Libraries Review In Disarray As Trust Conversion Flops

Cambridgeshire Lib Dems have criticised a glaring oversight in the Conservative administration's plans for the county’s libraries, which means the Libraries Review has to be completely rebooted.

The Conservatives initially planned to make savings of up to £1M by converting the libraries to “Trust status”.  This would have made the libraries eligible for dramatically reduced business rates to central government and was the core of the council's plan to make savings.

However, forthcoming changes to taxation, which would see local government keeping the majority of business rates, mean that the Trust idea simply would not work any more.  Savings made by converting to Trust status would result in the council’s income from business rates being reduced by the same amount - a zero sum game, with no savings possible.

The Liberal Democrats are concerned that the same savings will now have to be made in other ways, despite the idea on which the libraries budget was based being dead in the water.  They are worried that this will put further libraries and jobs at risk.

Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Libraries, Sarah Whitebread said:

“It is alarming that the Conservatives did not put two and two together on this sooner. The big worry now is that the Conservatives will insist on making the savings they planned for when they passed their unrealistic budget in February.

“Today I call upon Council Leader Nick Clarke to take personal charge of the situation and prevent the disaster we can see is coming by working with the dedicated hard-working staff that form the core of the library service and make sure the people of Cambridgeshire aren’t short-changed."

County Councillor Kevin Wilkins, whose local library is threatened, said:

“The value local libraries like Milton Road bring to our communities is far, far greater than the small sums it costs to run them. Closing libraries cannot be the answer to the county’s self-inflicted financial crisis.”

Nick Clegg talks to Julian Huppert about Hacking

Over the past few weeks many members have been in contact about the latest allegations on phone hacking, so to help answer some of your questions I sat down with Julian Huppert MP, who has played a prominent role on the select committee, to talk about some of the issues being raised. 

You can view the video below;

Or on our YouTube channel here



The phone hacking scandal has uncovered a crisis that strikes at the heart of our democracy, calling into question our trust in the institutions and individuals tasked with protecting our freedom and enforcing the rule of law. 


Liberal Democrats have for more than a decade challenged the dominance of News International, with successive Parliamentarians raising the issue, from Paddy Ashdown in 1998 to Chris Huhne just before the General Election. We have time and again battled both the Conservatives and Labour to push for stronger laws on media plurality seeking to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few media moguls. 


It is vital that we now build on the select committee hearings and cast a greater spotlight on what was clearly a murky relationship between the press, police and indeed politics. That is why the Liberal Democrats have made sure the inquiry is Judge-led and has the power to summon witnesses to give evidence under oath and sits in public.


It is clear that much more detail will come to light, but I think we are now embarking on process of greater openness and greater accountability, finding out what really happened. 


If you have any comments or questions, you can email me on this subject at;


phonehackinginquiry@libdems.org.uk


With all best wishes,


Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Opinion: Academies Overspend Revealed! (By Cllr Peter Downes)

Figures in a Government consultation paper on the funding of academies have revealed that Michael Gove’s policy of getting schools to convert to academies is expected to cost nearly £600 million more than planned over the two year period 2011 – 2013.
 
This confirms what Lib Dem activists have been saying for some time i.e. that the programme for converting schools to academies is costly and unsustainable, as well as being divisive and unfair.
 
When a school decides to leave its Local Authority (LA)  and become ‘independent’ (i.e. dependent on central government!), in addition to its standard funding it gets an extra grant called LACSEG (Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant) to allow it to buy in the services it no longer gets from the LA.
 
Heads and Governors have done the sums and soon realised that the LACSEG gives them far more than they need and so they get a net bonus. In the case of large secondary schools, this might amount to £400,000 or even more.
 
The word spread quickly, hence the ‘dash for cash’ that has dominated the educational scene for the last year. Gove claims that Heads are attracted by freedom and autonomy (released from the shackles of bureaucratic LAs); in practice, Heads are going for the extra money, especially at a time when school funding is tight.
 
The LACSEG is partially recouped from the money that the LA spends on pupils with acute needs. This in effect transfers funds from those in greatest need to those with fewest problems. The rest of the money is top-sliced from the general grant to councils, whether or not they have any schools converting to academies! This crude method has incensed local councillors by its unfairness.
 
Figures published on July 19th show that the expected LACSEG spend on academies in existence and schools likely to convert within the next year will amount to £997 million (mid-range estimates).  The clawback from Local Authorities already announced and partially implemented is £148m for 11-12 and £265m for 12-13, making £413m in total.
 
This leaves a gap of £584 million. This is tantamount to a bribe to tempt schools to convert to academies in order to justify Gove’s flagship policy.
 
The consultation on what to do started on July 19th and ends on August 16th.
 
The country surely cannot afford a wasteful and unnecessary policy of this kind. Liberal Democrats in Parliament and in the Local Government Association must speak out about this. Liberal Democrats on school governing bodies are urged to dissuade their schools from converting to academy status.
 
In two years time there will be a new national funding formula for all schools which, we are told, will treat all schools fairly. That is something all Liberal Democrats ought to be fighting for.
 
Peter Downes is a former President and Funding Consultant of the Secondary Heads Association (now the Association of School and College Leaders), a Cambridgeshire County Councillor and Vice-President of the Liberal Democrat Education Association. He successfully proposed a motion opposing Academies and Free Schools at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool last September.

Fight To Give Part-Time Students A Fairer Deal Under Loans Scheme

Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Belinda Brooks-Gordon is fighting for a fairer deal for part-time university students under the government’s education loans scheme.

She has teamed up with Baroness Sal Brinton, former Cambridgeshire County Council Liberal Democrat leader to make sure part-time students are not discriminated under the scheme.

For the first time, part-time students are eligible for loans to pay for their education; but they have to start repaying those loans after three and a half years before they have completed their courses.

And the system for accepting repayments will not be in place until 2016 meaning that students who become eligible to pay in 2013 will have to wait three years and fear their loan may start accruing interest.

Cllr Brooks-Gordon and Baroness Brinton, who were both mature students at Cambridge’s Churchill College, are fighting to get changes to the Education Bill to address the issue.

“I am determined that part-time students, many of whom are single parents, mature students or disabled, should not be discriminated against in this way,” said Castle Ward Cllr Brooks-Gordon, a Reader at Birbeck College, London.

“I took my degree as a single parent with two children and would not have had an academic career without my university education. I am determined that students should get the best possible deal in these difficult times.”

Cambridge Traffic Management AJC 18-JUL-2011

On Monday afternoon I was called upon to sit on the Cambridge Traffic Management Area Joint Committee as a substitute for Cllr Burke who unfortunately wasn’t able to make the meeting. I used to sit on the AJC as a full member a while back and found it to be one of the more interesting committees as it combines both the City and the County.

The main issues on the agenda were around Parking Controls in the De Freville Area (by the Old Spring pub off Chesterton Road). The introduction of a scheme managed to bring out petitions both for and against but on balance the residents who would be the most affected by the scheme were fully in favour so I voted in favour and as did the majority of the AJC.

Next the AJC looked at the Ring Road and Radial Route Review: Milton Road. More information on this is available on the website (click here).

We then moved on to discussion of Car Club Parking Bays. This was universally welcomed by the AJC and the only part that disappointed me was that there aren’t going to be any of these Streetcat parking bays in King’s Hedges! I asked for details on how to propose a new parking bay (I’d like to see one either in the Arbury Court car park or outside the Manor School) – when I have the details I’ll pass them on.

There was a brief discussion on 20mph speed limited when I was able to confirm that the cost of signage and paining the signs on the street cost about the same – that was a surprise to me. It was also a surprise that the reported speed changes after the central 20mph zones had been introduced were in some cases up, some cases down, and in some cases minimal change! I do wonder if we could get more meaningful data by looking at the same week over two separate years to see what effect the zone has had, but that’s not very likely unfortunately.

Next we re-appointed the existing members to the Residents’ Parking Working Group and Appeals Panel (with the exception of a new Labour member).

Next we looked at the existing Environment Improvement Programmes – most of these were unfunded and there were two from King’s Hedges (20mph on Northfield Avenue, and Interactive Signage on Northfield Avenue) and I added in getting some double-yellow lines to once-and-for-all stop coach parking on Woodhead Drive. Hopefully as that is only £1,000 (I have already had a quote from the County) that can be done soon!

The decision document has been published online and is available here.

E-Cops - Have your say; name a priority for police

This week’s ‘have your say’ is from Cambridgeshire Police Authority and asks what police in Cambridgeshire should prioritise in their day to day work?

Cambridgeshire Police Authority engages with the public each year to help inform the setting of priorities for policing. 

This includes identifying a single People’s Policing Priority to ensure the police respond to a problem that is particularly important to the public of Cambridgeshire.

This year anti-social behaviour, with an emphasis on speeding and parking outside schools, was supported by members of the public. We want to know if we’ve got this right.

Go to the forum using the link below to ‘have your say’.

For more information on the role of the police authority visit our refreshed website. Whilst you’re there take a look at the local policing plan for Cambridgeshire, or even the easy to read summary leaflet, both show the policing priorities for 2011-14.

Kind regards,
Ruth Rogers
Chairman of Cambridgeshire Police Authority

http://www.cambs.police.uk/newpolicingapproach/haveyoursay/ - Have your say forum
http://www.cambs-pa.gov.uk/index.cfm - NEW(!) Police Authority website
http://www.cambs-pa.gov.uk/newsDetail.cfm?articleId=4958 - Local Policing Plan 2011/14

Reminder: North Area Committee Tonight 19:30 (18:30 planning)

Just a reminder that tonight from 6:30pm your local Councillors will all be at North Area Committee which will be meeting at the Buchan Street Community Centre (as opposed to it's normal venue of the Manor on Arbury Road).

If you'd like to come along there is an open Forum from 7:30pm where members of the public are encouraged to raise ideas and suggestions for the Committee to look at.

As always you can contact your local Councillors using the links on the left. If you can't make the meeting or you would like one of us to raise an issue please don't hesitate to get in touch.

County Tories urged to look again at axed city shuttle bus

Cambridge City Councillors are fighting to get the county council to look again at the axed city centre shuttle bus.

They want the bus, which provided a vital link to the city centre for elderly and disabled people, to be included in the county council’s review of bus subsidies.

It was axed in the first round of cuts despite pleas to spare it from numerous residents and city councillors.

The Tory-run county council, which planned to axe all bus subsidies across the county to save £2.7 million, has agreed a stay of execution for the remainder of the threatened services while a consultation and in-depth assessment is launched.

Tim Ward, Cambridge Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport said: “The decision to cut the city centre shuttle bus was taken without any consultation with residents. The Tories on the county council had no idea how many people relied on this bus or how its removal would impact on their lives.

“Following the outcry about the withdrawal of bus subsidies generally, they have halted the process to allow residents to have their say; but this won’t help the city centre shuttle unless we can get it included in that consultation.

“It is completely unfair that our residents have lost their bus while other services may be saved. They should have the same opportunity to fight for their service.”

Cllr Ward will put forward a motion to members of Cambridge City Council calling on them to welcome the county council’s decision to consult on the withdrawal of bus subsidies and asking for the city centre shuttle bus to be included in the process.

The motion will be seconded by Cambridge City Council Leader, Sian Reid.

She said: “The city centre shuttle bus was a lifeline for many elderly and disabled residents of our city and yet it was taken away without any consultation.

“The county council’s decision to carry out a full consultation on the withdrawal of the remaining subsidies discriminates against the city centre shuttle which was taken away without the benefit of this process.”

Cllr Reid has also been fighting to save the threatened 199 bus which runs twice a week in her Newnham ward.

She added: “I welcome the fact that there will now be proper consultation. The 199 service is an invaluable way for the elderly and less mobile to reach the shops and have social contact with friends and acquaintances.”

North Area Committee 14/07/2011 19:30 (18:30 planning)

The agenda for the next North Area Committee has been published online on the City Councils website;

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieAgenda.aspx?A=960

The agenda is outlined below. The key point (that will take the huge bulk of the time) will be the Open Forum - this is your opportunity to raise any issues that you'd like us as your local Councillors to address. Of course you can contact any of us at any time to discuss practically anything but this is your opportunity to have it discussed much more widely.

Look forward to seeing as many of your there as possible!


1     Apologies for Absence
2     Declarations of Interest
3     Welcome and Introduction
4     Community Consultation (CB4): Local Priorities
5     Improving Health in North Area
6     TO CONFIRM WHAT WAS SAID (MINUTES) AT THE LAST MEETING AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE (ACTION LIST)
7     YOU WANT TO KNOW (OPEN FORUM)
8     Environmental Improvement Programme

Residents urged join the Big Weekend and ignore EDL

A leading Cambridge City Councillor encourages residents to celebrate at the Big Weekend and turn their back on Saturday’s English Defence League march.

Rod Cantrill, Executive Councillor for Arts, Sport and Public Places has invited everyone from the community to join in with the family fun weekend and ignore the EDL.

“We have so much planned for the Big Weekend and I would urge everyone to go down to Parker’s Piece and join in,” he said. “It is this type of event that makes Cambridge a wonderful place in which to live. I would like to see everyone celebrating all that is good about our city together.”

Cllr Cantrill has joined MP Julian Huppert, Cambridge City Council Leader, Sian Reid, Mayor Ian Nimmo-Smith and Lib Dem city and county councillors in signing up to a statement which makes it clear that the EDL is not welcome this weekend.

They have been joined by others across the city keen to impress upon the EDL that they are proud of their city's "capacity peacefully to embrace people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds and enable them to regard Cambridge as their home".

The Lib Dems have put their statement on their website at http://tinyurl.com/EDLStatement so that others can make their views clear and in just a week more than 100 people have signed.

Cllr Cantrill says: “This is a true indictment to what people really feel about the EDL coming into our city. I hope residents will ignore this planned march and come to the Big Weekend instead.

Arbury Carnival 2012: Calling all Volunteers! ** UPDATED DATE **

UPDATE: The date for the next meeting is September 13th, not July as it says below. Apologies for the confusion!

This years Arbury Carnival was one of the most successful ever and if you'd like the opportunity to be involved in the 35th Anniversary event next year then now is your change.

The Arbury Carnival committee is holding a public meeting in a weeks time (Tuesday 13th July at 7pm) in the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road to start planning for the 2012 event.

If you would like to help out with this fantastic local event, either on the day or to plan the event, then please come along. The more the merrier!

Lords Urged To Support City's Battle To Protect Independent Traders

Cambridge’s battle to safeguard city streets like Mill Road has reached the House of Lords.

Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market said she was particularly struck by the city’s fight to protect the special character of Mill Road.

 And she warned that if the Localism Bill “did not allow councils to protect cherished local neighbourhoods and facilities, it will have failed.” 

Cambridge City Council Leader, Sian Reid has asked the Lords to support the city council’s call for amendments to clauses in the Bill regarding neighbourhood planning. 

 The council wants local authorities to have legal powers to promote the shops they want and resist those that they believe will harm their neighbourhoods. 

Cllr Reid said: “We need legislation to be able to protect the individuality and character of our streets. We want to be able to choose, with our communities, who should have a place in our shopping centres.”

During the Second Reading of the Bill in the House of Lords, Baroness Scott said: “I have been deluged with requests from councils and other organisations to request specific powers and duties to be put in the Bill.

“I was particularly struck by an approach made to me by councillors in Cambridge who, like councillors across the country, are seeking to protect the special character of a shopping street, Mill Road. 

“They are not confident that the general power will give them enough power to override the 2,500 pages of existing planning law, which they believe prevent them from taking the steps that they need to take in order to preserve the special character of the street.”

Cambridge City Cllr Catherine Smart, who represents Romsey said: “"Mill Road has a very diverse mix of retailers so the range of goods on sale is very wide.  It serves an area which is very diverse and the shops are mostly in small units which suit independent traders.

“Mill Road Winter Fair goes from strength to strength, attracting tens of thousands of people to Mill Road.  It is vital that this legislation gives us the power to keep its diversity through these changing and challenging times.”

Independents Day: Support Your Local Shops

Next Monday, strike a blow for individuality by buying at least one thing from a local, independent shop. In and around King's Hedges we have a lot to choose from with both Milton Road including a flower shop, hairdressers, and motor accessories and in Arbury Court there is a wide range of shops including a Chinese Takeaway, Bike Repairs, and a butchers.

Cambridge City Council and Love Cambridge, the City Centre partnership, are backing a campaign to help the High Street by Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail. They have got together with independent retailers and trade associations to encourage people to celebrate diversity on the High Street and support their local, independent retailers on 4th July.

Retailers can download the ‘Your high street needs you!’ poster online, ‘like’ the campaign on Facebook and follow it on twitter, and download a campaign toolkit at: www.skillsmartretail.com/IndependentsDay.

To keep up with the campaign, follow it twitter @Retail_IndieDay or via facebook.com/independentsday.