Residents of South Cambs are being asked to help shape South Cambs vision

Communities are being asked to give their views on draft plans that set out the aims and objectives for South Cambridgeshire District Council over the next five years.

Cabinet Members debated a report by the Council's management team on Thursday 10 November that made keeping South Cambridgeshire top of the tree as the best place to live in the country - and now residents are being asked for their views.

Councillors are asking residents whether the plans they have proposed meet the needs and aims of people living in South Cambridgeshire.

The three main aims that have been proposed would see the Council focus on working with partners to create more business opportunities in the district, delivering first class and good value services to residents, and continuing to make South Cambridgeshire the top place to live in the country.

Specific actions for the next twelve months to drive the authority toward its overall aims will also be agreed as part of the plan. Once plans are in place the Council will then agree how progress will be measured.

Information about the proposed aims for the Council is available on South Cambridgeshire District Council's website - www.scambs.gov.uk - and information is also being included in South Cambridgeshire's residents' magazine which will begin being delivered to all homes in the district at the end of November.

Comments from residents need to be received by Friday 20 January so they can be considered when plans are finalised at the Council's budget setting meeting in February next year.

Grants to develop future sporting champions

Athletes from across South Cambridgeshire are being given a helping hand with grants as they bid to become future sporting champions.

Seven young sports men and women from across the district were the latest to receive a financial boost from South Cambridgeshire District Council, as the authority aims to help elite athletes develop.

Grants of up to £2,000 for people who complete at regional, national or international level have been made available as part of a three-year programme to develop future sporting champions in South Cambridgeshire leading up to the London Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Grants have already helped 50 people in the district and councillors are asking other future champions from South Cambridgeshire to step forward as grants are still available.

Funding can be used to help buy equipment, improve training or even help with transport.

The latest round of funding saw £2,350 being invested in seven young people - with grants ranging from £150 to £500.

To apply for a grant download an application form by visiting www.scambs/london2012, or contact Joseph Minutolo on 01954 713359 or joseph.minutolo@scambs.gov.uk.

National home swap for South Cambs council tenants

Housing bosses in South Cambridgeshire have welcomed a new Government initiative that will make it easier for Council house tenants to move.

The new 'HomeSwap Direct' website provides a one stop shop where social housing tenants who want to move - to be closer to a new job, their family, or to a property better suited to their needs - can view all potential swaps available across the country.

South Cambridgeshire already works with tenants to help them find a more suitable property, and an online initiative to help people to exchange properties across Cambridgeshire and parts of Suffolk had been running for nearly 4 years.

But Councillors say the national swap scheme will now open up more options for tenants who want to move further afield.

In South Cambridgeshire around 5,500 homes are owned by the Council and an estimated 8 million people live in social housing across the UK.

A housing watchdog has named South Cambridgeshire District Council as a top performing local authority for services to tenants.

Housemark - the independent body responsible for monitoring performance of Councils and Housing Associations - recognised the Council for achieving the highest satisfaction level following a survey of housing tenants.

The Council was praised for improvements to customer service, their response when repairs are needed and for the improvements made to properties.

As well as scooping the title of top performing local authority landlord, South Cambridgeshire was recognised for boosting satisfaction figures by more than any other Council – a rise of 8%.

Contact Bar Hill Distrcit Councillors Bunty Waters and Roger Hall

      Bunty Waters 

            Phone  01954 201421 / 07734 690580.
            E-mail  bunty.waters@ntlworld.com.

      Roger Hall
            Phone 01954 780304.
            E-mail  roger.hall90@ntlworld.com.

Your local District and County Councillors

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