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Proposed Cambridge City Council Planning Reforms From Cllr Hipkin
Only Cambridge’s independent councillor, John Hipkin, has submitted a motion to Cambridge City Council’s full council on Thursday the 27th of February. None of the Liberal Democrat or Labour councillors, nor the Conservative, have any matter which they have thought worthy of submitting a motion to the full council on. This lack of activity is […]
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Wild Fluctuations in Tax Incentives for Companies to Invest – A Mistake Akin to Abolishing the 10 Percent Income Tax Rate
While the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition have cut the headline rate of corporation tax in the UK since coming to power in 2010 their inconsistent approach to providing companies tax incentives to re-invest have resulted in wild fluctuations in companies’ tax bills during their time in power. Initially slashing incentives to re-invest resulted in […]
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Councillors Approve Council Tax Increase for Cambridgeshire Following Proposal from Police and Crime Commissioner Bright
Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner Graham Bright I attended Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel on the 5th of February 2014 where the panel voted to approve a 1.92% increase in the policing element of council tax for 2014/15 as Police and Crime Commissioner Graham Bright had proposed. The report to the panel on the proposed […]
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Fire Authority Member Cllr Nethsingha Denies Refusal to Help With Floods is Policy Change
Please also remember the fire service will not be able to assist with flooded gardens, properties, cars etc unless there is a risk to life. — Cambs Fire & Rescue (@cambsfrs) February 15, 2014 Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, a member of Cambridgeshire’s Fire Authority, and one of those responsible for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue service’s policies, […]
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Hostile Response From Cllr Martin Curtis to My Submission to Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel
During the public participation slot at Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel on the 5th of February 2014 I sought to raise my concern that the panel were allowing the Police and Crime Commissioner to decide which of his decisions he was putting to the panel for scrutiny. I suggested this wasn’t a desirable state of […]
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Live Streaming of Special Cambridge City Council Full Council on the Local Plan
On the 13th of February 2014 I streamed a meeting of Cambridge City Council’s full council live on YouTube. I believe this is the first time one of Cambridge City Council’s meetings has been “broadcast” live. As well as being available live, the videos are available to watch again: Part One Public questions and petitions: […]
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Member of Cambs Police and Crime Panel Suggests Panel Considers What It Wants to Scrutinise
I used the public participation slot at Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel on the 5th of February 2014. I suggested that rather than allowing the Police and Crime Commissioner alone to decide which of his decisions are scrutinised by the panel, the panel ought be more proactive and work with the Commissioner to identify subjects […]
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MPs to Vote on Offence of Smoking in a Private Vehicle In The Presence of a Child
On Monday the 10th of February 2014 MPs in the House of Commons are due to decide if to remind ministers of their power to introduce a new offence of smoking in a private vehicle when a child or children are present. Section 5 of the Health Act 2006 already gives ministers powers to ban […]
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Electorate Ought Hold Commissioner To Account Say Cambs Police and Crime Panel
During the public participation agenda item at Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel on the 5th of February 2014 I suggested the panel consider potential items for scrutiny arising from the recent release of the commissioner’s Diary in response to a Freedom of Information request. Link to my full submission to the Police and Crime Panel […]
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Independent Member of Cambs Police and Crime Panel Says I Should Have Raised Concerns About the Panel’s Operation Sooner
I used the public participation agenda item at Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel on the 5th of February 2014 to raise some concerns about how the panel was operating, and to make some suggestions for the future. Link to my full submission I noted that the panel had, to-date, allowed the Police and Crime Commissioner […]