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Cambridge South Area Committee Farce – February 2015
I observed Cambridge’s South Area Committee on the evening of Monday the 2nd of February 2015. The meeting was the most farce-ridden disheartening display of attempted democracy I’ve observed. Almost every element of the meeting was either a farce itself or highlighted a farce elsewhere in one of Cambridge’s local councils. Cllr Amanda Taylor claimed […]
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Pub Law Reform Attempt Highlights Risk of Letting Plain English into Parliament
A recent parliamentary innovation, allowing MPs to explain the intent of their amendments to Bills in plain English, appears to have been abused for the first time in relation to an amendment which has been the subject of a vote in the House of Commons. Charlotte Leslie MP (Labour, Bristol North West) proposed an amendment […]
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Greater Cambridge City Deal Board – Initial Prioritisation
On the 28th of January 2015 the Greater Cambridge City Deal Board set their initial priorities for allocating money the UK nationally is investing in Greater Cambridge through the City Deal. The meeting started by ruling two projects completely out of receiving City Deal funding: Foxton level crossing elimination – on the grounds this is […]
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Milton Road Made Top Priority for Greater Cambridge City Deal Spending
On the 28th of January 2015 the Greater Cambridge City Deal Board decided to make spending £23.04m on Milton Road in Cambridge their top priority. The board was taking decisions on how to allocate money the UK nationally is investing in Greater Cambridge through the City Deal. The leaders of Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City […]
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Necessary Conditions for Hydraulic Fracturing
On the evening of the 26th of January 2015, MPs unanimously passed a new law on “fracking” or “hydraulic fracturing” through the House of Commons without a vote. The new clause (NC19) for the Infrastructure Bill was put forward by Tom Greatrex MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy Minister. It introduces a series of conditions which have […]
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Digital Democracy Commission – Using Technology to Reinvigorate Democracy
The speaker of the House of Commons organised a “commission” to look into how digital technology could be used to reinvigorate our democracy. The group of the “great and good”, received 102 submissions, gained 225 facebook likes and 2,655 twitter followers and launched their report on the 26th of January 2015. The report does not […]
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Large Increases in Reported Violent and Sexual Crimes in Cambridgeshire
On the 22nd of January 2015 the UK Government released the latest crime statistics: Crime statistics in England and Wales: year ending September 2014 (PDF) – ONS Statistics – National Statistics Police recorded crime open data tables – Home Office Statistics The release prompted news coverage locally in Cambridgeshire: Crime figures: Reports of violence against […]
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Friends of Ditton Meadows Formed to Oppose New Foot and Cycle Bridge
I attended the first public meeting of the Friends of Ditton Meadows on the 21st of January 2015. The meeting provided me with an update on the consideration of proposals for a new bridge over the River Cam to carry the Chisholm Trail cycle route. I found out about the existence of the friends group […]
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Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel – Josie Gowler Confirmation Hearing
On Monday the 15th of December 2014 I observed Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel who were holding a confirmation hearing for the appointment of Josie Gowler to the position of Chief Finance Officer (Director of Finance) and Deputy Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The best question asked during the […]
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Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner Expenses Overpayment Query
Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner Graham Bright I have written to Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner: Graham Bright, I have just looked at your published expenses at http://www.cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PCC-expenses-April-2014-November-2014.xlsx (Copy on rtaylor.co.uk) This document states you have been paid £969.89 in expenses in relation to your mileage in September 2014. The payment is based on 2155.30 […]