City Councillors Again Outwitted and Outflanked by Station Area Developers? A vote held by Cambridge City Councillors earlier today (Wed 16th November 2011) will almost certainly delay the provision of the planned 3,000 space cycle park at Cambridge station. Developers of the “CB1″ station area scheme are required to provide the cycle parking as part [...]
60 King Street, Cambridge On the 3rd of November 2011 I observed Cambridge’s West/Central area committee approve planning permission for a takeway on King Street. The approval, by the committee made up of all Liberal Democrats along with independent Cllr Hipkin, was in contravention of the council’s policy on the provision of cycle parking. Cllr [...]
1 Hemingford Road Cambridge – Given Planning Permission as a Seven Tenant HMO. (Google Streetview) On Thursday the 27th of October 2011 I observed councillors at Cambridge City Council’s East Area Committee give planning permission for 1 Hemingford Road in Romsey to be a House of Multiple Occupancy housing seven tenants. The property, just off [...]
The proposed loading bay for Sainsbury’s on Mill Road (Source p40 of the officer report to the meeting) On the evening of the 25th of October 2011 I observed Cambridge City Council’s East Area Committee reject an application for a Sainsbury’s Local supermarket in the pool hall building at 103 Mill Road. Key Points The [...]
View of Jesus Green, Cambridge. Cambridge City Council has recently run a consultation on its Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy. What is this Strategy Document For? If approved the strategy would become key part of the city council’s planning policy; which means it would become a document which councillors making planning decisions will have [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Cambridge City Councillors in the Council Chamber During a Suspension in the 17th February 2011 Full Council Meeting. I observed Cambridge City Council’s full council meeting on Thursday the 17th of February. I have written a previous article about disruption at the meeting. The main item on the agenda was the approval of the council’s [...]