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Cambridgeshire PCT Board Fail to Grasp Opportunity to Improve Out Of Hours GP Service
On the 26th of August 2009 The Cambridgeshire NHS PCT Board met in Cambridge’s Masonic Lodge. I attended Cambridgeshire NHS Primary Care Trust’s board meeting on the 26th of August 2009. One of the major items of business was to approve a specification for the provision of out of hours GP (and emergency dental) services […]
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Open Forum and Police Items at West Central Area Committee Dominated by Traffic and Cycling Matters
Cycle Theft Remains at High Levels in Cambridge City Centre. During the open forum and policing agenda item at Cambridge City Council’s West/Central Area Committee on the 20th of August 2009 much of the discussion focused on traffic and cycling in the city centre. At the last meeting councillors had prioritised gaining the ability to […]
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Determining Planning Applications At Area Committees – A Good Idea?
The installation of a Mikvah at 37A Castle Street was one of three planning applications considered by the West/Central Area Committee on the 20th of August 2009. In Cambridge smaller planning applications which affect only one area of the city are decided at area committees. I observed the consideration of the following applications by the […]
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Asking Councillors to Ensure People Detained in Parkside are Treated Properly
I am concerned by a report which found those detained in Cambridge’s Parkside police station were not being kept in a safe environment and not being offered appropriate access to medical care and food. In my recent article on a damning report into police custody in Cambridgeshire by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate […]
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No Immediate Enforcement Action to be Taken Against Mill Road Tesco
On the 20th of August 2009 I attended a special Cambridge City Council East Area committee meeting which had been called to decide the council’s response to statements by Tesco indicating their intent to ignore planning conditions relating to their Mill Road store. The conditions state that deliveries of goods have to be made from […]
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Councillors Approve Parker’s Piece Ice-Rink for 2009
In 2008 the ice rink and stalls were very close to the paths bringing those trying to pass through into conflict with shoppers. (Photo – CycleStreets [license] During Cambridge City Council’s planning committee on the 19th of August 2009 councillors approved plans for an ice-rink, market, and fair-ground ride to be placed on Parker’s Piece […]
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Tree Preservation Order Placed on Tree Behind Councillor’s House
This ash tree in the garden of 16 Corona Road is now protected by a Tree Preservation Order. A planning application to redevelop the site from which photograph was taken is anticipated. On the morning of the 19th of August 2009 I observed Cambridge City Council’s planning committee (well the five of them who turned […]
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Mill Road Tesco – Application for Alcohol Licence Refused
Cambridge City Councillors rejected Tesco’s application to sell alcohol in their new Mill Road store. City Council rules forbid photography at meetings without permission so this photograph was not taken during the meeting. On the the 17th of August 2009 I observed a Cambridge City Council licensing committee comprising Cllr Benstead, Cllr McGovern and Cllr […]
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Cambridge City Council Plans to Fell Eighteen Trees on Lammas Land
Consultation documents relating to Cambridge City Council’s proposed tree works on Lammas Land reveal the two substantial trees near the junction of Newnham Road and Barton Road may be felled. Cambridge City Council has plans to conduct major tree works on Lammas Land; the area between the City Centre and Newnham bounded by the River […]
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Looking At Some of The Detail in Cambridge City Council’s Accounts
Geoff Jones and I Visited Cambridge City Council’s Finance Offices to Look Through the Council’s Accounts. For twenty working days a year the Audit Commission Act 1998 allows people to go into local councils and inspect their accounts, including all documents such as invoices and contracts from which those accounts derive. Cambridge City Council’s open […]