tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16944547566766403782024-03-13T23:05:39.524-07:00Whittlesey North BlogMartin represents Whittlesey at Cambridgeshire County Council, a Fenland District Council and sits on Whittlesey Town Council.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger410125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-32802641590336944602014-09-03T23:50:00.004-07:002014-09-03T23:51:27.409-07:00Response to Questions about Snowley Park/Glenfields Approval<div class="MsoPlainText">
A short while ago, I <a href="http://www.whittleseynorth.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/snowley-parkglenfields-planning.html" target="_blank">asked a number of questions of Fenland and Cambridgeshire County Council</a>. I have now had a joint response from them. In a few days I will comment on that response - I have a number of issues with it - not least that it does not answer the question about the specific measures being taken to make Whittlesey more sustainable - but I will deal with them in a few days. It needs top be read alongside my blog, <a href="http://www.whittleseynorth.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/snowley-parkglenfields-planning.html" target="_blank">which is here</a>.</div>
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<b><u>RESPONSES</u></b></div>
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<b>Blog Question 1</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The following planning consents were factored into the
highway modelling that was carried out as part of the Transport Assessment for
this development:<o:p></o:p></div>
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• 460 homes at
Bassenhally Field<o:p></o:p></div>
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• Sainsbury
Supermarket and country park<o:p></o:p></div>
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• Business
Park on Eastrea Road<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Old Nursery site along Peterborough Road was not
included because at the time the Snowley Park application was submitted the old
nursery site had not received planning permission and so did not meet the
requirement specified in national guidance that development which has received
planning permission but not yet built should be included within the highway
modelling. Likewise the development to the rear of 148 Stonald Road did not
have planning consent and so was not specifically included. However, in addition to the specific sites
listed, the highway modelling work also included an uplift of 5.2% on current
traffic flows to reflect expected general background growth and traffic growth
related to smaller developments not listed above.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 2</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Local Plan Policy LP3 relating to the spatial strategy
and settlement hierarchy guides FDC’s perspective on this. The overall strategy focuses the majority of
growth in the places that have most services and facilities (e.g. the towns)
and that therefore has better access.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whittlesey has regular bus links into Peterborough during
the daytime and there are some train services in the evening. The Local Plan<o:p></o:p></div>
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including Policy LP3 was subject to an independent public
inquiry, found sound and the document has since been adopted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Turning specifically to transport matters, other than
Wisbech and March, Whittlesey has a higher proportion of residents travelling
by the sustainable modes of transport than anywhere else in Fenland (according
to the 2011 Census). In the context of where to locate new development in
Fenland Whittlesey is well placed to support new development.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is also important to note that the County Council,
working with partners including Fenland District Council, has developed a
Market Town Transport Strategy (MTTS) for Whittlesey which was adopted in
November 2012. The development of the MTTS was overseen and endorsed by a
Member steering group and sets out actions that seek to address some of the
existing transport shortcomings within the town, but also to plan ahead for
future developments. The MTTS therefore seeks to address the transport needs
for both existing and potential future residents, businesses and visitors to
Whittlesey and therefore make the town more sustainable from a transport
perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 3</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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As noted above, there is an adopted MTTS in place for
Whittlesey. This sets out a series of
transport improvements which will help to improve the transport options to,
from and within the town and help establish more sustainable travel patterns.
The development of the MTTS was led by a local member steering group with
representatives from County, District and Town Councillors and included
consultation with the general public in order that relevant issues and schemes
could be addressed and included in the strategy. There is strong evidence through the strategy
development process that the transport items are required.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The measures set out in the MTTS seek to address both
existing transport needs and those related to future growth and therefore
securing appropriate contributions from developers is important to delivering
the MTTS.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Planning law is clear that developer contributions must
be related to the development and fairly and reasonably related to it in scale
and kind. FDC and CCC therefore need to
be mindful of this in securing contributions.
The planning and highway authority can only seek to mitigate development
impacts and not require developers to go beyond this and make good other
shortcomings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The MTTS contribution secured for this development was
calculated in a proportionate way based on the number of dwellings proposed at
this development relative to the existing population. The total cost of schemes
in the MTTS relevant to the development were then used to derive an appropriate
level of contribution which is related to the scale of development proposed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, the MTTS also recognises the importance of
improvements being made to the station and this too has been evidenced and
endorsed through the development of that strategy. A separate contribution of £85,000 has
therefore been secured from this development towards these improvements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally a Travel Plan has been secured which includes the
provision of transport welcome packs and free bus tickets to new residents so
that their travel habits can be influenced early on before other habits are
established. Travel planning is a key
element within national transport planning guidance, which has been shown to be
effective through a number of studies, and CCC therefore continue to promote
Travel Plans through the development process.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 4</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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The planning application documentation included a
Planning Statement. Appendix 4 of the Planning Statement comprised a Draft S106
Unilateral Undertaking – Comprising the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
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a. 25% Affordable Housing delivered on site.<o:p></o:p></div>
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b. Education<o:p></o:p></div>
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c. Transport – Market Town Transport Strategy
Contribution d. Travel Plan e. Public Open Space<o:p></o:p></div>
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The draft S106 set out the applicant’s intentions in
terms of S106 contributions and was part of the planning documentation
consulted upon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was part of the planning information on the
Council’s website and therefore available to the public for comment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In terms of transport specifically, and as noted earlier,
the measures set out in the MTTS were consulted upon and endorsed by Members
prior to the adoption of the document.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 5</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Transport Assessment submitted with the application
predicted that there will be an additional 40 2-way vehicle trips in the AM
peak hour and 43 2-way vehicle trips in the PM peak hour along the section of
Stonald Road heading towards the town centre. This equates to less than 1
additional vehicle per minute travelling along Stonald Road which is unlikely
to be perceptible to most users of the road. However, the MTTS includes other
measures which will improve the cycle route from Whittlesey town centre to
Peterborough which the development’s MTTS contribution could go towards and
help fund.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As such on balance CCC officers take the view that the
modest increases in traffic that will result from this development along this
section of Stonald Road are adequately mitigated by the contribution the
development will make to the MTTS. Moreover as part of the development’s
planning permission, the developer has agreed to implement a residential travel
plan which will encourage residents in the development to travel using
sustainable means, this will help to increase the presence of cycling within
the town making the cycle routes more attractive and could also help to secure
further cycle improvements if it can be demonstrated that the numbers of cyclists
in the town is increasing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 6</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Peterborough City Council were not consulted directly by
the planning authority – this was not a requirement in this case. However it
should be noted that Peterborough CC did not object to the principle and scale
of development at Whittlesey during the recent local plan preparation
stages. It would be reasonable for the
Council to assume that provided the Local Plan targets are not significantly
breached and the proposal is generally in line with the adopted Local Plan,
Peterborough City Council has no objection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 7</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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While the link from Stonald Road to the Millennium Bridge
will be upgraded later this financial year, further discussions will be held
with County Council Cycle Officers to discuss the possibility for further
improvements to be made to the North Bank section of this cycle route.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Blog Question 8</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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The 1,000 housing target for Whittlesey is enforceable,
though only under certain circumstances. The 1,000 target was established in
the Local Plan using available evidence and through consultation with, amongst
others, infrastructure providers such as Anglian Water, Environment Agency, the
local highway authority etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If at some point in the future a planning application was
received which would, if built out by 2031 with all other completions and
permissions since 2011, significantly exceed the 1,000 target for Whittlesey
then the proposal could be refused as a matter of principle. The argument for
such a refusal would be around the fact that the Local Plan tested the evidence
and found that it was ‘sound’ to permit 1,000 homes at Whittlesey in principle.
It did not test (and hence did not find sound) a higher figure. To approve an
application which breached 1,000 homes, therefore, might have implications on
the overall infrastructure network at Whittlesey, a matter not tested via the
Local Plan process.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, before such a refusal, the Council would have to
take into account wider matters, such as:<o:p></o:p></div>
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(a) Is Fenland
on track to deliver its overall 11,000 target 2011-31? If not, it could be
argued that Whittlesey should take more to make up the<o:p></o:p></div>
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(b) shortfall.
If it was on track, this would add considerable weight to refusing applications
at Whittlesey (because otherwise the overall 11,000 target could be breached)<o:p></o:p></div>
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(c) Have the
infrastructure providers objected to the planning application which would
breach the 1,000 target? If not, there would appear little evidence to suggest that breaching 1,000 homes would be unacceptable on
infrastructure grounds, and therefore would weaken considerably the argument of refusing the proposal as a matter of principle</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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(d) Has the
applicant provided evidence to suggest that breaching the 1,000 target would
have no material impact on infrastructure or on other matters (such as the
impact on the Nene Washes European protected site, a matter which would need
determining through the Habitat Regulations Assessment)?<o:p></o:p></div>
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If it has provided such evidence, this would again weaken the case to refuse permission as a
matter of principle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thus, the 1,000 target is an important element of the
Local Plan, it is an enforceable target, but the Council would have to take in
to account a wide range of matters rather than simply refusing in principle a
proposal which breached the 1,000 target. As with all proposals, the Council
would have to take into account the Local Plan as a whole, including but not
exclusively the 1,000 target, before reaching a decision as to approve or
refuse a proposal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-12125179264526611042014-09-03T08:33:00.001-07:002014-09-03T11:38:06.665-07:00The impact of proposed abolition of translation services<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">keep blogging about UKIP, but then they keep opening the doors.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The news that UKIP County Councillor Alan Lay wants to <a href="http://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/ukip_councillor_wants_translation_services_axed_to_shorten_time_taken_by_indifferent_people_to_learn_and_understand_english_1_3754950" target="_blank" title="">abolish all translation services</a>, or make people pay for them is interesting. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is a confusing article, not helped by the fact that after 16 months as a County Councillor Councillor Lay still doesn't know how the council works. Firstly, there is no council meeting on 18th September. Secondly, he has subimitted his comments as a written question, when it does not contain a question at all and, as a result it has been refused. It may yet get resubmitted in a different way, but I doubt it. The crux of this is the on.y text I have is what is in the article - but the crux of it is clearly that we should cease to provide any free translation services.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Of course, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t need translation services. But then, in a perfect world:</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">We wouldn’t have to produce leaflets and posters to explain where to turn if you are a victim of domestic abuse</span><br />
</li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">We wouldn’t have to put social workers in front of victims of domestic abuse and explain to them that they risk having their child taken away if they stay in their relationship</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">We wouldn’t have to bring in social workers to talk to a child who has disclosed to a teacher that he is being abused at home</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">Our social workers would never have to liaise with their equivalents in foreign countries about social work cases (and that includes us liaising with overseas agencies about British families living abroad)</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">We wouldn’t have to employ staff who have to detain people under the mental health act and explain to their loved ones why that detention is necessary.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Note: I have had this list double-checked and they are all areas where the County Council would provide translation services if the council staff involved do not have the language skills themselves)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">County Council do have to do ALL of these and more and, unfortunately, we have to do them with migrant victims as well as native English speakers – I am not going to go into the whole immigration debate here, dealing with that is outside of the County Council’s gift. However, the truth is even if, as a migrant, you are a reasonable English speaker, when you are in a situation where your child is threatened with care, or you are dealing with social workers, you are likely to come across unfamiliar language and you deserve to understand <em>every single word</em> that is being said to you.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />So the next question is, in these circumstances, if the county Council doesn't fund it, who should pay? Councillor Lay says:</span><br />
<em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><br /></span></em>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">"</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">If interpretation is required, this will be supplied by the county council at a cost to the recipient."</span></em> </blockquote>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">In this case the recipient is the partner who has been beaten, the abused child, the mentally ill, or families of the mentally ill. Surely he cannot mean they should pay (but that is what he says). So, should the alleged perpetrator pay when they haven't been found guilty? Councillor Lay's thinking is dangerously flawed.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I would suggest that there are a number of reasons why this idea could have come forward. Either Councillor Lay still doesn't understand what the County Council does, or he lacks compassion, or he is being populist. My view is it is a combination of all three.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Now, if there was a motion to council to review the cost of translation services to see if we could cut costs, that would be worth looking at, but it is not what is being suggested. The perfect way of dealing with this would be through a scrutiny review, but unfortunately, UKIP helped get rid of the County's valuable scrutiny function.</span><br />
<br />
I suspect that if Councillor Lay puts his ideas forward as a motion (the correct procedure) it would still be ruled out by the County Council's legal team on the basis that we have legal obligations to provide such services and therefore that the intent is not deliverable.<br />
<br />
We have a by-election pending in Wisbech. I hope as many Wisbech people as possible can read this so they can see the sort of heartless, wrong-thinking UKIP Councillor has been elected.<br />
<div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://blogsyapp.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted with Blogsy" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" height="20" style="margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-91462373776411307882014-08-30T03:11:00.003-07:002014-08-30T03:17:11.821-07:00UKIP To Replace Chairman of Adults Committee<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let me make a few things clear before I get to the crux of this blog:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I do not doubt for one second that Paul Clapp has been diagnosed with dyslexia and I wish him nothing but success in learning how to deal with it.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This blog is not about Paul Clapp – the proposal to remove him as Chairman of the Adults Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council has been made and it is for Paul to reflect on that and deal with it. It is true I am not a fan of his, but I will give him the credit for trying as a Councillor and I hope he uses his willingness to work to deal with and overcome this situation.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What this blog <em>is</em> about is the way the UKIP leadership dealt with Paul Clapp’s removal; the way they attempted to soften the blow to UKIP b<a href="http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/article/117/change_of_chairmanship_suggested_in_ukip_membership_move" target="_blank" title="">y using Paul’s dyslexia</a>. If I thought<i> for one second </i>that the reasons for Paul's removal was because of a diagnosis of dyslexia, I would be absolutely horrified. Politics at every level needs more people that have struggled in life, whether it be from illness, financial hardship, from disadvantaged background or for any other reason, and it needs those people in positions of leadership – provided they have the talent to deal with it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is, however, quite clear that Paul was struggling, and that struggle was IMHO down to a range of factors, including inexperience and a lack of support from the UKIP leadership at the County Council. If you look at the reasons that were put to the <a href="http://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/ukip_committee_chairman_ousted_after_vote_of_no_confidence_threat_by_other_parties_and_diagnosis_of_severe_dyslexia_1_3748940" target="_blank" title="">Council's Chief Executive in a letter by four group leaders</a>, a few of them could be put down to dyslexia, but the biggest reasons could not – there are plenty of dyslexics with good strategic brains, who can cope with with complex political responsibility (Michael Heseltine is a good example).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is also true that people often find a way of softening the impact of difficult political decisions and I suspect that this is what the UKIP Group Leader, Paul Bullen, was trying to do. But in my view it was a serious misjudgement. My guess is that the decision to blame it on dyslexia and the resultant press release will be widely read by dyslexics and dyslexia organisations and they will be horrified. The message it sends to dyslexics is clear – politics isn’t for you. It’s the wrong message and it is flawed thinking that went in to it – it is a decision that protects the UKIP group in Cambridgeshire but harms the improvement of politics.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have asked the Council what support has been offered to Paul Clapp – we must make sure that if he wants it, it is there. Finding a way of dealing with his diagnosis will make him a better Councillor and will help the people of Wisbech. I wish him well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I also want to say that the proposal to put UKIP’s Sandra Rylance in as Chair of the Adults committee is a good one – Sandra will do well.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-18554735136428852462014-08-28T02:19:00.000-07:002014-08-28T02:19:05.551-07:00Not Seeking Re-Election to Fenland District CouncilSomeone has kindly leaked to the media something that I was going to publicise over the weekend, but that I told some of my fellow Councillors last night - which is that I have decided not to stand for re-election to Fenland District Council next year.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I took up my new job in May I said I would give that my
total focus for three months and then see where I was at- something that was
right for my employer, but which also gave me a period to reflect about the extent
of my Council commitments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the forefront of my thinking has always been Whittlesey - the one thing I will never do is let Whittlesey down. It is clear that I cannot work full time and serve my Town in the same way I have in the past - something has to give, so I have decided to stand down from
Fenland District Council at next year's elections.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am proud of my record at Fenland District Council and especially the way I have stood up for Whittlesey residents there when I have needed to and I can guarantee that this does not mean I won't make my voice heard there - I most certainly will, but it will be in a different way.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-28194021899865205612014-08-23T12:00:00.000-07:002014-08-23T12:00:36.413-07:00Snowley Park/Glenfields Planning Permission – a few questions<div class="MsoNormal">
I am still really confused by the decision to grant planning
permission at the Glenfields/Snowley Park site. I could ask questions about almost
every aspect of it. But, the area I am most unhappy about is highways. I have
been putting in some challenge since the planning decision and have not got
satisfactory answers. So, I have decided
to ask some questions publicly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first issue that really, really concerns me is that it
was specifically stated at planning committee that the current approval that is
being built out to the rear of 148 Stonald Road was not factored into the highways
assessments. This is worrying, not just because of that issue, but because it
then begs the question what else hasn’t been factored in. Residents deserve answers to this and they
need confidence that the application was properly considered. So my first
question is:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--> <i><b>1. What
existing planning consents were factored into the traffic statistics? Specifically what consideration was given to:<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The existing approval for 460 homes at
Bassenhally Field.<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Sainsbury Supermarket and country park at
Station Road<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>c.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The business park that has approval on Eastrea
Road.<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>d.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The development to the rear of 148 Stonald Road<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>e.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The old nursery site along Peterborough Road
which has now got permission</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second issue, which I am wrestling with is the issue of
sustainability. That is, the expressed
need for the planning system to work to make communities more sustainable in
public transport terms. The National
Planning Policy Framework has extensive things to say about sustainability and
it is clear to me that, from a public transport perspective, Whittlesey is not
a sustainable Town. This is what
paragraph 50 of the Framework says:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<i>“Encouragement should be given to solutions which support reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions and reduce congestion. In preparing Local Plans, local
planning authorities should therefore support a pattern of development which,
where reasonable to do so, facilitates the use of sustainable modes of
transport.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s be clear where Whittlesey is; our rail service is
dreadful, despite our Town being within commutable distance to London; our bus
service offers nothing outside of normal working hours; and the green wheel
cycle route into Peterborough is not safe at night. It is also true that 80% of
Whittlesey residents commute out of the town to work.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
The
committee report about the Snowley Park/Glenfield development recognised this
when it said this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<i>"It
is anticipated that 70% of the trips generated will be by the car driver, 3%
public transport, 3% walking and 3% bicycle.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That clearly states that this development is not a
sustainable development – less than 10% of the journeys from this site will be
by sustainable methods. The reason for
this is clear, if you live in Whittlesey and work out of Town, unless you can
guarantee you will never work outside of normal hours you have to use a car to
get to work. For a Market Town the size of Whittlesey that sits within
commutable distance of Peterborough and within commutable distance of Cambridge
and London - two economic powerhouses. This situation is totally unacceptable,
yet we are having development forced
upon us that is clearly unsustainable and adds to our woes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, my next questions are these:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> <i> </i></span><i><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> <b>2. Do Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire
County Council accept that, in terms of transport, Whittlesey is an
unsutainable location. If not where is the evidence it is?</b></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<i><b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The committee report for Snowley Park/Glemfields
mentions a tiny contribution to the Market Town Transport Strategy,, a
questionable scheme of offering new residents a few free bus tickets and a
contribution to Station improvements.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Where is the evidence that this will work and what evidence that proves
this will work was presented to committee?</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Do they accept that it is not good enough to accept money without
evidencing what it will be used for and how it will make the Town more
sustainable.</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>4. What public consultation was carried out that
specifically described the proposed contributions so residents had an
opportunity to challenge and make alternative suggestions?<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>5. Do officers accept that Snowley Park/Glenfields
development will put more traffic along Stonald Road on the route into
Whittlesey Town Centre (which is the recognised cycle route that extends the
green wheel into Whittlesey). Do they accept that putting more traffic along a
route which does not segregate bicycles makes that route less sustainable! Not
more?</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My next point is about consultation with Peterborough City
Council. I am glad to say we are moving towards a situation where Kings Dyke
crossing is going to be sorted. That is great news. However, that is increasingly becoming only
part of the story. Whittlesey people know what happens when more cars are
forced onto the A605- we see the results every year when the North Bank and Wash
Road close – and one thing we must do is make sure that we don’t force more
cars to use the North Bank – the deaths and serious incidents of last year are
all the evidence you need for that. What
we, as residents, know is that the problem is increasingly about both Kings
Dyke and Stanground. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given that we know Whittlesey residents are likely to work
in Peterborough and that, for the most, they are going to drive, it goes
without saying that more housing in Whittlesey means more queues at Stanground,
making the commute from Whittlesey increasingly impractical and making life for
Stanground residents increasingly difficult, and more importantly adding to,
not reducing, greenhouse gas emissions – a specific requirement of the NPPF as
outlined above.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><i><b>6. What consultation was carried out with
Peterborough City council about the impact of this application on Stanground?<o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>7.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>7. What discussions have taken place about
improving the cycle route along the North Bank to make it navigable at night?</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My final point is about housing. Fenland’s draft Core
Strategy identified that Whittlesey should have only 1,000 new homes in the
period to 2031, largely because of our poor transport infrastructure – a
decision that was supported by an inspector.
We are already reaching that limit and the last time I challenged about
it, I was told there was nothing they could do to enforce that 1,000 limit. They have to find a way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <i><b> </b></i></span><i><b>8. What method are Fenland going to use to make
that housing limit enforceable? If they
can’t what are they going to do to give us a sustainable transport system. </b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am pretty sure if I thought longer, I could ask more
questions, but I think the responses to these will ensure we get the gist of
whether there was adequate thought about the impact of this application on
Whittlesey or whether our current unsustainable transport position has been
properly considered. I will make sure
both senior planners at Fenland, and officers at Cambridgeshire County Council are
aware of this blog and I will publish the responses.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-19617250232932775502014-05-26T23:44:00.001-07:002014-05-26T23:44:51.941-07:00State of the County - Children's Services
<p>If someone really wanted to make mischief, they could point to children’s Services as a reason why the County Council needs committees – because it has an unsatisfactory OFSTED report hanging over it; they would be wrong and absolutely mischievous to do so though. Children’s Services is in a good place in Cambridgeshire with huge leaps and bounds having been made in the last few years.<br></p>
<p>The OFSTED report (two years ago now) came about for two reasons – one because of a high number of agency social workers in one team, which the Council had already addressed prior to OFSTED visiting and because of IT issues. The truth is the widely held view outside of the County was that the judgement by OFSTED was harsh but, in typical fashion, the County Council chose to take it on the chin and use it positively instead of fighting against it (and we could have challenged it). Certainly on my visits to Social Workers before I handed over leadership of the Council, the IT problem had become less and less of an issue. There are still huge leaps and bounds to be made around IT and social work, but they revolve around sharing of data with the wider public sector in order to better raise awareness of the vulnerable children’s circumstances – and that is a National issue, not a Cambridgeshire one.</p>
<p>We have not been afraid to be bold in Cambridgeshire, a few years ago we began a move to a different model of managing social work (known as the Unit Model) and it has been a huge success, not least because the structure allows for sharing of knowledge around casework. I sat in on a weekly meeting of social workers where this was happening and it was incredibly powerful.</p>
<p>The big danger with Social Care in the County is around political responsibility for safeguarding. The law requires that Councils who have responsibility for Children’s Social Care must have a politician designated as Lead member for Children. In the past this has been the Cabinet Member – and in that role he has taken political responsibility for the safety of our children, liaising with outside bodies, with the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s board etc. that person is also the politician whose neck is on the line if safeguarding procedures fail. Under a committee system you could argue that this is the role of the Chairman of the Children’s committee – but is it? How can someone take personal responsibility for safeguarding when they have no executive authority? If there are issues, it would be difficult to hold them personally to account when they are only allowed to act on the will of the committee. The public would absolutely want clear accountability if the system failed, what they will get is a cloudy and unclear response - it will come across as politicians dodging accountability rather than taking responsibility. More importantly, that personal accountability really sharpens the mind and thinking of the Lead Member for Children – the lack of it has the potential to have the opposite effect.</p>
<p>Luckily, Cambridgeshire has the professional leadership that will ensure this does not become an issue – but that is now, what about in two, three years time as personalities change? I have still not seen anything that assures me this has been thought of in the transition to committees. Understanding and dealing with this so that the drive and innovation continues is something I believe the new Children’s committee will have to look at urgently.</p>
<p>Let me be clear, it is a sad fact that any Local Authority that is dealing with vulnerable children will face circumstances where awful things happen. That in itself should not be a reason for a witch-hunt, it is the underlying reasons for those awful events that matter. When I was Lead Member for children, Cambridgeshire had a number of child deaths, they are horrible to deal with – but there were two aspects that were important to me – the first is to find out why something happened, the second is to make sure that if there are lessons to be learned, they should be. One benefit we had in Cambridgeshire, to be fair, was political opposition that took a responsible attitude – that must continue.</p>
<p> Child deaths and serious incidents involving children are horrible to deal with. I can remember, even as Leader of the Council, receiving a telephone call about such an incident and being in tears when I put the phone down. That is one of the reasons that Children’s Social Workers are probably the profession I admire the most. They are a great, hugely conscientious group who take on massive responsibilities. I wish the public and the media would admire social workers more</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-87115495864699602802014-05-24T04:22:00.001-07:002014-05-24T04:22:38.934-07:00UKIP Chair of Adults Committee claims people with mental illness should not be Councillors
<p> A few days ago Wisbech Town Councillor Steve Tierney, whilst participating in a Council meeting, tried to film UKIP Councillor Alan Lay who had turned up in his capacity as a County Councillor to address the meeting. The mayor of Wisbech (wrongly in my view) asked Steve to stop filming, Steve, of course, complied with the request and stopped.</p>
<p>As Steve <a href="http://www.stevetierney.org/three-standard-committee-complaints-against-me/" target="_blank" title="">has reported on his blo</a>g, that incident has resulted in three complaints to Fenland District Council's Monitoring Officer. That in itself is astonishing. But even more so is the wording of the complaint from UKIP County Councillor Paul Clapp, which includes the following line:</p>
<blockquote><p>"<span style="line-height: 1.3em; font-style: italic; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">if this is how Cllr Tierney gets his kicks then in my oppinion he is mentally ill and should not be a part of Wisbech Town Council."</span></p></blockquote>
<p>Councillor Clapp has recently been appointed as Chairman of the County Council's Adults Committee, which will have responsibility for dealing the Council's services to vulnerable adults, many of whom will have mental health issues. I do not consider his comments to be appropriate in any sense (even if they are expressed as an opinion). It demeans mental health as an issue and also bizzarely includes a suggestion that someone with mental illness is not fit to be a Town Councillor - should someone with such a view be chairing the Adults committee?</p>
<p>Let me be plain here. If, when I was leader of the County Council, my Cabinet Member for Adults had used this quote, I would have sacked him. Unfortunately, the new system at Cambridgeshire does not allow the leader to do this.</p>
<p>I accept that Cambridgeshire is under a new system of governance now. But everyone involved in that system has to also accept that the move to committees is controversial and therefore, in the early stages, everything possible should be done to ensure public confidence in it; I cannot see how the public can have confidence in an Adults committee with Councillor Clapp as Chairman, he should resign. If he doesn't he should be told to resign by his group leader.</p>
<p>I have submitted a complaint about Councillor Clapp's comments to the County Council's monitoring officer. Inevitably submitting that complaint leaves me open to "tit for tat" accusations. But this is not about that, I have complained because I have serious concerns about a misunderstanding of the seriousness of mental health in our country. Left unchallenged, this sort of inappropriate language from people who should know better heightens that misunderstanding.</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-62839210038142292502014-05-22T03:58:00.002-07:002014-05-22T05:56:27.962-07:00UPDATE: Sainsbury Gets Final Approval?UPDATE: I have now had it confirmed from the team that led for Sainsbury on the planning side of the development that this is correct and that the judge has rejected the possible judicial review.<br />
<br />
The words "totally without merit" were used. He also ordered Harrier to pay Fenland District Council's legal costs.<br />
<br />
Technically, Harrier/Tesco have the right to take this latest decision to the Court of Appeal. However, given the strength of the judge's words (and the awarding of costs) I would put money on this not happening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ORIGINAL POST:<br />
<br />
If what I am hearing this morning is right, it seems that the judge has dismissed the potential judicial review against the Sainsbury application on the grounds that it is without merit (or something similar).<br />
<br />
I will update when I have this formally confirmed, but, if true, this is the final step - it means that there is nothing to stop Sainsbury and their team getting on and building our supermarket and our country park.<br />
<br />
From a personal perspective - I am absolutely delighted with this. It has always been clear to me that Sainsbury had the best planning offer, provided the best scheme for Whittlesey and had local popular support. Common sense has won the day. More importantly, the majority view of local residents has won through.<br />
<br />
My insides are doing a little jig this morning.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-33211236313021629782014-05-13T02:54:00.001-07:002014-05-13T02:54:59.813-07:00 State of the County – Adult Social Care<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Adult Social Care is, arguably, the County’s biggest problem. Let’s get it straight, everything we see suggests we are doing the right things, but It accounts for over 40% of our total spend, an amount that is set to increase because we have a growing county where people are living longer (which is a good thing).</span></p><p>I do believe that Adult Social care and Children’s Service are probably the lest contentious areas of the council going forwards, they are the areas where we have the most consensus around decision-making. But that could change.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">There is some huge change needed in Adult Social Care, primarily doing more to allow people to live longer in their own homes rather than relying on hospitals and care homes. To make this happen there is going to need to be a real change in thinking, and a significant blurring of the lines between the NHS and Adult Social Care, with GPs potentially taking a much more pivotal role. The committee system makes this complex – who takes responsibility for making it happen? The Health Committee? The Adults Committee? Or maybe we should just leave it to the Health and Wellbeing Board? With a Cabinet system, there was one body that pulled all this together(arguably this didn’t include the H&WB board, but there was always aCabinet Member with Executive authority sat on it). You could argue that where situations were this complex, it should be the role of the overarching General Purposes Committee – but it has been decided that the GPC will not have a decision-making role in Cambridgeshire.</span><br></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">One of the things I am most proud of in Cambridgeshire is the <a href="http://www.care-network.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=34" target="_blank" title="">Community Navigator programme</a>. </span></p><p>It is something I had a huge role in making happen in the County after hearing about the success of other schemes in the country. But, I am convinced this would, at best, have taken an age to get through the committee system. The point about schemes like this is that they are hard to find research evidence that shows their likely success, the evidence comes from getting out and seeing what is going on elsewhere in the country, and looking at case studies. As a cabinet member, I could drive forward this issue having seen it first hand – 17 committee members will not have been able to do that – and the lack of research evidence would have been an issue for some could have, at best, seriously slowed down the introduction of our community Navigators scheme.</p><p>Finally, I want to say this. Adult Social Care is an extremely complex area of business – it has intricate links with outside bodies, complex internal structures, because it is multifaceted, and it has a challenging financial position. Whoever takes on the Chairman’s role must have the ability to get underneath this complexity and must be capable of real depth of thought. There is a danger that the Chairman will be appointed simply as part of a numbers game. That would be a mistake – especially when you consider the serious safeguarding implications of getting it wrong.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-79290021873293687942014-05-09T02:18:00.001-07:002014-05-09T02:18:45.961-07:00State of the County - Part 1<p> As I stand down as leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and move to the backbenches, I thought I would end my term of office with a series of articles which highlight where I think Cambridgeshire is on a service by service basis and explain the concerns about why the change of direction forced on the Council is not good for you, the Cambridgeshire resident.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">But I am going to start with an oversight of where we are from a whole Council perspective, but focussing on the dangers going forwards.</span></p><p>I can’t comment on the corporate view of the County Council without including comment on the move to a committee system of governance. My view has always been that the decision to implement committees as the response to moving to no overall control was wrong and that a review of structures with a more open view based on “what is right for Cambridgeshire” was the right one. The decision to move to committees was made at the first full council meeting after May’s election with 39 out of 69 councillors newly elected – more than half of the council had no experience of working in a County Council under cabinets or committees. In those circumstances nobody could convince a reasonable person that it was a well thought out decision, but it was one that, practically, ties us to a committee system for five years. So, if it doesn’t work, a decision made in haste without any depth of thought leaves you the council tax payer stuck with a failing system for the next five years.</p><p>I am now clearer than I have ever been that a move to committees is no longer supported by the majority of the council. I have had many opposition councillors tell me over the last year that they now realise the early decision was wrong ( incidentally this includes councillors from every single political group in Cambridgeshire County Council). But a less informed, less well advised decision has won the day.</p><p>Now if Cambridgeshire was in a mess, then there would be some merit in a move to a different system, but it isn’t. Nobody is perfect but the only area we are really struggling with is the cuts agenda, and that is because of circumstances forced on us and not because of internal failings. Whilst I do have an issue with the disproportionate way local Government has been treated, we are clearly more efficient as result of the austerity agenda. There are very few, if any measures that say Cambridgeshire is in a bad place. Here is some information, that demonstrates we are in a good place:</p><p>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Cambridgeshire’s local Government is the lowest spending per head of population and per household in the East of England</p><p>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Local Government Association evidence shows that, compared to other councils, we are struggling financially with the cuts agenda, but that the difficult decisions we have made in the last few years mean things are looking better moving forwards.</p><p>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cambridgeshire’s Peer Challenge, held in the last year, described Cambridgeshire as “premier league” but also as a very, very lean authority in terms of its management structure; a good, efficient organisation that if anything, has gone too far in taking out senior staff to reduce costs.</p><p>Interestingly, one of the the main concerns in the Peer Review was the very low level of our reserves. Despite that evidence and the fact that we have one of the lowest levels of reserves compared to other local authorities (331st out of 336) there is still huge resistance from some of our opposition when it co es to addressing it. That reluctance to bite the bullet could cost us dear. If we have, say, an adult social care crisis that forces an overspend that exceeds our reserves we could be in a position where we are technically bankrupt. As we take increasingly difficult financial decisions, that sort of scenario becomes more and more likely.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">In other posts I will go through other areas where we stand out service by service. But, part of the reason we have been successful is that Cabinet Governance combines three powerful things: </span></p><p>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> The ability to give executive authority to Councillors. Something that is not allowed in a committee system and effectively means that the most senior Councillors cannot make decisions and therefore there is an inevitable transfer of power to officers – there is less political control in a committee system, not more. </p><p>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A system of scrutiny (potentially combined with other structures) that holds decision makers within the council to account and ensures advice and guidance to help deliver the process. At the same time it retains clear accountability about where the decision making rests. When bad decisions are made under a committee system, that accountability becomes cloudy. Under a committee system you, the electorate, will have less understanding of why and how decisions have been made, not more.</p><p>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Under a well managed Cabinet System when a decision is made, every single Cabinet Member will have had the ability to challenge and fine tune decisions, through listening to scrutiny and other members, but also by responding to member and public challenge, by asking questions of officers and making improvements to recommendations well before decisions are actually made. So, a Cabinet of 9 makes decisions where every one of those 9 has had an element of intricacy with the underlying issues. Under the committee system we will be using from May 13th, of the 17 members who sit on a particular committee and who will be voting you can only guarantee that 4 or 5 people will have had anything approaching that same intimacy with a decision. The first time the majority of the committee will have challenged and questioned officers will be at the meeting where they are required to vote and actually make a decision. Many times Councillors will have had a party whip applied before they have had the opportunity to properly debate an issue in public.</p><p>Ask yourself a question. What is more important to you, the quality of decisions or the number of people that stick their hands up when the decision is made? Cabinet is far more of a guarantee of the former, committees the latter – and that is not just because of who the cabinet members are but because functions like scrutiny and, potentially, policy development groups support the process . The lack of scrutiny and in depth challenge is one of the reasons why, when Cambridgeshire last had a committee system, its Adult Social Services was put into special measures by Government.</p><p>Despite all I have said here – I believe that committees could work if the mindset of councillors was geared up to a change in their approach and thinking. But, the evidence from this year says that this hasn’t happened. In fact the political group that has changed the most over the last year has been the Conservatives. As an example, one thing I am proud of having achieved is an ability to separate the important from the less important; as a result the Conservatives have far less whipped votes than previously (a part of my own personal philosophy about improving politics and democracy). But, at the same time, we have maintained our ability to focus on the long term interests of Cambridgeshire – the sort of focus that has got us into such a good position (preventative policies, A14, City Deal and Wisbech to March Rail are perfect examples of this).</p><p>This is my biggest concern. The next two biggest political groups under the Conservatives are very short term in the way they behave – albeit for slightly different reasons. The Lib Dems are primarily interested in what they can say in their next leaflet – irrespective of the long term interests of Cambridgeshire. A great example is their obsession with selling Shire Hall which would generate, at best, £8.5m as a one-off receipt, but would increase the running costs of the Council and cost us more in the medium term. The Lib Dems have been shown clear, far more beneficial alternatives – but this one looks better in their leaflets, so it’s this one they stick with.</p><p>UKIP on the other hand are primarily interested in doing everything they can to promote UKIP Nationally, irrespective of what local damage they do. A great example here is the TB outbreak in the County. TB outbreaks in Britain are not unknown and Public Health England are experienced at dealing with them. When the UKIP group leader found out about the outbreak his immediate response was a press release that was all about trying to get National recognition for UKIP in exposing the outbreak and accusing others of secrecy – this claim of secrecy ignored the fact that the UKIP councillor in the Electoral Division where the outbreak happened was fully briefed weeks before His so-called press reveal (the local councillor is, by the way, a good Councillor who I have a lot of respect for). The most disturbing part of the press release was a claim that TB could be spread from touching contaminated fruit – there is absolutely no foundation to that claim and it forced local businesses, fearing for their reputation, to put out denials. UKIP in Cambridgeshire are a party willing to mislead you the electorate and see businesses suffer in order to further its National aims. Their desire to move to committees is about UKIP’s national interests, not your interests as a resident.</p><p>If, under the committee system, this short-term thinking sits behind decision making, Cambridgeshire has a problem. Cambridgeshire is not perfect, but it is recognised as being efficient, low spending and high performing – why risk that for a system that reduces political power, increases risk and weakens decision making?</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-34230999014200095522014-03-24T09:23:00.002-07:002014-03-24T09:23:35.959-07:00The Inevitable Necessary ClarificationAs you would expect, the opposition in Cambridgeshire have sought to misinform and distract attention away from my real reasons for standing down as Leader. It is that sort of behaviour that, after all, is the root cause of my decision.<br />
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<strong>1. I am standing down because I don't believe committees work. </strong>That is not true. Yes I believe that Cabinet systems are less bureaucratic and lead to better decision making. But it is not true that there is only one system of cabinet - there are many - some of which engage opposition and make them feel involved. Conservatives offered a complete review of Governance last May - taking a view that the whole Council took a "what is best for Cambridgeshire" approach rather than leaping to a single conclusion within one month of an election with 39 brand new Councillors. Unfortunately, a more blinkered approach was forced upon us.<br />
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I do believe committees "can" work. I don't think they work as well, but at their best they "can" work. My concern is that the attitude of the two major opposition groups in the Council, unless they change, will not work. Good decisions are not made when political groups believe that the most important thing is how they can use a decision to raise their National profile, or what is going to look good on their next newsletter. I am afraid that "is" where the UKIP and Lib Dem Groups are in Cambridgeshire. That is why committees are going to struggle at the County Council.<br />
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<strong>2. I was forced out by my group. </strong>Anyone that says this does so without knowledge and, I would contend, is lieing. The Conservative group were 100% supportive of me - they have been magnificent over the last year. They have maintained confidentiality, had great discussions where we have needed them, individual members have respected decisions when they didn't agree with them and have stood full square behind me - and latterly, they have also supported my view that we should have more free votes at Council meetings. There was absolutely no pressure for me to go from anyone, it was my decision and mine alone.<br />
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Let me give you the real reasons in as few words as possible. I have loved serving our County over the last year. 90% of it has been great - I have absolutely detested the 10%. But I don't like pettiness and I don't buy the sort of party first, people second mentality that prevails in politics - especially in the two above named opposition groups at the County. <br />
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It was clear to me going forwards I would have to spend more and more of my time on that 10% - I suspect it would rise up to 50%. That is not for me - and it is bad for Cambridgeshire. So I have made the right decision for me and, I hope, sent a message to others about the need for a different approach. What they do next is their call, but be minded of what I have said.<br />
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I expected this sort of response, maybe I should have done something to anticipate it, it is a typical bit of politics. What I am now doing is mulling over a way of dealing with sort of stuff going forwards, so that I can expose it in a way that voters trust.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-40718437461426096892014-03-22T08:15:00.001-07:002014-03-22T08:42:54.878-07:00The examples you are after<p> After a night of reflection, I thought I would provide the colour I said I would about my decision to stand down as Leader in May. I could trawl back over the last year and bring back loads of examples, but in truth I don't have to look too far in the past to find enough examples to make my point.</p><p><strong>Full Council agenda next week.</strong> I could go on and on about what we are discussing next week. But here are three examples from just one meeting:</p><ul><li><strong>Flying the LGBT flag</strong>. I realise this is a serious issue for some, and let me be plain, if I ever thought Cambridgeshire was discriminating in any sense against anyone, I would be horrified and angry - in fact the motion to Full Council does highlight the fact that we have a good story to tell in this area. I was asked a question about flying the rainbow flag at the last Full Council meeting, I said we would discuss it at Group Leaders (a meeting of all the Leaders of all the political groups). The current Cambridgeshire policy is to match the flag flying policy of National Government, this was explained to Group Leaders and the majority accepted it and agreed that we should not fly the rainbow flag. Now, I find we have a motion at Full Council to discuss it. So, Cambridgeshire County Council will have discussed the issue of flying a flag three times. Let me make it plain, I agree with the council policy on flags, once you deviate away from a policy that has structure behind it you open up all sorts of doors and complications. But, if Group Leaders had said they wanted to fly the flag, I would not have tried to revisit the decision at the next Full Council, I would have accepted it and moved on. Under a committee system, people are going to have decisions go against them - if people continuously find ways to revisit them, we will grind to a halt. It is this sort of behaviour that forced the Labour Government to introduce Cabinet systems in the first place (one of their better decisions) and we are seeing elements of that sort of practice in Cambridgeshire already.</li></ul><ul><li><strong style="line-height: 1.3em;">Filming at Full Council. </strong><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We have a motion next week discussing whether to do live webcasts of our Full Council meetings. The motion is correct, in that we could do this at low cost; not no cost, but low cost. All the evidence from elsewhere shows that when Councils webcast very, very few people watch it. There are plenty of informal mechanisms in the Council to raise and discuss this issue, but instead, we have to use one of the most time consuming, most costly meetings of the Council to discuss it. Bearing in mind a Full Council ties up the time of every single elected member, every single one of our most senior managers and many other officers - this discussion, which the evidence suggests there is little public interest about (note "little" not "none" is going to cost you the tax payer thousands and thousands of pounds to debate, whatever the outcome. Be assured, the reason this is being debated in this way is not about you the resident, it is about a few Councillors being able to put a leaflet through a door saying "look what we've done!" - a bit of populism that will cost you thousands. Full Council meetings need to discuss the biggest issues of the Council, let's leave the other issues for elsewhere.</span></li><li><strong>Addenbrookes motion. </strong>We have a motion next week to debate supporting the move of Papworth Hospital to Addenbrookes. Sounds really important, and it is. However, it is not difficult within political structures to find out where the land lies Nationally on such issues. I did it with a few contacts at the Department of Health. Guess what I found out? It is fairly certain this decision has already been made, but is not yet signed off by Ministers. I am pretty sure the Lib Dems also know this, so when and if this motion gets support (which I suspect it will) and the National decision is signed off, the lovely Lib Dems will be able to put a lovely leaflet through your door saying "look what we did!". This motion is not about what's best for you, it is about the Lib Dems being opportunistic ahead of the elections in May.</li></ul><p>I could go on about next week. To be fair, there are two important and very relevant motions for debate, one of which is about the Wisbech to March rail line, a motion I encouraged so we could genuinely make a statement about this issue (actually the motion was written well before the recent rail summit). But that allows me to make an important point. We have four UKIP County Councillors from Wisbech, guess how many of them have contacted me, expressed an interest or asked a question about this, one of the biggest issues facing their town? Not one.</p><p> <strong>UKIP. </strong>UKIP, as a new party, had the potential to offer something different to Cambridgeshire County Council. They haven't. They are a party that offer absolutely everything that people hate about politics, but they somehow manage to take it to a whole new level. There are loads and loads of examples I could use. But here are two.</p><p><strong>Peter Lagoda. </strong>Last month, Councillor Peter Lagoda, a Wisbech UKIP Councillor pleaded guilty to benefit fraud. He pleaded guilty to "making a representation known to be false". What is worse is that he knew he was under investigation when he stood for election (he may even have been charged at that point, but I'm not sure) - ask yourselves a question, as a voter, if you had known he was under investigation for this, would you have voted for him? Now, some of you will say "yes I still would have" but many wouldn't - that latter group were deceived.</p><p>How did UKIP react to his guilty plea? You would have thought they would get rid of him instantly, <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">in fact if you look at the National reaction, you would have thought they had - here is what they said in the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566924/UKIP-councillor-wife-plead-guilty-stealing-25-000-benefits-scam-lasting-two-years.html" target="_blank" title="">National Press</a>:</span></p><p><em> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'If he has pleaded guilty to a criminal offence, the party will revoke his membership. He is currently suspended from the party and sitting as an independent"</span></em></p><p class="image-wrap" style="min-height: 1px; position: relative; cursor: pointer;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">That statement is not correct. He was, at that point, suspended from the UKIP group, technically that means that he is still listed as belonging to UKIP - <em>he</em> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;"><em>does not </em><span style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">sit as an independent. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">That status has not changed since his guilty plea. You can check,<a href="http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cmswebsite/apps/committees/Member.aspx?ID=199" target="_blank" title=""> he is still listed as a UKIP Councillor on the websit</a>e.</span></span></p><p class="image-wrap" style="min-height: 1px; position: relative; cursor: pointer;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In fact, what UKIP did was use the fact that he pleaded guilty to a charge that was lesser than the one he was originally charged with, to<a href="http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/fraud_charges_against_ukip_councillor_and_wife_dropped_in_favour_of_lesser_summary_offences_1_3372658" target="_blank" title=""> spin a story</a> that this was all some sort of mistake. Let me repeat, he pleaded guilty to </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> "<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">making a representation known to be false".</span></span></p><p class="image-wrap" style="min-height: 1px; position: relative; cursor: pointer;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Why does this matter? Well, apart from the moral issue, as a councillor who is suspended from his group, rather than as an indepndent, UKIP get more people on our committees. The number of people they have on committees is more important to UKIP than getting rid of a fraudster. (That probably explains why <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2034605/Magistrate-banned-physiotherapist-having-sexual-relationship-vulnerable-72-year-old-patient.html" target="_blank" title="">this guy </a>is currently the UKIP Group Leader at Hunts District Council).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><strong>Wisbech. </strong>Wisbech is an important Town to the County Council. It is a lovely Town, with huge potential, but some big issues. I fight hard for it because I have a passion about deprivation. We started to get some good momentum in the previous council with the 2020 vision and we are still progressing on those issues, over the last year we have also made serious progress on the A47 upgrade and on Wisbech to March rail. Previously, we got challenge and great representation from our Wisbech Councillors. </span></span></span>The current group are virtually invisible to me (to be fair Cllr Gillick is sometimes visible, but <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2514379/UKIPs-Gordon-Gillick-told-children-care-takers-society.html" target="_blank" title="">for all the wrong reasons</a>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">A few months ago, I upset the Wisbech UKIP Councillors by highlighting the fact that I had invited them to a meeting to discuss Wisbech 2020 and they didn't turn up. They denied they were invited - I have checked the email trail, they were invited and they accepted.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">You would have thought at that point, their group Leader would have had a chat and told them to up their game. So, what has changed? Absolutely nothing. I ha<em>ve still, despite the many things we are trying to do in </em>the Town, yet to receive a single meaningful comment, question or challenge from a UKIP member about a Wisbech issue.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The truth is the only thing UKIP are interested in is having these people in their group as voting fodder. UKIP are happy to have people performing poorly as Councillors, as long as they turn up and vote at the right time. An important Town is suffering as a result.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I want to stress, these examples don't stand in isolation, they are a smattering of the sorts of pratice that has become increasingly prevalent since last May; I have found it incredibly frustrating. I don't mind a bit of party politicking at the right </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">time, but the overall function of a County Councillor has got to be to provide strategic direction and drive as well as to represent their communities stongly and effectively. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Under a committee system, it is true that every Councillor is going to have more of an involvement in decision-making (I still contend that the quality of the decisions is more important than having the ability to stick your hand up more often, but I accept the change is going to happen). If we get bogged down in petty decisions that are all about party polliticking, if we get to a point where decisions are revisited numerous times because a minority of people don't like it, or we have political groups who are more obsessed with having numbers on committees than doing the right thing or are content for their Councillors to be voting fodder, as a Leader I would not be able to work to my strengths and lead that strategic vision. More importantly, if things don't change, the Council is going to have a serious problem. This is the reason I decided to stand down.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">There may be others who are more able to succeed in that sort of environment (in fact there are definitely some in my group), I hope highlighting this issue might also force a few of the opposition group leaders to revisit their approach - or for their groups to make the necessary changes.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I have no doubt that the immediate reaction from those that I have discussed here will be to deny these issues. Remember what I have said - these are not the only reasons, they are a few examples that help paint the overall picture.</span></span></p><p><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></p><p><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"><i style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </em></em></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-80370090856285252842014-03-21T12:40:00.001-07:002014-03-21T12:40:39.236-07:00Standing Down as Leader of Cambs County Council<p><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today I announced today that I am standing down as Leader of Cambs County Council in May. I will blog some colour to this over the weekend, but here is the press release I sent out today.</span></p><p>The reasons stated on here are the genuine reasons - in the next few days I suspect the targets of my reasons will create all sorts of speculation in order to deflect from the truth.</p><p><em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">County Councillor Martin Curtis has decided to step down as Leader of the Council at the Annual Meeting in May.</span></em></p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>He took the leadership role promising not to become embroiled in petty politics and to do the best for the people of Cambridgeshire.<br><br>Almost a year later he and the Conservative Group, working with others have delivered billions of pounds of investment into the County – including a City Deal, A14 upgrade, new rail and transport measures as well as playing a part in delivering on a 30 year wait for fairer funding for our schools.<br><br>But with the change to a new committee system in May he believes the evidence of the last year and, especially of recent months, suggests that the Council will become embroiled in petty politics at the expense of the huge strategic issues the Council is succeeding with. He also fears that the new system could lose focus on protecting vulnerable Cambridgeshire residents from harm.<br><br>Over the last year the Council has achieved:<br><br><br>· An announcement about a City Deal which is a £1/2b investment in our County.<br>· Secured a deal for the A14 upgrade: a £1.5b investment.<br>· At long last, taken a huge step towards fairer funding for our schools, securing £20m extra.<br>· Planning permission for a major rail investment (Science Park Station).<br>· Support from the Transport Minister for the Wisbech to March rail line, a potential £40m scheme - he has not yet committed funding, but described it a "strategic priority".<br>· A superfast broadband project that continues to deliver on time and on budget, and is forecast to deliver improved coverage across the County.<br>· £128 million in savings over the last three years while protecting frontline services<br>· Continued progress on schemes like Kings Dyke Crossing and Ely Southern Bypass.<br>· Our first community hubs, working across Councils to save money.<br>· A Community Navigators scheme that is progressing to maturity and receiving widespread recognition for the work it is doing supporting older people.<br>· Settlement of the guided busway dispute - very challenging, but at a cost far, far lower than many predicted.<br>· An asset management approach to road maintenance which is reaching fruition.<br>· A multimillion pound refit for the College of West Anglia - delivering on a promise broken by the Labour Government.<br>· A £30m agri-tech investment in the belt between Cambridge and Norwich.<br>· Worked with AmeyCespa to bring the MBT plant back into full operation<br>· Working with our partners to deliver Stage 3 of the Tour de France which is the biggest annual sporting event in the world<br><br>He said: “This has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make. But I vowed to always do the best for the people of Cambridgeshire, I do not believe my skills rest in dealing with the continuous stream of dogma that is going to get into the way of the direction of this Council that the move to committees will bring. Evidence of the last few months has shown to me that this is where we are heading.<br><br>“Our Councillors need to be absolutely concentrating on the people of Cambridgeshire and the challenges they face. We need to be looking after the most vulnerable, making our roads work better and ensuring people have access to jobs.<br><br>“In the last year the Council has achieved billions of pounds of investment that directly benefit the people we serve. I am extremely proud of the massive strides we have taken in solving some of the major problems facing Cambridgeshire and our record stands for itself. But this is about to become bogged down by people more interested in grandstanding or focussing on minor issues that are better dealt with more informally than doing what is best.<br><br>“I fear that we are about to rush headlong into a Committee System that will be characterised by petty politics and infighting, with the needs of the people of Cambridgeshire coming a very poor last.<br><br>“It would be easy for me to carry on as Leader but I believe we are elected by the people for the people. I cannot, in all conscience, be part of that system and see the massive achievements we have made become lost in a sea of self-serving noise. I hope that by resigning I can make some of our opposition groups think twice about the lack of strategic focus they have shown over the last ten months and the damage that will do to a County Council with a £500m budget under the committee system.<br><br>“You only have to look at the agenda for the next full council meeting to see a glimpse of the future. I cannot be part of a system that is using its most important meetings to eat up time and money discussing video cameras and becoming embroiled in a third debate about flying flags while we have real deprivation and a job to do. The people of Cambridgeshire deserve better of their Council and Councillors and I do not want to watch the good work we have achieved be squandered by people who seem unable to deal with the big strategic issues like reform of social care or delivering an infrastructure that will drive economic growth.<br><br>“I cannot praise enough the support the Conservative group and the officers at the Council have given me over the last year, providing me respectively with selfless support and tireless work to deliver for Cambridgeshire. I will remain Leader until the annual meeting in May and remain a councillor, doing my best for the people of Cambridgeshire and Whittlesey. I will of course fully support the Conservative group and its new Leader.”<br><br>ENDS"<br></em><br></span><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-84070644037105240552014-03-19T07:10:00.000-07:002014-03-19T07:10:21.999-07:00City Deal - Thanks to all who have helped make it real<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the budget today,
George Osborne announced the Government’s willingness to sign up to the Greater
Cambridge City Deal and provide us with a £500m gainshare arrangement<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally getting us within touching distance
of a Deal that will deliver huge improvements.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I cannot stress what a
game changer this will be for the entire County and also how complex the
discussion that have got us here have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The majority of this
money will be spent on transport projects and will start to deal with the
infrastructure deficit around Greater Cambridge, helping to create thousands of
new jobs and boosting the whole County’s economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have made it a goal that the success should
cascade well beyond the geographical boundaries of the work so that the benefits
reach across the whole of the County and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This has been an
absolute team effort to achieve this, especially at a time when there is little
money around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We have fought hard to
argue the case that Cambridge and the surrounding County is vital to the
continued economic recovery of the UK, we act as a magnet to world beating
firms; our County competes on the world stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The deal is a recognition of us winning that argument and is testament to
the hard work put in by everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I would like to thank
our partners Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, The
University of Cambridge and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough
Enterprise Partnership and our MPs who have worked hard on our behalf in
Westminster to argue the case for the City Deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spoken with many of them, especially
Andrew Lansley, who have been lobbying behind the scenes for our communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also want to thank the Conservative Cities
Minister, Greg Clarke who has played a pivotal role in making this happen for
Cambridgeshire – an excellent Minister doing an excellent job for our County.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of course our staff at
the County Council deserve huge credit too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There is still some
work to go before we sign up fully and, as with everything, the devil is in the
detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am extremely optimistic that
we will sign this very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-71726379719641391552014-02-27T08:41:00.001-08:002014-02-27T08:41:52.902-08:00Rejoice. We have planning permission<p> I have wanted to write this blog post for some time. Too long in fact.</p><p>It has been confirmed today that Fenland District Council has issued planning permission for the Country park and Sainsbury in Whittlesey. The process has taken a long time, for many reasons (some good and some bad in my view) and I have been quietly but firmly been chasing behind the scenes for some time. </p><p>Going forwards we now enter a six week pause which is needed legally in order that any concerned parties can consider legal action. We know there is a possibility of this, although I hope the third party in this case will realise that this has been a thorough process and that the permission reflects the will of the majority of people of Whittlesey and was exercised through an appropriate planning decision.</p><p>Over the next few weeks I will be talking with the Sainsbury team to see if I can get clarity around timescales.</p><p>But for now, rejoice, our much needed supermarket is now one very large step closer to happening.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-52663349107545718332014-02-19T00:29:00.001-08:002014-02-19T00:29:03.262-08:00Leader's Speech from February Budget Meeting<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Council,</p><p> </p><p>This Conservative Group have never hidden from or denied the tough financial challenges faced by this council, nor have we shirked the responsibility of dealing with them. It is worth reminding this council that over the last three years we have successfully dealt with savings of around £124m.</p><p> </p><p>Those savings have been needed because of a combination of reductions in Government grant, caused by Labour's overspending and because of a growing county and an ageing population. The census proved that Cambridgeshire is the fastest growing County in the country. Let me set this into context. Between 2011 and 2021 the number of over 90s in Cambridgeshire is forecast to increase by 73%. Think about what that means for the amount of Adult Social Care we are going to have to provide? </p><p> </p><p>But we have not been complacent. </p><p> </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Our reablement agenda has saved some £5.4m over the last three years - remember that was an agenda that many in this chamber were sceptical about.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Another success is in our traded services where, for example, Cambridgeshire Catering and Cleaning Services and Groomfields were costing us money in 2010/2011 but are now bringing in revenue.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">If we had not done the work we have to prevent the need for children to go into care (bucking the National trend) or in being more efficient around placements we could buck the National trend we would not have saved the £6m we have in recent years.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><p></p><p>In ETE </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">we have slashed the number of Heads of Service by a third, </span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">saved £391k from changes to trading Standards, </span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">delivered over £2.3m worth of efficiencies from the Highway Services contract </span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">and saved nearly £1/2m from closing the Environment and Climate Change office.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><p>I could go on and on, especially as I am allowed to speak for as long as I want today. But it's alright - I won't.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>But before I talk about this year I do want to talk about how we have reduced waste:</p><p> </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The cost of our Leadership team has come down by 25%, </span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">we have cut £1.3m from our mileage bill and, despite having taken on Public Health and and brought some CCS staff back in house, we are working cut that bill further.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><p>Last week I published this County Council's progress on DCLG's proposed 50 ways to save on my blog - that in itself is unique, but actually when you see what our progress and status is, it is pretty remarkable. </p><p> </p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">It demonstrates that we are leading the way in shared services , </span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">improving procurement (for example saving over £600k in the last two years from retendering the Cambridgeshire Community Network contract or saving £420k on our e-business suite through a joint procurement contract with Northamptonshire</span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We are saving through rationalising our estate and sharing property with our partners, such as through our Community Hub projects.</span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">and we are reducing absenteeism and sickness where our levels are well below public sector averages.</span><br></li></ul><p> </p><p>The reason I have mentioned these few examples is to highlight the point I have made a number of times over the last year, I have said that as far as savings go, we have taken the low hanging fruit. Of course, we should always try to be more efficient, but we are going to have to take tough decisions, we are going to have to cut services and we are going to have to do things that our residents find difficult and, more importantly, we are going to have to front it and stop pretending that there are easy alternatives. As we move into a committee system, that denial will slow this council down and halt the progress we are making.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>This budget recognises our current situation and recognises where we are, no denial but an honest response to a difficult position. None of us would choose to make cuts to children's centres, no-one wants to cut winter gritting, no one wants to remove the funding from the Cromwell museum - but the reality is that despite our undoubted efficiency we have a savings target of £149m over the next 4 years.</p><p> </p><p>I have said we must always try to be more efficient. That is why a large part of our children's centre savings will come from streamlining management. But there is more - in adult social care we need to continuously test how much more innovative we can be with assistive technology, to see if technology can enhance the great work our Community Navigators scheme is doing to reduce isolation. </p><p> </p><p>I know some in here are obsessed with unitaries, I will have more to say about that later today, but the reality is that there are more savings to be gained from working better with the rest of the public sector in Cambridgeshire. We need to seize the opportunity that the Better Care Fund provides, but also to use initiatives like the Transformation Challenge Awards to bid for funding to allow us to realise the ambition identified at the last Full council to make Cambridgeshire the National Leader in delivering the Rewiring Public Services agenda.</p><p> </p><p>We also need to continue to be ambitious around the way we make money from our assets. Marketing castle Court and becoming landlord are but two examples of the progress we are making on revenue raising schemes. Making our assets work for us is the right way forward, selling off the family silver as a sticking plaster most certainly is not.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>I want to talk now about why I believe a Council tax increase is the right decision. My conservative colleagues and I do not take any decision to increase Council Tax lightly. But this is not just about slashing public spending. When I look at the current situation, I glance back at some of the tough decisions that were made Nationally in the 90s. Part of the reason for he disastrous election result of 97 was because public services had been slashed too far - Conservatives were criticised for poor investment in the Health Service and in schools in particular, something the current Government is recognising. </p><p> </p><p>As our economy picks up, the focus will swing back to levels of service provision. Let's be blunt, our Social Care functions for both adults and children are core services that people care about. So, whilst it is true that we have a duty to the Council Tax payer, we also have a duty to the most vulnerable in Cambridgeshire, to do everything we can to maintain those core services whilst the Government does what it can to sort our National finances out. It is a balance between services and taxation levels, it is not just about taxation.</p><p> </p><p>Our Council Tax levels are not high, in fact they are just under average for a Shire County, but there are only two County Councils with a higher proportion of savings to make over the next two years. That is why I believe a Council Tax increase is justified. Yes, it's a difficult decision - but we should not shy away from difficult, especially when there are people needing our care.</p><p> </p><p>Those stats around Council Tax are backed up by some analysis done by the LGA recently which showed that our savings targets and our very low level of reserves mean that our current financial position is one of the most challenging in the country. But they also showed that going forwards, the difficult decisions we have made around Council Tax and our economy mean that our future is more rosie.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>I want to finish by talking about the future. The next few years are going to be tough, please don't doubt it. However, my group is determined that we must remain ambitious for our County. Councils are now rewarded financially for economic growth. Not enough - and we need to try and improve that, but Business Rates Retention, in particular, is a bold initiative from Government that has the potential to make a real difference in the future and we should be in no doubt that Cambridgeshire's economic potential is huge. </p><p> </p><p>Please let's not pretend otherwise, our challenging capital programme is challenging because of the pressure on school places. But we do also have ambitious infrastructure ambitions.</p><p> </p><p>A significant part of that is the City Deal. A successful City Deal will transform the Greater Cambridge economy and can make Cambridge a genuine world economic powerhouse. If Government offer the right deal, we should take it, but only if it is the right deal. But we have a duty to make sure that deal benefits the whole of Cambridgeshire, that is why the City Deal must sit alongside projects like Wisbech to March rail, the Ely Southern Bypass, the A14 upgrade and Kings Dyke Crossing - as well as, of course, Superfast Broadband as a driver to widen The spread of the Greater Cambridge Economy and increase the travel to work area, so every single one of our residents can benefit from the potential of our economy.</p><p> </p><p>Chairman, members. This budget is not an easy one. But it is the right one. It makes the necessary difficult decisions that show we are facing up to our financial challenges, but it retains our ambition for our County and its residents and does everything it can to protect services to our most vulnerable.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-40437916028213865392014-02-18T12:31:00.001-08:002014-02-18T12:33:15.265-08:00When is a Kipper not a Kipper?<p> Today at Cambridgeshire County Council the tremendously difficult task of agreeing a budget during a period of cuts in a no overall Council was succesfully achieved. This was done through a great piece of concensus politics involving almost every political group at Cambridgeshire County Council bar UKIP. (If you want to see what I mean, read their alternative budget which mentions UKIP something like 52 times and Cambridgeshire around 13).</p><p>That story is clearly worthy of a few headlines, but has been usurped by yet another disturbing story about one of Wisbech's UKIP Councillors and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/18/ukip-cllr-peter-lagoda-firefighters_n_4806778.html?utm_hp_ref=uk" target="_blank" title="">his use of racist languag</a>e on an unannounced visit to a Fire Station.</p><p>I am sure many would be pleased by the fact that UKIP have distanced themselves from Cllr Lagoda. But have they? We are told that he was suspended from their group when he was charged with benefit fraud. But has he? Today Cllr Lagoda sat with the UKIP group, whilst he was there I believe he voted as a member of the UKIP group and my understanding is he has been attending UKIP group meetings.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-33037286004019937402014-02-09T11:59:00.001-08:002014-02-09T12:05:54.754-08:0050 ways to save – What Cambridgeshire is doingSome time ago the Department for Communities and Local Government published a list of 50 ways Local Councils could save money.<br />
Over the last few weeks I have been asking for a report to look at what we are doing. Of course, I have added a bit to it, adding new examples and amended it. The responses are really helpful to me and give some ideas on further areas to examine. But, in the spirit of openness I thought it would be worth publishing it as a way of provoking debate. Certainly the message to me is we are looking at every opportunity possible. Could we do more? Almost certainly. But, it is also true that there are one or two areas where there appears to be a cut and dried view Nationally when the reality on the ground is that to cut in the way suggested could actually add long term cost.<br />
I wonder how many other Councils could show the sort of progressw e can. So why do we face so much higher levels of cuts proportionately, compared to others.<br />
Anyway, here they are.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. Share back office services: </strong><br />
Cambridgeshire is a Nationalleader in sharing services. It set up LGSS which is highly successful and saving millions of pounds by sharing all back office professional and transactional services across Cambridgeshire County Council and Northamptonshire County Council. We have seen an £11 million saving and LGSS is now providing services to a range of other organisations including Northampton Borough Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Norwich City Council and Olympus Care Services.<br />
We also shares services with other Councils and local public bodies as well as being a national groundbreaking authority in looking at sharing our buildings and facilities with other organisations.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Community Budgets - Bring staff and money together: </strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
Cambridgeshire is taking part in the Troubled Families initiative which aims to help those families who often most come to the attention of public services and help tackle the route of the problem. This means they have less need for support and reduces the chances of them facing more serious problems, leading to even more costly intervention from services such as the Council or Police.<br />
Cambridgeshire County Council has led the development of the Cambridgeshire Timebanking network. Timebanks - in which people exchange time and skills within their community - strengthen community spirit and provide that ‘little bit of help’ which enables more vulnerable people to continue to live independently. It is a great example of Localism. We believe community organisations and parish councils are best placed to coordinate these initiatives. Our role is to bring together those delivery partners to; link to our services, collaborate for funding and share learning. The network is growing, with five established Timebanks and two new ones currently emerging.<br />
Working with Spice social enterprise, we are also piloting a form of Timebanking which engages with local businesses. When a resident gives time to an organisation they earn one Time Credit for each hour they have given. These credits can then be spent on a range of activities offered on the Time Credit menu. The options range from after school clubs to a swim at the local pool, or a gym session. The initiative has enabled a school, which had previously struggled to engage even a handful of volunteers, to have over 50 engaged within three months. It is also proving to be a great approach to work with local businesses, an easy and effective way for them to use their spare capacity and fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility.<br />
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<strong>3. Use transparency to cut waste: </strong><br />
We have been publishing £500 spends on our website to help armchair auditors. The Council also set up Overview and Scrutiny Committees giving Councillors from across all parties the chance to look at the work of the Council and find savings and more effective ways of working.<br />
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<strong>4. Tackle duplicate payments:</strong> <br />
The Council undertook an exercise of this sort some 5 years ago and has recently advertised its intention to repeat the exercise seeking tenders from providers to identify and retrieve any duplicate payments. This is being done as a joint procurement for all LGSS Partners and customers. <br />
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<strong>5. Clamp down on corporate charge cards:</strong> <br />
We have strong controls on the use of Corporate Charge Cards which are supported by Government. This includes making sure only essential users have them and payments are strictly controlled. The use of these cards, however, has direct benefits both to local companies as they get payment for their services immediately rather than waiting for invoices to be processed, and to the local authority in terms of efficiency of paying suppliers where low value purchases are involved. Slow payment of invoices is a risk to the viability of small businesses.<br />
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<strong>6. Special spending controls:</strong> <br />
Spending is tightly controlled. New Contract Regulations (Standing Orders) have been put into place last year to improve controls, reduce external costs and promote greater competition. It also makes it easier for local companies to bid for work from the Council, therefore, benefiting the Cambridgeshire economy.<br />
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<strong>7. Tackle fraud: </strong><br />
We have a zero tolerance policy to fraud and all identified incidents are reported to the Police. In the last two years there have been two successful prosecutions. We have forged a good relationship with the Cambridge Constabulary Fraud Investigation Team.<br />
We updated the Anti-Fraud and Corruption policies in 2013, introduced a Fraud Response plan that clarifies how the authority will respond to fraud. This was promoted across the authority to integrate it into the culture of the Council.<br />
We are members of National Anti-Fraud Network and receive regular fraud alerts. We disseminate these to interested parties and make sure Procure to Pay staff are kept informed of the risks of creditor bank mandate frauds and have put in place procedures to reduce the risk. (This is were fraudsters contact the council and claim to be one of our suppliers who have changed their bank account details. If you believe them and change your records you end up paying the fraudster and still owe the creditor). Through our vigilance we have detected a case of this and referred it to the Police.<br />
The recent Internal Audit & Risk Management restructure has created a dedicated Fraud Manager post to co-ordinate all fraud investigations across Cambridgeshire County Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Norwich. This gives us access to the skills in the Norwich Benefits Fraud team such as their Accredited Financial Investigator.<br />
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<strong>8. Claw back money from benefit cheats</strong><br />
Cambridgeshire does not collect benefits from people. But we do help lead the regional squad which recovers money and benefits obtained from crime and fraud. This can include fraudsters who have conned people living on just their pension out of their life savings. Officers, working with colleagues have obtained orders from the court totaling £2 million for the return of money obtained through crime.<br />
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<strong>9 Get more for less by improving procurement</strong><br />
Procurement is one of the teams that forms part of LGSS and has therefore benefited both in terms of reducing the cost of the Procurement function but more importantly delivering millions of pounds of saving by increasing the economies of scale from our collaborative approach to procurement. . The Council has used new procurement techniques such as reverse auctions and also participate in an online portal – known as www.sourcecambridgeshire.co.uk that is a common portal for a number of public bodies in the East of England and East Midlands – the portal sends alerts to local providers when contracts over £10,000 are advertised making it much easier for businesses to see what contracts are on offer and bid for them. This has been praised by the Federation for Small Businesses.<br />
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<strong>10 Buying Together</strong><br />
The Council recognises the importance of buying on a collective basis and collaborates wherever possible on its procurement activity at the most appropriate level, whether nationally, regionally, sub regionally or within the County. The Council is a partner in the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) that is part of PRO5 that is a partnership of the leading collaborative Procurement buying organisations providing best in class deals such as for energy. The Council as previously mentioned is also a founding partner in LGSS and buys collaboratively for a range of services that are more suited to sub regional markets or not covered by national deals. The Council also collaborates at a local level within Cambridgeshire where the market is local in nature and more suited to SMEs.<br />
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<strong>11 Stop the scope for procurement fraud</strong><br />
We have very strong checks and balances in place to prevent procurement fraud, and as referenced earlier enhanced our Contract Regulations in 2012.<br />
We require Officers to seek a minimum of three quotations on all requirements above £2,000 in value and where this is not possible a specific exemption is required – this both ensures competition and reduces the risk of fraud with individual suppliers. <br />
We provide regular procurement awareness briefings for staff and this focuses on obtaining value for money and transparency in the process.<br />
Our purchase to pay system requires a three step process with separate approvers during the process to reduce the risk of fraud.<br />
Our Internal Audit team are proactive in auditing the procurement process including auditing compliance against our Contract Regulations and contract management – also provide a whistle blowing service. <br />
We also have a published anti bribery and money laundering policy which is also relevant to prevent procurement related fraud within the public sector. <br />
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<strong>12 Utilise reserves creatively</strong><br />
We have used reserves to help Adult Social Care meet the needs of our most vulnerable and transform the work they do to move to prevention. We use reserves to improve the way we work and drive out efficiencies and have been innovative in creating a rolling fund to help developers bring forward much needed housing schemes that are stuck because of the recession. <br />
We review our reserves and our independent auditors agree they are at a sensible level. <br />
In fact we are ranked 331 out of 336 Local Authorities for level of reserves. We have recently had a peer review which criticised our low levels of reserves.<br />
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<strong>13 Improve Council Tax Collection rates</strong><br />
Cambridgeshire County Council does not collect Council Tax, that is the job of the district and city councils. However, we will examine collection rates of other Local Authorities and sign post others to them if appropriate.<br />
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<strong>14 Encourage direct debit and e-billing for Council Tax</strong><br />
City and district councils collect Council Tax. But we have introduced more ways of paying for things online to reduce the cost to our communities and tax payers. We are continuing to look at putting much more online and making it easier for people to use the web as we are investing millions into providing superfast broadband. This aligns with our channel shift work which is seeing a move to online payments from more costly methods. This is also reacting to what our residents are telling us – with around 47 per cent of our online traffic coming from mobile devices.<br />
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<strong>15 Close council cash offices</strong><br />
Cash offices are mainly used by district and city councils. But we are setting up community hubs so Council facilities are based where communities want them and often share buildings. For example Chatteris Library is a community hub which takes payments through council services provided there.<br />
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<strong>16 Better land and property management</strong><br />
Cambridgeshire is one of the leading authorities in the country for mapping out and looking to share public owned property and facilities. The County was singled out recently by Government as a pilot authority and has won an award for this work. Community hubs are being set up and buildings are being shared by public services. For example in Cambourn and Ramsey library services share with NHS and other councils. We are currently looking to create a revenue stream from letting our own Castle Court site. Cabinet has also agreed for us to develop a business case to develop our own land holdings. This would make sure tax payers would get best value for the land as well as revenue and provide affordable homes as well.<br />
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<strong>17 Hot desking, estate rationalization and sub-letting</strong><br />
The Council introduced hot desking many years ago and sub let office space to other organisations and companies bring in a return for the tax payer. Our move out of Castle Court will further reduce our employee to desk ratio.<br />
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<strong>18 Open up a pop-up shop in spare office space</strong><br />
The Council already hosts businesses from its offices and even invested its pension funds into a new bank which specifically helps small and medium sized businesses which are feeling the economic squeeze.<br />
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<strong>19 Close subsidized council canteens</strong><br />
A stand alone firms runs, at a profit, canteens in some Council buildings and at Central Library as well as providing meals at some schools in the County and other authorities. This provides local jobs and supports other food providers in the area while bringing in an income.<br />
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<strong>20 Cancel away days in posh hotels and glitzy award ceremonies</strong><br />
The Council uses its own premises wherever possible for training and even hires out rooms to other organisations. Officers and Councillors very rarely go to award ceremonies and usually these are sponsored.<br />
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<strong>21 Open a coffee shop in the library</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Many libraries have vending machines or local groups run coffee mornings to help promote their work. Central Library has a café. We are exploring further ways of maximizing income generation in our libraries while supporting local businesses. </span><br />
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<strong>22 Cut senior pay</strong><br />
Between 2010/11 and 2011/12 cuts to senior management resulted in a saving of £650,000. The Chief Executive has also taken a voluntary pay cut and his expenses are freely available on our website for scrutiny. He was also taken on at a lower salary than his predecessor. Pay for our corporate leadership team has reduced by 25.5 per cent in recent years.<br />
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<strong>23 Share senior staff</strong><br />
Cambridgeshire is a partner in LGSS where we share senior staff with other authorities. We also work across partners to make sure public services in Cambridgeshire work in a smooth and effective way. Our partner Councils are open to this and we continue to explore this positively.<br />
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<strong>24 Scrapping the Chief Executive post entirely</strong><br />
A head of paid service is vital for an organisation such as Cambridgeshire County Council which is one of the largest employers in the County with a budget of around £1 billion.<br />
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<strong>25 Introduce a recruitment freeze</strong><br />
A recruitment freeze has already been introduced. Managers can only recruit if absolutely necessary and posts are reviewed before being advertised.<br />
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<strong>26 Freeze councillor allowances and end councillor pensions</strong><br />
Councillor allowances have been frozen by the last independent review. <br />
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<strong>27 Cut spending on consultants and agency staff</strong><br />
The Council has been reviewing and reducing its spend on consultants who are only brought in to do specialist work where there is evidence that the Council does not have the necessary skill. For example, in the case of Connecting Cambridgeshire, this could bring in millions of pounds of investment. Agency staff are only used where necessary and in some cases are vital for delivering services such as care in people’s homes and carry out vital work with some of the most vulnerable in our community.<br />
We continuously look at ways of reducing spend on agency staff. Cabinet recently agreed a new approach to agency spend.<br />
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<strong>28 End expensive ‘leadership’ courses</strong><br />
We don’t send officers on expensive courses. Officers are only sent on courses (internal or external) where it is necessary for their role and where it will lead to an improvement in their job performance therefore, get better value for money from their time.<br />
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<strong>29 Cut spending on head hunters and expensive adverts</strong><br />
Adverts are put online and in targeted and most cost effective media where it will attract the most high quality candidates. Any spend on recruitment is carefully scrutinised. However, not all candidates look at Council websites so it makes sense to advertise where they will look.<br />
However, some of our most senior staff have roles which should either save millions or attract millions in inward investment. We reserve ther ightt o ensure we get the best possible people in these posts as a way of saving Council Tax payers money.<br />
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<strong>30 Review and reduce absenteeism</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We have been driving down absenteeism and sickness levels to one of the lowest in public services. Keeping our HR policies and supporting processes up to date and reviewed in line with best practice ensures we can respond and support the management of such.</span><br />
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<strong>31 Scrap trade union posts</strong><br />
We have reduced posts. Working well with trade unions has enabled us to avoid large-scale, expensive and disruptive disputes.<br />
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<strong>32 Charge for collecting trade union subscriptions</strong><br />
The Council charges the unions for the administration involved in providing the service of collecting its members’ subscriptions – the fee charged is averaged at 2% of the total deductions.<br />
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<strong>33 Stop spending money on commercial lobbyists.</strong><br />
We do not spend money on commercial lobbyists. The Council much prefers to talk to local MPs, ministers and Government officials face to face ourselves. We and our partners have found this far more effective in getting our points across and fighting for our communities. It has resulted in projects such as improving the A14 moving forward as well as Government looking to give the county millions of pounds in extra funding to help manage the development of the new town of Northstowe.<br />
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<strong>34 Stop translating documents into foreign languages</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We do not translate documents into foreign languages as a matter of course. However, there are many ethnic minorities within the County, with a large eastern European population in the north of the county. Sometimes documents may need translating to help these communities access vital services or address issues affecting their particular community.</span><br />
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<strong>35 Reduce the number of publications and media monitoring</strong><br />
The Council does not spend any money on media monitoring and has been driving down the cost of publications – saving £300,000 in one year.<br />
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<strong>36 Earn more from private advertising</strong><br />
The Council already uses advertising and is investigating ways of utilizing this more to bring in a greater income. For example the Council’s roundabouts are sponsored through advertising to cover the cost of maintaining them and therefore saving tax payers money so it can be spent elsewhere on frontline services. We are also advertising on our mobile library vehicles and exploring other options such as our websites and Park and Ride sites.<br />
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<strong>37 Cease funding ‘sock puppets’ and ‘fake charities’</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We don’t fund such groups. In fact in schemes such as ‘Voice Your Choice’ we have empowered local community groups to bid for funds and judge for themselves how to share this money. Putting the money and decision making in the hands of the community.</span><br />
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<strong>38 Scrap the town hall Pravda</strong><br />
The Council does not run a Council magazine but keeping our communities in touch with the services we offer and how they can have their say on our work is vital. We use social media as a more cost effective alternative and a good way to engage meaningfully with our communities.<br />
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<strong>39 Stop providing free food and drink for meetings</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Cuts have been made in food and drink available for meetings and this is now paid for from the profits made by the stand alone catering service. Councillors pay for their own meals at Full Council.</span><br />
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<strong>40 Reduce First Class travel</strong><br />
Officers and Councillors should always choose the cheapest form of travel and not use first class unless absolutely necessary.<br />
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<strong>41 Cut mileage payments</strong><br />
The Council has followed the HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payment, which is currently at 45 pence per mile, for many years (since Single Status in 1997). This reduces if the mileage exceeds a certain level. Officers and councillors are also encouraged to cycle or walk to reduce congestion. We have reduced spend on mileage by £1.3 million from 2009/10 to 2012/13 and have budgeted for further reductions.<br />
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<strong>42 Video conferences instead of travel</strong><br />
Video and telephone conferencing has already been introduced within the Council and with other Partners such as LGSS.<br />
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<strong>43 Help the voluntary sector save you money</strong><br />
As part of our budget setting we have been meeting with voluntary groups to see how we can best help them as well as encourage organisations to come forward with ideas on how they can better deliver services. New policies to enable this have now been approved by Council.<br />
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<strong>44 Cut printing costs</strong><br />
The Council brought in a new printing framework contract around 5 years ago which saved about 28 per cent in just the first year. The Council also saved £300,000 by looking at spend on marketing material and publications. We continue to explore similar examples and are rigorous in minimizing the number of ‘glossy brochures’ we produce.<br />
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<strong>45 End lifestyle and equality questionnaires</strong><br />
This are only included in consultations where necessary.<br />
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<strong>46 Sell services</strong><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Under the LGSS arrangement we sell shared professional and transactional back room services to other councils and organisations. This has seen millions of pounds in savings for the Council.</span><br />
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<strong>47 Hire out the town hall</strong><br />
Groups can hire out rooms in our main offices and buildings, such as libraries. We actively market them.<br />
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<strong>48 Lease works of art not on display</strong><br />
A painting by LS Lowry which was bought by Cambridgeshire County Council in the 1940s was sold at auction for £541,250 - £40,000 above its estimate. The money raised went towards the Cambridgeshire Culture programme, to support the cultural experiences of children and young people. Paintings in the possession of the Council are shared between schools to benefit pupils.<br />
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<strong>49 save money on computer software</strong><br />
The Council has already achieved this in a number of areas one example being hosting of our Oracle ERP solution on a joint basis with Northamptonshire County Council as part of LGSS. The new contract allowed two large local authorities to share a single platform using common processes and the contract is scalable for other public bodies to join at a lower cost than going it alone. The contract saved c£6m over the life of the contract compared to the previous independent approach within both councils.<br />
We drive down costs to use only what software is necessary or best for the job – including the use of free online software or websites.<br />
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<strong>50 And finally…ask your staff for more sensible savings ideas</strong><br />
We constantly engage with staff and our communities on how we can drive forward improvements. They are an integral part of our budget setting process.<br />
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So, there we have it. Apologies for the length of it. But I wanted to publish all of the list not just a selective few.<br />
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There are a few dangers in posting this, one of which is that the media and opposition will pick and choose the choice items out of the list and use that as a basis for criticism, when the reality it is the positive progress we have made on the totality that should be looked at. But, as a resident please feel free to comment on any aspect.<br />
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A couple of ideas and thoughts have come to my mind whilst doing this work. So I hope the examination I, and others, give it will lead to even more progress.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-46768487139772063632014-01-28T01:50:00.001-08:002014-01-29T04:03:52.659-08:00County Budget 2014 - A Guide to Undeliverable Populist Alternatives.The next Full Council meeting at Cambridgeshire County Council is the one where we try and agree an annual budget. It is our toughest yet - with savings of £38m to find for next year, despite a growing number of residents and an ageing population (which means ever increasing pressure on Adult Social care). Every year we have a bit of a moan about the lack of meaningful alternative and get accused of cheap political point scoring when we Conservatives react to what we see as undeliverable populist alternatives. So, I thought I would get my rebuttal in early this year by way of a layman's guide to highlight the sort of things we would expect a purely populist opposition to say and to explain why they are purely populist ideas.<br />
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I will be fair before I start we do have some idea of what to expect because we have had a much more open process this year. But they have all changeds ince wew ere given sight of them and not all political parties have provided detail around what they are proposing - and I suspect for good reason. Some have given us ideas that we will accommodate if we can. But others won't.<br />
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What I would ask you, dear reader, to do is use this as a reference when our opposition parties put forward their alternatives. Ask yourself the question, are they offering genuine alternatives or are they just saying things that sound attractive to you the voter but which don't stack up under the sort of analysis that has been made available to them?<br />
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1. <strong>We are cutting because those nasty Conservative Councillors have mismanaged in previous years</strong>. There is absolutely no evidence to back this up. The best counter evidence to this is the independent peer challenge that took place a few months ago. That described Cambridgeshire County Council as "Premier League" and identified that our Senior Management structure was "very, very lean". Bear in mind this year's £38m savings target sits on top of huge reductions in previous years. If we had not taken ambitious preventative approaches to Children's Services and Adult Social Care, many of the cuts we are being forced to make this year would have been needed a few years ago and we would be cutting even deeper and harder this year. Just one example is that we have worked hard to intervene earlier with families to reduce the number of children going into care, bucking the National trend and saving money. There are numerous other examples - we are an efficient well-run Council. Data produced by the Local Government Association show that whilst we are facing enormous financial challenges at the moment, the decisions we have made in the past few years around Council Tax and economic development mean that we are better positioned for the future.<br />
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2. <strong>We can sell off assets in order to avoid cuts in services</strong>. Apart from the question about whether iwe would be allowed to do this, there are huge consequences if we actually do it. Selling off Shire Hall is the best example of this sort of proposal. If we sell Shire Hall it will generate a one off sum of up to £8.5m (in real terms it is likely to be much less than this because our IT is in a part of the building and it would be too expensive to move it out, so we would have to take this off the sale value and account for the fact that not having the whole facility for sale reduces the attractiveness of the remainder). Now set that aside. If we generate, say £7m from the sale, of Shire Hall. We could, arguably, use that to offset from the £38m savings target. Great, except once we have done that we will have lost a £7m asset and, in a year's time, because we no longer have that £7m one-off cash injection available, we would have to find that saving anyway - we would be simply delaying a tough decision and reducing our asset base - very bad economics.<br />
Selling off the family silver would provide short term benefit and would just delay difficult decisions not prevent them.<br />
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Of course, there is an argument that it would make savings by reducing running costs. That is correct. But the aim of the Conservative group is to consolidate and rationalise our buildings estate, but in a way that generates ongoing income for the County Council. Our current ambition is to move our staff out of Castle Court into Shire Hall and elsewhere. Castle Court is a perfect building to let out as office space, or some such alternative, so our aim is to turn this into something that brings money into the council year-on-year - looking after the medium to long term interests of the Council Tax payer in a far more effective way than just making a very minimal revenue saving.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">3. <strong>We need to reduce staff mileage</strong>. It is true that we spend a huge amount of money on mileage. It is easy to say we need to reduce this by increasing the amount of telephone and video conferencing etc. etc. I can see how well that message would come across. However, for the last few years we have been doing this very thing and, in fact, there are already savings built into our budget going forwards. The amount of telephone conferencing we are doing is increasing year on year. For example, I now often use telephone conferencing in my office so that cabinet members can dial in to meetings as an alternative to driving in - that has been used on a number of occasions over the past year.</span><br />
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Now let's look at our biggest functions as a Council. Arguably one of the most important things we do is Children's Social Care. Over recent years the drive has been to try and make sure our excellent social workers spend more time in contact with the families they are dealing with. We have an ageing population, which means we have more older people needing care assessments - all tasks that create an increasing need for our staff to spend time meeting families. We have reduced mileage despite those pressures and further savings are already built into the draft budget for next year - by increasing video and telephone conferencing, changing policies around the use of pool cars etc. etc. <br />
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The facts underlying this are that between 2009/2010 and 2012/2013 we reduced our spend on staff mileage by £1.3m despite increasing the rate we are paying by 5p per mile.<br />
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It is easy and populist to say "we can reduce mileage costs" - the hard bit is proving how additional savings can be made when reductions are happening anyway. The likely outcome if such a saving was built into the budget is that it would become an unrealised saving, the result of which would mean we have to make savings in-year in a way that is far less well planned. Of course, if we can drive down mileage costs further than expected, this has a positive impact in the middle of the year - and this has happened in previous years. But, the argument that there are hundreds of thousands to save instantly on this area of the budget is fatuous - so if opposition proposals talk of reducing mileage, remember they are on top of savings already built into the budget and are in the face of increasing need for front line staff to travel to meet increasing demand.<br />
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4. <strong>We need to reduce staff costs/cut senior management pay/not allow pay rises</strong>. There are a number of arguments under this bracket which are traditionally used. The first is to substantiate the myth that there are millions to be saved from slashing senior management pay. It is not true - senior management pay, especially that of our very senior staff is a tiny proportion of our overall pay. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try and achieve savings from senior management costs. Indeed we have done that significantly in recent years. But, the balance has to be got right. It is our senior staff that have, for example, led on the prevention strategy for Adult and Children's Social Care that is saving us millions; the economic development work our senior managers are doing is what will generate the future income from Business Rates retention that will put us on a more sound financial footing in future. It is also true that over the last year or so, two of our most respected senior staff have moved to the private sector.<br />
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Secondly, we are already working on strategies to drive down staff costs - these are still being finished off and I owe it to our staff not to publish these before the consultation is completed. But, some of this revolves around reducing staff mileage and cascading some changes that have already saved money when they were put in place for our most senior staff.<br />
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Of course, another option could be just to deny our staff an annual pay rise. At the start of the period of austerity we did this, alongside other Councils. But any suggestion that you could just keep doing this is simply mean spirited and would potentially lead to us struggling to recruit and retain in some areas of the Council - we have had significant issues with hiring and keeping social workers in the past, so this is a real issue we have to consider.<br />
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Just a reminder, our most junior staff got a 1% pay rise this year, for our senior staff this was tied at just 0.5% - significantly less than inflation. <br />
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Once again, reducing pay rises is an easy opposition statement to make, but going too far has significant implications.<br />
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5. <strong>Our reserves are too high/our reserves are about right.</strong> No reasonable and informed analysis of Cambridgeshire County Council's financial position would come to this conclusion - but it is a statement that is always welcomed by the public - and it is true that councils have been criticised by Government Ministers for having reserves that are too high. However, out of 336 local authorities in England only 5 have lower levels of reserves than Cambridgeshire. Our recent peer challenge criticised us for this. <br />
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The question that follows on from this is why are the levels such an important issue? Think about our current situation where we are having to provide services for a growing number of people - services we are required to provide by law. Our way of trying to deal with that is through prevention. But what happens if our preventative solutions don't provide the level of results we want? What happens if we get a number of large families where we need to bring children into care? The answer is that we would have to use our reserves. <br />
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Recent figures for all of the Councils in the East of England ranked us 50th out of 52 for the level of our reserves - citing the fact that if we had a financial problem we could only survive for just over half a month if we had to rely on our reserves - at a time when less funding means we are taking more risk. My own view is that any of our Councillors who publicly claims that our reserves are OK is doing so because its an easy thing to say for a few votes, not because they believe it. All of our Councillors are very, very aware of the real situation - if they would risk our ability to support vulnerable people in a crisis to gain a few votes, then you should judge them for it.<br />
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Let me be plain, I wouldn't say this if we were not at the point where we are - with independent reports saying our reserves are too low backing up the straight fact that there are only five local authorities with lower comparative levels of reserves.<br />
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6.<strong> We shouldn't raise Council Tax.</strong> I would love to say that we can afford to freeze Council Tax. But the reality of our situation suggests otherwise. One aspect of this is that we could take a 1% grant off Government if we choose to freeze Council Tax locally. As with the items above, the devil is often in the detail. If we take that grant, it is only guaranteed for two years. If you doubt me on this, this is the text of an email from DCLG earlier this month about this "freeze grant":<br />
<br />
<em>"The grant for the 2014-15 freeze will be paid to participating authorities in the financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 – so if an authority freezes in 2014-15, it will also receive a grant in 2015-16 in respect of the freeze decision taken in 2014-15 (council tax decisions subsequently taken by authorities in respect of 2015-16 will fall under the terms of a separate freeze 2015-16 scheme)"</em><br />
<em></em><br />
What this means is that if we take the Government grant we could lose it in two years - a year when we potentially face our biggest challenge ever in terms of producing a balanced budget. It would mean an even larger Council Tax increase then, or even bigger cuts. Bear in mind that each 1% increase in Council Tax is worth £2.26m to Cambridgeshire.<br />
<br />
Every year as a County Council we do a resident survey about Council Tax - one that is statistically valid - this year it showed that residents would accept a Council Tax increase in order to minimise the impact on services. That is the likely decision for May - but before a final decision is made by any party, we need more information from Government. Final recommendations will come once we have that information, but if a rise does come, it will be lower than inflation. <br />
<br />
If you want to see where Cambridgeshire's Council Tax level is compared to other County Councils, you can find that here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/finance/tax/bandD.htm">http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/finance/tax/bandD.htm</a><br />
<br />
Bear in mind that, although our Council Tax is average, going forwards there are only two local authorities in that chart that higher savings targets than Cambridgeshire.<br />
<br />
<br />
The reason I have put this article here is to stimulate some discussion in the run up to setting the budget in February. This article summarises the sorts of arguments we have faced in previous years. Arguments which, in my view, have been about populism rather than about what is deliverable. This year, to reflect the fact that the Council is in no overall control, we have opened up the budget consultation process, so our opposition Leaders are much, much more aware of the facts and the detail around our financial position. I hope this leads to better, more imaginative alternative proposals. At the very least if we do see the issues highlighted above prevalent in those budgets, given the fact that the process has been more open, The public deserve detailed proposals about how they will be achieved, rather than just brief populist statements. I hope this blog will provide a means by which you can measure those alternatives.<br />
<br />
I will always make sure that sensible alternative proposals are considered - in fact there are areas where we have done this already. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-9205614313174819752013-12-16T02:04:00.003-08:002013-12-16T02:04:42.303-08:00Topographical Survey - Kings Dyke CrossingAs I have siad to many people, work to deliver a bridge over Kings Dyke Crossing is progressing. As part of this work a topographical survey is to take place at the end of this week - it should not cause disruption and there are no road closures as part of it, but you will see people round and about the area. Here is the text of the letter that has been sent to interested parties:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>"The County Council
is investigating potential solutions to the congestion on the A605 at King’s
Dyke caused when the level crossing is in operation. To allow a full and proper
evaluation of the various design options, the project team is starting the
process of gathering information.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>We will require a
topographic survey of the area and I attach a formal entry notice to allow this
to take place. The survey team <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">will not</b>
require entry into any building, as this is a non invasive survey recording
locations and levels of buildings, walls, trees etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>I would like to
stress that we are at very early stages of the project and no line or footprint
exists yet for the options under consideration.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>I anticipate
further survey such as ecological and archaeological will also be required in
the spring time. Should this include land under your control, a further entry
notice will be issued. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>We will be
carrying out a full public consultation once we have decided on the best
possible solutions.."</em></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-1555065810190640762013-12-11T01:21:00.001-08:002013-12-11T01:21:24.617-08:00Peer Challenge Report PublishedThe final report for the county council's Peer Challenge has now been published. I published <a href="http://whittleseynorth.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/corporate-peer-challenge-of.html" target="_blank">some comments about the initial presentation</a> a while back (and got some political challenge as a result).<br />
<br />
The final report is there for you to see warts and all - but overall I believe it is very positive about where the county council is, but expresses concerns going forwards because of two main issues - the move to committee governance and our financial position (linked with the cuts we are having to make to services).<br />
<br />
Feel free to read and comment if you disagree. You can open the report<a href="http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/pr.htm" target="_blank"> from here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-78136056410220317042013-12-06T03:06:00.001-08:002013-12-06T03:06:06.987-08:00City Deal - Cross Party Working At Its Best<p>The Chancellor's Autumn Statement yesterday included a commitment from Government to support a Greater Cambridge City Deal, including agreement to the principle of what we have called "gainshare".</p>
<p>The City Deal is an initiative that is aimed at unlocking the huge potential in the Greater Cambridge economy through investment in infrastructure. The gainshare part is an agreement that, as the economic growth starts to happen, Government will give us a small amount back from the increased tax receipts they benefit from in order to pay us back for delivering the improved infrastructure. There is still more work to do on this, the aim is to get the detail worked up before next year's budget.</p>
<p>I could write pages about the City Deal - and probably will at some point - but for now I will say that this deal has exciting potential for the whole of Cambridgeshire and beyond. But for now, there is an important point I want to make about the politics of getting to this stage in the deal. I know that members of the public hate the yah-boo nature of politics (which I am sometimes guilty of engaging in - albeit only when I feel I am forced). That "yah-boo" manifests itself in a couple of ways. One is through differing structures of Government pointing fingers at others i.e. districts blaming Counties and vice versa, or finger pointing between Local Government and National. The other is the cross-party stuff that I know I don't need to explain.</p>
<p>I hope the public will recognise that the City Deal is a welcome example of the exact opposite. It has come about through collaboration between a Liberal Democrat run City Council, a Conservative District Council and a County Council that is politically in no overall control (as well as The Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough LEP and Cambridge University). Getting to this point has also involved huge negotiations between local politicians of all colours and Ministers, with support from our MPs and between council officers and civil servants. It is a great example of cross party working and of partnership working.</p>
<p>It is surprising how much of this sort of work goes on, I suspect that even more of it will happen in the future, but this is certainly an example worth highlighting.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-9620333457730630302013-11-15T12:23:00.000-08:002013-11-15T12:23:10.725-08:00Sir Rhodes Boyson in a Onesie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
I have a very strong view that whatever you do in life you must be allowed to keep a sense of fun and to never be afraid of laughing at yourself. I also believe that in any public role you should use your role to support good causes.<br />
Today was an example of that all rolled up in one. This month I have been taking partin Movember. A cause that involves growing a moustache for charity and highlighting some mens health issues. Not wanting to do things by half, I have been trying to grow something that looks a bit like one of my rock heroes, Lemmy.<br />
<blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lemmy+Kilmister+Classic+Rock+Roll+Honour+kp5y-2Aq1v3l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lemmy+Kilmister+Classic+Rock+Roll+Honour+kp5y-2Aq1v3l.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Councillor Martin Curtis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x0otptYLpGM/UoZ_fcP60ZI/AAAAAAAAARc/w2VBvoI-rCs/s960/Photo%25252015%252520Nov%2525202013%25252019%25253A45.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="320" id="blogsy-1384546179776.9045" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x0otptYLpGM/UoZ_fcP60ZI/AAAAAAAAARc/w2VBvoI-rCs/s320/Photo%25252015%252520Nov%2525202013%25252019%25253A45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemmy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Yesterday, I was told it looks a bit like <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/9507100/Sir-Rhodes-Boyson.html" target="_blank" title="">Sir Rhodes Boyson</a>. Not sure I see it myself, but I'll take that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Today, having heard that BBC Radio Cambridgeshire were having a "Onesie" party for their Children in Need show, I thought I would give them a surprise. So I turned up, armed with my hairy face, cookies, and a KISS onesie .</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LHQhpoR5F68/UoZ_gXhjjjI/AAAAAAAAARk/lEILn-SB_bI/s642/Photo%25252015%252520Nov%2525202013%25252017%25253A39.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="320" id="blogsy-1384546179828.1196" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LHQhpoR5F68/UoZ_gXhjjjI/AAAAAAAAARk/lEILn-SB_bI/s320/Photo%25252015%252520Nov%2525202013%25252017%25253A39.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batman with some bloke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
</div>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had a great fun time for the few minutes, I was there, alongside a serious chat about poverty. It also ended up with a commitment from me to donate £30 to Children in Need to avoid having to wear my onesie to an Eastern Region Local Government Association meeting today (which I have done). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The BBC do a great job with Children in Need, so I hope my surprise gave them a bit of a smile. I am very grateful to the producer and to Paul Stainton for fitting me into what was already a tight schedule.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, if the site of my mutton chops and the pleasure of seeing me in a onesie is not enough to force you to open your wallets and either <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-donate" target="_blank">donate to Children in Need</a>, or to my <a href="https://www.movember.com/uk/donate/payment/member_id/7019653/" target="_blank">Movember page </a>(or even both), there is no hope.</div>
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-51353796645283664632013-11-05T04:37:00.000-08:002013-11-05T04:37:39.099-08:00Works to Whitmore Street and West end Whittlesey - 18th November
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Job Title</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">A605 Whitmore Street</st1:address></st1:street> and West End
Whittlesey Carriageway Resurfacing Works and associated Ironwork alterations
/ repairs.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Start Date</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Monday 18th November
2013</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Duration</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anticipate 2 wekks
weather permitting</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Value</span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Estimated £400,000</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Diversions/traffic
controls</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Road closure with
signed diversion via: <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A605
Peterborough Rd</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, To A605 Stanground (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Peterborough</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>),
A1139 to A47 (Area 6) to A141 Rings End / Guyhirn, to A605 Coates / Eastrea
to A605 Whittlesey and vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Residents access via <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Peterborough
Road</st1:address></st1:street> end of site, under traffic control. Delays
to be expected.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day time/Night
working</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Night working 19.00
– 02.00. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some day works may
be required due to shorter night working window,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>day working hours will be 09.30 to 15.30</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Justification for
scheme</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 313.05pt;" valign="top" width="417">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Poor deterioration
of carriageway and several mis aligned ironworks at several locations
requiring maintenance.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Any other
information</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Contact Details for
further information </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Name: Gavin Wiseman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Telephone Number: 0345 045 5212</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Email address: gavin.wiseman@cambridgeshire.gov.uk</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694454756676640378.post-32816281115656477512013-10-31T09:35:00.000-07:002013-10-31T09:35:56.257-07:00Fenland Funding FairFenland District Council and the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services are holding the annual Fenland Funding Fair and training session on "How to write effective funding bids?" on 26th November at Fenland Hall, March.<br />
<br />
The event will give local community groups the opportunity to meet with key funders including; the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and WREN, in order to discuss particular funding needs. Each group will be given a time slot within which to look at funding options and find out exactly what each funder requires for a successful funding bid.<br />
<br />
In addition the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services will be holding a training session on "How to write effective funding bids?" in the morning (with a free buffet lunch provided for attendees).<br />
The event will be free for CCVS members and £60 for all other organisations. To find out how to book a place on both events or to find out how to become a member of the CCVS then please contact 01223 464969, or 01354 622482.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1