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Local Councillors
District and County Councillors’ Report
Virtual Decision-Making for Local Councils
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The legal requirement for Parish, District and County Councils to meet in person for formal decision-making is difficult as they try to maintain public health safety during the continuing pandemic, with meetings cancelled or minimised in terms of people attending and business covered. The Local Government Association is lobbying government to reinstate provision for meeting virtually where councils feel the need to, but so far there has been no change. Councillors at meetings must wear masks, keep socially distanced and make sure to have tested negative using lateral flow tests prior to attending. This is a key time of the municipal year as budgets and precepts are being prepared – but public participation is effectively discouraged due to the need to minimise numbers of people in present. While County and District Councils live stream their meetings, Parish Councils are not set up to do so.
Household Support Fund
Reminder! This fund aims to help those struggling to pay for food, energy or other essential items this winter. Cambridgeshire County Council has been allocated £3.58 million as part of the Government’s Household Support Fund to help people who need financial support. The Household Support Fund itself is a new one-off grant, which is live until 31 March 2022. This usually provides £49 (for a family) or £29 (for an individual) to cover food or household energy costs, but more funding may be available for people who can demonstrate a higher need – for instance for higher costs of filling an oil tank or buying a new cooker. To be eligible for the Household Support Fund residents will need to earn less than £17,940 or receive any of the following: Income Support, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit. Details of how to access the scheme are available here: https:// www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/household-supportfund.
Road and Pavement Resurfacing
A key section of Meldreth High Street pavement has been resurfaced at last – again many thanks to Highways. Unfortunately, the extent of resurfacing work hasn’t been as much as we’d hoped but we’ll keep trying. Thanks to residents who have pointed out serious faults in other locations, including North End and Station Road. Please keep reporting and use the Highways Reporting Page: search ‘Cambridgeshire Report a Fault’ to find it.
Civil Parking Enforcement and 20mph Schemes
At their January meeting, the County Highways committee will look at Civil Parking Enforcement and 20 mph scheme funding and principles.
Covid in Schools – Staffing Impact
Case numbers in schools before Christmas broke records week after week, as parents and children will know all too well. In the first January week of return to school, about half of all cases of Covid in schools across Cambridgeshire were amongst staff. Melbourn Village College reports superb generosity of spirit as volunteers have been supporting the administration of Covid testing for students. Our continuing thanks to all school teachers and support staff.
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme (MMWS), a registered local charity since 1996, continues to provide social contact and practical support for the elderly and/or mobility impaired in Melbourn, Meldreth and Shepreth. Regular visits and telephone calls are provided to build friendships as well as being able to carry out local errands such as basic shopping, ordering and collecting prescriptions or going to the post office etc. We produce regular magazines and other activities to bring people together who are on the scheme. The scheme’s aim is to help prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation and to provide practical support to enable people to continue to live independently in their homes – a need that has been highlighted for many people by the pandemic. If you would like more information about the MMWS services for yourself, a relative or neighbour please contact Jeannie Seers 07808 735066 or email the MMWS secretary on secretary@mmws.org.uk.
Melbourn Hub
Melbourn Hub enters 2022 with its wide range of services and activities for the local community. The newly extended and refurbished building
provides even more space with four excellent meeting rooms for businesses and community groups to hire for their activities. There is something for all with a library with access to a range of books, services and forthcoming activities including ‘meet the author’ events. Storytime is held weekly for pre-school children, a lunch club for older residents to socialise and an art gallery where local artists can exhibit and sell their work for a month at a time [there is information about this month’s exhibition on page 26]. Appointments can also be booked for Citizen’s Advice weekly. The Bookmark Café, with a menu of hot and cold food, fresh bakes and barista coffee, provides a safe and stylish environment to relax and socialise. For more information on Hub services, events and activities - or to enquire about room hire or exhibiting art, please see www.melbournhub.co.uk or contact The Hub on (01763) 263303 option 1.
South Cambridgeshire District Council: support for local businesses
A range of support is available for local business via South Cambridgeshire District Council, which can help link up with government grants and mental health support, among other things. Please see the business page: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/business.
Health and Social Care Reforms Juggling Act: Zoom Chat 9th March
A major reorganisation of health and social care is happening now, with legislation in the process of passing through Parliament. This sounds heavy! Is it important? We think it impacts on us all. The reforms include raising money through the National Insurance contributions that working people pay; widening eligibility for Countyfunded social care from about 4% of the population now to an estimated 14%, in Cambridgeshire (which must be paid for of course); and requiring the local NHS (our local GPSs, hospitals, etc) and the Local Public Health and Social Care Authority (Cambridgeshire County Council) to collaborate and integrate, and think at a ‘neighbourhood’ level. Prevention is a constant theme – how can we live better and avoid getting sick in the first place? How can we give children - from birth - the best chance of a healthy life? What more can local communities be doing to play a part? Some of the principles seem overwhelmingly positive but other aspects of the reforms are daunting. These are huge bureaucracies and
whatever new money is raised will be directed first to the enormous Covid-induced waiting lists. They will take time to work through. Nevertheless, from July this year it will be a legal requirement for ‘Integrated Care Systems’ to be up and running with the basics in place. This means that all of these organisations, already working to deliver vaccinations, tackle waiting lists and attract new staff to a depleting workforce, also need to find time to reflect and prepare for new obligations under the Health and Care Bill. Given that this new legal requirement involves local government, we’ve been learning fast and furiously. Susan is chairing the ‘Cambridgeshire Health and Wellbeing Board’ where the NHS and Local Authorities formally come together. If you’d like to know a little bit more, or if you can teach us a thing or two through your own experience and expertise, please join us for a Zoom coffee and chat on 9thMarch, from 6.00-7.00pm. Just let us have your contact details and we’ll send you the link.
Zoom Cuppa Surgeries Wednesdays 5.00-6.00pm
If you’d like to meet with your councillors by Zoom, to bring any concerns or ask any questions, please join our weekly Wednesday Zoom Cuppa Surgery, from 5.00-6.00pm. Please contact Sally Ann for a link. Or contact us any time by telephone, email or snail mail!
County and District CouncillorsDistrict Councillor Sally Ann Hart, sallyannhart@riskingonpurpose.com, 07791 233303 District Councillor Jose Hales, Josehales@gmail.com, 07703 262649 County Councillor Susan van de Ven, susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905 325574
