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Category Archives: Youth

Parish Council Budget Consultation

In its current round of budget consultations the County Council has asked a number of questions, one of which is whether Parish Councils should do more to offset the reductions in County budgets.

Particularly in the light of this, the Parish Council would like to get the views from Council Tax payers in Histon and Impington on its spending.

The work of the Parish Council is largely funded by Council Tax – that’s money paid by each household and collected by South Cambridgeshire District Council. Some money comes in from fees for use of the Recreation Ground and Pavilion, from the civic Cemetery, and from interest on deposits – but by far the largest amount comes in from Council Tax.

For this year (2015/2016) the Parish component of Council Tax is £91.18 a year for a Band D property. The top band (Band H) properties would have to pay twice that (£182.36) and the bottom band (Band A) two thirds of that (£60.79). In all cases some households are eligible for discounts on the tax payable.

The Parish Council is particularly interested in your views on its work and spend in the following areas:

  • Youth
  • Older people
  • Highways
  • Environment
  • Recreation

If you are interested in the fine detail of the spend, and the spend in other areas, it’s available on the Council’s website. The report to Council on the Precept for 2015-2016 is also available.

What do we do now? And what does it cost?

What does the Parish Council do now? What does it cost? Band D annual cost per household
Youth

Employ a part time, term time only, Youth Worker and support staff for Youth Club sessions or organising appropriate activities for Junior and Senior ages (age 12 to 19)

Encourage liaison between IVC and the Youth Worker

Carry out outreach work in the community

  £8.70
Older people Part fund a part time Older People’s Co-Ordinator to:

  • signpost residents to appropriate advice centres or Council departments
  • Organise and deliver appropriate activities for older residents – e.g. After Stroke Club; Singing Group; Chair Based Activities
  • Co-ordinate trips to shops etc

Part fund a part time Mobile Warden to:

  • Visit elderly people on their list daily to check well-being and carry out simple tasks (there is a small charge to the resident for this service)
  £1.54
Highways Part fund (usually 10%) agreed and needed Minor Highways Improvements e.g. crossings, dropped kerbs, layout changes £3.12
Environment A wide range of issues are overseen including:

  • Grass cutting
  • Maintenance of the Burial Ground, set against income from fees
  • Allotment provision
  • Maintenance and improvements to open spaces e.g. The Green, Homefield Park, Manor Field
  • Maintenance of War Memorial and surrounds

Maintenance and planting schemes for trees in various locations, including The Copse and Coppice

 £14.33
Recreation
  • Fund/employ groundstaff and admin staff to manage the Recreation Ground, New Road. Subsidise sports provision for a variety of sports clubs, set against income from fees.
  • Provide and support wide range of activities in Community Room at Recreation Ground
  • Provide and maintain play equipment e.g. The Green, South Road

Investigate new opportunities for recreation and leisure provision in a growing population

 £36.76

 

Each year the Parish Council thoroughly scrutinises the plans for each area of the Council’s work, and, as an ambitious council looking to make a real difference for Histon and Impington, there is always more that we might do. And we could decide to do less in some areas so as to focus resources elsewhere.

Here’s some of the impacts that increases or decreases in spending in these areas could have.

Spending Increase or Decrease Probable impact on Parish Council work
Youth Increase Need to find premises for ongoing PC work; support for uniformed groups; fill in gaps in County provision
Decrease Support limited to a small number of regular sessions (eg yoga) and specific projects (eg graffiti, film)
Older people Increase More time for older person’s co-ordinator (and/or assistant); more support for village warden scheme; more events/groups; fill in gaps in County provision
Decrease Fewer groups; less time to aid people find help and resources
Highways Increase 20mph scheme; road layout changes; fill in gaps in County provision
Decrease Very limited schemes, if any
Environment Increase Filling in gaps in County/District provision (verges, litter picking etc)
Decrease Reduced litter picking/collection; reduced grass cutting; Xmas lighting cut; maintenance cut to safety levels; burial ground less tidy/less well maintained; fees increased
Recreation Increase More local resources for H&I sports teams and casual leisure
Decrease Higher charges for pitch and room hire; play equipment not upgraded/replaced when broken; reduction in pitch maintenance

 

Note that, as with all Councils and many employers, we are under financial pressure next year because of pension and National Insurance changes. An increase in budget will be necessary just to stay where we are.

Is that all clear? Then please go to the survey and let us have your views!

Many thanks

 

Histon and Impington Fireworks Extravaganza 2015

This year’s Firework Extravaganza will be held on Saturday 7 November at Impington Village College.

Advance tickets are now on sale through the schools and at a range of village shops – Tucker Gardner, Daisy Chain, Histon Chop Shop, the Geographer, Station Stores and D:Licious.  Advance tickets are cheaper and you’ll avoid queues on the night.

Gates open at 6pm with the fireworks at 7pm.  The Junior School PTA will be selling hot drinks and fabulous home made cakes and the BBQ and hog roast run will be run by David Robinson.  There’ll also be a small fairground to keep young children amused.

We’re grateful to our lead sponsor, Tucker Gardner, and the sponsorship and support of Limetree, Brookfield Groundcare, The Red Lion, and Enterprise Hire .

The show is one of the most exciting in the region, and raises money for the three schools in the village, so come along on 7 November and enjoy a local, family-friendly show.

 

Youth Committee News – Babysitting Course Update

I am very pleased to announce that a further 12 local young people have successfully completed their babysitting course this week.

The young people have attended a 10 week British Red Cross Looking After Other People’s Children course funded by Histon & Impington Parish Council and run by Andrea Cramp, Parish Council Youth Worker.

Each young person has put together a portfolio of their work and learning; which includes a Certificate in Basic First Aid.

I hope that the local community will be able to make use of these outstanding young people – who have set aside their own time after school to attend the course.

The current rate of pay for babysitters is @ £5 per hour, so this offers a very good opportunity for young people to start earning their own money!

The next babysitting course will start after Easter. The course is full, however, I hope to be able to offer more courses as of September.

Best wishes, Andrea

Youth Worker for Histon & Impington Parish Council

 

Apprenticeship Opportunity in Histon & Impington – Earn While You Learn!

The Parish Council is continuing a search for an Apprentice Grounds Maintenance Operative to join the team, to start in January 2015 or soon thereafter. The position is for 30 hours per week initially, based primarily at the Recreation Ground, and would suit someone wanting to qualify in Sports Ground Care and Horticulture, whilst providing a wide range of experience and opportunities

This is advertised on the College of West Anglia website http://www.cwa.ac.uk/app-vacancy.html

If you would like to know more, contact Cindy Baldry on LBALDRY@col-westanglia.ac.uk or telephone the Parish Office on 232423 for an informal chat

 

Invitation to Histon & Impington Youth Forum

When:   Tuesday 25th November

At:       7.30pm – 8.30pm

Where:   The Community Room, Histon & Impington Recreation Ground

What:    We are looking at the possibility of setting up a Youth Forum at which young people get the opportunity to get their voices heard.

Why:     We want to provide you with a space to identify and respond to challenges young people face. This could be creating new projects; dealing with an issue that affects you in the local community; or looking at ways of informing young people about issues such as bullying/careers guidance etc. The agenda will be put together by you.

Who:   All young people with a desire to make a difference in their local community!

This meeting is open to all young people living in Histon & Impington.

Please invite your friends to come along with you. The more the merrier!

 

Aged 10-17? Love Films?

Then this may interest you.

Make and enter a film to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes. All you have to do is make a film that is no longer than 5 minutes in length and around the theme of ‘past-present-future’.  It could be an animation spectacular, a totally awesome adventure movie or a documentary.  The choice is yours.  Make it with friends or on your own.

To help you make the best film possible there will be the following free workshops:

Monday 18th August:

10am-1pm: Telling stories and Camera Tricks – learn how to create films with great storylines as well as learning camera tricks to make your film visually interesting

2pm – 5pm: Using Green Screen – Green screen lets you make scenes with anything as your backdrop. The sky? The jungle? The past? You name, You can do it!

Tuesday 26th August:

10am-1pm: Making Dramatic Films – learn how to make films that keep the audience on the edge of their seats

2pm-5pm: Stop Motion Animation: Learn a simple way to make 3D and 2D animations

All workshops take place at Impington Village College. There are limited spaces, so book early. For more information and to book on one of the above workshops please email: hello@stevenjwallis.com

Deadline for entries: December 20th 2014

*1st Prize: 6 months unlimited cinema at Cineworld*

Top 5 films will be screened at Impington Village College

 

This competition is funded by the Histon & Impington Parish Council Youth Committee

 

 

Activities Survey for young people in Histon and Impington

Histon and Impington Parish Council would like to know what young people (aged 12-18) think about the village and what activities are available to them. What new activities would you like to be provided? What would you like to see included in the proposed “Community Park” at the Bypass Farm site. Would you like to be involved in the decision making about new activities or the design of a Skatepark? We need your ideas and opinions to make sure that new activities will be well attended and successful.

Young people who live in the villages are invited to take part in our survey. The responses will be used to plan for new activities. The survey can be accessed via the link : http://tinyurl.com/ozsmryq alternatively, contact the clerk via the Parish Office for a hard copy.

 

Youth Committee News

The word heat map is generated from the responses to a recent questionnaire our young people completed; amongst other things it represents what activities they would like, what topics they want to know more about and which issues they are worried about.  In the coming year it will be one of the tasks of the youth committee to determine how to make some of these things happen and how to fill some of the gaps in provision.

The Parish Council are looking for two people to join the Youth Committee as co-opted members.  Any local resident, of any age, is welcome though we would particularly welcome one of our younger residents.  The committee meets four times a year to plan activities and initiate projects for our young people.  If you think you might be interested or just want to be involved without joining the committee,  please get in touch with the Clerk on 01223 235906 or e-mail admin@hisimp.net

 

It’s not exactly Banksy …

We had an epidemic of graffiti earlier in the year but that seemed to have got itself sorted. Unfortunately there’s evidence of fresh activity.

Although the Guided Busway is again the main focus, where the noise barriers seem to offer an attractive canvas for the graffiti merchants, it is also seen on electrical boxes, waste bins, road signs and other surfaces throughout the village especially. It’s unsightly and allowing it to remain suggests that the community somehow tolerates it.

It’s not just a community problem; graffiti is also a personal issue. It can be distressing for those whose property is defaced and/or damaged and even though sometimes clean-up is free to the property owner through the Youth Restorative Justice team there’s still a cost to the tax payer.

It is important that the community supports a ‘no tolerance’ approach and reports any new graffiti immediately so that it may be removed. Click here to go the South Cambs website Alternatively call 03450 540500. South Cambs promises to prioritise offensive graffiti.

Parents specifically have a role. They should please be alert to the paraphernalia of graffiti in their children’s bags. If there’s any evidence that their children are involved they should please counsel against such activity. The police for its part will challenge anyone they suspect of being a graffiti merchant.

If anyone sees graffiti being applied please call 999 immediately. This will give the police a chance to get to the incident and catch the offender in the process of committing the crime. Our PCSO, Tony Martin, will follow up immediately.

And finally: if you are a budding graffiti artist please think again. If you really want to develop your skills talk to the Parish Council youth committee. Maybe it can help you to direct your energy more usefully and less destructively so that if you really do have a Banksy talent you can develop it.

 

 

New website

INCREASING BIODIVERSITY IN THE VILLAGES

Tree across footpath behind Manor Park

Storm Eunice

Christmas Tree Chipping event Saturday 8th January 2021