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Cambridge West Central Area Committee October 2010
On the 28th of October 2010 I attended Cambridge City Council’s West Central Area Committee. Key points: Councillors approved a number of new projects, including a portable sandpit for beach volleyball, to be investigated by council officers with a view to spending S.106 development taxes on them. I think spending these taxes, which are a […]
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Providing Open Space in the City as Cambridge Grows
Cambridge Liberal Democrats prefer spending money enhancing existing spaces like Jesus Green, rather than requiring developers to provide new green space as the city grows. At Cambridge City Council’s full council meeting on the 22nd of April 2010 the Labour opposition challenged the ruling Liberal Democrats over a message they’ve been putting out during the […]
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Friends of Midsummer Common 2010 AGM
Midsummer Common – Cambridge On the 17th of March 2010 I and about thirty others attended an annual general meeting of the Friends of Midsummer Common. This was a meeting, open to all, which had been advertised on the common. Interesting Points Council officer Alistair Wilson reported that the Horse Chestnuts on Victoria avenue have […]
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Tall Buildings in Cambridge
Around 150 people attended a public event for Cambridge city residents to discuss the potential for tall buildings in the city. . On the 3rd of March I attended a series of talks, and a workshop, discussing tall buildings in Cambridge. Kati Preston, the wife of Cambridge City Council’s Historical Environment Manager, John Preston, explained […]
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Councillors Approve Police Seizure of Cars Which Avoid Speed Humps
Councillors approved police proposals to confiscate vehicles, like the one pictured, which swerve to avoid the Fen Road speed cushions. Drivers in North Cambridge who drive between, rather than over, speed cushions are to face confiscation of their vehicles under a new police priority approved by Liberal Democrat county and city councillors at the North […]
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Love Cambridge Considering Raising Taxes, Tackling Pigeons and Dealing With Unfriendly Customer Service
On the 23rd of February 2010 I attended the second members’ meeting of Cambridge’s City Centre management organisation: Love Cambridge. I am not a member but was invited to attend by Nicky Morrison, who serves as a director representing residents’ interests on the organisation’s board. Key Points Emma Thornton, Head of Love Cambridge, and the […]
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Democracy Club – Bringing Openness and Accountability to Elections
A meet-up of those interested in reinvigorating democracy and making the next election the most open and transparent ever is being held on Thursday the 25th of February from 19.30 in B-Bar, Market Passage, Cambridge. The Cambridge event, which is for those living in the surrounding region as well as city residents, is one of […]
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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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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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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 […]