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Policing West-Central Cambridge April 2012
Poorly located 20 mph signs on entering Maid’s Causeway. On Thursday the 26th of April 2012 I observed Cambridge City Council’s West/Central area committee hold the police to account on their recent performance and set the new policing priorities for the area. One of the key items under discussion was the operation of the 20 […]
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Cambridge City Council Omitting Fire Hydrants from New Developments
The nearest hydrant to the 1920s built house I live in is just ~30m away. There are hydrants every ~100m or so throughout the area. On Saturday the 3rd of March 2012 I received an email from Cambridge City Council’s executive councillor for planning, Liberal Democrat Tim Ward, stating: …hydrants are a nice-to-have feature but […]
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North Cambridge Police Priorities – September 2011
North Cambridge Neighbourhood Profile September 2011 I observed the setting of the North Cambridge police priorities on the 22nd of September 2011. The bail hostel at 222 Victoria Road and the traveller site on Fen Road were identified as the root sources of criminality in the area and the police were asked to focus their […]
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222 Victoria Road Hostel
Management of the 222 Victoria Road Hostel at the 12th October 2011 Triangle Meeting. On Wednesday the 12th of October 2011 I attended a “triangle” meeting between the management of the hostel at 222 Victoria Road, the police and local residents. Key points: There are 72 beds at the hostel. About 30 people have been […]
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Cambridge City Council – Full Council July 2011
Cambridge Guildhall (Library Image: These Doors Were Open for Thursday’s Meeting) I observed, and took part in, a meeting of Cambridge City Council’s full council on Thursday the 21st of July 2011. Preliminaries The front doors of the Guildhall were open when I arrived and it was possible to walk straight in. This is a […]
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CPPF Localism and Planning
CPPF Localism and Planning Event On the evening on the 14th of July 2011 I attended an event run by Cambridge Past Present and Future on localism and planning. The focus was on the Localism Bill. The key points I took away were: The “Neighbourhood planning” provisions in the Localism Bill are democratic in relation […]
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Cambridge City Council Environment Scrutiny June 2011
TV Screens Reminded Those Attending Which Meeting They Were At I observed Cambridge City Council’s Environment Scrutiny committee on the 21st of June 2011. Rubbish This was the first scrutiny committee for Cllr Swanson in her new post as Executive Councillor for bins. The committee looked at how the budget for her area, formally titled, […]
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Strawberry Fair 2011 – Better But Still Marred by Drugs and Drunkenness
Remote Control Horse at the 2011 Strawberry Fair Cambridge’s establishment, including the city council, the Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation Rodrick Cantrill, and the police have all declared the 2011 Strawberry Fair an unequivocal success and this line appears to have been unquestioningly parroted by the city’s press. I agree that there were many […]
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Cambridge City Council Full Council – May 2011
Ian Nimmo-Smith as Mayor of Cambridge (Source) I observed the latter part of Cambridge City Council’s Full Council meeting on the 26th of May 2011. This was the “annual meeting”, the first of the civic year, and the first for the newly elected councillors. I arrived well after the ceremonial fancy dress session and after […]
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Cambridge City Council Environment Scrutiny March 2011 – Romsey Conservation Area
Outline of the New Romsey Conservation Area On the morning of the 15th of March 2011 I attended Cambridge City Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee. I went along mainly as the agenda included discussing a new Conservation Area for Romsey, Brookfields and Burnside. I used the public speaking opportunity at the meeting to raise my concern […]