1970's

The 1970's were a time of great change as new local government legislation took effect and in 1973/74 South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) was born of the union of the Chesterton and South Cambridgeshire Rural District Councils (SCRDC). For the first year all three authorities operated in conjunction as the two Rural District Councils (RDCs) transferred powers to the new District Council and SCDC operated as a shadow authority. Many members from the RDCs joined SCDC in its first year. From 1974/75 SCDC operated as a local authority in its own right.

1973/4

The union of the two RDCs, first proposed in 1965, finally happens in 1973/74. Councillor CR Norman of the CRDC takes the chair at the beginning of the first meeting of SCDC on 21 June 1973 at Great Eastern House on Tenison Road, Cambridge, with 46 of the 53 members present. Councillor Miss MFL Dyball of the SCRDC is Acting Vice-Chairman. Mr Norman presents the new Council with a gavel and block, suitably inscribed as a memento of the occasion and of his happy association with the CRDC.

Councillors DJL Allen and JJ Brown are elected the first Chairman and Vice-Chairman of SCDC and the first act of the new Council is to tender a loyal address to HM the Queen: The Chairman and Members of the South Cambridgeshire District Council, as their first act following their constitution, do humbly tender to Her Majesty the Queen a unanimous expression of their loyal duty and warm affection as they enter upon the tasks entrusted to their charge. The Queen responds in June to say thanks and good luck.

The Council agrees unanimously that it needs a Chief Executive Officer and, in view of the rapid growth of the District, opts to offer a salary which takes into account growth up to 1981: £7,203 per annum, rising by annual increments of £180 up to a maximum of £7,743 per annum! Sixty-one applications are received for the seven Chief Officer posts and Mr SJ Flint, former Clerk of CRDC, is offered the position as Chief Executive.

Councillors agree to wear name tags to help them identify one another.

Key worker employees of SCDC are given priority on the housing waiting list.

Council proposes a pilot scheme for the salvaging of waste paper, a very early version of the green box recycling scheme.

1974/5

SCDC joins the City Council in recommending that the Cambridge Corn Exchange be converted for use as a public hall, suitable for concerts and other activities, contributing £7,000 towards the architects' fees.

The wards of Teversham (Horningsea, Fen Ditton and Teversham) and The Wilbrahams (Great and Little Wilbraham and Stow-cum-Quy) are created from the previous wards of Fen Ditton (Horningsea, Fen Ditton and Stow-cum-Quy) and The Wilbrahams (Great and Little Wilbraham and Teversham). Councillors set the order of retirement of members under the schedule of election by thirds.

There was discontent at the City Council's move to expand Cambridge development from Cherry Hinton into the Green Belt in the parishes of Fulbourn and Teversham. SCDC votes against the proposals and asks the County Council to conduct an inquiry.

Councillors discuss the impact on traffic of the new M11 motorway and Western By-Pass of Cambridge, especially as the motorway will be completed before the By-Pass and force traffic onto the A45 (now the A428).

The rising cost of providing plastic refuse sacks becomes an issue and paper refuse sacks are considered as an option.

1975/6

The Planning Officer and Principal Development Control Officer are extended delegated powers to determine planning applications where there is a presumption of refusal in that they are not in accordance with the Council's agreed policies, but only in those cases where no contrary views have been received through the consultation procedure.

Work on the Cambridge Western By-Pass continues and the Department of the Environment proposes an interchange at Barton leading to a road being built across Grantchester Meadows. SCDC writes to voice concern.

The Council votes overwhelmingly against further development at Stansted Airport.

1976/7

The first all-district elections are held and an otherwise quiet day at Linton becomes chaotic in the final hour of the polls when more people turn up than can be accommodated, leading to a number of electors being refused ballot papers. The staffing and number of polling stations is reviewed before the next election.

The County Council approves the City Council's plans for development at Cherry Hinton, having decided that the need for local authority housing outweighed the objections to development on the site. SCDC resolves that no more than 25% of the dwellings built should be for private housing, to oppose any plans for a larger allocation of private housing, and to consider the future development of the area so its views can be included before the Structure Plan is published.

SCDC undertakes an organisational review and departmental structure revision.

Residents in villages along the proposed Cambridge Northern By-Pass (A14) are offered noise insulation during the works. Tree planting is also recommended as a noise barrier, especially once the motorway is opened.

A special meeting of the Council is convened to discuss the Cambridgeshire Structure Plan.

Major DFB Gape, MBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, presents the Council with its new insignia, provided by the generosity of both past and present members and the Chairmen of the former RDCs by making available the balance of their allowances for this purpose. Major Gape congratulates SCDC on its high standard of administration in its first three years and his appreciation of the efforts which it made to maintain a constant rate level.

112 applications are received for the new post of Chief Architect.

1977/8

The Consultation on the Cambridge Sub-Area portion of the Structure Plan hits the papers and the local press reports that the views of SCDC and of the parishes concerned were to be ignored and the proposals for increasing the size of certain villages proceeded with. The Cambridgeshire Planning Authority refutes these allegations and states that the views of SCDC would be taken into account when the final decision was made.

Bar Hill Parish Council assists with the purchase of flagpoles for the Council offices at Great Eastern House.

The Council sends its best wishes to HM the Queen on her Silver Jubilee. In response, by command of the Queen, both Chairman Councillor Holt and the former Chief Environmental Health Officer (Mr RJ Hoyle) receive Silver Jubilee Medals.

The draft scheme for Flexible Working Hours is first considered as part of the organisational review.

Members speak out against the County Council's proposals to cut library services in South Cambridgeshire villages and recommend economising in the purchasing of books and greater use of mobile service to keep the reduction of facilities to a minimum.

The office accommodation difficulties, with staff being housed at two separate locations, is brought to the attention of the Council, but the strict control on future office development in Cambridge hampers efforts to finance a capital project for new offices.

A special meeting is called to consider the Structure Plan. Villages selected for growth are Duxford, Melbourn, Milton and Sawston.

SCDC and the County Council combine resources to produce studies on recycling.

1978/9

The organisational restructuring is completed, but staff remain divided between the offices at Great Eastern House and the prefabricated buildings at the South Cambridgeshire Hall site on Hills Road.

Severe flooding occurs at Swavesey, Over, Longstanton, Fen Drayton, Waterbeach, Milton and Landbeach. Investigations into some of the causes reveal otters have damaged parts of the Council's Awarded Watercourses, although this was not a major contributory factor to the floods. The Council considers the establishment of internal drainage boards for Swavesey and Over.

Now that the economic situation is improving, some members express the need for new offices with a room (and a computer!) for members. The Vice-Chairman, Councillor JJ Brown, is of the opinion that the new offices need not be in Cambridge City.

SCDC discusses the cost of sending vehicles, at public expense, to collect refuse after carnivals, miners' galas, lord-mayor's shows and festivals.

The Best Kept Garden Competition begins, with a cup being presented to the winner as well as an award - the equivalent of two weeks' average rent, i.e. £25.

A member asks whether it is a waste of money to publicise the closure of the Refuse Collection service over the Christmas holidays since most of the public do not expect collection at that time. The Council decides to continue publicising the closure as it has a legal obligation to make known its intentions and would be criticised for ceasing publication.

1979/80

The Coat of Arms is officially presented to SCDC before the annual meeting in May 1979.

A special meeting of the Planning Committee is convened in July to come up with a definition of the term "local need" when referring to the villages, particularly with respect to housing, facilities and social life.

The Council notes the increased costs of providing plastic refuse sacks. Meanwhile, it is discovered that most of one village did not read the publicity regarding Christmas collection times nor did the Parish Council circulate the information sent to them by SCDC. A large number of complaints were received from those villagers.

A study of airports in the South-East of England shortlists six sites for development, including two, Stansted and Langley, which would have an effect on South Cambridgeshire. SCDC writes to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Rt Hon Francis Pym MP, objecting in principle to the siting of a third London airport on the Herts/Essex/Cambs borders and querying the need for such an airport. The Council recommends such an airport would be of more use if situated in the Midlands. Members were of the opinion the third London airport may well be situated at Stansted and are opposed to any such proposal.

A staff salary review is conducted. At the same time it was agreed to establish a Legal Services section.

The Accommodation Review Working Party begins to look at the possibility of expansion at Great Eastern House and the sale of the Hills Road site. Council agrees to expand Great Eastern House if satisfactory financing could be arranged. The building project is deferred to establish beyond doubt the unfettered value of the South Cambridgeshire Hall site.

Both the Policy Advisory and Co-ordinating Committee and full Council reject the recommendation of the Environmental Services & Health Committee to support the no smoking campaign and ban smoking in public areas of the offices.

SCDC offers six council houses to the British Council, the Ockendon Venture and Save the Children to provide accommodation for Vietnamese refugees.

The Planning Committee goes on their first coach tour to see sites of interest and practical projects.

 

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