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CBbid – Cambridge Businesses Face Tax Hike
CBbid Logo. In February 2010 I wrote about Cambridge’s City Centre management organisation, Love Cambridge, considering raising taxes. On Friday the 15th of July 2011 Love Cambridge took some more steps towards levying a tax by sending out a survey to business rate payers in the city, asking what they’d like to see money raised […]
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Love Cambridge Annual Review 2010-11
Cambridge City Council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on the 4th of July 2011 received an annual report from Cambridge’s City Centre management organisation Love Cambridge. I used the public speaking slot at the meeting to say: I would like to ask how the council is monitoring the performance of the residents’ representative on the […]
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Cambridgeshire Police vs Jazz
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 […]
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Uncertainty Over City Council Funding
On the 24th of September 2010 I observed, and filmed, a meeting of the Cambridge City Council Executive. Key Points Some councillors are very uncomfortable with having their meetings filmed. There is massive uncertainty about how much money the City Council will have in the future. Cambridge City Council wants to raise a hyperlocal tax […]
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Cllr Tim Bick Presents City Council Position on Aggressive Punt Touting
Cambridge punter wearing rubber gloves and a lifejacket earlier this year. At Cambridge City Council’s annual meeting on the 27th of May 2010 Tim Ward, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Arbury put the following question to the Executive Councillor for Community Development and Health, Cllr Bick. (Cllr Bick has also been given city wide responsibility […]
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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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New Dispersal Zone for Sidney Street and the Market Square Discussed
The door into the West/Central area committee. Council rules prevented me from taking a more interesting photo showing councillors and the police inside the meeting. On the 4th of February I observed the West Central area committee where councillors were considering, at an early stage, the possibility of a new dispersal zone in the city […]
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Will PCSOs Throughout Cambridge Wear Video Cameras?
Earlier this evening I attended Cambridge’s South Area Committee in the British Legion Hall on Fisher Lane in Cherry Hinton. When the police attend area committee meetings the public are able to ask questions and make suggestions before councillors set the local policing priorities. I think this local democratic influence over policing is fantastic, but […]
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Stagecoach Managing Director Outraged at City Council Proposals to Confiscate His Business
At Cambridge City Council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on the 29th of June 2009 a paper was made available to the public containing an email from Andy Campbell, the Managing Director of Stagecoach Cambridgeshire. The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 has prompted the City Council to consider, and make central government aware of, what powers […]
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Love Cambridge Partnership Fails to Fulfill Promises
As of the 1st of April 2009 the Love Cambridge Partnership took over running City Centre management from the City Council. The primary argument for establishing a new organisation was that private companies would be more willing to contribute funds to an organisation independent from local government and not subject to local government bureaucracy. Love […]