1st edition of Thomas Erskine May’s book “A Treatise upon the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament”. (Copyright on the 1st edition has expired).
An electronic copy of the text of Erskine May, the book which contains the rules under which which Parliament functions, has today been released by pro-democracy and pro-transparancy hackers.
The book, edited [...]
A Cambridgeshire Police Constable in Cambridge
On the 25th of August 2011 during the policing section of the West Central Area committee I took the opportunity to draw councillors’ attention to the expansion in the range of offences which Cambridgeshire Police consider can now be dealt with, outside of court, through “restorative justice”. I also pointed [...]
SLM Contract Extension Document ( Download, PDF)
On Wednesday the 27th of July I visited Cambridge City Council, accompanied by two readers of my website, to view the city council’s accounts. One of the areas we looked into was the council’s transactions with Sports and Leisure Management Limited (SLM). SLM run the city’s swimming pools, and [...]
Cambridge City Council Draft Accounts 2010-11
I have written to Cambridge City Council to make an appointment to “inspect the accounts”:
Dear Cambridge City Council,
I would like to make an appointment to visit the council offices and inspect the accounts as I am entitled to do during the open period which is currently running.
I would [...]
Cambridgeshire Police Authority meet in public, but interesting items are taken in secret session
On the 29th of June 2011 I observed a meeting of Cambridgeshire Police Authority.
Key Points:
A decision was taken to axe the force helicopter, saving £500,000 a year by moving to use the Chiltern Air Support Unit as well as continuing with [...]
The Cambridge building where a licence for a jazz club is being opposed by Cambridgeshire Police
On Monday the 27th of June 2011 I went to Cambridge Guildhall to observe a licensing hearing consider an application for The Jam House, 21 Hobson Street, Cambridge.
The Jam House is a chain of jazz venues. The Jam [...]
On Thursday the 19th of May 2011 I visited Cambridgeshire County Council’s offices with Kings Hedges councillor Andy Pellew. Cllr Pellew had heard that the council were developing their own version of mySociety’s freedom of information website, WhatDoTheyKnow.com and on asking what was going on had been offered a meeting with the relevant officers. [...]
Proposed amendments to Cambridgeshire County Council’s constitution have been published today, just one day before they are to go before a meeting of the full council on the 17th of May 2011.
The amendments have been put forward by Councillor Nick Clarke, who was recently elected leader of the ruling Conservative group on the council, [...]
Cambridge City Council Consultation Consultation
On April Fools Day Cambridge City Council launched a Consultation on Consultation. As it was announced at a few minutes past midday it appears not to be a joke.
The proposed code of practice on consultation and community engagement contains the following statement prominently positioned at the start of the [...]
Belinda Brooks-Gordon, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Castle ward in Cambridge, and feminist activist, has been acting as a citizen journalist over the last two days reporting via Twitter on the progress of a court case from Guildford Crown Court.
According to a local radio station’s summary of what’s going on 28-year-old, Hannah Morris of [...]