Community matters Boundary changes County Council Division boundaries have now been announced: From the May 2017 elections, our area is split in two, with Melbourn and Meldreth joining Whaddon and Bassingbourncum-Kneesworth in a new ‘Melbourn/ Bassingbourn Division’. Meanwhile, Shepreth, Foxton, Heydon and Great and Little Chishill move into a new ‘Duxford Division’ together with Fowlmere, Thriplow, Duxford, Whittlesford, Pampisford, Chrishall Grange, Ickleton and Hinxton. District Council Ward boundaries are now being considered by the Boundary Commission, for change in 2018. Currently the proposal is for Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth and Whaddon to join into one twomember ward, and Foxton, Fowlmere, Heydon and Great and Little Chishill to join into one one-member ward. Parliamentary constituency boundary proposals, to take effect in 2018, have now been announced and are out for consultation until 5 December. These add yet another dimension to the mix: Melbourn, Great and Little Chishill, Heydon, Whaddon, Bassingbourn and Kneesworth and other villages from south-west South Cambridgeshire would join together with Royston and North Herts villages to form a new cross-county border constituency called ‘North East Hertfordshire.’ Meldreth would be part of a new ‘South Cambridgeshire’ constituency. More information including how to respond to the proposal is available here: https://www.bce2018.org.uk/ node/6484?
From the Parish Clerk – Sarah Adam and Chair of Melbourn Parish Council The new Melbourn Parish Council is up and running. The first meeting was held on 10th October 2016. The new Council agreed that its meetings should be recorded and put onto the Parish Council website the following day, so people unable to attend meetings will be able to hear the discussion. Councillors also agreed to introduce ways of working to avoid the need to have any discussions in private (in camera). The community was informed money is very tight for the rest of the financial year (until the end of March 2017) and potentially for the following year too. The Council will be discussing setting its budget for the financial year during December and January, so please come along if you want to put forward your views on what the Council’s spending priorities should be. The Council needs to keep a very tight rein on its spending. To do this, it agreed to suspend the committees which normally look after specific areas (such as cemeteries, and highways) and to make all decisions on spending money at the Full Parish Council. This means that many fuller Parish Council meetings are being held than normal, so please look on the website or Notice Board for the revised timetable. A decision as to whether to re-instate the committees will be made for the beginning of the new Civic Year in May 2017. Councillors have used the first meetings to identify the main issues facing the new council. They agreed the principle of setting up Working Parties to investigate what has gone on, and report back to the full council for discussion. The first Working Parties are looking at the car park spend so the Council can deal with the additional money demanded by the contractor, and how to revise the Council’s Code of Conduct so that the Council functions in an ethical and transparent way. Both of these Working Parties have a mix of Councillors and non-Councillors to increase openness. The contested election in September was the first in Melbourn for over 30 years. People have commented on what at first sight, seems to be a low turnout at 28.1%. However, the South Camb’s District Council electoral officer said: “Other recent parish by-elections in South Camb’s villages have seen turnouts that vary between 8% and 28% depending on the level of engagement in the community, and turnouts of between 15% and 20% are quite usual. Therefore 28.1% exceeded expectations and was a very good result for Melbourn, as of course by-elections will never have the same lure as a major election.” The Parish Council will continue to work over the coming months to make sure that all Council actions and discussions are open, accountable and transparent. If you have concerns about any areas of the village or any other matter connected to village life, please contact The Parish Clerk or the newly appointed Assistant to Parish Clerk, Claire Littlewood. The Parish Office is open Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm and 2pm–4pm. Email: parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk or Telephone: 01763 263303 option 3 for the Parish Office. Sarah Adam, Melbourn Parish Clerk Cllr Norman, Chair - Melbourn Parish Council melbournmagazine
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