Possible disruptions to bin collections due to adverse weather

NOTICE FROM SOUTH CAMRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Good afternoon

 The MET Office has issued a severe weather warning for possible snow this evening and for the next two days.

 Some information has been posted on our website here to let people know in advance that blue and black bins will be prioritised over green if the crews are not able to complete all the rounds.

 Additionally, more information will be posted on www.scambs.gov.uk/bin-collection-service-announcements when the team are aware how the weather is impacting them.

 We would be grateful if you could share these links with your colleagues and on your social media groups.

 

 

District and Parish Council Elections

District and Parish Council Elections

All current District and Parish Councillors have to stand for re-election on the 3rd May 2018. If you would like to consider becoming a Parish Councillor nomination forms for candidates are now available from the Parish Office. Completed nomination forms should be returned by hand to South Cambridgeshire Council’s offices at Cambourne, no later than 6th April 2018. To be qualified to stand for election you have to fulfil simple pre-conditions. These are stated on the nomination papers. Further information may also be obtained from: elections@scambs.gov.uk or the Electoral Commission website (www.electoralcommission.org.uk).

Newsletter – February 2018

Outcomes of Community Governance Review for Willingham and Over

The full Council of South Cambridgeshire District Council met on 25th January 2018. Its business included consideration of a recommendation from its Civic Affairs Committee that a new boundary between Willingham and Over be adopted. Following a lengthy discussion an alternative, amended boundary line was agreed. This new boundary would move all the properties around Highgate Farm and to the west of Haden Way into Willingham. A map showing the agreed boundary can be seen on the Parish Council website. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England will also be asked to re-align the County Council boundary along the new parish boundary.

The Parish Council is very grateful for the support of local District Councillors, especially Councillor Manning, who have had to work very hard to bring this Review to this positive result.

District and Parish Council Elections

All current District and Parish Councillors have to stand for re-election on the 3rd May 2018. If you would like to consider becoming a Parish Councillor nomination forms for candidates are now available from the Parish Office. Completed nomination forms should be returned by hand to South Cambridgeshire Council’s offices at Cambourne, no later than 6th April 2018. To be qualified to stand for election you have to fulfil simple pre-conditions. These are stated on the nomination papers. Further information may also be obtained from: elections@scambs.gov.uk or the Electoral Commission website (www.electoralcommission.org.uk).

Willingham’s electricity supply

In recent weeks there have been several short periods when the electricity supply to the village has been disrupted. UK Power Networks have confirmed that some of these faults have been due to debris hitting lines during the recent strong winds. In addition a fault has been identified and repaired on a high-voltage line running between Burwell and Aldreth. Poor tree maintenance is not currently considered to be an issue. UK Power Networks are reluctant to install underground cabling because of potential damage caused by farmers.

If you are concerned about the welfare of vulnerable family members and neighbours who lose their electricity supply during these disruptions, encourage them to register with their utility suppliers who have a responsibility to prioritise the needs of these customers.

Willingham’s new defibrillator

The Parish Council has purchased a second defibrillator and this has been sited on the Village Library building. The support of our Library staff in helping the Parish Council complete this is gratefully acknowledged. Training in using a defibrillator will be provided by a qualified first- responder during April – further details will be provided.

Stopping fraud

Financial fraud can be prevented by remembering the following points. Firstly, a genuine bank or financial organisation will never contact you ‘out of the blue’ to ask for your PIN or password. You can ignore any requests to move money into different accounts.   Secondly, never allow access to your personal or financial details by automatically clicking on links in an unexpected email or text. Thirdly, if you have an uninvited approach from someone on the doorstep claiming to represent a company contact this company directly by telephone or email before allowing someone to enter your home.

Making metals matter

Please make sure that all household metal packaging – drink and food cans, foil trays and wrap, empty aerosols and screw tops – is placed within your blue bin for recycling. It is estimated that if all household metal packaging from Cambridge and South Cambs was collected it would save the equivalent of taking 812 cars off local streets for a year.

News Letter – January 2018

As this is the first Newsletter of the year it seems like a good opportunity to look back at the achievements of 2017 as well as looking forward to what 2018 may bring.

QEII Field Entrance

With the help of SCDC Community Chest Funding, the Council have improved the disabled access to the Ploughman Hall and QEII Playing field. During periods of heavy rain the previous path often became waterlogged and muddy. The path has been re-laid with improved drainage and following the very heavy rain of late we are pleased to say that the issue is now much improved.

2nd  Defibrillator

 A 2nd public Defibrillator has been purchased and is currently awaiting installation at the library. This along with the original defibrillator situated at the Pavilion, West Fen Road will (whilst we would always hope they are not needed) be a vital and reassuring asset for parishioners.

New Website

The Council has been working on a new, more user friendly website.   This is now up and running and as usual among other documentation, you will find, agendas and minutes of meetings, news items and information on how and who to report issues to that may arise for parishioners.

Highways issues

Whether it be parking, congestion or speeding, Highways issues is an area that many residents have expressed concerns about over the last twelve months. The Council share many of these concerns and continue to liaise with County Council Highways and our County Councillor regarding these concerns. In addition to making written and verbal representations to the relevant authorities the Council have also undertaken some initiatives directly.

Some environmental testing has been carried out along the High Street, with the placement of Nitrous Oxide monitors and it is hoped to continue this testing in 2018 in order to assess levels in the village.

Towards the end of 2017 a short trial was carried out using an interactive speed sign on Earith Road. We are currently waiting for the results of the trial and will report on these at a later date.

Parish Council Elections

2018 will bring the end of the four year term for serving Councillors. Existing Councillors will be required to step down and if they wish to, re-stand for appointment at the Parish Council elections in May. The elections are due to be held on 3rd May, along with District Council elections. If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor or would like further information please contact the Parish Clerk.

Life in the Old West

The Council has been in discussion with Cambridgeshire ACRE regarding their ‘Life in the Old West’ project. The Project has just received initial Lottery funding and aims to improve public understanding of the vulnerable biodiversity in the landscape around the Cambridgeshire Fens’ Old West River, whilst developing demonstration sites to showcase new ways of working on the area’s community green spaces and ditch network. The project aims to run for around four years and it is hoped that over the next two years, some of the green spaces in the Parish may benefit from being included in the project. More information about Cambridgeshire ACRE and their project can be found at https://newlifeontheoldwest.wordpress.com/

District Council Contact Numbers

Ways to contact us

Do it online

You can use one of our self-service forms to pay for itapply for it and report it online. If your query doesn’t fall under one of these categories you can also contact us 24 hours a day using our online form.

Have you received exceptional service, If yes, please be aware we have a staff recognition scheme, which you can use to nominate a member of staff and they may receive an award.

Other ways to contact us

If you couldn’t find what you were looking for online, you can contact us using the details below. Our contact centre is open between 8am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Benefits benefits@scambs.gov.uk 03450 450 061
Fraud hotline fraud@scambs.gov.uk 0800 7311 892
Building control buildingcontrol@3Csharedservices.org 01480 388 240
Revenues

– Council tax

– Business rates

 

revenues@scambs.gov.uk

NNDR@scambs.gov.uk

03450 450 064

 

 

 

Rents rents@scambs.gov.uk 03450 455 216
Environmental services

– Refuse

– Licensing

env.health@scambs.gov.uk 

refuse@scambs.gov.uk

licensing@scambs.gov.uk

03450 450 063

 

 

Elections elections@scambs.gov.uk 03450 455 214
Housing / homelessness duty.housing@scambs.gov.uk 03450 450 051
Housing repairs

(24 hour service)

0800 0851 313

 

Planning planning@scambs.gov.uk 03450 455 215
Automated 24/7 Payments Line

(Council Tax, Rent, Business Rates, Sundry Debt Invoices)

03450 455 218

 

Press Office (for media use only) communications@scambs.gov.uk 01954 713289
Facilities management facilities.management@scambs.gov.uk 01954 713067
For all other enquiries scdc@scambs.gov.uk 03450 450 500

Emergency Out of Hours Numbers (after 5.30pm):

07799 691 010 – Dangerous Structure Enquiries (Building Control)

0845 609 5437 – Environmental Health Emergency

0845 609 5438 – Homelessness Emergency Service

Complaints and feedback

If you wish to contact us to make a complaint, please view our complaints and feedback information.

If you need to send something to us, here is our postal address:

South Cambridgeshire Hall
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
Cambridge
CB23 6EA

Christmas Bin Collections

Changes to bin collections this Christmas and New Year

15 December 2017

Residents of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are being urged to check their bin collection dates this festive season, as the regular collection days are changing due to the extended bank holidays.

Date of usual collection Revised collection date
Monday 25 December Wednesday 27 December
Tuesday 26 December Thursday 28 December
Wednesday 27 December Friday 29 December
Thursday 28 December Saturday 30 December
Friday 29 December Tuesday 2 January
Monday 1 January Wednesday 3 January
Tuesday 2 January Thursday 4 January
Wednesday 3 January Friday 5 January
Thursday 4 January Saturday 6 January
Friday 5 January Monday 8 January
Monday 8 January Tuesday 9 January
Tuesday 9 January Wednesday 10 January
Wednesday 10 January Thursday 11 January
Thursday 11 January Friday 12 January
Friday 12 January Saturday 13 January

The Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council Shared Waste Service will resume normal service from Monday 15 January. From that day, collections will return to their regularly scheduled day.

Cllr Rosy Moore, Cambridge City Council’s Executive Councillor for Environmental Services and City Centre, said: “It’s vital that most of us recycle at Christmas as we use enough corrugated cardboard to cover The Eden Project Biomes over 11,000 times. So, all those boxes that presents have been delivered in can be flattened and broken-up to fit loosely in a blue bin. We can also recycle cardboard toothpaste boxes, toilet roll inner tubes and toothbrush packaging plus boxes for face cream and other toiletries.  Christmas cards without glitter can be recycled in the blue bin and glittery bits can be cut up to be re-used as gift tags next year, otherwise they have to go in the black bin.”

Cllr Mark Howell, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “It’s a really busy time of year, but amongst all the festivities I’d urge people to double check their bin collection days. If you’re unsure, just head to our website where you can find your collection date using your postcode, or check the middle of the Winter 2017 edition of South Cambs Magazine. I’d also like to remind residents that we no longer need them to use paper caddies, and all waste paper should now be placed straight into the blue wheelie bin. It means recycling things we get more of this time of year, like envelopes and non-metallic wrapping paper, is now easier.”