SouthCambs Magazine
www.scambs.gov.uk
Autumn 2016
Devolution latest Photo: Amy Warnford-Davis - young photographer of the year (see page 36)
See page 16
Are you registered to vote? See page 21
Half-term sport camps See page 45
Tickets to Pride a nd with aft Prejudice ernoon tea See pa ge 28
Welcome
South Cambs Magazine
Welcome to the autumn issue of South Cambs Magazine
What a fantastic summer of sport we have been treated to locally, nationally and internationally. Within the district, thousands of people flocked to Parklife - our free family fun day - to try their hand at a range of sporting activities and entertainment. Parklife got up and running in advance of London 2012 and aims to try and get as many people taking part in sport as possible. The day was a huge success - you can find out more on page 36. The football euros perhaps need to be skimmed over quickly, unless, like one of my cabinet colleagues, Mark Howell, you are Welsh. Brilliant effort reaching the semi finals! We have also been treated to a sporting festival with the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. I hope all these will inspire more people to take part in sports. On page 45 you will find more on some half-term opportunities for young people to have fun while getting active. Since taking over as Leader of the Council in May, I have learnt more and more about the challenges our communities face. One of those is clearly housing and this is a top priority. Read page 15 for more about the issues that I want to make sure are top of the Council’s agenda. Cllr Peter Topping 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.
Contents Contact us ............................... 4 Planning .................................. 6 About Your Council ................. 13 Waste & Recycling ................. 23 Housing .................................. 27 Competition ........................... 28 Community .............................. 29 Environmental Health ............. 41 Sport ...................................... 45
South Cambs Magazine Enquiries 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
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South.CambsMagazine@scambs.gov.uk 03450 450 500 Autumn 2016
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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 Benefits:
call: benefits@scambs.gov.uk
03450 450 061
Building buildingcontrol@ Control: 3Csharedservices.org
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
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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
Autumn 2016
Planning
South Cambs Magazine
New train station on track A new £50 million railway station on the northern edge of Cambridge could open as early as May next year. Construction of the station, which will see 3,000 passengers use it each day, will transform train travel to one of Cambridge’s main business areas - including the Science Park, St John’s Innovation Centre and the Cambridge Business Park. A station to the north of the city will mean people from villages that side of Cambridge will no longer need to cross town to catch a train. This will help reduce congestion in the city. The station will act as a transport hub, including good cycle connections and a direct link to the guided busway. This will help people use their cars less. It will give fast access to London on the King's Lynn to King's Cross line. Once completed, the station will have three platforms plus parking for 450 vehicles and 1,000 cycles and some of its power will come from banks of solar panels on the roof. Around 60 tonnes of steelwork have been used to lay the track, install train line switch points, overhead cables, power supply and platforms. Cllr Tim Wotherspoon, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “We hope that the station will be the first part of a vibrant redevelopment of the area around it which will ultimately include new homes, shops and offices. It is really important that all parties involved continue to work closely together so that we plan the redevelopment of the area in a coordinated way."
Lifts at the new station were put into place overnight
Cambridge Business Park
Milton Road
Guided Busway extension
New station
6 www.scambs.gov.uk
Autumn 2016
Planning
South Cambs Magazine
Local Plan hearings resume
Government planning inspectors have published details about when the next topics will be looked at as they continue their examination of our Local Plan. The hearings resumed in June after we carried out further work the inspectors had requested on topics such as the number of homes being planned for. Hearings about issues specific to our district will start on 1 November. After kicking off by looking at climate change issues, the inspectors will move on to the policies we have about making sure our local communities will have the services and facilities that they will need, such as shops, health centres and community centres. We want to protect the facilities that already exist in our communities and make sure new towns or villages include them when they are being planned. The Local Plan sets out proposals for jobs and homes to meet our needs to 2031. It proposes housing in a new town north of Waterbeach, a new village at Bourn Airfield and an extension to Cambourne. These big ‘strategic’ sites will be considered by the planning inspectors at hearings next year, dates for these will be published in due course. The Local Plan has also proposed housing sites in villages such as Sawston, Histon and Impington. The hearings are all taking place at our offices on the Cambourne Business Park. You are welcome to come along to listen to the discussions. For the latest news and information on the Local Plan, and more details about what will be discussed at each examination hearing listed below, please visit www.scambs.gov.uk/local-plan-examination
Date
10am
2pm
Tue 1 Nov
Climate Change
Climate Change
Wed 2 Nov
Climate Change
Climate Change
Fri 4 Nov
Climate Change (extra session if required)
Wed 9 Nov
Promoting Successful Communities
Promoting Successful Communities
Thurs 10 Nov
Promoting Successful Communities
Promoting Successful Communities
Tues 29 Nov
Housing site allocation - Dales Manor Business Park, Sawston
Housing site allocation - land north of Babraham Road, Sawston
Wed 30 Nov
Housing site allocation - land south of Babraham Road, Sawston
Housing site allocation - land north of Impington Lane, Histon and Impington
Thurs 1 Dec
Housing site allocation - Bayer Crop Science Site, Hauxton
Housing development restrictions south of A1307, Linton
Fri 2 Dec
Housing site allocation - (extra session if required)
Tues 6 Dec
Delivering high quality homes
Delivering high quality homes
Wed 7 Dec
Delivering high quality homes
Delivering high quality homes
Thurs 8 Dec
Delivering high quality homes
Delivering high quality homes (extra session if required)
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Autumn 2016
Planning
South Cambs Magazine
Northstowe goes to school Hatton Park Primary School will be moving into the completed school at Northstowe from September as their own building in Longstanton gets a major makeover.
Cambridgeshire County Council has been working alongside teachers, parents and the developers for a smooth transition to the new site and to make sure everything is in place to welcome these special first occupants of Northstowe. Anthony Aguda, Head of Hatton Park Primary School, said: “It is great news that we have been able to move in to such fantastic facilities while our own building is being extended. The children and their families have already had the opportunity to visit the school and have a look around the building and grounds. They are really excited by the prospect of moving in.” Once the work at Hatton Park Primary School is completed the pupils will move back in.
Planning news
We have carried out a consultation after a planning application was submitted by Bloor Homes for the first homes to be built at Northstowe. We expect a series of applications from housebuilders to be submitted over the coming months so look out for more information on our website - www.scambs.gov.uk and click on the planning button. The housebuilders have said that, subject to planning permission, the first homes could begin to be built before the end of the year with the first residents moving in next spring.
Hatton Park Primary School pupils take the tour
Lots more news and information about Northstowe can be found by visiting www.northstowe.com
Planning
South Cambs Magazine
Green light for A14 improvement Improvements to the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon have been given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State.
Work is scheduled to begin in late 2016, with the road opened to traffic by the end of 2020, and includes: a major new bypass to the south of Huntingdon widening the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury widening the existing A14 between Swavesey and Milton improving junctions at Swavesey, Bar Hill and Girton
demolition of the A14 viaduct in Huntingdon
Some work will carry on beyond the opening of the new road.
What’s happening now? The challenging timescale for the scheme means that Highways England has already started some work.
Surveying Surveys help Highways England understand what archaeology there may be across the area of the proposed scheme, and will be used to determine what measures need to be in place before main construction starts. Earlier trenching identified domestic rural settlements and pre-historic ring ditches from Iron Age and Roman times. Archaeological surveys and work will take place throughout construction, with updates on any findings given along the way.
Community grants The A14 Community Fund has been launched, offering up to £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations for projects relating to the transformation the new road will bring to the area. These could range from environmental schemes to arts and heritage events or employment and skills projects. The fund’s focus is to bring communities closer together, reflecting the lasting impact the scheme will have on those living along the A14 corridor. Full details can be found at www.cambscf.org.uk/A14.html
Public information exhibitions
Find out more from the Highways England team at one of their public information exhibitions this autumn: Offord Village Hall Tuesday 27 September, 2pm - 8pm Hilton Village Hall Thursday 29 September, 2pm - 8pm Bar Hill Village Hall Saturday 1 October, 10am - 4pm Madingley Village Hall Tuesday 4 October, 2pm - 8pm Alconbury Memorial Hall Wednesday 5 October, 2pm - 8pm Brampton Memorial Centre Saturday 8 October, 10am - 4pm Milton All Saints Church Hall Tuesday 11 October, 2pm - 8pm Oakington Pavillion Saturday 15 October, 10am - 4pm Swavesey Memorial Hall Wednesday 19 October, 2pm - 8pm St Ives United Reform Free Church Thursday 20 October, 2pm - 8pm Godmanchester Judith's Field Hall Monday 24 October, 2pm - 8pm
Keep up to date
Stay informed about progress by signing up for email alerts at www.highways.gov.uk/A14C2H
Autumn 2016
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About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Keeping South Cambs moving The Greater Cambridge City Deal (GCCD) wants your views on plans to tackle peak-time congestion in Cambridge - but how will this affect residents in South Cambridgeshire? Plans to speed up bus travel, improve cycling and walking journeys and reduce peak-time traffic in Cambridge have been published - and now’s the time for you to have your say. The proposals are part of a wider plan to protect quality of life in South Cambridgeshire by developing better transport options alongside planned growth in the number of jobs and homes in the area over the next 15 years. Cllr Francis Burkitt, cabinet member for the GCCD and vice-chair of the Executive Board, said: “Tackling congestion, together with improved bus services, more investment in Park & Ride, bus priority and dedicated cycle lanes on key routes, open up the possibility of quick, reliable and more joined up trips into the city for residents in South Cambridgeshire. If you travel to and from the city, these plans are likely to affect you and it’s important that your voice is heard.”
The eight-point plan includes Better public transport and investment in Park & Rides - more services, express services and longer operating hours will all be considered
P
Workplace Parking Levy - a charge to employers for commuter parking spaces. The employer chooses whether to pass this on to staff
Public space and air quality - using opportunities to improve the general environment
P
Residents only
Better cycling and walking - further investment in a comprehensive cycle network linking towns and villages
Smart transport technology including reliable, real-time travel information and intelligent traffic signals to help people get from A to B faster and more easily
On-street parking controls - including expansion of Residents’ Parking Zones, would mean fewer free parking spots for commuters in the city
Peak-time Congestion Control Points ‘virtual closures’ for general traffic on some city roads during rush hours. Those who need to drive may need to find an alternative route during hours of operation
Travel planning - a service to help businesses and people adapt to the changes
Greater Cambridge City Deal Is a local partnership which includes South Cambridgeshire District Council. Using ring-fenced Government funding, it is working to secure future prosperity in the local area by tackling issues that could affect growth, with a focus on: investment in sustainable transport the affordability and availability of housing addressing the skills gap using innovation to improve quality of life
You can have your say until 10 October by visiting www.gccitydeal.co.uk/congestion The team can also be contacted on city.deal@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or by calling 01223 699906
Autumn 2016
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South Cambs Magazine
New Leader takes up office
A new Leader for the Council has set investment in better transport links and housing as two of his top priorities to support the continued economic success of the area. Cllr Peter Topping took up the role in May after the former Leader, Cllr Ray Manning, stood down after nine years at the helm. Cllr Topping said: “Cllr Manning put his heart and soul into trying to deliver the best possible services for local people for almost a decade and I want to pick up where he left off. “Nearly everyone I speak to in the area talks to me about the cost of housing and how tough it is for children who have grown up here to get on the housing ladder. We know more well-planned and high quality housing is needed to help people on a range of incomes. Making sure development is well-planned means transport links must keep pace and we are committed to this through initiatives such as the Greater Cambridge City Deal partnership.” A total of 57 councillors represent the villages across South Cambridgeshire To find out more about your local councillors visit www.scambs.gov.uk and click on ‘The Council’ button
About Your Council Cllr Topping supporting his local Whittlesford community on a regular litter pick
About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Devolution Regular readers will know that in the last edition we told you about a draft Devolution Deal covering the whole of East Anglia. The proposals suggested handing down additional responsibilities and funding from Government to the local area.
We also said that some concerns had been raised over the deal, particularly around the geography. Since the proposal for the initial deal was announced, we have been talking to the Government about a revised deal which would cover Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This revised area was accepted by Government and all the councils signed up to consulting local people on it. This consultation recently closed. We worked with other partners in the county to try and publicise it as much as possible and a telephone survey was also carried out to gather views from a broad range of people.
Peterborough Fenland
East Cambridgeshire
Huntingdonshire
The main headlines of the deal for our district include:
Cambridge City South Cambridgeshire
A new £20 million annual fund for the next 30 years (£600 million) to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs £170 million for affordable housing, including £100 million for affordable rented and shared ownership housing - particularly in response to housing issues in South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City A range of transport improvements, including the A10 north of Cambridge and the King’s Lynn to London rail line A local integrated job service working alongside the Department of Work and Pensions
The new deal could see additional responsibilities and funding for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Co-designing with Government a National Work and Health Programme focussed on those with a health condition or disability, as well as the long-term unemployed Devolved skills and apprenticeship budget – to give more opportunities to our young people The proposal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough would see a Combined Authority chaired by a directly elected Mayor Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have a lot of common challenges, one of the top ones for me is making housing generally more affordable for all. The funding this deal offers would give us the chance to make inroads on the housing issue as well as unlocking the funding and flexibility to help support the successful economy we have in Greater Cambridge. Other areas, such as Manchester, who have had a series of devolution deals have negotiated for more funding and powers to be devolved locally over time. If this first deal is secured we have a great opportunity to do likewise in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to make sure we continue to do what is best for local people."
Next steps
The consultation responses are being passed on to the Government. The Government will then tell us whether they are still content to proceed with a deal. If they are, all the councils and partner organisations involved will take a decision on whether to sign up to it in the autumn. A report will be presented to a meeting of all councillors. The full details of the devolution deal can be found by visiting www.gov.uk/government/publications/east-anglia-devolution-deal
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Autumn 2016
South Cambs Magazine
About Your Council
Collection high
A huge thank you to all our residents and businesses who have helped us retain the number one position in East Anglia for council tax and business rate collections. As well as being top in East Anglia we were second best collector of council tax in the country and 22nd best for business rates out of over 300 councils. Overall, just over £100 million in council tax was collected by the Council on behalf of ourselves, Cambridgeshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioners office, the Fire Authority and parish councils. Plus around a further £70 million of business rates. Cllr Simon Edwards, cabinet member for finance, said: “I would like to thank and congratulate our collection teams who do a fantastic job, but the success is also down to our residents and businesses making sure they pay on time. If you are struggling to pay your bill please talk to our experienced team sooner rather than later as we have a range of options to support you when you most need it. Ignoring a debt won’t make the problem go away."
More than seven out of 10 people currently pay their council tax by direct debit Around half of business rate bills are paid that way The quickest and easiest way to make sure your bills are paid on time is by setting up a direct debit. For more information and to set up a payment visit www.scambs.gov.uk/ways-pay-your-council-tax
About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
How is your council tax spent?
We are trying to make it as easy as possible for residents and businesses to see how we are spending your money to provide services locally. To break down the barriers for many of us to more easily understand how we are spending money we now produce a set of Plain English accounts. Plain English accounts provide a simple guide to our finances, showing how we're funded and how our budgets are spent. This year, we're presenting the information as an Annual Report, using case studies to relate expenditure on staffing and major investments more closely to what we have achieved.
Here is a small selection of our achievements and performance. During the year we: Launched an online form for benefits applications which has sped up the process for customers Delivered a new look website to help make it easier to find what you are looking for Diverted 56.7% of household waste from landfill - please keep recycling (see page 25) Started construction of 63 Affordable Homes on village ‘exception’ sites. These are sites where planning permission would not be given for market housing Prevented 150 families from becoming homeless Slashed housing benefit and council tax support claim processing times from 31 days to 12 Completed a successful trial of our housing company - Ermine Street Housing - providing much-needed local housing for rent whilst generating an income for us to invest in services people want and need. We also agreed £100m further investment Launched key accounts with major businesses and organisations in the district to help them have a single point of contact for us Granted planning permission for new roads, paths, cycleways, facilities and 3,500 homes on the second phase of Northstowe. We have since received a planning application from a housebuilder for the first 92 homes
Work to get Northstowe ready for the first homes to be built is taking place
Secured an enterprise zone for the area after applying to Government. This will encourage new businesses to set up at key sites in the district and create local jobs Successfully transferred Cambridge City Council waste operations to our Waterbeach Depot and put in place a shared management team, which is saving £140,000 a year
From 1 September you can find out more about our annual performance, or read our Annual Report, by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/content/our-performance. You can also contact Richard May on 01954 713366
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Autumn 2016
About Your Council
South Cambs Magazine
Make sure you are registered to vote We are urging everyone who is eligible to vote to make sure they are registered.
You can respond at a click of a button
The call to register is part of an annual canvass we do to make sure our electoral register is up to date and as accurate as possible. Registering to vote does not mean you are required to vote, but will mean you are set up and ready to vote should you wish to. Not being registered can also have a negative impact on your credit rating which can affect your ability to get a mortgage, credit card or other similar financial contracts. To make sure everyone has the best chance of registering, we have posted out a form to every household. This lists exactly who is currently registered to vote at the property. Each household should check the details and either confirm they are correct or amend them if necessary.
Getting back to us made easy The form includes a range of options for getting back to us. The quickest and easiest way for most people will be to go online. Don’t worry if you do not have internet access as there are other ways you can get in touch. All these details are on the form.
People at your address not listed as registered
Knock knock… who’s there?
Please get back to us to as soon as possible. If you do not respond we are legally required to keep sending reminders to you and eventually send a canvasser out to knock on your door to get the information. We would rather not do this.
If someone eligible to vote at your address is not listed on the form, please let us know. The form will ask them to carry out an additional registration process. We will send them a form if necessary, but they can go online immediately and register: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote We are also encouraging anyone between the ages of 16 and 18 to register now. You must be 18 to vote, but registering earlier means you are all set up and ready for when you reach 18. The law also allows university students to register at both their home and university address. This helps make sure they can vote whenever an election takes place. They can only vote once in any election though.
For more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk/elections or call our elections team on 03450 455 214 Autumn 2016
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South Cambs Magazine
Waste and recycling
Wastember
September plays host to Recycle Week, Zero Waste Week, and Waste Less Live More Week, marking a month-long effort to get people across the country recycling. In South Cambridgeshire, we are lucky enough to have one of the highest recycling rates in the country, but there is still more we can do to divert waste from landfill. Residents, businesses, community groups and schools all have a role to play and this September, we’re encouraging as many people as possible to pick up the recycling habit by raising awareness of the benefits and promoting easy ways to do more.
Zero Waste Week - 5 to 9 September This year’s theme is ‘use it up’ and aims to raise awareness of the environmental impact of waste. For more information, visit www.zerowasteweek.co.uk and for handy tips to help you reduce food waste go to www.lovefoodhatewaste.co.uk
Recycle Week - 12 to 18 September
Cllr Mark Howell, Environmental Services Portfolio Holder, recycles unusual suspects from around the home
Recycle Week focusses on ‘The Unusual Suspects’ and aims to encourage us to think about those items that often get forgotten about when recycling. Many of us are in the habit of recycling items from our kitchen, but a lot of packaging from bathroom items, garden and cleaning products, such as aerosols, bottles, sprays, boxes and toilet roll tubes, continues to be thrown into the black bin and sent to landfill. All these items can be recycled in the blue bin.
Did you know?
If every household in South Cambridgeshire recycled one more shampoo bottle a week, it would save enough energy to power a typical primary school for two weeks. If every household in South Cambridgeshire recycled one more hand soap bottle a month, it would save 36 tonnes of waste going to landfill each year. Every item you recycle makes a difference so please think about what you put in your black bin and ask yourself if it can be recycled instead? To find out what goes in which bin, see page 25. If your blue bin is full, you can leave any excess to the side of your bin in a returnable container or cardboard box. To find out more visit www.recyclenow.com
Waste Less Live More Week - 19 to 25 September Waste Less Live More Week is about rethinking how we live and making changes to reduce our environmental impact whilst improving our health and happiness. For more information and helpful tips, visit www.wastelesslivemore.com
Autumn 2016
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Waste Waste&&Recycling Recycling
South Cambs Magazine
Collection dates Blue bin
September
Gt Abington, Gt Shelford, Harston, Hauxton, Hildersham, Hinxton, Ickleton, Lt Abington, Lt Shelford, Pampisford, Stapleford
12 26 19 12 26
Monday B - Bartlow, Castle Camps,
September 19 12 26 19
Horseheath, Linton, Sawston, Shudy Camps
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 Tuesday B - Fen Ditton, Fulbourn/Cherry
Hinton (South of the railway), Girton, Milton, Oakington, Stow-cum-Quy, Westwick
Wednesday A - Bar Hill, Childerley,
13 27 20 13 27 September 20 13 27 20
Wednesday B - Boxworth, Caxton,
Conington, Cottenham, Elsworth, Fen Drayton, Lolworth, Over, Rampton, Willingham
September 21 14 28 21
Thursday A - Cambourne, Comberton,
September
Croxton, Eltisley, Graveley, Hardwick, Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Toft
15 29 22 15 29
Thursday B - Abington Pigotts, Arrington, Bassingbourn, Bourn, Croydon, Gamlingay, Guilden Morden, Hatley, Litlington, Longstowe, Lt Gransden, Shingay-cum-Wendy, Steeple Morden, Tadlow
September
Fowlmere, Gt Chishill, Heydon, Lt Chishill, Melbourn, Meldreth
24 ď Ž www.scambs.gov.uk
4
4 4
September 14 28 21 14 28
Friday B - Barrington, Caldecote, Duxford,
3 3
September
Chittering, Dry Drayton, Knapwell, Landbeach, Longstanton, Swavesey, Waterbeach
Friday A - Barton, Foxton, Grantchester, Gt Eversden, Harlton, Haslingfield, Kingston, Lt Eversden, Newton, Orwell, Shepreth, Thriplow & Heathfield, Whittlesford, Whaddon, Wimpole
3
15
22 29 22
5
5 5
23 30 23
Dec
10 24 17 31 10 24
7 7
5 5
October 31 17 10 24 31 17
November 14 28 7 21 14 28
Dec
October
November
Dec
8 8
6 6
11 25 18 11 25 October 18 11 25 18
1
1 1
12 26 19 12 26 October 19 12 26 19
2
2 2
October 6
13 27 20 13 27
6 6
13
20 27 20
3
14 28 21 14 28
3 3
14
21 28 21
5
22 29 22
November 15 29 8 22 15 29
Dec
November
Dec
9 9
7 7
16
6
23 30 23
November 16 30 9 23 16 30
Dec 7
10 24 17 10 24
Dec 1
10
17 24 17
4
11 25 18 11 25
1 1
11
18 25 18
8
Dec 2
November 4 4
8 8 Dec
November
October 7 7
15
21 28 21
November
October 7
14
November
October
September 16
November
October
September 16 30 23 16 30
October
9 9 Dec
2 2
9
You can also visit www.scambs.gov.uk/services/waste-and-recycling to find out about bin collection days
Monday A - Babraham, Balsham,
Please note: We are currently reviewing our bin collection rounds to make sure we continue to collect your bins as efficiently as possible. This could mean that your collection day may change in the future. We will let you know in advance of any changes.
Black bin
The winter edition of South Cambs Magazine will be delivered between 22 November and 11 December. This will include your Christmas and New Year bin collection dates.
Green bin
Bins must be out by 6am on your collection day
Autumn 2016
Waste & Recycling
South Cambs Magazine
What goes where? Blue bin
Extra blue bin recycling will be collected if left alongside your blue bin in a cardboard box or returnable container
Bins must be out by 6am on your collection day Close lids firmly
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, bubble wrap & 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
Batteries
Rinse items to remove any food contamination
Batteries inc. AA & AAA cells, button batteries, size C & D and any laptop & mobile battery
Squash cartons and plastic bottles, flatten boxes
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 in an old envelope)
Please remember to recycle from all rooms
Kitchen caddy
Available for free from our Cambourne offices - use them in the kitchen 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 consider donating items and recycling before placing them in your black bin We cannot collect extra black bin material. Please take it to Milton or Thriplow Recycling Centres Disposable 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 Autumn 2016
TEA OUT R ME & ME T STICK O YO UR FRID GE
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South Cambs Magazine
New tenants move in We’ve handed over the keys to 20 happy new tenants after our affordable housing scheme was completed in Swavesey. The homes on Home Close are being rented out to people who are local to the village or who have a connection through family or work. They were built on a site on the edge of the village where planning permission wouldn’t normally be given for homes that would be sold or rented out at market rates. Jill Vass is the local postwoman for Swavesey. She has recently moved in to one of the new homes after successfully securing it through our Homelink allocations system. She said: “I am so pleased I applied for the house. I have worked in Swavesey for over three years and cycled every day from Willingham in all weathers. It is a lovely new home, surrounded by lovely people in a lovely village. This is an exciting new chapter in my life.” The building works at the site took 12 months to complete. We are pleased to be able to tell you that 15 more affordable homes for local people are currently being built in Fowlmere Road, Foxton. We expect these to be completed by the end of the year. For more information on housing visit www.scambs.gov.uk and click on the housing button
Housing Jill Vass is one of the new tenants at Swavesey
Competition
South Cambs Magazine
WIN
afternoon tea and tickets to Pride and Prejudice! Cambridge Corn Exchange has teamed up with Hilton City Centre Cambridge to offer a Jane Austen style afternoon for four lucky people.
Start by relaxing with a luxurious afternoon tea at the Hilton in Cambridge where you’ll indulge in a selection of sweet and savoury treats. Then just around the corner, be dazzled by Regent’s Park Theatre’s new adaptation of Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question: What was Pride and Prejudice originally called? a) First Impressions b) Put a Ring on It c) Dating and Dancing You can enter the competition online at www.scambs.gov.uk by clicking on ‘Apply for It’ then selecting ‘Readers’ Competition’. Don’t have internet access? You can 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 Cambridgeshire CB23 6EA Closing date for entries is midday on Monday 26 September 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 Tuesday 27 September and announced in the winter edition of South Cambs Magazine.
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Pride and Prejudice will be at the Cambridge Corn Exchange from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 October. For more info visit cornex.co.uk
Winner’s spotlight Congratulations to Sophie Jackson of Papworth Everard who will be enjoying a weekend break thanks to our summer magazine competition sponsors Your Space Apartments. We asked readers when our free summer family fun day took place. The answer was 17 July. It was a fantastic day. Sophie said: "Wow!! I am really surprised. I am really looking forward to the getaway."
Autumn 2016
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Protecting community assets
We’re urging local communities to think about how they might club together to purchase vital village facilities if they were ever put up for sale. Since new national legislation, called the Community Right to Bid, was introduced a couple of years ago, groups across the district have been telling us how important to them local facilities are, including their village pub, shops and recreation grounds. They have also successfully listed them as Assets of Community Value (ACV) to give them more protection. However, telling us how vital an asset is and successfully listing it on our register is only the first step when trying to protect land and buildings that people want to see retained for community use. The bit that can be more challenging is how communities can pull together the finance and submit a realistic bid for the asset. Rather than waiting for the asset to be put up for sale we’re encouraging communities to plan ahead and think how they might finance a buy-out if an asset is put up for sale in the future. Many local pubs have been sucessfully listed as an ACV. Advice and finance to support a buy-out is available from the Community Pub Business Support Programme, lead by the Plunkett Foundation.
Watch our YouTube videos that explain more at: http://bit.ly/penguinACV and http://bit.ly/penguinACV2
To find out more about the Community Right to Bid, visit www.scambs.gov.uk/community-right-bid
More villages on the superfast highway
Superfast broadband is reaching more of our communities as the county-wide rollout continues at pace to close gaps in coverage. Horningsea and Histon are among the most recent villages to go live with fibre broadband through the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme, which is on track to reach over 95% of homes and businesses in the county by the end of next year. The programme is working with BT and Openreach to extend the fibre network to smaller communities and hard-to-reach areas using the Bake Off finalist Ian latest technology. Cumming celebrates South Cambridgeshire has seen record take up of superfast with cake broadband, but it’s not automatic - you have to upgrade to a fibre package with an Internet Service Provider first. Visit www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk to view the latest rollout updates and find about the options available. Ian Cumming www.icimages.com
‘Piece of cake’ for TV Bake Off star
Sending top quality pictures worldwide is now a ‘piece of cake’ for travel photographer and star baker Ian Cumming, who upgraded to superfast fibre broadband as soon as his home village of Great Wilbraham went live. Ian said: “Getting superfast broadband has made an enormous difference. It is amazingly quick, which is particularly good for the photography side of my work. I am grateful that Connecting Cambridgeshire made it happen for our village.”
Autumn 2016
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Community
South Cambs Magazine
Cash for communities We’ve awarded nearly £50,000 since April this year to community projects that benefit local people. Our Community Chest fund supports projects with grants of up to £1,500. Local voluntary and community groups, charities and parish councils can apply for funding towards:
improvements to community facilities repairs to historic buildings, monuments or memorials tree and hedge planting equipment, capital or materials start-up costs
1st Whittlesford & Duxford Scout Group Purchasing a bespoke indoor caving and climbing system was made possible with a £1,500 grant. Steve Marshall, Group Scout Leader, said:
“Thanks to the funding, we now have a one of a kind facility that both Scouts and the wider community can enjoy.”
Waterbeach-based charity Eddie’s They used their £900 grant to buy specialist equipment for their Fulbourn hydrotherapy pool, which is used by people with learning disabilities and physical support needs. Lloyd Taylor, Hydrotherapy Services Manager, said:
“The buoyancy aids we’ve bought have been specially developed by Martin Mansell, a Paralympic swimmer and Team GB swim Coach, and should help our swimmers develop both their skills and confidence levels.”
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Autumn 2016
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Little Shelford recreation ground A popular and scenic walk along the River Cam in Little Shelford has benefited from a £900 grant, which paid for extensive repairs to a wooden footbridge across a former ice pond on Wale Recreation Ground. Resident, Robin Haines, who applied for the grant on behalf of Little Shelford Parish Council, said:
“Repairing the bridge made a real difference to villagers and visitors alike who can now continue enjoying our beautiful walk and it will be even more popular once we have renovated the adjacent children playground, for which we are now fundraising.”
Horningsea Residents’ Association Children were able to play in a refurbished play area in Horningsea from the beginning of the summer holidays, after £1,500 was awarded to Horningsea Residents’ Association towards play equipment repairs. Michael Hellowell, of the residents’ association, said:
“Some of the equipment had been cordoned off after a safety inspection earlier this year, so the money is helping to get the whole park safely back up and running.”
Other grants this year have helped towards:
equipment to kick start Balsham’s community cinema folding tables for use at social events in Lolworth and surrounding villages re-laying and widening the path at the Grantchester Reading Room to allow wheelchair access replacing rotten doors at the Arrington Assembly Rooms renovation works at Histon Methodist Church replacement goals for Papworth Blasters FC new mini league goals and training equipment for Willingham Wolves
Autumn 2016
Money was still left in the funding pot
as we went to print, but will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. If your group is interested in applying, don’t delay! Find out more at www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest or contact us on duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk or 01954 713070
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Community
South Cambs Magazine
Don't make do but mend
What do you do with a chipped bowl? A jumper with a hole in it? A mobile phone with a cracked screen? A toaster that no longer works? ... Toss it? No way! Find your nearest Repair Café. A roving Repair Café network was launched in South Cambridgeshire in July with the first event taking place in Histon. Repair Cafés are free meetings where visitors bring broken items and volunteer repairers, with skills in all kinds of fields, help to fix them, passing on their tips in the process. Repairers welcome furniture, electrical appliances, mobile phones, bicycles, crockery, toys and clothes. They help people to save money and reduce waste but, above all, they enjoy mending things together. Paul Bearpark, a repairer from Waterbeach, said: "I have really enjoyed being able to put my skills and experience to good use. Visitors who come to Repair Cafés are always grateful, whether or not you have been able to repair their broken item." For more information visit www.repaircafe.org.uk or call Siobhan Mellon on 01954 713395
Upcoming Repair Cafés Fulbourn: Saturday 24 September, Townley Memorial Hall, Home End, 2 - 5pm Waterbeach: Saturday 22 October, Salvation Army Hall, 7 Station Road, 10am - 1pm Cottenham: Saturday 5 November, Community Centre 250A High Street, 10am - 2pm
Ageing well With 24.1% of the district’s population aged 60 and over, services for older people are a vital part of village life. With National Older People’s Day approaching, could your community do more?
An innovative project in Histon and Impington is helping people to live independently for longer and reduce isolation - and we can help your area to do the same. Jean Newman, was recruited into the role of older people’s coordinator in 2011. Employed by a community minibus charity, Jean’s post is funded and supported by local charities, the parish council and churches. Some of the ways Jean helps villagers, include:
signposting services like meals on wheels, emergency pendants and handyperson schemes arranging social groups and events supporting village groups for stroke survivors, singing and exercise coordinating a village shopping service with minibus transport writing regular advice articles for the local newsletter.
Local older people are also getting to know Jean personally, meaning that she can point them to help that best fits their needs. The role has been so successful that a second coordinator is being recruited. Our officers can help your community set up a similar project. We can advise you on funding; project scoping, negotiating joint working with other parishes, making links with services for older people and more. For information and help, contact duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713070
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Autumn 2016
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Family fun at sporting extravaganza
Over 5,000 people flocked to our free family fun day Parklife - at Milton Country Park this summer.
Mountai
A glorious sunny July day drew in the crowds as people of all ages enjoyed an action packed event full of free sporting taster sessions, fun activities for children, entertainment and music. Activities on offer included kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, climbing walls, zorbing, cycling and den building in the Wild Zone. For the first time this year the event featured a hovercraft that people could hop on board. This was supplied by HoverAid, a local charity that delivers vital supplies to remote communities in Madagascar. There was a donation to the charity for this activity. The event also featured a Wild South Cambs young photographer of the year competition. The winning entry was from Amy Warnford-Davis, aged 13, from Sawston. Her fantastic photo is featured on the cover of the magazine. Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member responsible for sport, said: “The event was a huge success and it was fantastic to see so many people with huge smiles on their faces having fun while enjoying taking part in a whole host of sporting activities. The weather always plays a big part in attracting crowds and it was great that the day was bright after a very wet June. “We are very thankful to our sponsors for their support and would encourage any businesses to get in touch if they want to get involved in this event in the future.”
Calling all businesses
For more information about sponsorship opportunities at Parklife 2017, please contact partnerships@scambs.gov.uk or call Kirstin Donaldson on 01954 712908
ms!
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Famil y fun
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Autumn 2016
Community
South Cambs Magazine
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Community
South Cambs Magazine
Car scheme marks milestone A successful community car scheme celebrated reaching its fifth anniversary and 3000th journey with a tea party for customers and volunteers.
Serving the residents of Over, Willingham, Longstanton and Swavesey, OWLS Community Car Scheme provides a valued door-to-door service for medical and social journeys, helping people who don’t have the use of a car and can’t access public transport. The scheme has around 170 clients on its books and is run solely by volunteers, including five coordinators and 20 drivers. OWLS is one of many local community car schemes looking to recruit more volunteer drivers and extra coordinators - who take phone bookings and match journeys to drivers. Margaret Guest, OWLS volunteer driver, said: “It’s such a rewarding thing to do, the clients are so appreciative and I like to think that, one day I might need that service, and I hope that somebody will be there to do it for me.” If you’re interested in volunteering, or would like to start a scheme for your village, please email alix.c@care-network.org For more information about OWLS, and the many other community car schemes operating in South Cambridgeshire, visit www.scambs.gov.uk/community-transport
ut ore abo m t u o d Fin g by visitin Tube mbsYou a C h t u Bit.ly/So
Community
South Cambs Magazine
Supporting disability
If you or a member of your family is disabled, or you care for someone with disabilities, you can now receive advice, information and support from Disability Huntingdonshire (DISH). The charity has been helping people with disabilities to live independently for over 23 years and, with funding from our Service Support Grant scheme, it has extended its service to South Cambridgeshire. As well as helping people with physical disabilities, the charity’s free, independent and impartial service also helps people with learning difficulties, sensory impairments and mental health issues. Our grant will help the DISH team of trained staff and volunteers offer face- to-face, over the phone and email support on matters ranging from benefits, mobility and employment issues to sport, education and housing. The service can also help with letter writing, form-filling, making complaints, appealing to tribunals and official bodies. Residents can arrange to visit the charity’s Papworth office, or request a home visit if travelling is difficult.
Complex forms can be a barrier that DISH can help remove
Helping local people An older Fowlmere resident was helped to apply for Attendance Allowance for personal care. He was referred to DISH by a friend and was initially reluctant to apply, but his application was successful. He said: “Right from the word ‘go’ the team of staff and volunteers put me at ease, showing great tolerance and encouragement in the most pleasant manner. I warmed to their highly skilled interview technique - they certainly know how to grease the wheels.” A Longstanton resident was supported in applying for Employment and Support Allowance. She said: “If I hadn’t got this benefit I would not have been able to survive. Having Disability Huntingdonshire help identify my entitlement and support my application has literally meant survival.”
Our grant scheme Our Service Support Grant scheme has awarded over £400,000 to community groups and organisations delivering vital services and welfare advice to local people over the next three years. We fund a range of groups from transport providers, homelessness prevention schemes, support for children to be school-ready and, like Disability Huntingdonshire, organisations providing help for independent living. For more information about DISH, visit www.dish.org.uk email info@dish.org.uk or call 01480 748168
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Autumn 2016
South Cambs Magazine
Environmental Health
Be prepared for flood risk
We are urging anyone who has been flooded in the past, or is concerned about flooding in the future, to think now about how they can take measures to protect their own home.
Severe weather that leads to flash flooding is becoming a part of the changing UK weather pattern and it is important for people to be as prepared as they can be. We do all we can to support communities when flooding happens, including providing sandbags to those at imminent risk of flooding and help with housing for vulnerable people who are affected. However, we know from recent experience that it is simply not possible to get to everyone who needs help with sandbags when flooding hits. Flooded and gridlocked roads make this even more difficult. Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member for environmental health, said: “It is really important to plan ahead for flooding, particularly if you know your home is at higher risk. This could range from purchasing sandbags and having them on hand just in case, to installing floodgates to protect doors and garages and airbrick covers where they are close to the ground. Please do not wait until it is too late.� For more advice on preparing for a flood, and getting help during and after a flood, visit www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood
Greater powers on fly-grazing
Horses being illegally grazed on land without permission is a serious and expensive problem for landowners, local authorities, welfare charities and taxpayers in our area and across the UK. With the problem significantly increasing over recent years, new laws have been introduced to clamp down on people illegally grazing or abandoning horses on public or private land - known as fly-grazing. Concerns surround the welfare of the horses themselves, which are at risk of abandonment and neglect, and which often find their way on to nearby roads and pose a potential danger to other road users. Under new laws, horse owners who fly-graze their animals can be dealt with more quickly and effectively. If the owner fails to claim and remove their animal within four days of it being reported, the landowner can now take a range of actions. They can re-home seized horses to charities, re-home them privately or sell them privately. If you are suspicious that horses are fly-grazing on public land near you, or you have found horses abandoned or tethered on your land, you can report it to the police by calling 101. If you feel there is an immediate risk to the horse or road users, call 999
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Environmental Health
South Cambs Magazine
Starve your black bin
Residents are being urged to starve their black bins of food waste by reusing and composting as much as possible. As a nation, we throw away an excessive seven million tonnes of food and drink each year, most of which could be consumed. This costs the country £12.5 billion a year, but the cost to the environment is greater. Closer to home in South Cambridgeshire, we throw away approximately 15,600 tonnes of food and drink each year at an annual cost of around £700 per household. It’s not only the food itself that is wasted, but the resources used to produce it, harvest or slaughter it, process and manufacture it, package, transport and store it. All this adds pressure to our finite resources.
Did you know? If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest polluter in the world after China and the US The most common reasons for throwing away food is that we prepare too much or we don’t use it in time If we all stop wasting food that could have been eaten, the benefit to the planet would be the equivalent of taking one in four cars off the road We have put together some top tips and ideas to help you avoid wasting food at home: Check your dates. A use-by relates to safety, you need to consume or freeze items by the date shown. A best-before is about quality, you can still consume items past the date shown Plan your meals for the week ahead and only buy what you need - leave one or two days free for possible leftovers Check your cupboards before shopping so you don’t double up or buy extras that you won’t use Store your food in the best way possible to keep it fresh for longer and freeze items, where suitable, as soon as you know you won’t eat them by the use-by date Dish up small portions and go back for seconds if you’re still hungry. Save leftovers for another day
For more tips and information, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com Unavoidable waste, Things such as tea bags, egg shells, skin and peelings can be thrown in the green bin, we then turn it into soil improver at our waste management plant in Waterbeach. You can pick up a free kitchen food caddy from our Cambourne office. If you’re a food grower - a farmer, business, school or allotment owner - you can sign up to Foodshare and donate surplus produce to local charities. This scheme reduces food waste, the spiralling bills of charities, and shares surplus food and drink with those who will benefit most. For more information, visit www.foodshare.org.uk
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Autumn 2016
Sport
South Cambs Magazine
Half-term holiday camps Looking for activities for your 7 to 15 year old during the October half term? Our fun and friendly sports camps are just what you’re looking for!
We went to our netball sports camp in May and talked to young people and coaches about why you should book a place.
Watch what they said on our video at
Bit.ly/SouthCambsYouTube
Athletics - 26 October
Wilberforce Road Athletics Track, Cambridge - 10am to 3.30pm
Netball - 27 and 28 October Impington Sports Centre (outdoors), New Road, Impington - 10am to 3.30pm
Camps are open to all abilities and cost:
£20 for one day £34 for two days £46 for three days £34 for two siblings on the same day
For more information, and to book a place, contact: holiday.camps@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713070
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Sport
South Cambs Magazine
Athletics for all
Over 100 young people with learning difficulties or physical disabilities had a sporting time at our annual athletics event in June.
Pupils aged between 10 and 19 years old came from six Cambridgeshire schools to take part in activities ranging from relays and throwing at targets to shot putting and sprinting. Events were adapted to allow all competitors to fully join in, and the day ended with an extremely competitive team relay race. Held annually, the Outdoor Athletics Plus competition forms part of the countywide Ability Plus programme. Certificates were awarded for the Paralympic values: determination, excellence, courage, inspiration, equality, friendship and respect. Medals were also awarded for the fastest 100m sprint time in each school year for both girls and boys. Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member with responsibility for sport, said: “There are lots of sports and activities out there that can be adapted for inclusivity and this event was a great opportunity for competitors to have a go at something new. “There was a lot of talent on show and everyone taking part was having a great time. I was really impressed that three Year 10 boys sprinted 100m in under 13 seconds. Hopefully we’ll have inspired some future Cambridgeshire Paralympians!”