Government drag feet on Tenant Tax

Changes to the massive negative subsisy that takes about £3 million per year from Council Tenants in King's Hedges, and just under £12 million from Cambridge as a whole, have been delayed again.

The Labour Government have delayed consultation on changes to the scheme, which was due to start in November last year until the "autumn" of this year.

The scheme must be changed to be fairer to areas like King's Hedges.

Amng the possible reasons for delay is the fact that the Labour Government is now taking a higher cut of the subsidy money to spend elsewhere in Government. The subsidy is no longer used to subsidise housing and has just become a tenant tax. Combined with the centrally imposed rent increases it starts to feel like a sustained attack on a group that includes some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Mike Pitt, along with Cllr Smart, the Executive Councillor for Housing, and tenant reps has recently written to the Secretary of State on these issue. The Labour spokesman on these issues on the Council didn't sign the letter.

Comments on Gritting during cold spell

To ensure that all the lessons of the ice and snow during the recent cold snap are learned, the Liberal Democrat group on the County Council are surveying people's experiences across the County.

The deadline for this is a meeting on March 25 when the LibDem's will push the County for better planning, and better provision for cyclists and pedestrians.

To ensure that an accurate picture is available at the meeting the LibDem's want to hear your experience of the response to the snow and ice, positive or negative. You can contribute at a new website, or if you'd rather email or call one of the local LibDem team in the usual way.

Tories Won't Face Residents

For the second time one of the Conservative County Councillor's responsible for decisions that affect King's Hedges has refused to attend meetings open to the public in Cambridge.

The County Cabinet member for transport, Tory Matt Bradney and aleading officer have turned down the opportunity to answer questionsat the city's North Area Committee on March 19.

In part this is because they would have been challenged by residents on the decision not to allowthe bus to stop on Histon Road and Milton Road so that "it canprovide a fast reliable service with only limited stops" forpassengers living along the A14 corridor.

The only option for residents is to ask Councillor's to take questions to the closed County meetings.

This follows Tory Martin Curtis' refusal to answer questions on cuts to provision for vulnerable children in Cambridge.

Planning application in Turpyn Court

There is an application for a "single storey rear extension" in Turpyn Court. The application reference number is 08/1476/FUL.

As ever more details can be obtained from development control at the City Council.