SouthCambs Magazine
www.scambs.gov.uk
Spring 2016
Planning a community event?
Photography by Charles Sturman - www.sturman.co.uk
See page 40
Free business support workshops See page 16
Priorities and spending in 2016/17 See page 10
A drive wa clean w y spring orth ÂŁ3 00 See p age 22
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Welcome
South Cambs Magazine
Welcome to the spring issue of South Cambs Magazine
Contents Contact us .............................. 4
Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to have their say on the priorities we should focus on in the coming years. Those priorities and the finances that support them were due to be debated by all councillors at the budget setting meeting at the end of February.
About Your Council ................. 6
Reductions to the grant funding we receive from Government over recent years have meant we have had to make huge savings and are now trying to generate our own income to offset the cuts. One of those initiatives is Ermine Street Housing. This is our commercial housing venture which has completed a very successful pilot project. Find out more about our budget challenge on pages 10 and 11, and Ermine Street Housing on page 28 and 29. We’re also highlighting the power of recycling on page 27 of this edition. The article looks at recycling throughout your home and has some interesting facts about the difference each item you put in your blue bin can make. We’re also asking you to mark a date in your diary for this summer. Sunday 17 July is Parklife - our biggest free family fun day of the year. The day is full of sports, activities and entertainment for all ages. There is still a chance to get involved as a sponsor too. See page 33 for more information.
Planning .................................. 19
Cllr Ray Manning Leader South Cambridgeshire District Council
Our Vision: South Cambridgeshire will continue to be the best place to live, work and study in the country. Our district will demonstrate impressive and sustainable economic growth. Our residents will have a superb quality of life in an exceptionally beautiful, rural and green environment.
Conservation ........................... 13 Young people .......................... 15 Business ................................. 16 Competition ........................... 22 Waste & Recycling ................. 24 Housing .................................. 28 Community .............................. 33 Environmental Health ............. 37 Sport ...................................... 44
South Cambs Magazine Letters should be directed to: Editor: Gareth Bell Editorial: Anna Efford and Kelly Quigley South Cambridgeshire District Council South Cambridgeshire Hall Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne Cambridge CB23 6EA e: South.CambsMagazine@scambs.gov.uk t: 03450 450 500 Design: Sean Gentle and Katie Rea
For all advertising enquiries please contact:
The next issue of South Cambs Magazine will be delivered between 24 May and 12 June.
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For all delivery enquiries please contact Smart Distribution on scdc@smartdistribution.co.uk or 0800 6444 011
e: garethm@media-shed.co.uk t: 01354 818003
For a large print copy please contact:
The opinions and views expressed in South Cambs Magazine are not necessarily those of South Cambridgeshire District Council or Media Shed Ltd. All data contained in advertisements, being subject to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines, is accepted in good faith at the time of going to press.
South.CambsMagazine@scambs.gov.uk 03450 450 500 Spring 2016
Printed on wood fibre from sustainable forests R
When you have finished with this magazine, please recycle it.
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3
Contact us
South Cambs Magazine
Contacting us The quickest and easiest way to contact us, and to apply, report or pay for something, is via our website:
www.scambs.gov.uk Social media: search ‘South Cambridgeshire’
@SouthCambs
Email or
call:
Benefits:
benefits@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 061
Building Control:
building.control@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 062
Elections:
elections@scambs.gov.uk
03450 455 214
Environmental Services:
env.health@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 063
Housing Benefit fraud:
0800 854 440
Other fraud:
fraud@scambs.gov.uk
0800 7311 892
Housing:
housing@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 051
Planning:
planning@scambs.gov.uk
03450 455 215
Revenues:
revenues@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 064
Rents:
rents@scambs.gov.uk
03450 455 216
For all other enquiries:
scdc@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 500
Visit or write: South Cambs District Council South Cambridgeshire Hall Cambourne Business Park Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6EA Office open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm
QR Code Scan this code with your smart phone to visit our website
4 www.scambs.gov.uk
To make a payment Visit www.scambs.gov.uk and click on the ‘Pay for it’ button. Call our automated payment line on 03450 455 218 You can also pay using a payment card at any Post Office or Pay Point outlet. To request a direct debit form or a Post Office payment card, call 03450 450 064
Putting service first If you phone us we will resolve your enquiry as quickly as possible provide voicemail if the person you need is unavailable answer your phone message within three working days If you write to us we will reply to your letter or email within 10 working days If we write to you we will write in plain language arrange for translation, large type, braille or audio tapes upon request If we visit you we will carry identification that you can check with a phone call to our contact service on 03450 450 500 arrive at the time we say we will, or give you as much notice as possible if we have to change the time If we get it wrong we will apologise if we have made a mistake or failed to meet our standards acknowledge your written complaint within three working days reply in full to your complaint within 10 working days
Tell us how we’re doing We’re proud of what we are trying to achieve and recognise we can always do better. To help improve our services, we need your feedback. Whether it’s a compliment, a general comment or a complaint, we want to hear from you. www.scambs.gov.uk/contact-us
Spring 2016
Accountants
Small Businesses Self Assessment Personal Taxation
Accounts • Bookkeeping • VAT • Payroll • CIS Tax Returns • Tax Calculations Lettings • Higher-rate Tax Payers
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About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Your council tax bill explained Over the next few weeks we'll be sending out annual bills for Council Tax, Business Rates and Council Rents for the next financial year. Together with benefit award letters, we will be sending out around 80,000 documents. With so many people being written to at one time there is always a peak in demand for our contact centre. In previous years we have received up to 1,600 calls a day and, while we aim to answer all calls as soon as possible, during these busy times there can be a delay. A large number of calls to us are similar, with the information needed often on the bill. If you have a question, please read the bill and booklet we send to you first, as this is likely to answer it. The bills cover the charges due and benefits awarded, and the booklet provides general information on our services and further details on Council Tax, Business Rates, discounts and exemptions.
Payment options
The answers to most of the queries we get about bills can be found on the bill itself.
1 2
6 3
At the moment around 70% of people take the hassle free option and pay their bill by direct debit. You can sign up online by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/ways-pay-your-council-tax If you can’t pay in this way, you can visit our website and select Pay for It to make payments by debit or credit card, or you can call our 24 hour payment line on 03450 455 218.
Save time and go online
To make sure you do not need to wait unnecessarily, we have other ways for you to get in touch. Firstly, visit our website www.scambs.gov.uk and select Council Tax where you will find more detailed information and easy to use forms that will help you to provide us with all relevant information to answer your enquiry. You can also email us at revenues@scambs.gov.uk with any queries.
4
5
1 If you need to contact us about your bill,
please have your account number to hand.
2 This is the address of the property the bill
relates to and can be different from the postal address if you own more than one home
3 Your bill will show the amount we collect on
behalf of all the authorities. Our part of the bill is only a small proportion
6 ď Ž www.scambs.gov.uk
4 Direct debit payers do not need to do anything as the payments will
continue to be collected
5 Your bill will include a breakdown of your payments throughout the year 6 To find out how to appeal your council tax banding, contact the
Valuation Office Agency by emailing cteast@voa.gsi.gov.uk or calling 03000 501501. Alternatively, visit www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands
Spring 2016
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About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Elections 2016 Local voters will take part in up to three polls across South Cambridgeshire on 5 May, with elections scheduled for 19 district council seats, a third of parish councils and Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The PCC is responsible for overseeing the police force, helping it to set priorities and budgets. PCCs were introduced in 2012, replacing police authorities.
Are you registered to vote?
To vote in the local elections or PCC, you must make sure that you are on the register of electors. Over the last year, registering to vote in the UK has moved from registration on one form for a whole household, to individual registration. If you’ve recently moved house, or think you may have dropped off the register, make sure to register now to be able to vote in May. We’ll send poll cards out at the end of March to all registered electors, telling you when and where you can vote. If you don’t receive a poll card, you may not be registered.
Register quickly and easily at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote by 18 April 2016
Away on 5 May?
Why not apply for a postal vote? Visit www.scambs.gov.uk/elections. You’ll need to print out and complete a postal vote application because we need your signature to verify your postal vote when it’s returned. Make sure to return your postal vote application before 5pm on 19 April. You can post it, or email a scanned copy to elections@scambs.gov.uk. Postal vote packs will be sent out on 20 April, and you should complete and return your vote as soon as possible. If you’re interested in standing for election, or need help or advice on registering or absent voting, contact our elections team on elections@scambs.gov.uk or 03450 455214
EU referendum
A referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU will take place before the end of 2017. We’ll publish information on our website once a date’s confirmed, and will send out poll cards to all eligible voters before the referendum takes place.
Spring 2016
District council elections will take place in the following villages: Abington Piggots Arrington Bartlow Bassingbourn Bourn Cambourne Caxton The Chishills Chittering Conington Cottenham Croydon Croxton Elsworth Eltisley The Eversdens Fen Ditton Fen Drayton Gamlingay Girton Graveley Guilden Morden Harston Haslingfield Hatley Hauxton Harlton Heydon Hildersham Histon Horningsea
Impington Knapwell Landbeach Linton Longstanton Little Gransden Litlington Longstowe Melbourn Newton Oakington Orchard Park Over Papworth Everard Papworth St Agnes Rampton Sawston The Shelfords Shingay-Cum-Wendy Six Mile Bottom Stapleford Steeple Morden Stow-Cum-Quy Tadlow Thriplow Waterbeach Westwick Whaddon Whittlesford The Wilbrahams Willingham
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About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Delivering more for less We recently called for residents’ views on our draft Corporate Plan to help decide on our future priorities. Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation. Your views broadly supported the ideas we put forward and have helped to shape our new five year plan and budget for the coming financial year.
Where does the money we have come from? You will be aware that we charge each home in the district for the services we provide. This is known as Council Tax. We are proud to have one of the lowest rate of council tax in the country. The exact amount you will pay will depend which band your home falls into. This is determined nationally depending on the historical value of your home. For a band D home our proportion of council tax was £125.31 in 2015/16. Council tax is not the only source of income: Business rates - we keep a small proportion of what we collect in the area. However, the way this works is being changed nationally and the share we retain is being reduced Fees and charges - we apply these to cover the cost of some services, such as specific licences and a range of planning advice Government grant - we are provided a set amount from Government each year to help deliver services. This has been cut by 88% since 2010 and is expected to reach zero by 2018/19
Tackling the challenge The government has cut our funding by 88% since 2010 and plans to remove it altogether by 2018/19. During this period, we’ve saved over £5.5 million, with only a limited impact on frontline services. We have achieved this predominantly by doing things more efficiently and adopting a more commercial approach to bring money in, including: Revamping our website and introducing e-forms so that residents can self serve online anytime rather than visiting or phoning our contact service Joining forces with Cambridge City Council to bring the waste teams together, operating from one location and under one management team, reducing our green bin collections to monthly over the winter months when there is far less garden waste to collect Making better use of our office to enable us to rent space out Sharing our ICT, building control, waste and recycling, and legal services with other councils
£7.8m
£6m
£5.2m
£3.4m
£2.7m
£1.8m
£0.92m
£0.23m
£0
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
New homes bonus Although the grant we receive for delivering services has been cut considerably, we have recently been provided with a different national grant called New Homes Bonus. Money is provided to councils for each new home delivered, but the money is designed to help meet the costs of managing growth. As this is the case, we have allocated £5 million of the money as our contribution toward the A14 upgrade and a large proportion for transport projects through the Greater Cambridge City Deal (see page 16).
10 www.scambs.gov.uk
Spring 2016
About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Where your money has been spent over the last year Environmental health, waste collection and street cleaning, recycling, licencing
£1.83m
£0.47m
£8.66m £3.46m
Planning, conservation and building control Developing new communities, sustainability, planning policy and transport initiatives Finance, councillor administration, corporate, policy, communications and elections
£0.59m
Administration of council tax, business rates and housing benefit Housing (excluding rents and repairs)
£7.48m
Our budget for 2016/17 At the time of going to print, councillors were due to set a budget for the next financial year. This is when the level of council tax is set. Options being considered included increasing council tax by £5 per year for an average band D home. The increase would be less for lower bands and more for those in higher bands. Even with an increase in council tax, we would still need to deliver just under £1 million of savings over the next five years. A lower increase in council tax could increase the savings needed to as much as £1.5 million making it even tougher to balance the books and protect frontline services. One of the priorities you helped to identify for the next year was to try and reduce the savings we need to make. To achieve this, we are taking a more innovative and dynamic approach. One of the ways we are doing this is by extending the successful pilot for our ethical housing company, Ermine Street Housing. The housing company generates income for us so we do not need to make as many savings. See page 28 for more information.
Focusing our priorities Here's a brief summary of the other three objectives in the new plan and what we’ll be doing to achieve them: Living Well We will ensure that our communities remain in good health, with access to the services they need. We’ll lead and support initiatives to keep residents in good health at all stages of their lives, maintaining and improving young people’s mental health and dealing with the impacts of dementia on older people. Homes for Our Future We will secure the delivery of a wide range of housing to meet the needs of existing and future communities. We’ll progress work to put in place a new development plan for the district, provide a wide range of housing types and tenures to suit the needs of different groups, and find solutions for people facing homelessness. Connected Communities We will ensure new transport and digital infrastructure supports and strengthens communities and that our approach to growth sustains prosperity. We’ll make sure the City Deal delivers investment in roads, transport and digital infrastructure, including the A1307, A428 and A10 corridors, whilst continuing to increase access to new digital services.
Spring 2016
Did you know?
We collect council tax on behalf of the County Council, the police, fire service and your local parish council. Last year an average band D home paid over £1,500 per year but we only kept £125.31 of that total. The rest is collected and passed on
www.scambs.gov.uk
11
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South Cambs Magazine
Conservation
Chain of flowers
Mini wildflower meadows have sprung up in the village of Melbourn, creating a colourful delight for locals and a haven for local wildlife. The nectar rich annual wildflowers, which include a careful mix of semi exotic species and native herbs, have been sown as part of an ecology project designed to enhance the village, engage people and support the wildlife that rely on these threatened habitats, such as butterflies, bees and moths. The project has been supported by us and the parish council, local businesses and volunteers who all came together to find the best spots, to clear each area, and to rake and seed. The idea for the project and the initial funding came from local resident Elizabeth Williams who wanted to create a lasting memory of her late mother, who loved wild flowers. Various local fundraising events were held and grants were awarded from us and the parish council as well as from the local Fete Committee. Elizabeth Williams said: “I am thrilled with the results of our mini wildflower meadows, which have created corridors of blooms throughout the village. They have transformed and rejuvenated the area in so many ways, creating rich colourful habitats for a wealth of rare plants and wildlife, and pleasant new places for local people to enjoy. “They are proving to be fantastic places to nourish the mind, body and soul with residents using the backdrop for poetry readings and book groups. A professional photographer has captured the mini meadows and produced postcards featuring poems by local residents to sell and raise further funds.” The project team, made up of local residents Elizabeth Willams, Yvonne Chamberlain and Clare Crossman, is currently making plans for 2016 and hopes to provide workshops and a picnic with the arts in the summer.
Mini wildflower meadows are being sown in locations across the district, having already sprung up in Cottenham, Stapleford, Gamlingay, Shepreth and Fowlmere. We would like more residents and parish councils to nominate green spaces and hope to see mini wildflower meadows becoming part of the many village landscapes.
If you would like to nominate a suitable area of land for seeding, contact ecology officer Rob Mungovan on rob.mungovan@scambs.gov.uk or 03450 455 215
Spring 2016
www.scambs.gov.uk
13
Cottenham
Summer
School
25th – 29th July
2016
Textiles Weaving on a Table Loom with Anna Crutchley
Quilt in a week with Mary McIntosh
Stitch & Surface Design Cloths with Pauline Verrinder
Spectacular Screen Printing with Ricki Outis
Get Hooked on Crochet with Emma Wilkinson
Bear Essentials Crochet with Emma Wilkinson
Drawing & Painting Drawing – Learning to See with Sheila Bryan
Botanical Illustration with Georita Harriott
Landscapes in Watercolour with David Hyde
Calligraphy – The Uncial Script with Liz Barrow
Music The Roots of Modern Guitar with Brooks Williams
Walking Rivers & Streams in Cambridgeshire with David Thomas
Crafts Upholstery
with Cindy Mason
Pattern Cutting – Trousers with Sally Tilley
Mosaics
with Terry Baker
Stained Glass with Lisa Fretwell
Lino Printing with Clive Riggs
Learn to Love Your Overlocker with Pamela Tasker
Willow Weaving with Sue Kirk
Birthday Cake & Sugarcraft with Wendy Leaney
Paper Flowers with Lynda Suffell
General Is Beekeeping for You? with Stephen Poyser
For more information or a brochure, please contact us on
Tel: 01954 288751 • Email: community@cvcweb.net or visit http://community.cvcweb.net
The Tao of Everyday Life : Chinese Philosophy with Alison Warlow
Like us on Facebook (Adult Learning at Cottenham Village College)
Young people
South Cambs Magazine
New Year, New Youth Council
Following a lively and productive induction session for new and returning members to the Youth Council in December, 2016 is shaping up to be a busy year. We've hit the ground running, filming our first video about plans for the year ahead. We hope that this will be the first of many videos covering different areas of council business that directly affect young people in South Cambridgeshire and beyond. You can watch the video on our South Cambridgeshire Youth Council Facebook page. We'd love to hear what you think and what you'd like us to cover next. As well as making our screen debut, we've nominated youth organisations for the Council's annual Community Awards, and even presented a very special Youth Council Award to a deserving organisation. Future plans include: Showing you how to register to vote Running the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament’s annual Make Your Mark Campaign in Cambridgeshire Running our own stall at the annual Parklife event at Milton Country Park on 17 July (see page 33 for more details). YCllr Helen Grant said: "This is my second year as a member of the Youth Council. We are very proud of what we achieved last year, but hope to do even more in 2016. I am particularly looking forward to encouraging other young people to get involved with politics in any way they can, whether through simply registering to vote or taking part in the next Make Your Mark Campaign. "Participation is so important to ensure that the needs of young people aren't overlooked.” The Youth Council is open to anyone aged 13-18 who lives or goes to school in South Cambridgeshire, and new members can join at any time. If you would like to get involved, find out more on our website www.scambs.gov.uk/youth-council or get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.
@southcambsyc
Spring 2016
www.facebook.com/SCYouthCouncil
Youthcouncil@scambs.gov.uk
www.scambs.gov.uk
15
Business
South Cambs Magazine
Free business support
We have joined forces with Huntingdonshire District Council in a new initiative to deliver a series of free business support workshops across the local area. These are designed to help your business thrive or even turn your business idea into a reality. The suite of workshops includes business start-up, business planning, marketing, social media, finance, and building and maintaining customers. We have teamed up with Nwes - a local enterprise agency with over 30 years' experience - to deliver the workshops, which are already underway and run through to April at venues across the two districts. The new series follows similar successful initiatives run over the last five years which have seen a multitude of businesses benefit. Research has shown that businesses taking up support grow faster, create more jobs and make increased profit. The programme has been specifically designed to cover topics most beneficial to local businesses. Whether you’re a start up or established business, in micro-brewing or microchips, the programme can help you by providing tools, templates and advice you can take away and put in to practice. People attending will also receive post workshop business advice from an advisor, who will help you consider how to implement what you have learned and signpost you to any complementary support. To find out more about the workshops, and to book your place, email info@nwes.org.uk or call 08456 099 991 Alternatively, you can visit www.scambs.gov.uk/get-ahead-game-free-business-support-workshops
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Sawston Village College’s Spring 2016 Adult Learning and Leisure courses Courses start week commencing 11th January Tutor Vacancies We are currently looking for new courses to add to our 2016 programme. If you are interested in joining our team please contact us
Saturday Workshops We have many workshops planned on 23rd January and 5th March
New for Spring Creative Writing Bookkeeping Developing Presentation Skills Art History Cookery courses
Computer Courses We currently have space available – Getting To Know Your IPad, Microsoft Office For Beginners and Raspberry Pi For Beginners
We will continue to offer a wide range of classes in the spring term, please either contact us or check our website for details. Please book early to avoid disappointment. www.sawstonadulted.org • 01223 712424 • community@sawstonvc.org We are always interested in hearing from the community. If there is a course you would like to see offered please get in touch.
Planning
South Cambs Magazine
Latest news on the draft Local Plan During December and January we asked for your comments on a small number of changes we are proposing to our draft Local Plan. The consultation was carried out jointly with Cambridge City Council.
The draft Local Plan, which sets out our proposals for creating jobs and homes to meet our needs to 2031, was submitted to Government in March 2014. It includes a new town north of Waterbeach, a new village at Bourn Airfield and an extension to Cambourne. Changes were made after the Government planning inspectors examining our plans asked both Councils to do some extra work. This was carried out last year and concluded that, whilst the strategy in both plans remained the right one for the area, there was a need for some small changes to be made. The small modifications for South Cambridgeshire include:
increasing the number of homes being planned for between 2011 and 2031 from 19,000 to 19,500
removing the restrictions on the earliest date proposed new towns and villages could be built to give more flexibility
increasing the number of homes planned north of Cherry Hinton to 1,200. Of these, 420 homes would be in South Cambridgeshire. This carries forward more of the larger Cambridge East site approved in 2008
a possible 10% extension to the south of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus south of Addenbrooke's, subject to further investigation of surface water flooding issues
reducing the size of the proposed employment site adjacent to Peterhouse Technology Park, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to take part in the joint consultation with Cambridge City Council. We saw over 300 people attending the exhibitions organised in those locations most affected by the proposed changes. We will now be reviewing the comments received and considering whether any further amendments need to be made before presenting our changes, and the evidence supporting them, to the Inspectors. The Inspectors are then expected to reopen the examination into the plans and have published a draft programme indicating likely future hearings for both the Cambridge City Local Plan and South Cambridgeshire District Local Plan examinations.
For more information on the Local Plan and the draft programme of hearings, visit www.scambs.gov.uk and search for Local Plan. Alternatively, you can email ldf@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713183
Spring 2016
www.scambs.gov.uk
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Planning
South Cambs Magazine
Things are happening at Northstowe
Plans for how the first town square to be built at the new town of Northstowe have gained pace after a public consultation on proposals was carried out at the beginning of the year. Gallagher, the developer of the first phase of the town, submitted applications for the local centre square, a lake and areas of green space and drainage that will run between the first 1,500 new homes. The lake and surrounding area are proposed to be around 12.8 Hectares - around the same size as 18 football pitches - and include landscaped areas for trees and wild flowers, footpaths and cycle ways and is expected to be a haven for wildlife. The green spaces that will cut through the development are an essential part of the drainage network and will link up to the lake where the surface water from phase one of the town will be dealt with. They provide great opportunities for recreation, walking, cycling and wildlife habitat. The local centre square is planned to be just under 5,000 square metres in size and include grass, paved areas and seating where people can relax. Crab Apple trees are also proposed - a request made by the local community as Crabtree Corner is the name they use for part of the B1050 nearby. The local square will be easily accessible from the proposed community building and shops that are planned in the first phase of the town. We have acted on the feedback from the consultation by talking to the developers about the plans they put forward and working through any minor changes. Cllr Tim Wotherspoon, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “The local square will be a real focal point for the first phase of the town and I’m really pleased that people took the opportunity to have their say. We want Northstowe to be a fantastic place to live, work and go to school. ” An artists’ impression of what the new central square could look like
Drainage Bricks and mortar Work got underway on the first primary school at Northstowe in the middle of last year and Gallagher have said that they are in the process of assessing bids from housebuilders who will build the first homes. They expect there will be more news on this by the end of March and we hope to bring you an update in the next edition.
Spring 2016
A new pumping station is already completed at Webb’s Hole Sluice to take away treated sewage. The pumping station has been given enough capacity to deal with future phases of the town as well as the first 1,500 homes and facilities.
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Competition
South Cambs Magazine
Win a drive or patio spring clean
With spring on the horizon we have a fantastic chance for you to win a makeover for your driveway thanks to
At clean-driveway.com they provide a range of specialist cleaning services for driveways, paths, patios and other external areas, including block paving, tarmac, concrete, sandstone, decking or imprinted concrete. Their cost effective, professional system offers solutions for both domestic and commercial properties and they provide non-obligation quotations by calling 01223 655359. The £300 driveway or patio cleaning being offered would cover the average two car driveway. To be in with a chance of winning visit www.scambs.gov.uk click on Apply for it then select Readers’ Competition to complete the entry form. Closing date for entries is midday on Monday 18 April Answer this question to be in with a chance of winning: Which former RAF base will Ermine Street Housing soon have 95 homes available to rent at? (See page 28 and 29 for a clue). a) Bassingbourn
b) Waterbeach
c) Brampton
Don’t have internet access? You can also enter by post. Send your name, address and telephone number, plus your answer to the question, to: South Cambs Magazine Competition South Cambridgeshire District Council Cambourne Business Park Cambourne Cambridgeshire, CB23 6EA Terms and conditions are available at www.scambs.gov.uk/t-c or can be requested by calling 03450 450 500. Winners will be notified by Friday 22 April and announced in the summer edition of South Cambs Magazine.
22 www.scambs.gov.uk
Before
Winner’s spotlight
After
BED
Congratulations to Clive Williams of Bar Hill who will be sleeping easy in 2016 after winning a stylish new double bed worth £349 courtesy of Bedstore, Royston, in our winter competition. Clive took our New Year pledge to recycle as much as possible from every room in the house and was drawn at random to win the competition. Clive said: “It was a great surprise to find out I had won, I never normally win anything. “Taking the pledge is a good incentive to get organised, and it is easy to separate waste for recycling.”
Spring 2016
Free Cat Microchipping By 6th April 2016, the law is changing to enforce compulsory microchipping for dogs. However, we feel it is important not to overlook the microchipping of cats. Throughout March we are offerring FREE MICROCHIPPING in a Wood Green Centre near you!
Date: March 2016 Time: 3pm Location: Godmanchester Centre and Heydon Centre See woodgreen.org.uk/ events/2016/3 for more details Contact us for more locations or visit us on Facebook at /woodgreencommunityteam Booking essential Cats must be brought in a secure carrier To find out more: Call: 0300 303 9333 ext. 1281* Visit: woodgreen.org.uk/handson Or email: handson@woodgreen.org.uk : woodgreencommunityteam Wood Green, The Animals Charity is the Registered Trademark of Wood Green Animal Shelters. Registered Charity No. 298348.
ALREADY CHIPPED?
Bring you rc along to c at hec their deta k ils!
Waste Waste&&Recycling Recycling
South Cambs Magazine
Collection dates Green bin
Black bin
Monday A - Babraham, Balsham,
Gt Abington, Gt Shelford, Harston, Hauxton, Hildersham, Hinxton, Ickleton, Lt Abington, Lt Shelford, Pampisford, Stapleford
Reminder: green bin collections return to fortnightly from 29 February Bins must be out by 6am at the latest on your collection day
Blue bin
Feb
March
29 29
14 29 21 14 29
7
Horseheath, Linton, Sawston, Shudy Camps
Hinton (South of the railway), Girton, Milton, Oakington, Stow-cum-Quy, Westwick
Chittering, Dry Drayton, Knapwell, Landbeach, Longstanton, Swavesey, Waterbeach
Wednesday B - Boxworth, Caxton,
Conington, Cottenham, Elsworth, Fen Drayton, Lolworth, Over, Rampton, Willingham
Thursday B - Abington Pigotts, Arrington, Bassingbourn, Bourn, Croydon, Gamlingay, Guilden Morden, Hatley, Litlington, Longstowe, Lt Gransden, Shingay-cum-Wendy, Steeple Morden, Tadlow
24 ď Ž www.scambs.gov.uk
1 1
8
1
8 8
9
2
9 9
15 30 22 15 30
5
March
5 5
22 15 30 22 Wed
12 26 19 12 26 April 19 12 26 19
16 31 23 16 31
6
March
6 6
23 16 31 23 Thu
17 24 17
1 1
7
Fri
10 24 17 10 24
7 7
1
Fri
4
11
March 11 26 18 11 26
Sat
2 2
8
Sat
Sat
8 8
13
6
13 20 13
Tue
4 4
May 17 10 24 17
1 1
1
Wed
7 7
Thu
Thu
5 5
May 18 11 25 18
2 2
6
Fri
12 26 19 12 26
21 28 21
6 6
12
Fri
2
Thu
3
Fri
8 8
Sat
7 7
May 20 13 27 20
22 29 22
Sat
15
22 29 22
June 15 29 8 22 15 29
9 9
16
23 30 23
June
19 26 19
13 27 20 13 27
21 28 21
June
3 3
9
Fri
May 7
14
June
11 25 18 11 25
Thu
27 27
June 14 28 7 21 14 28
May 5
27
June Wed
Wed
20 20
June 31 31
May
15 29 22 15 29
15
16 23 16
Wed
April 2
Tue
10 24 17 10 24
4
April
18 26 18 Sat
31
May
14 28 21 14 28
14
June 6 6
May
April
March 4 4
April 20 13 27 20
9
Tue
April
March 3
13 27 20 13 27
23 16 23 May
3 3
April
Thu
10
Tue
April
Wed
2 2
3 3
Croxton, Eltisley, Graveley, Hardwick, Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Toft
Fowlmere, Gt Chishill, Heydon, Lt Chishill, Melbourn, Meldreth
21 29 21 Tue
March
Thursday A - Cambourne, Comberton,
Friday B - Barrington, Caldecote, Duxford,
14
3
18 11 25 18
March
Wednesday A - Bar Hill, Childerley,
Gt Eversden, Harlton, Haslingfield, Kingston, Lt Eversden, Newton, Orwell, Shepreth, Thriplow & Heathfield, Whittlesford, Whaddon, Wimpole
7 7
May 9 9
April 4 4
March
Tuesday B - Fen Ditton, Fulbourn/Cherry
Friday A - Barton, Foxton, Grantchester,
4
March
29
Tuesday A - Carlton, Coton, Gt Wilbraham, Histon, Horningsea, Impington, Lt Wilbraham, Madingley, Orchard Park, Six Mile Bottom, Teversham/Cherry Hinton (North of the railway), West Wickham, West Wratting, Weston Colville
April 11 25 18 11 25
Tue
Feb
Monday B - Bartlow, Castle Camps,
Later collection day
16 30 23 16 30
June
July
Sat
10 24 17 10 24
1
4 4
June 17 10 24 17
July 1 1
4
Sat
Spring 2016
Waste & Recycling
South Cambs Magazine
What goes where? Blue bin
Reminder: green bin collections return to fortnightly from 29 February Bins must be out by 6am on your collection day Close lids firmly.
Extra blue bin recycling will be collected if left alongside your blue bin in a returnable container
Paper caddy Put the caddy inside or beside your blue bin
Plastic bottles
Plastic bottle tops & triggers
Plastic packaging (pots, trays & tubs)
Paper
Plastic bags
Plastic film & clean food wrapping
Cartons (e.g Tetrapack)
Food & drinks cans
Aerosols
Tinfoil & foil trays
Cardboard/ Wrapping paper
Polystyrene Pyrex, flat glass, non packaging plastic e.g toys, bowls
Glass jars & bottles
Put items loosely in your blue bin and not in carrier bags
Batteries
Rinse items to remove any food contamination
Batteries inc. AA & AAA cells, button batteries, size C & D and any laptop & mobile battery
Put in a battery bag or clear plastic bag and attach it to your blue bin lid
Green bin
Junk mail
Garden waste
Newspapers & magazines
Catalogues
Cooked/uncooked food waste (meat, fish & dairy)
Telephone directories
Envelopes (with or without windows)
Kitchen paper and tissues
Jiffy bags, wrapping paper, greeting cards, tissue, cardboard & kitchen paper
Any type of cat litter. Turf and soil due to its weight. Any type of plastic including bags/sacks Biodegradable bags (cornstarch, potato starch). Cardboard - put in the blue bin
Shredded paper*
* Put shredded paper in an old envelope before putting in the paper only caddy
Kitchen caddy
Available from our Cambourne offices, these are useful to keep in the kitchen for food and empty into the green bin when full. Extra green bin recycling cannot be collected. Please compost it or take it to Milton or Thriplow Recycling Centres
Black bin Non-recyclable / non-compostable material
Please use your black bin for material that cannot be put in green or blue bins Extra black bin material cannot be collected. Please take it to Milton or Thriplow Recycling Centres Nappies should be put in the black bin Empty and full paint tins cannot be collected. Please take them to Milton or Thriplow Recycling Centres
For more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk/bins or call 03450 450 063 Spring 2016
TEA OUT R ME & ME T STICK O YO UR FRID GE
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25
Home & Pet Sitting Service All our sitters are professional people who are fully vetted, police checked and issued with ID cards. We serve a 30 mile radius of Cambridge.
☎ 01223 832604 o r e m a i l : i n f o @ h a p p i t a i l s .c o.u k
Members of NARP NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED PETSITTERS
www.happitails.co.uk • • • • •
green hat construction
New Build Extensions Renovations Living Roofs Garden Studios & Home Offices • Green energy solutions & Wood burning stoves • External (solid) wall insulation
Building with an environmental conscience
For more information contact us on: Tel: 01638 781007 or Mob: 07966 450353 6 The Pits, Isleham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5QS
www.greenhatco.co.uk
South Cambs Magazine
Waste & Recycling
Paper and card, too valuable to discard Do you recycle all the paper and card from around your home?
The UK was estimated to use around 300,000 tonnes of card packaging over the Christmas and New Year period alone, which if laid out would cover the return distance between London and Lapland 103 times. Furthermore, 400,000 tonnes of paper and card packaging were not collected for recycling from UK households in 2014. It costs a lot less for waste to be recycled than it does for it to be sent to landfill and, at a time when we are faced with funding cuts, we need to save money on disposing of recyclable waste to spend on other important council services. Diverting recyclable waste from landfill helps to conserve our natural resources and to protect the environment. Whilst many of us recycle magazines, envelopes, and junk mail, there are many items that get overlooked or forgotten about and we are urging everyone to recycle as much as possible from around the home.
All these items can be recycled using your blue bin and paper caddy
From the kitchen: food and drink cartons (rinsed) dishwasher tablet boxes washing powder boxes kitchen roll tubes cereal boxes egg boxes
From the lounge: cardboard packaging from online shopping envelopes, wrapping paper and greeting cards newspapers, magazines and catalogues
Don’t forget, newspapers, magazines, catalogues, envelopes, letters and junk mail should be kept separate in your paper caddy or other returnable container. Doing this means the material is better quality and worth more. The income this generates helps to fund the service.
Some interesting packaging facts
From the bathroom: toothpaste boxes toiletries and tissue boxes toilet roll tubes
If everyone in the UK recycled one toothpaste box, enough energy could be saved to have around 1.9 million five-minute showers It takes 7 days for a recycled newspaper to come back again as a newspaper If everyone in the UK recycled one breakfast cereal box, enough could be saved to run a fridge in around 9,300 homes for a year If everyone in the UK recycled one dishwasher tablet box, enough energy could be saved to run a TV in around 43,800 homes for a year
From your bedroom: shoe boxes tissue boxes
If everyone in the UK recycled one kitchen foil cardboard box and inner tube, enough energy could be saved to vacuum around 79,700 homes for a year
Spring 2016
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Housing
South Cambs Magazine
Housing company set to grow Plans have been agreed to expand our Councilowned housing company so hundreds of thousands of pounds can be generated each year to reinvest straight back into council services local people want and need.
The £100 million investment could generate an annual profit of around £600,000 in year two of the expansion, and our business plan has shown that there is potential for much higher returns in future years. We took the innovative step to set up the company, known as Ermine Street Housing, to offset some of the cuts to our funding. The grant funding we receive from Government to provide services has been cut from almost £8 million in 2010/11 to around £1.8 million in 2015/16. This grant is expected to be cut to zero by 2018/19. See page 10 for more information on our finances and how we are trying to do more for less.
How does Ermine Street differ?
We already own and manage around 5,500 traditional Council houses in the district. These are rented at below market rent levels to those with a local connection in greatest need. Ermine Street Housing differs considerably as it has been set up to operate in the private sector on a commercial basis. During an 18 month pilot project, 35 homes were purchased by Ermine Street Housing and rented at market rates. The company also secured five year contracts to manage a further 42 homes for the Ministry of Defence at Waterbeach and Bassingbourn. Although Ermine Street Housing has been set up to make money for the Council to invest in services, it has the same ethical approach as we do. It prides itself on offering competitive market rents, transparency and no hidden costs in terms of fees and other charges. Charges are also kept to a minimum to make sure that it provides excellent value for money and a landlord you can trust. Ermine Street Housing also wants tenants to feel that they can continue to rent from them as long as they want. The company is in this for the long term so it encourages long term tenancies. Equally, it offers flexibility so people can move on should they wish.
Cllr Mark Howell, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Ermine Street Housing has already been a great success and shown that there is huge potential to generate money to invest in Council services. We have seen our grant from Government continually cut over recent years and there is no doubt this will continue. We must be innovative to find new ways to generate income ourselves so we can protect services from being cut more than necessary.”
28 www.scambs.gov.uk
Spring 2016
South Cambs Magazine
Housing
The Finance
The Council is able to borrow money from the Public Works Loan Board, a lending arm of the Government, at a favourable rate of interest. The Council can then lend the money to the housing company at a higher rate of interest and the difference in the interest rates provides the Council with an income. In turn, Ermine Street makes enough money to pay back the interest and run a small surplus to enable it to cover all of its other costs. Ermine Street Housing’s property portfolio includes a number of homes in South Cambridgeshire with some further afield in locations such as Haverhill and Peterborough where the return on the investment stacks up.
Rental opportunity Ermine Street Housing will soon have 95 more high quality homes ready for rental in Brampton after winning the contract to manage homes at the former RAF base. The company is urging people in need of high quality rental homes to step forward now as demand for the two, three and four bedroom homes is expected to be high. The five year agreement on the Ministry of Defence’s temporary surplus homes gives them the flexibility to use the properties for military personnel in the future if they are needed. Gabriella Parlato, who rents a home from Ermine Street Housing in Albert Crescent, Hampton, Peterborough, said: “I am so delighted that my family and I rented our home through Ermine Street Housing. Not only is the service great, the fees are low and staff are friendly and approachable. It is a refreshing change to other agents I have come across. I would recommend anyone to rent a property through them as they really encourage you to make it your own home and give security to your family with properties available long term.” For more information visit www.erminestreethousing.co.uk or call 01954 713099
Spacious two, three and four bedroom homes will soon be available to rent in Brampton from Ermine Street Housing
Spring 2016
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29
South Cambs Magazine
Housing
New council homes almost complete Work is well underway on twenty much-needed new council-owned homes in Swavesey. Work started at the site on the edge of the village in August last year and the homes are expected to be ready this summer.
The development will consist of one, two, three and four bedroom properties, which will be available to people who have a local connection to Swavesey. In addition to this, we are in a contract to complete the purchase of four homes in Linton which are currently being constructed, with a proposed completion set for April this year. The properties in both Swavesey and Linton are expected to be advertised in the spring and anyone wishing to be considered for these will need to be registered with Home-Link. For more information, visit www.home-link.org.uk Planning permission was also recently granted for a further fifteen council homes in Foxton. Work has already begun on site and we hope these will be ready by the end of the year. These developments kicked off the second phase of our biggest planned council house building programme since the 1950s, intended to deliver 1,000 new council homes over the next 30 years. Government changes announced in the summer budget, however, could see the plan scrapped as our funding stream to invest in new homes will be cut. Under the Government’s plans, rents for council tenants will fall by 1% each year for four years, meaning we would collect £12 million less rent over the next four years and a £134 million reduction over the next 30 years, making it unfeasible to make the planned investment in new homes. We are continuing to work with our local MPs to impress on the Government the need for the freedom and funding to deliver vital affordable housing in the area for local people. Since 2006, over 500 affordable homes have been built on rural exception sites in South Cambridgeshire, putting us among the top performing areas in the country. We work with Cambridgeshire Acre, parish councils and communities to establish the need for affordable housing and to create the right mix of homes for local people. Some schemes are built for us and others by our partner housing associations. Exception sites are rural development sites that sit outside the development boundary (or framework) of a village, that are only able to achieve planning permission for affordable housing for local people. This is the ‘exception’ to planning policy that is allowed.
Spring 2016
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Get ready for the domestic RHI
What is the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (dRHI)? The domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (dRHI) is a government financial incentive, designed to encourage people to make the switch to renewable heating systems in their homes. For example, homeowners and landlords could be eligible to receive an income of about £2,000£6,000 when fitting an air-to-water heat pump, depending on the size of their property and the type of heating system installed. The domestic RHI offers quarterly payments over seven years, based on a set of tariffs and according to the type of system installed, which help to offset the cost of installing renewable heating systems. RHI tariffs The tariff levels are 7.42 p/kWh for air-to-water heat pumps and 19.51 p/kWh for solar thermal. The tariffs have been set at a level that reflects the expected cost of renewable heat generation over the system’s lifetime. Tariffs will be subject to review every quarter.
For solar thermal, the figure is taken from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate, which is based on a calculation by your MCS installer. For some households, metering may be required and the payments will be based on regular meter readings. Estimate your domestic RHI income online Daikin UK has an online RHI Estimator Tool, which you or your installer can use to project the potential income you could receive from the domestic RHI. Please visit www.daikin.co.uk/rhi/ rhi-estimator-tool for details. Daikin UK’s RHI Ready Renewable Heating Solutions Daikin UK has a range of RHI-ready
Elliotts Unit 44 Viking Way Bar Hill Cambridge CB23 8EL 01954 202 020 0781 089 7715 email: sales@tcrec.co.uk www.tcrec.co.uk
This is all subject to government review.
C: £1,925
C: £1,925
C: £1,925 B: £2,300 A: £3,120
Estimating RHI payments Payments are usually based on the heating system’s estimated annual heat output and made on the portion of renewable energy generated. For heat pumps, this figure is taken from your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), although its design efficiency (seasonal performance factor) is also used to calculate payments.
renewable heating systems. All Daikin Altherma air-to-water heat pumps and solar thermal systems are MCS accredited. You can choose from highefficiency Low Temperature Split, Low Temperature Monobloc, Hybrid, High Temperature Split (max 50°C space heating design flow temperature) and Solar Thermal DHW systems, to get the most efficient solution for your home. Elliotts – Your local specialist heat pump installer • Daikin specialist heating partner • Fully working renewable energy centre in Bar Hill • Ground and air source heat pumps • Air conditioning • Underfloor heating • Full plumbing and electrical services • Free estimates
B: £4,600
B: £3,450 A: £4,680
A: £6,240
*Please refer to the Homeowner Guide on www.daikin.co.uk/rhi for further details on the technical assumptions
South Cambs Magazine
Community
Save the date Mark Sunday 17 July on your calendar now to make sure you don’t miss Parklife 2016 - our annual free family fun day at Milton Country Park.
Once again there’ll be a host of free sports and activities to try out for all ages and abilities from climbing walls and multi-person bikes to water sports and the Wild South Cambs Zone - sponsored by Domino, a printing company in Bar Hill. Fully qualified instructors will be on hand at the lake to take you through the basics of paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing and angling. Pre-booking for these activities will be available for a small administration fee. Alongside dance performances and workshops, a highlight of the entertainment zone will be Cambridge Capoeira, who will bringing a flavour of the Rio Olympics to Parklife with their unique blend of dance, martial art and Brazilian beats. Add live music and artist-led crafts to the mix and you’ll be in the mood to join the carnival parade! With food, craft and charity stalls, Parklife really does have something for everyone. If you’re interested in booking space for a stall, visit www.scambs.gov.uk and click on the Apply for it button. You can keep up to date with all the latest Parklife news and information on our Facebook event page and at www.scambs.gov.uk/parklife
City Deal tackles congestion conundrum Residents, businesses and organisations have been putting forward their ideas on how the growing traffic congestion in and around Cambridge should be tackled.
A call for evidence was put out last year so the conditions and challenges for the transport network could be established and all ideas considered. Almost 70 written suggestions came forward with lots more views being aired at a series of public hearings. The City Deal Board has already said that a radical solution for Cambridge’s traffic problems may be needed so that the City centre can function successfully for all users and continue to support the growth of the Cambridge area. This could include various measures to encourage people out of cars, particularly in the most central areas and to reallocate space to pedestrians, cycles and public transport. The ideas submitted have begun being worked up into some options for the Board to consider in June. Local people will then be asked their views. The Greater Cambridge City Deal partnership includes Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council as well as the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership and Cambridge University. The partners are working closely together to bring forward projects that improve the economic success of the area. More details about the City Deal, work being done and consultations, can be found by visiting www.greatercambridgecitydeal.com
Spring 2016
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Community
South Cambs Magazine
A leading digital county Cambridgeshire is a leading digital county with superfast fibre broadband, free wi-fi and smart technology transforming people’s lifestyles and driving the local economy. The Connecting Cambridgeshire programme has successfully completed the first phase of the superfast fibre broadband rollout to 97,000 premises county-wide and has announced further plans to make sure no community misses out. The partnership of local councils is working with BT, the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme, universities and business partners to achieve its aim of becoming the best connected county in the country. More than 27,000 homes and businesses in South Cambridgeshire that would otherwise not have been able to, can now upgrade to high speed fibre broadband; and take up is among the highest in the country. However, there is more work to do. The next two years will see the fibre broadband rollout reaching some of the most challenging rural areas of the county, including pockets of South Cambridgeshire, with other technologies like wireless and satellite being used to close the gaps by 2020. Visit www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk to find out if you can upgrade to fibre broadband or if you are considering other technologies.
Superfast South Cambs
A South Cambridgeshire village has seen one of the swiftest take-ups of superfast broadband in the county. Over half the households and businesses in Whaddon ordered fibre broadband within a month of a new street cabinet going live in October 2015. Whaddon’s Broadband Champion, Nigel Strudwick, led the community’s campaign for better broadband, working closely with the Connecting Cambridgeshire team to find a solution and keep local people informed. He said: “This shows just Villagers in Whaddon celebrate getting how important this new fibre connection is to people in superfast fibre broadband Whaddon and it was worth agitating for faster broadband to get the village into the 21st Century. Without Connecting Cambridgeshire fighting our corner, we would not have got where we are now. We are now looking to install wifi in our refurbished village hall to make it more attractive for events.” Cllr Nick Wright, lead member for economic development, said: "We're one of the fastest growing areas in the country and our communities have been crying out for up to date technology infrastructure. It's great to see such rapid take-up of superfast broadband in Whaddon, which demonstrates how important good connections are for our more rural residents and businesses. There’s still more to do and the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme is continuing to roll out fibre to as many premises as it can.” Local families, farmers and home-based businesses say the superfast connections will transform their lives. Read more at www.connectingcambridgeshire.gov.uk/broadbandstories
34 www.scambs.gov.uk
Spring 2016
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Could you be a #CambsNotspotter to help improve mobile, wifi and broadband coverage? A new crowdsourcing initiative is asking local people to gather vital data to help plug gaps in fixed and mobile coverage in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. Led by Cambridge Ahead business group, the campaign is calling on all residents, employees, students and businesses to help identify ‘notspots’ - areas of no or low connectivity - by becoming a #CambsNotspotter. The project will help map where mobile phone signals, wifi and broadband access are poor, then encourage providers to take action to improve them. Cambridge Ahead is focussing its efforts on specific providers so to be a #CambsNotspotter, all you have to do is: 1. Participate! Download the limited network coverage
app from Google Play / App Store and get involved in identifying where there is
2. Log in! Make use of free wifi in public buildings and open spaces in and around Cambridge by selecting ‘CambWifi’ and ‘the_cloud’ wifi networks on your device 3. Test your strength! Run an independent broadband speed test for your household or small business broadband at www.thinkbroadband.com/CambsNotspotter The initiative supports the work of Connecting Cambridgeshire superfast broadband rollout, providing free public wifi with the University of Cambridge, and making smart use of technology to tackle city challenges as part of the Greater Cambridge City Deal. Find out more at www.cambridgeahead.co.uk/CambsNotspotter
The South Cambridge Estate Agents. +44 (0) 1223 508050 40 High Street Trumpington Cambridge CB2 9LS www.cookecurtis.co.uk
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Food hygiene ratings Everything you need to know, from how the ratings are judged and what they mean, to how to report unclean premises.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helps people make informed choices about where to eat out or shop for food. Regular inspections check how hygienically food is handled, prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored. Cleanliness, layout, lighting and ventilation is also checked. The ratings are awarded on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates major and urgent improvement is necessary and 5 indicates standards are very good. All inspected premises are issued with a sticker highlighting their rating. Sam Sadler at Oakington Garden Centre has held a five star rating since opening four years ago. He said: "Five stars have helped our business an unbelievable amount and we proudly display our sticker on the front door for all potential customers to see. We work closely with council officers to maintain standards and ask questions about new legislation. It is incredibly important for us to use local suppliers and we always check their ratings too."
Top tips for business:
Top tips for customers:
Prioritise food safety Handwashing is essential - having no soap will reduce your rating Temperature control is paramount - monitor your temperatures closely Keep your food safety management system up to date and accurate Refresh your food hygiene training regularly - we recommend every three years
Check food hygiene ratings before eating out: www.food.gov.uk Look for a rating sticker on the door - if it’s not there, it probably isn’t good
Include all areas, including under equipment, on your cleaning schedule For more information on food hygiene, or to complain about a premises, visit www.scambs.gov.uk/services/food-hygiene, email Duty.H&ES@scambs.gov.uk or call 03450 450 063
Farmers’ markets - cultivating a healthy food system From savouring produce at the peak of freshness and meeting the people who grow your food to supporting local business, there are many reasons to support farmers’ markets. As demand for local produce grows, this source of traditional food is becoming an integrated part of our food system, but we have been asked how you can be sure of the safety of the food.
Top tips for customers: Look out for the food hygiene rating sticker Check use by or best before dates Check that eggs are clean and not cracked Make sure that meat and dairy are chilled at the market Take an insulated bag to the market to keep your produce cool Keep meat separate from other items Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water
Top tips for business: Plan your stall well, including power source, chilled storage and hand washing facilities Be sure to monitor and maintain temperatures while you travel and set up Make sure sprouting seeds and salads are kept cold Make sure items have best before or use by dates
If you wish to seek advice or report concerns, email Duty.H&ES@scambs.gov.uk or call 03450 450 063
Spring 2016
www.scambs.gov.uk
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Visit the University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden Connecting you to the wonders of our world
www.cam.ac.uk/museums Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Museum of Classical Archaeology
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
Kettle’s Yard
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Polar Museum
Museum of Zoology
Environmental health
South Cambs Magazine
Be wise before the event If you’re planning a summer event, from a street party to a village fair or music festival, our Safety Advisory Group can help you prepare with confidence.
Bringing together our environmental health and licensing teams, Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways team and all three emergency services, the Group offers event organisers free advice and public safety guidance in one place. The group meets every two months and is happy to help both first time and experienced event organisers with advice ranging from road closures, crowd control, stewarding and staging to noise control, first aid, drugs and emergency evacuations. Will Young, director of the Strawberries & Creem Festival held at Haggis Farm in Barton, submits their event plans for advice every year. Will said: “Before we were put in touch with the Safety Advisory Group, we had little experience in event planning and knew there was a lot to learn. “Strawberries & Creem will be marking its third year on Saturday 11 June. Without the Group’s input, it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly in previous years. The Group’s pooled experience and knowledge helped put us at ease and ensured we knew about all the necessary safety measures we needed to put in place for a successful event. “One of the best services the Group offers is a site visit a couple of days before the event, in time for us to make any recommended changes. We'd advise organisers of any event to take advantage of the free advice on offer. As with anything, preparation is the key to success.” For more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk/event-safety-advisory-group and to contact the Group, email duty.H&ES@scambs.gov.uk or call 03450 450 063
Right royal knees-ups
On 12 June, Her Majesty The Queen will mark her 90th birthday with The Patron’s Lunch - a street party style event for 10,000 guests on The Mall in London - and we’re encouraging residents and community groups to host their own local celebrations. The national event will raise money for over 300 charities of which The Queen is patron, why not use your event to raise money for charities of your choice? After the success of street parties to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in 2012, Cambridgeshire County Council is again making the road closure application process easier for anyone who wants to get their community together for the Queen’s 90th birthday. For small community events, the council will not charge for road closures on a cul-de-sac or residential roads without significant through traffic however you do need to let us know the activities you are planning so we have a record of events taking place. If you are interested in organising a street party there is advice and information at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk about what you need to run a safe event or you can email the team at ihmc@cambridgeshire.gov.uk who will happily help guide you. If you’d you like to invite our Chairman to your event, email Katie.Le-Marquand@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713011 You can also share your event information and photos with us on Facebook or Twitter
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Environmental health
South Cambs Magazine
Do you live in a rented house in multiple occupation?
Multiple occupation homes have many unique rules and laws, and it can be a bit of a mine field when it comes to understanding who is responsible for what.
If you live in a house in multiple occupation, your landlord has extra legal obligations, in addition to their repair responsibilities, to reduce risks and to make sure that tenants have decent facilities. Your home is considered a house in multiple occupation if: you share the property with three or more tenants who are not members of the same family - forming more than one household. you share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities Students will often end up in a house in multiple occupation. If you live under the same roof as your immediate or extended family, you probably don't. People living in houses of multiple occupation are covered by specific laws whereby the landlord must make sure:
the property is not overcrowded annual gas safety checks are carried out there are adequate cooking and washing facilities communal areas and shared facilities are clean and in good repair
proper fire safety measures are in place electrics are checked every five years there is adequate ventilation and lighting fire alarms are in good working order
If you're concerned a house you live in is not up to standard, contact us on duty.HE&S@scambs.gov.uk or 03450 450 063
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South Cambs Magazine
Environmental health
Allergen awareness If you prepare and sell food, are you confident you can tell customers exactly which allergens are in your recipes? On average, 5,000 people become seriously ill each year due to accidentally eating food they are allergic to. The majority of these avoidable incidents are caused by incorrect information being given out about allergenic ingredients when eating out. This is a growing issue in the UK, with hospital admissions relating to allergies rising by 87% since 2002. In December 2014, it became a requirement for anyone selling food to inform customers about the allergenic ingredients used in each recipe. Restaurants, cafes, street vendors, stallholders and catering companies must be able to inform customers if any of the 14 listed allergens are present in their food. If they can't, they could face formal action, including prosecution. The rules have been welcome news for the estimated two million people in the UK that live with food allergies who can now make safer food choices. It’s no longer acceptable to state that you don’t know if an allergen is present, or that foods may contain allergens. There is however, some flexibility on how you provide allergen information. It can be documented on menus, labels or chalkboards, making it easier for service staff, or communicated verbally. If you choose to provide the information on request only, you must have a prominent notice to let customers know they can ask for allergen information.
Top tips for businesses:
Know your ingredients, including those in packaged food Watch out for cross contamination Train staff (the Food Standards Agency provides training) Use an allergen matrix (templates can be downloaded at www.food.gov.uk/allergens) Ensure all information displayed is up to date Be aware of hidden or unexpected allergens, such as:
sauces containing fish, e.g. Worcester Sauce
pesto containing nuts and milk
Amaretto biscuits containing almonds
Quorn containing egg
tomato ketchups and yeast extracts containing celery
stock cubes containing wheat or celery
biscuits containing milk
Top tips for consumers: Make the business aware of your allergy Ask questions about ingredients Don’t buy the food if you are not confident in the response If you wish to seek advice or report concerns about any food provider, contact us on Duty.H&ES@scambs.gov.uk or 03450 450 063
Spring 2016
The fourteen common allergens:
1 3 5 7 9
Celery
Crustaceans
Fish
Milk
Mustard
11
Peanuts
13 Soya
2 4
Cereals
Eggs
Lupin
6
8 10 12
Molluscs
Nuts
Sesame seeds
14
Sulphur dioxide (sulphates) www.scambs.gov.uk
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Sport
South Cambs Magazine
Back to the paddle board Looking for a fun new sport, or something different for a party? Paddle boarding could be just the thing.
From 1 May through to the end of September we're bringing qualified instructor-led paddle boarding back to Milton Country Park. Suitable for all ages and abilities, we're offering short sessions and courses, and can also arrange and run group activities on request. Below is just some of the feedback from two paddle boarding birthday parties last summer, one for 10 year olds and another for teenagers. Our instructors tailor parties to age and water confidence levels. And of course, everyone ends up in the water!
Matthew's party
Lucy's party
"I went to Matthew's paddle boarding party at the park and really enjoyed it. They also ran a session at Milton summer fayre and I had another go. "I really liked the freedom of being out on the board. The course taught me the skills to paddle board safely. The instructor was great and the course was really fun and laid back. "I can now confidently take a board out on my own. I am looking forward to improving my skills and maybe taking a board out on the sea!"
"We got to play about all together and go as fast as we could down the lake! "The water wasn't cold at all although it didn't taste particularly nice! "I am quite scared of the water but I did the whole session with some help and they didn't let anyone push me in. But I did jump in at the end though."
New 2016 paddleb oarding courses Quick start
One hour course covering safety, equipment and basic strokes. Great for first timers or if you've had a go before. £14 per person - block book for a discounted price. Fridays from 13 May to 23 September: 4.30pm to 5.30pm Every other Saturday from 7 May to 24 September: 10am to 11am, 11am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 1pm.
Qualification courses
Three week course leading to a British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) qualification. Pass, and you can hire a paddle board and go out on your own at Milton Country Park during our open sessions (under 18s must still be accompanied by a BSUPA qualified adult). Thursday adult courses: three weeks, 5.30pm to 6.45pm, £50 per person Thursday 12 to 18 year olds: three weeks, 5.30pm to 6.45pm, £50 per person.
Adults with past experience can qualify in one intensive session: Saturday adult courses, 10am to 1pm, £40 per person For more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk/paddle-boarding or contact us on paddleboarding@scambs.gov.uk or 01954 713070
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Sport
South Cambs Magazine
Easter holiday camps If you are looking for activities to keep your children active over Easter, our fun, friendly and interactive sports camps may be just the ticket. All activities are for 7 to 15 year olds.
All Ability Golf Wednesday 6 April
10am to 12noon at Bourn Golf Club, cost £7
Athletics Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 March
Wilberforce Road Athletics Track, Cambridge - 10am to 3.30pm
Netball - Thursday 31 March and Friday 1 April
Impington Sports Centre, New Road, Impington - 10am to 3.30pm Activities are open to all abilities and cost: £20 for one day £34 for two days £46 for three days £58 for four days £34 for two siblings on the same day
For more information and to book, email holiday.camps@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713070
IF YOUR WORKOUT DOESN’T CHALLENGE YOU IT WON’T CHANGE YOU No need to book, just turn up and work out!
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Sport
South Cambs Magazine
Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, but did you know that it can help people with long term medical conditions like back pain or asthma? Active & Healthy for Life is our local exercise referral scheme. It provides personalised 12 week fitness programmes drawn up and supervised by qualified instructors. Its aim is to help people gain health benefits from a more active lifestyle. If you have a condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, anxiety, back pain, asthma or certain types of arthritis, then ask your GP, nurse or physiotherapist about being referred. We provide funding to help keep the costs of taking part low.
Adrian Hicks was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2014. It gave him chronic back pain, which physiotherapy was not relieving. Adrian's GP suggested he try Active & Healthy for Life. Sawston Sports Centre fitness instructor, Steven Croft, advised Adrian on which exercises would help his back pain, creating a personalised gym routine. Starting slowly, Adrian has built his exercise up, adjusting his routine as his fitness improves. He said: "Every little bit you can do really does help. I started with just two to three minutes on a slowmoving treadmill, but can now keep going for 15." At his six week assessment, Steven told Adrian that if he felt he was able to do more, then he should. "To begin with, I was in so much pain that I thought it can’t be doing me any good. The reassurance from Steven that it would help was crucial." said Adrian. Adrian stuck to his programme, coming in for an hour a week alongside his wife, Helen. When the 12 weeks were up, he joined the gym and now visits three times a week. "I'm still in some pain - that’s MS for you - but I can hop in the car and in and out of bed and do all the essential things. Before I was struggling so much, I literally couldn’t get out of bed. I think without the exercise I’d be in a wheelchair now.” Adrian admits he was daunted at first, but Steven the insructor was always on hand and happy to chat. Now, he encourages others to try the scheme. "If you don’t do it, no-one else can do it for you. You’ve just got to do it. Don’t give up.”
For more information about Active and Healthy for Life, visit: www.scambs.gov.uk/active email AandH4L@scambs.gov.uk
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