-
Explosion of Complexity and Bureaucracy As City Council Introduces CCTV Policy
Some residents of Martingale Close in Arbury Were Surprised when Cambridge City Council Deployed CCTV Cameras Outside Their Windows. At Cambridge City Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee on Monday the 12th of October councillors will consider adopting their first “corporate and unified” CCTV policy. I have been actively encouraging Cambridge City Council to improve the […]
-
No Councillors or Council Officers Turn Up for Public Meeting on Tree Strategy
This year a large number of trees have been felled by the City Council in Cambridge. There are no long term plans for tree planting on the city’s green spaces. On the evening of the first of October I turned up at Parkside Pools for a City Council public meeting to discuss the tree strategy […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
Cambridge City Council’s Spending on Trees and Open Spaces
A cow enjoys munching on a tree at Midsummer Common in Cambridge. During the open period under the Audit Commission Act 1998 I visited the accounts department of Cambridge City Council to inspect the council’s accounts (I had written them first to let them know I was coming). Having written about this on my website […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation Administering Cambridge City Council Community Development Grants
The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation Website is Advertising Cambridge City Council Community Development Grants At Cambridge City Council’s West/Central Area Committee on the 18th of June 2009 a new process for giving out grants to community organisations was used for the first time. Applications for City Council grants had been pre-screened by the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation […]
-
Tree Felling Starts on Midsummer Common
Stump of a large Lime tree which Cllr Julie Smith, Cambridge City Council’s Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation, decided to fell. On Wednesday 3rd of June the first few of the latest batch of trees to be felled on Midsummer Common were removed. This follows a decision to fell the trees which was taken […]