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Bizarre view of Cambridge from UKIP Cllr Gordon Gillick
Councillor Gordon Gillick of the UK Independence Party, representing the ward of Waldersey just South West of Wisbech spoke at a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council on the 16th of July 2013. Cllr Gillick, who, as councillor, is now one of those responsible for running the county of Cambridgeshire, expressed a rather bizarre view of […]
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Rewards for Anti-Social Behaviour in Cambridge
A meeting of Cambridge’s Community Safety Partnership held on the 30th of April 2013 decided to spend £5,000 on rewards for people, primarily teenagers, responsible for “anti-social behaviour” in the city. The rewards may include boat trips and trips to residential activity centres. One of the stated aims of the project is: Decrease in offending […]
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Cllr Shona Johnstone as Cambridgeshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner?
Cambridgeshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner Graham Bright’s election, albeit with just 3.96% of the electorate making him their first choice, gives him a huge amount of patronage. Mr Bright is free to spend as much as he likes on staff he appoints to his personal office and on salaries, expenses and allowances for “deputies”. […]
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Cllrs Ditch Planning Rulebook To Let Applicant Maximise Rental Profits to Pay for Care
1 Greystoke Road, Cambridge On Monday the 5th of March 2012 I observed City Councillors on Cambridge’s South Area committee consider a planning application to divide a property into two, enabling each part to be let separately. This was an interesting case because almost all councillors ditched normal planning practice and made a decision on […]
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LibDem Leader Cllr Sian Reid on Icelandic Investments
Cambridge City Council leader, Liberal Democrat, Sian Reid went on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on Wednesday morning to talk about money which under her party’s leadership the city council had invested in Icelandic banks which have now gone bust. Cambridge City Council had invested £5 million with Landsbanki and £4 million with Heritable Bank Limited. During […]
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Secrecy and Confusion as Cllr Cantrill Takes Responsibility for Midsummer Common and Jesus Green Tree Planting
Cambridge City Council has felled many trees from Midsummer Common; significant funds have been allocated for replacements. During the “open forum” of the 24th of June 2010 West Central Area committee where members of the public are able to question councillors I asked: Is there a date yet for the proposed meeting to discuss new […]
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Cllr Tim Bick Presents City Council Position on Aggressive Punt Touting
Cambridge punter wearing rubber gloves and a lifejacket earlier this year. At Cambridge City Council’s annual meeting on the 27th of May 2010 Tim Ward, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Arbury put the following question to the Executive Councillor for Community Development and Health, Cllr Bick. (Cllr Bick has also been given city wide responsibility […]
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Cllr Cantrill Asked for Update on Strawberry and Raspberry Fairs
A rather empty Midsummer Common – Calm before the storm? At Cambridge City Council’s annual meeting on the 27th of May 2010 Cllr Sarah Brown put the following oral question to the Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation Cllr Cantrill: Could the Executive Councillor provide the council with an update on the event that may […]
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Cllr Julie Smith Flailing in Efforts to Bring City Council Chainsaws Under Democratic Control
These two substantial trees at the junction of Newnham Road and Barton Road may be felled according to council plans. In April 2009 I was present at a West/Central area committee where Julie Smith, Cambridge City Council’s Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation (a portfolio which includes the city’s green spaces) gave clear instructions to […]
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Cambridge City Council Decide to Make a Huge Leap Forward In Terms of Openness and Transparency
A buffet was provided for councillors and officers during a break in the meeting. I was hungry so I took up an offer of a sandwich. There were no professional press present. I guess I got the sandwich which would have otherwise been offered to them. (Photos of the meeting itsself were not permitted) I […]