to supporting and strengthening rural communities across Cambridgeshire.

Local Council Tax Support

At the Nov 14th Cabinet there will be a proposal to consult on a new C Tax support scheme

https://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s129225/Local%20Council%20Tax%20Support%20Scheme%202023-2024%20-%20Report%20for%20Cabinet.pdf

Fees & Charges

A new schedule of charges is proposed

https://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s129214/Appendix%20A%20-%20Schedule%20of%20Fees%20and%20Charges%202023%202024.pdf

Councillor Award

I was very humbled that the LGIU and CCLA announced that I had won the 2022 Cllr Award for Resilience and Recovery. The Cllr Awards are the only national awards to celebrate the vital contributions of local councillors across England and Wales.

Thursday (20 October) evening, the Awards ceremony took place at the Roman Baths and Guildhall with hosts Bath City Council along with special guests and speakers, including Cllr Linda Taylor (Leader, Cornwall Council & Vice Chair, LGIU), Cllr Kevin Guy (Leader, Bath & North East Somerset Council) and Cllr James Jamieson OBE (Chair, Local Government Association). I was selected for the Resilience and Recovery award for a commercial approach to our work. I was recognised for his oversight of business grant funding which enabled Cambridgeshire’s unique business growth fund, supporting 102 local businesses.

Cost of living support

A summary of all the CoL support will be presented Nov 14th.

https://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s129226/Cost%20of%20Living%20Crisis%20Support%20for%20Residents%20-%20Report%20for%20Cabinet.pdf

Wellcome Genome Campus

A round of meetings included Hinxton, Ickleton & Duxford Parish Councils. The Community Forum will meet again soon especially as the proposed new bridges are submitted for approval.

 

Cambridgeshire County Report

Cost of living Support. This mirrors the South Cambs information and also to be updated regularly.

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/communities-localism/support-with-the-cost-of-living

 

Supermarket Vouchers

Over 21,000 families received supermarket vouchers last half term in a bid from Cambridgeshire County Council to help tackle financial pressures during the school half term break.

 

The cost-of-living crisis, and rising energy bills have put an additional strain on families who were already worrying about how to make ends meet. The County Council distributed over £320,000 from the Holiday Voucher Scheme to provide support during the October half term. The scheme will also continue in December and February half terms, to give families a helping hand during the winter.

 

21,427 vouchers were sent to support children who would usually be eligible for other support. Each eligible child’s parent was issued a £15 voucher that could be used at a supermarket of their choice. Eligibility automatically included families who met the following criteria:

 

• Early Years Pupil Premium

 

• Children eligible for income related funded two-year-old education

 

• Eligible for income-related Free School Meals

 

• Students eligible for 16+ bursary.

 

Further details can be found here: Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme – Cambridgeshire County Council

 

Bus Service Update

After many days of discussion a new tender was found for the previous 915 service in Foxton/Fowlmere. Funding is available until March 2023 so we have a breathing space at least for now.

 

Great Chesterford Hardcore Site : ESS/20/22/UTT

A combined planning & enforcement appeal has been submitted and a temporary stop notice has been put on this site. However they appear to be flouting this.

https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?CaseID=3306988&CoID=0

 

Crash Barrier Work A505 Feb 2023

12 weeks of work are proposed here for barriers replacement. Ive warned County on the possible disruption and will have a call with Officers soon.

 

Foster Carers Unaccompanied Children

An appeal has been launched to find more Foster Carers for unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

 

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fostering Service urgently needs carers to meet the needs of children and young people who are often forced to leave their family and country behind to seek protection from violence, persecution, war, detention, climate change, terrorism, or the disappearance of their family. When unaccompanied minors arrive in the UK, they’re looked after by the local authority who will safeguard them and promote their welfare. They frequently take long and dangerous journeys alone, or are trafficked in circumstances unknown to them, arriving at their destination feeling confused, alone, and disorientated.

 

Unaccompanied minors are also likely to have different cultural, religious, family and language experiences. Foster Carers support unaccompanied minors to maintain their cultural and religious identity while helping them integrate into a community in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough.

 

By becoming a part of the Local Authority’s Fostering Community, you can help us to guide vulnerable children and young people through their early years and play a central role in supporting children and young people to heal, and develop into happy, healthy adults who have a bright future.

 

If you are interested in Fostering and Adoption for unaccompanied minors and want to find out more, please get in touch: · Visit: cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering · Email: fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

· Call: 0800 052 0078

 

Foxton Hub

Im still waiting for an update from GCP and draft papers for the hub.

 

Peter McDonald

Nov 7th 2022