E-Cops - Switchover to 101

FROM Sunday (April 1), Cambridgeshire police can only be contacted on 101 for all non-emergency calls.

The old 0345 number will be switched off and a recorded message will tell people to call 101.

The old number has remained in use alongside 101 for the past year to allow people time to get used to the new number.

For the first time, everyone calling the police for non-emergency matters will know exactly how much it will cost them and it will be the same no matter what time of day or the duration of the call.

The number change is part of a national scheme to make 101 the single non-emergency number in England and Wales.

The change has been introduced so residents will have one, easy-to-remember way to contact local police, wherever they are.

The system has been designed to recognise where the caller is dialling from and connect them with the local police service.

If a caller does not want to speak to their local force they will be given the option to be connected to different one.

The number change does not affect the way that calls are handled and non-emergency calls will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People should continue to call 999 when an immediate response is needed, for example if a crime is happening, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, or someone is in danger.

Your Local Neighbourhood Policing Team

Lib Dems' Election Manifesto To Ensure City’s Success

Cambridge Liberal Democrats launched their election manifesto today (Saturday, March 31) and promised to continue to ensure the success of the city by investing in its people and its future.

They reiterated their vision for Cambridge to meet housing needs, support the city’s economy, care for the environment, tackle anti-social behaviour and meet the needs of the vulnerable.

And looking forward, they said they would continue to do things better for lower costs, with a focus on working more smartly behind the scenes.

Leader Sian Reid said: “We have worked hard over many years to find better ways for the city council to deliver services. This has meant we have preserved investment and protected frontline services during tough times.

“We take our lead from our residents and make decisions as closely as possible to the people affected by those decisions.”

The manifesto sets out clear priorities for new spending in the future:

• Supporting vulnerable individuals and communities including a new job club, installing welfare advice points and rehabilitating street drinkers;
• Investing in streets and open spaces including piloting street champions to tackle litter, a 20mph scheme, dual use litter bins and promoting Mill Road;
• Getting Cambridge’s future right by cutting energy use and investing in renewable and making the case for sustainable transport.

Cllr Reid added: “We are never complacent about the city’s economy and the outlook for its vulnerable.

“Our approach and our work with so many organisations is paying off for Cambridge. The city has weathered the storm better than any other city in the UK which was acknowledged by the Centre for Cities.”


The manifesto is available to download here (via Google Docs).

MP Launches Search For Apprentice To Join His City Team

MP Julian Huppert has launched a search for an apprentice to join his team at his Cambridge constituency office.

The apprentice will be the first in a campaign launched by Julian for Cambridge Regional College to recruit 100 apprentices in 100 days.

He or she will work 30 hours a week dealing with issues arising from correspondence from constituents, as well as receiving training.

The role will involve:

• Speaking to constituents, other MPs, government departments and agencies by telephone;
• Monitoring the main casework email address and ensuring that urgent emails receive attention;
• Opening the post, scanning letters in to our system and assigning to the correct member of staff;
• Occasional attendance at constituent surgeries to support the MP.

The apprentice will also be completing the apprenticeship framework in customer service with Cambridge Regional College.

Julian said: “I am delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to an apprentice. The apprenticeship scheme is an excellent way for young people to learn valuable skills in a working environment. It also gives employers the chance to play their part by offering a training place which will give a young person that all important first step on the job ladder. I hope lots of companies in and around Cambridge will sign up to this campaign and take an apprentice”

Cambridge Regional College’s 100 apprentices in 100 days campaign is part of a national scheme to provide more apprenticeships.

For more information about Julian’s apprenticeship place go here.

Lib Dems Welcome £1.7M Cash Injection For Bus Services

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have welcomed a £1.724 million government  cash injection to improve bus services in Cambridgeshire.

Transport Spokesperson, Susan van de Ven said the money should improve accessibility and bus journey times.

“Cambridgeshire Lib Dems have repeatedly called for more investment in bus interchanges, real time and smart ticketing locally so it is encouraging that the Lib Dems in government have responded in kind,” she said.

"Cambridgeshire also urgently needs rural bus routes to be developed. The Tory-run Cambridgeshire County Council has made a mistake in deciding to withdraw rather than enhance its support of so many bus routes, and I hope today's announcement from government will serve as a strong reminder that bus service in all its forms needs support."

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker announced the grant for Cambridgeshire today (Friday March 23) as part of the Better Bus Areas Fund which is being increased nationally from £50 million to £70 million.

Specific allocations of funding are for:

• better traffic management on four key corridors into the city
• improved interchanges
• real time passenger information
• bus priority measures
• the upgrade of buses
• smart ticketing top-up on street

Lib Dems Welcome Decison To Freeze County Councillors' Pay

Cambridgeshire County Council

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision to freeze county councillors’ allowances for the coming year.

They claim the move was justified when taking into account Cambridgeshire County Council’s budget and electorate size with similar councils across the country, something the first panel paid to do.

“When you take budget and electorate size into account, we are not badly remunerated at all,” said Councillor Peter Downes who presented this numeric evidence to the second Independent Review Panel set up to discuss members’ allowances.

The evidence showed that if the Conservative-run county council had agreed a 25 per cent pay rise, as suggested by a first IRP and backed by the Tories, councillors would have been the second highest paid among 14 comparable councils but with the 12th lowest workload.

The IRP said in its report: "The use of different 'norm groups' within benchmarking allows very different conclusions to be drawn.  This became apparent, for example, when the panel looked at the level of allowances paid by other county authorities and then factored in budget and electorate size to the raw data."

“This proves that the evidence base of the first review was flawed,” said Cllr Downes. “By using different ‘norm’ groups it had drawn a very different conclusion - a flawed conclusion."

Lib Dem Leader, Kilian Bourke said: “We have consistently called for a freeze in councillor councillors’ allowances and finally common sense has prevailed. We could not justify taking a pay rise when front line services are being cut and people are losing their jobs.

“The evidence Councillor Downes presented to the panel comprehensively undermined the evidence base used by the first panel and proved that a freeze was the right outcome, as we are already paid in line with other similar councils across the country.

“In backing a 25 per cent increase in allowances, the Conservatives made a bad error of judgement.”

Better Bus Area Fund Grant: Facts And Speculations

Cambridgeshire County Council’s recent application to the Better Bus Area Fund resulted in Transport Minister Norman Baker’s announcement last week that bid for £1.78 million has been successful.

Most of the application form contains hard core facts and figures about bus priority measures in Cambridge, a new school minibus drop-off/pick-up point at Trumpington Park and Ride, and the bollarded bus-only zone in the St Andrew’s Street area in central Cambridge.  The whole purpose of this particular national fund is to improve bus transport in urban areas, though Norman Baker will shortly be making an announcement about further measures to enhance bus subsidies.

The bid also contains some familiar and strongly made arguments about the success of modal shift in Cambridge city where people ride on buses and bicycles, but the relatively high level of private vehicle commuting in the rural districts around Cambridge where public transport is poor.  Making bus travel more reliable is one of the aspirations of the bus priority measures that the bid is mainly about – if prospective passengers can count on their buses they will be more likely to use them and to rely on them.

Whether or not to introduce new bus services, or to run commercially less profitable services in rural areas, is in the hands of bus operators who have businesses to run, and the county council which as a local authority has a duty to look after the needs of its residents.

One piece of text comes without hard facts and figures and has got people talking and speculating:  Stagecoach makes a commitment ‘to experiment’ with the introduction of new services between the Guided Bus terminals around St Ives, and market towns in Fenland, such as Chatteris, which are starved of public transport and where people are saying again and again that they are quite simply marooned.

It remains to be seen what this experimentation will be about; let’s hope that it takes off.  If the County Council would also make a commitment to put more not less money into subsidizing bus transport, surely that would signal a serious intent to make bus travel work for people who have no other way of getting around.

Julian Huppert, Cambridge MP Supports New HGV/Cycle Design Competition

A new competition supported by Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge, unites cyclists and drivers to prevent road deaths; April invites designers to enter the hunt for new hazard symbol warning road users of the dangerous lorry risk zone.

The InTANDEM Road Safety Competition which launches after fatal or serious injury cycle casualties increased beyond the 2,500 mark; 20 percent of cycle accidents in the capital involve Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV).[1] The new initiative encourages road users to work in tandem to maximise road safety, as both drivers and cyclists are encouraged to enter designs.

Huppert, recently named MP of the month for his cycle safety campaign, said “This is an excellent competition which focuses on the real danger to cyclists from heavy lorries while at the same time making drivers and cyclists think about the action they need to take to minimise the risks.”

The hazard symbol will combat a common accident which occurs whilst turning left at a junction; cyclists are in danger of being crushed against the wheels of a large vehicle, if the driver cannot see the cyclist on their nearside. The new sign will advocate that extra care is needed when passing a large vehicle on the nearside

The new symbol has answered Huppert’s call for better signage; “The sign, designed to compliment other lorry safety equipment such as sensors, turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars, could go a long way to saving lives.”
The winning design will be judged by Robert Smalley, Chief Driving Examiner for RosPA, Subash Ludhra, President of IOSH, Creative Director Gary Harringman, Studio Harringman and Managing Director Amanda Jackson, Tigerfish PR.

Supported by How’s My Driving?, the UK’s first driving feedback service, the winning entrant will receive £1000 for the most creative design. More details can be found on the competition’s webpage www.intandemcompetition.com, facebook www.facebook.com/InTANDEMComp or Twitter @InTANDEMComp.

Huppert Wins Commitment From Government For Safer Cycling

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert has won a commitment from the Prime Minister to make cycling safer and promote it ahead of his Westminster Hall debate tomorrow (Thursday, February 23).

David Cameron claimed that cyclists “take their life in their hands” riding in cities and he praised The Times ‘Cities fit for cycling campaign’ which will be supported by Julian during his debate.

Julian asked Mr Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons: “Will the Prime Minister commit the government to supporting the Times campaign, increase investment in cycling and take much greater steps to promote cycling across the country?”

Mr Cameron replied: “The Times campaign is an excellent campaign and I strongly support what they are trying to do.

“Anyone who had got on a bike, particularly in one of our busier cities knows that they are taking their life in their hands, so much so that we do need to do more to make cycling safer.

“The government is making it easier for councils to install mirrors at junctions, has invested £11 million for training for children and £15 million for better cycle routes and facilities across the country.

“If we want to encourage the growth we have seen in cycling in recent years we have got to get behind a campaign like this.”

Later Julian said: “I am delighted that the Prime Minister has given a commitment to make cycling safer.

“This government has gone a long way by investing in cycling but there is still much more that can be done. And there is no better time than in this year of the Olympics to take radical steps to promote cycling as our most efficient form of transport.”

During his debate tomorrow Julian will tell Parliament that for a long time cyclists have despaired at government policy which focuses on safety without improving it.

“With increasingly congested cities, more competition for resources and our health deteriorating - the need for investment in cycling has become more acute,” he says.

“We cannot miss this golden opportunity to create a safe, sustainable transport network. For too long cycling has been utterly undervalued and forced into decline.”

Julian is calling for:

• a substantial Increase in national spend on cycling infrastructure and good planning to ensure cycle facilities are integral to new developments;
• training and education for cyclists and drivers, particularly those driving heavy goods vehicles;
• rail franchise agreements to pay much closer attention to cyclists with secure cycle-parking, showers and proper ramps;
• a review of sentencing and prosecution with respect to accidents involving cyclists, and consider new measures such as proportionate liability;
• devolve powers regarding signage to local authorities as soon as possible.

And Julian will call on companies to play their part by installing showers and lockers which go a long way to promoting cycling which, in turn improves general wellbeing and productivity.

He said the cycle to work scheme works well but it should be extended and tax problems resolved.

“For years cyclists have worked from the bottom up to promote cycling and put it on the national agenda,” he says. “But the government must also do its part and take further action to promote cycling now.”

The full wording of Julian’s question read as follows:

Tomorrow, Members of this House will have the chance to debate the importance of cycling, following the Times 'Cities fit for cycling' campaign.

The Minister for Cycling, the Member for Lewes, has made some welcome announcements and investment, but there is much more still to do.

Will the PM commit the government to supporting the Times campaign, increase investment in cycling and take much greater steps to promote cycling across the country?

Julian’s debate will take place tomorrow (Thursday, February 23) between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

Julian Huppert MP: Response to Yesterdays Budget

Cambridge Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert has posted his response to yesterdays Coalition budget announcement via the Cambridge City Liberal Democrat Activists mailing list (in response to a request from Cllr Sarah Whitebread);


"Hi all,


I'm still, like you, trying to digest all the details of the budget.


But I thought I'd write to you with some of the key issues, and my thoughts on it. I've seen Sarah W's email, and I know I'll miss out many details - ask me and I'll do my best to answer them.


I think it's fairly clear which bits of the budget were Lib Dem, and which were Tory.


Our key priority was to increase the threshold at which people start to pay income tax. This was our key policy at the General Election, and we agreed in the coalition agreement to prioritise it as well. Our aim was to lift the threshold to £10,000 by 2015.


The announcement was that it has been lifted to £9,205 - very close to the £10,000 objective, after less than 2 years. This will result in 2 million poorly paid people being lifted out of tax compared to 2010, and cuts for 28 million people, amounting to £546/year for most basic-rate payers, and less for higher-rate earners.


We should be very proud of that achievement, and remember to tell people about it!


For someone who works full-time on the National Minimum Wage, we will have halved their tax bill. I hope we can go further in the next years - I think that no-one earning the minimum wage should pay any income tax at all!


The Tory priority - obsession even - was the 50p tax rate, which is to be cut to 45%. This is not where we would have chosen to focus, but we insisted on countervailing measures to tax high earners - stamp duty on houses over 2 million, reducing tax relief amounts for high earners, and a few other points. These are estimated to raise 5 times as much as the lost income from the tax rate change - so high earners will be paying more (1.3k/year on average, according to the best estimates).


It's also worth remembering that the top rate was 40% for all but 35 days of the Labour Government, and this is still higher than that.


There was also good news for pensions - they are going up by 5.2%, and Steve Webb's Citizen's Pension idea is going ahead, with the State Pension moving from a base £97.50/week, plus extra for some, to a minimum of £140/week for all. There is no change to the income tax threshold for pensioners, who will continue to not pay anything on the first £10,500 (£10,600 for those born before 1938).


There are lots of other details as well - some that should be very good for Cambridge, such as tax credits for video games, assistance for university spin-outs and entrepreneurs, extra money for research infrastructure and 50M for super-broadband in smaller Cities, some of which we will get. And much, much more.


It's not the budget we'd have written ourselves. But it is good for low-earners, and it takes more money from the richest.


Best,


Julian
---
Dr Julian Huppert MP
Member of Parliament for Cambridge
Liberal Democrat
http://www.julianhuppert.org.uk"

North Area Committee Tonight!

Just a quick reminder that North Area Committee (Arbury, King's Hedges, East/West Chesterton) will be meeting tonight from 6pm for planning and 7:30pm for the Open Forum which is your opportunity to question your local Councillors.

Tonight's North Area will not be at the Manor but will instead be at the Shirley School in East Chesterton.

Please come along and make your voice heard.

Budget Response From Cambridge MP Julian Huppert

“I am delighted that through this Budget we have been able to deliver on our key promise to give ordinary workers in Cambridge another £220 cut in their income tax bills and take hundreds more low-paid workers out of paying income tax altogether.

“This means that basic rate taxpayers have seen a total tax cut of £546 putting more money back into their pockets and moving us faster towards our goal of making the first £10,000 tax free.

“Through this budget we have also made sure that the richest pay their fair share – something Labour never did - by putting a cap on the amount of tax breaks the wealthy can use to cut their income tax bills. People earning over £150,000 a year will pay significantly more as a result of this budget.

“Businesses have also been given a break with the reduction in corporation tax. Specific measures to support research and development and technology investment while further simplifying tax rules for small businesses, are also good news for the city. And by raising the Bank Levy, we are making sure that the banks that contributed to this economic crisis keep paying their fair share.

“I was pleased to hear that there is extra money available for high-speed broadband in cities like Cambridge. I've already contacted the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to ask for some of this.

“The top up of the Growing Places Fund, giving Local Enterprise Partnerships in the East of England an extra £16.4 million, promises to bring benefits to the region helping it to manage growth and create new jobs.

“And this Budget shows real progress on our commitments to infrastructure – on roads, railways, and renewable energy. Tougher green taxes on company cars will help cut emissions as well as raising money.”

Cambridge City Area Committee Grants for Local Organisations

Cambridge City Council has made available, via the Area Committees, grants for local groups. Some examples of the type of things that can be fully or partially funded;

• Summer outing for elderly people
• Producing a newsletter for local residents
• Street party to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee
• Sports and arts activities
• Community events and festivals
• Events celebrating the Olympics

Full information (and contact details) are available here (Google Docs, PDF).

There will be two rounds of funding in 2012-2013, the first closes on the 31st March and will be decided at the 17th May meeting of North Area Committee and the second closes on the 30th September for decision at the 22nd November meeting.

If you want help putting together a bid please contact us using the details on the left.

Cambridge MP Urges Prime Minister To Rethink Planning Reforms

MP Julian Huppert has called on Prime Minister, David Cameron to rethink a major shake-up of planning policy to protect the environment.

Julian joined 44 other MPs in a letter to express their fears for the future of the countryside from the planning reform.

“We realise there are some serious problems with the drafting that would make it difficult for the government to realise fully its ambitions for planning reform and to be the ‘greenest ever’,” the letter, which was leaked to the Daily Telegraph, said.

“We all support a simpler system with more local control, but this should not come at the expense of the ability of planning to protect and enhance the environment.”

The letter proposes changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and says the final document should make explicit reference to:

•  The need to use suitable brownfield land for development before green fields in order to prevent unsustainable urban sprawl;
• The intrinsic value of the ordinary, undesignated countryside which is loved so much by the local communities we represent;
• A commitment to genuinely sustainable development that does not prioritise short term economic interests over long term quality of life and wellbeing.

“An effective planning system is central to protecting our rural areas from urban sprawl and inappropriate, sporadic development,” the letter adds.

“We ask you to ensure that the final NPPF enables us to secure the growth and development the nation needs while safeguarding one of our most valuable environmental assets, the English countryside, for future generations.”

Julian said: “It is vitally important that we get this planning document right to make sure that our countryside is given the protection it needs for future generations. Mistakes that we make now will not be easily undone and could impact on our environment for years to come. We need more housing around Cambridge, especially affordable housing. But I believe it is possible to achieve this while also protecting the countryside.”

County Council Celebrates Success In Increasing Levels Of Cycling

Milton Road Cycleway (in Snow)

Cycling trips in and around Cambridge have soared by 14 per cent in a year according to surveys undertaken recently as part of the County Council's annual traffic monitoring report.

The figures also revealed an amazing 21 per cent rise in cycling trips from the surrounding villages into the city.

A major contributor to the steep rise in trips is the significant investments in cycling in the Cambridge area in recent years. As one of Cycling England's 'Cycling Towns' £9 million was invested between 2008 and 2011 to provide 14 new and improved cycle routes, events and promotions, and cycle training for adults and children as part of the Cycle Cambridge project delivered in partnership with other local Councils and key partners such as Sustrans.

Counts are taken each year across a standard set of sampling points in the City. In 2010 29,388 cyclists crossed these points on a single day, and the figure for the same locations rose to 33,518 in 2011. The rise in cycling trips is also confirmed by data from an array of automatic counters across the city which return information on a daily basis. Cycling as a percentage of all traffic rose to 22 per cent reinforcing Cambridge's position as the cycling capital of the UK.

The stated aim for Cycle Cambridge was to get more people cycling, more safely, more often. The project targeted new developments around the City, and encouraged more cycling trips into Cambridge from necklace villages in a bid to combat increasing traffic congestion at peak times.

It is these routes that have seen the greatest rise, where 21 per cent more trips were made. Improvements on routes into Cambridge from Histon, Cottenham, Horningsea, Cherry Hinton and Harston have been made, as well as the opening of the cycleway on the maintenance track alongside the Busway which now brings cyclists into the city from both the north and the south.

Within the city itself a rise in trips of 12 per cent was recorded and this can be attributed in part to the improvements made to Gilbert Road, Hills Road Bridge and hundreds more cycle parking spaces provided at schools and workplaces.

The Cycle Cambridge project was a finalist in the Local Transport Awards 2011, and is a finalist in the Eurostar Ashden Awards for Sustainable Transport 2012 with the winners announced in May.

With the ending of the Cycling Town national programme in April 2011 work on cycling in Cambridge has continued as part of a European funded project called 'Bike Friendly Cities'. The County Council is working collaboratively with partners in the Netherlands, Belgium and France to develop innovative, low cost solutions to make cycling even more attractive and safe. This includes addressing problematic issues for cyclists such as roundabouts as well as working on a number of events including The Cambridge News Big Bike Ride which takes place on July 8.

The County Council continues to invest in cycling across the County as part of its Market Towns Transport Strategy work and this includes improved links to schools and workplaces, as well as the establishment of cycle forums as a means to engage with local cyclists. The County Council will be offering countywide free cycle training to year 6 children from September having successfully obtained a Department for Transport grant.

A bid for further funding for cycling in the form of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund has just been submitted and this could see several millions of pounds invested in cycling in the Ely-Cambridge and Huntingdon-Cambridge corridors. This will help support economic growth in those areas.

King's Hedges County Councillor Andy Pellew said "Given the already high levels of cycling in Cambridge it's fantastic to see these levels continue to increase but there is still a great deal more to do. The state of cycleways during snow is still a significant issue within the city, but it's good to see the County Council committing to continued improvement for cyclists in Cambridge City"

Cambridge MP Huppert Calls For Fair Budget And Investment In Growth

Julian Huppert, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, has called for tomorrow’s budget to raise taxes on the rich in order to ease the burden on low and middle incomes.

Julian said: “Tomorrow the Chancellor must announce a package of reforms which make our tax system fairer.

“I want to see the Government go further on the Liberal Democrat plan to give low and middle income workers more of their take home pay. He should extend the rise in the personal allowance to £10,000 now. It is already due to rise to £8,105 this year, from £6,475 when we came to office. Going further and faster will give every worker in Britain, except for the richest, an extra £60 a month.

“The rise in the personal allowance was on the front page of our manifesto and the Government has committed to fulfilling this promise by 2015. I want to see it happen faster. People earning as little as £10,000 a year deserve to keep their money, not have it taken as income tax.

“It is absolutely crucial that we fund this tax cut through tax rises on the richest. If the Chancellor insists on abolishing the 50p tax rate, he must replace it with taxes which are targeted on the rich and raise more money from them than the 50p rate did.

“Whether it’s a tycoon tax, a mansion tax or a clampdown on stamp duty, tax avoidance and loop holes – the rich must pay more, while poor and middle income households must earn more.

“As well as making tax fairer, the budget must protect those out of work, while investing in growth. The Government has already agreed that benefits should go up by 5.2% this year. They should stick to that plan.

“There should also be capital investment in growth areas. In particular, I’d like to see additional investment in science, research and innovation. Such funding would be crucial to a balanced recovery; the Chancellor should commit this Government to growth tomorrow.”

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert Named MP Of The Month For Cycling Safety Campaign

Politicians and journalists have voted Julian Huppert MP of the Month for his fight to improve cycling safety.

Julian took the title in the leading national political magazine, Total Politics after he joined the Times “Cities Fit for Cycling” campaign and turned it into a successful parliamentary campaign.

The magazine is read by 23,000 MPs, MEPs, peers, political journalists and members of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies and Councils.

Julian’s efforts in raising the issue of cycling safety were praised by Transport Minister, Norman Baker which helped him to clinch the title.

Total Politics Editor, Ben Duckworth told readers that Julian received numerous nominations after he led his Westminster Hall debate on cycling safety – one of the best attended ever.

“When you get a minister thanking you, you know you’ve done well and can push for further progress,” he said. “The cycling campaign is not over yet, but for his popular support, Julian Huppert is our MP of the Month.”

Now Julian is asking for a meeting with Prime Minister, David Cameron to follow up on the debate after he gave his support in the Commons recently.

Julian said: “I am delighted to win this title for a campaign which is so important to cyclists across the country. This was clearly demonstrated by the attendance at the debate and the number of cyclists who turned up to the rally beforehand.

“But this is only the beginning. There is so much more that needs to be done if we are to protect cyclists and encourage others to see cycling as a viable means of transport.

“Cycling brings so many benefits and I will continue to push our government to invest in cycling infrastructure and safety measures to make it safer.”

North Area Committee - 22nd March 2012 (Thursday!)

The next North Area Committee will be in the Centre Hall of the Shirley School, Nuffield Road, on Thursday 22nd of March.

The planning part of the meeting will start at 6.30pm, with the main meeting starting at 7.30pm, or as soon as the planning part finishes, if that over-runs.

The theme of the meeting will be TRANSPORT, with particular emphasis on the impact of the proposed new rail station on Chesterton Fen.

Also on the agenda:

• Tree Planting Project – Parks and Open Spaces 2011/15
• Update on Street Scene Issues
• Environmental Improvement Programme (for decision)

The agenda for the main meeting is here.


This is your chance to get involved with your local councillors – you can even ask them questions!

Young Entrepreneurs’ Glowing Invention Keeps Cyclists Safe

Young entrepreneurs at a Cambridge school have developed a glowing reputation for business after the success of their invention to keep cyclists safe on the city’s road.

Teenagers Adil Khokhar, Radakrishna Pyneeandee, both 17, and Matthew Clark, 16, whose company is Alpha Enterprise, developed reflective armbands as part of the Young Enterprise programme at Netherhall School.

They have proved so successful that their invention, GloGos are being stocked by two shops in the city and the boys plan to continue their business venture independently when the year-long school programme finishes.

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert, a keen cyclist who led a Parliamentary debate on safer cycling recently, learnt more about GloGos and the teenagers’ success when they paid him a visit.

He said: “These innovative young people have hit on a simple idea which has the potential to improve safety for cyclists across the country. It is really encouraging to see young people identifying a market in this way and developing a product which can bring real benefit to people.

“It is real testament to the value and importance of this product locally that two city shops have agreed to stock GloGos. I have no doubt that their business will go from strength to strength and I wish them every success for the future.”

More information about Alpha Enterprise can be found by visiting the website at:

http://www.alphaenterprise.co.uk/

Alpha Enterprise founders (from left) Adil Khokhar, Radakrishna Pyneeandee and Matthew Clark show their product GloGos to MP Julian Huppert

Community Transport Volunteer Drivers Needed

Cambridgeshire County Council's Social and Education Transport Team is looking for more willing drivers to help make a real difference to the lives of many people in the county - and they could receive up to £4,500 a year tax free.

The County Council provides a transport service to eligible people who need to attend one of the care centres, day service facilities or education establishments. Community Drivers play a vital role transporting a host of people who would otherwise miss out

Drivers are needed in all areas of Cambridgeshire. Volunteers receive 45p a mile for journeys they undertake as part of the scheme and can earn up to £4,500 annually before the payment becomes liable to tax. Being unemployed and signing on is not a barrier.

County Councillor and local resident Andy Pellew said: "Unfortunately given the public transport cuts in the last Conservative budget a lot of people will be unable to attend these excellent facilities. Hopefully the expansion of this initiative will plug some of the gaps left byy, amongst other things, the withdrawal of bus subsidies."

The County Council is looking to boost the team across the whole of Cambridgeshire, so interest from all areas of the county would be welcomed. Community drivers receive a payment of 45p a mile.

Community drivers must be over 21 with two years driving experience; have their own roadworthy car that has fully comprehensive insurance; and will undergo an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check paid for by the County Council.

For more information contact 0345 045 5208 or go to Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/communitydrivers

£100,000 For Councillor Pay Rise Should Be Spent On Free Public Transport For Young People Seeking Employment

Cllr van de Ven
(LD, Melbourn)

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have put a motion to council on March 23rd - the same meeting where councillors will vote again on their allowances - calling for a freeze in councillor allowances and for the £100,000 set aside by the Conservatives for a possible pay rise to be used to fund free public transport for young people seeking education, employment and training.

The £100,000 would be used to provide free public transport to help young people aged 16-19 make their first steps into education,employment or training, such as attending a job interview or visiting a college to learn more about its courses.

Lib Dem Transport spokesperson Susan Van de Ven said: "Lack of access to transport can provide a real obstacle to young people struggling to find employment or to get back into education or training.  In view of this, we think it would be fairer to to use the £100,000 set aside by the Conservatives for a councillor pay rise to provide free public transport to help young people aged 16-19 make their first steps into education,employment or training.  Something is seriously wrong if their future is not taking priority over a councillor pay rise."

Lib Dem group leader Kilian Bourke said: “It is a shame that the Conservatives made provision in this year’s budget for a £100,000 pay rise for councillors, so we are giving them the opportunity to reject that increase and reallocate it to core services. I cannot think of a more appropriate use for this money than providing free public transport for young people looking for a job or training."

MP Quizzes Lord Chancellor On Laws Stifling Scientific Debate

The Lord Chancellor has admitted that academic and scientific debate is being stifled by defamation laws after he was quizzed on libel reform by MP Julian Huppert.

Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke reassured Julian that the government wanted research to be published freely without fear of court action for defamation.

The move would be a major step forward following a number of high profile libel cases where scientists and doctors were sued for publishing their work.

Julian asked Mr Clarke: “Does he agree that it is in the public interest that scientists and other academics should be able to publish bona fide research results without fear and that, unless their publication is maliciously false, they should be protected from defamation actions?”

Mr Clarke told him that one of the main reasons for publishing the draft Defamation Bill was to look at the law in the area of research for fear that “genuine academic and scientific debate was being stifled by the use of the defamation laws”.

“We propose that peer-reviewed research should be protected,” he said.

Julian had called for libel reform to be a key element of the Queen’s Speech in a motion he raised at the Lib Dem Spring Conference last weekend.

Mr Clarke said that if a Defamation Bill could be included one of its principal objectives would be to deal with the problem Julian had identified.

Julian said later: “I am delighted that the government will be pressing ahead with a defamation bill - our current libel laws give too much to the wealthiest to silence their critics. I am also pleased that the government has recognised that currently scientists and academics face a real dilemma when it comes to revealing their research for fear of being sued.

“We need to give them the freedom to speak out when their work makes discoveries that challenge ideas and concepts even if that research is controversial.

“For far too long researchers have had to weigh up the extortionate costs of challenging a libel action against the importance of publishing their findings; this is not acceptable.”

Julian’s question and the minister’s response read as follows:

Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): What recent progress he has made on his plans to reform libel laws; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke): The Government’s response to the report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Defamation Bill was published on 29 February. It set out the Government’s position on all the key issues. A substantive defamation Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Dr Huppert: I thank the Secretary of State for that answer and hope that there will be time for the Bill in the Queen’s Speech. The Joint Committee recommended that qualified privilege should be extended to

“peer-reviewed articles in scientific or academic journals.”

Does he agree that it is in the public interest that scientists and other academics should be able to publish bona fide research results without fear and that, unless their publication is maliciously false, they should be protected from defamation actions?

Mr Clarke: One of the main reasons for publishing the draft Bill and looking at the law in that area was the fear that genuine academic and scientific debate was being stifled by the use of the defamation laws. We propose that peer-reviewed research should be protected and are now considering the draft of the final Bill in the light of the Joint Committee’s report. I will not anticipate the Queen’s Speech, but if we can include a defamation Bill, one of its principal objectives will be to deal with the very serious problem that the hon. Gentleman has identified.

e-Cops: Weekly Update 15-MAR-2012

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

 

We have recorded a low number of crimes this week in the North of the City however there are still a few things we would like to flag up.

LEAD/COPPER THEFT
We have had a few thefts of copper in different areas across the North this week. They seem to be targeting properties which are carrying out building work. Offenders will look for any signs of work currently going on at the property such as scaffolding, a skip or a large van parked outside. They will then proceed to check the front or back garden for anything of value, mainly stripped copper or lead.

If your house is currently in the process of building work then we ask you to please make sure that anything you wish to hold on to stays locked away or out of sight.

Should you see anything suspicious the main things to note would be the vehicle index number, vehicle make/model/colour and a description of the driver. Your help would be very much appreciated.

MITCHAMS CORNER
We have also received some concerns regarding the street drinkers on Mitchams Corner. As a team we will continue to provide a strong presence and will quickly act upon any anti-social behaviour in the area.

OTHER INFO/ADVICE
As we come to this time of year it is worth mentioning the importance of making sure your property is locked and secure every time you leave, even if it is for a few minutes.

As the weather improves people will start to leave windows and doors open. When the occupants leave the house they forget this and are met with a shock when they return. Please make sure that everything is locked and secure including back gates, garages, sheds etc and that no valuables are on display through the windows.

Many thanks for all your help

The North Neighbourhood Team

Lib Dems Win National Accolades For Their Work In The City

Cllr Rosenstiel Accepts The Award From Nick Clegg MP

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have been recognised nationally with accolades for their contribution to the local economy and work in the city.

The group won the Local Government Association’s award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Economy and was declared runner up in the Council Group of the Year award which it won last year.

Cambridge City Council Leader, Sian Reid said: “We are delighted to have won these awards. Our long-term attitude to our economy and growth is really paying off for us. This is not a reaction to the recession but a long standing and profound commitment to getting it right.”

The LGA awards come just weeks after Cambridge was revealed as the UK’s most successful city and well placed to drive the country’s economic recovery.

The Cities Outlook 2012 report by Centre for Cities showed how well Cambridge had fared during the economic downturn compared to other cities.

In making the awards, judges took this evidence into account and considered the city council’s work with the vulnerable.

Cambridge City Council Deputy Leader, Catherine Smart said: “Despite hard times, protecting and enhancing our services for the vulnerable has been our number one priority.

“Indeed in the midst of a large savings programme we are putting money into youth programmes, restorative justice, help for the homeless and street drinkers, investment in community centres and more. We have managed the council so we have the resources to put vulnerable people first.

“We are extremely proud of this and these awards are testament to the hard work that has gone into safeguarding these services and contributing to the city generally.”

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert Opposes The Health Bill

Julian Huppert MP

Julian Huppert, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, has today voted in favour of two bids to drop the Health Bill.

Julian voted in favour of an amendment tabled by some Liberal Democrats saying that the House “declines to support the Bill in its current form; and calls for an urgent summit of the Royal Colleges, professional bodies, patients' organisations and the Government to plan health reforms based on the Coalition Agreement”.

Julian said, "I voted against this Bill when it left the House of Commons last September. While it has been improved significantly, it is not improved enough.

“Crucially, this Bill is now opposed by the medical professionals who would have to implement it. I have therefore voted to drop the Bill.

“I firmly believe that the NHS does need reform and improvement. Citizens of this country deserve a first-class health service which protects everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Labour's failed reforms have put that in jeopardy.

“Labour introduced private sector providers into the NHS, and paid them more than NHS providers for the same service - they even paid one £250 million for operations they didn't do! They spent £12 billion on a computer system that never worked, and left the NHS with a £60 billion bill from PFI contracts. And their manifesto called for even greater involvement of the private sector.

“When this mismanagement came to light, they spent millions on managers and consultants. Between 2008 and 2010 the number of management consultants in the NHS increased by 80 per cent.

“The result of all this is health outcomes which are below the EU15 average and near-bankrupt hospitals. There is a pressing need for reform.

“But I believe that the only way to maintain free, universal health care is through bottom-up reforms which are fully supported by clinicians on the ground. The Government's reforms do not have that backing so I cannot support them.

“I call on the Government to engage with the medical professions, withdraw the Bill and introduce new, bottom-up reforms in line with the Coalition Agreement.

“I am proud of Liberal Democrat amendments to improve this bill. Our changes have substantially changed the bill, ensuring that competition is not the focus, that there is a duty to reduce health inequality, and that there is greater priority for medical research. We would still have a universal health care system free at the point of care.

“And there are some good sections in the bill - never again will Governments be allowed to favour private sector contracts when there are existing NHS providers.

“The Government will also increase spending on the NHS, a huge achievement given the circumstances.

“However, you simply cannot reform the health service without the support of doctors, GPs, nurses, health professionals and industry experts.

“Our NHS is too precious - too vital for the welfare of every single person living in Cambridge - for it to be bankrupted by inefficient structures, or broken up by unpopular reforms.

“I hope that the Government will be able to improve the NHS over the coming years, but I believe that the current Bill will not make the changes needed."

Lib Dems Welcome Move To Freeze County Councillors’ Basic Pay

Cllr Andy Pellew

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have welcomed an independent panel’s recommendation that County Councillors’ pay should remain unchanged.

The move backs up the Liberal Democrats’ view that a freeze in Councillor allowances is the right decision at a time when jobs and services are being cut.

The Lib Dems are now calling for the £100,000 Conservatives set aside to give themselves a 25 per cent pay rise to be invested in free public transport for 16-19-year-olds seeking employment or education. They will put this in a motion and ask for council support on March 27.

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke said: “The Liberal Democrats have consistently called for a freeze in Councillor allowances so we welcome the panel's recommendations.

"It was wrong of the Conservatives to give themselves a 25 per cent pay rise at a time of wage freezes, redundancies and cuts to front line services.  These proposals better reflect the times we are living in.”

Local Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Andy Pellew said: "The work we do as County Councillors is a lot more rewarding than just a pay cheque at the end of the month and it was a mistake by the Conservative administration to try and measure the work we do on a purely financial basis."

"It would also be a mistake just to read this report in terms of Councillors allowances. As someone with a full-time job and a young family it's important to me that the panel also recognised that the timing of meetings, always during the day, is an issue for people like me who work."

Planning applications: Arbury Road, King's Hedges Road and Arbury Court

Apologies for missing the last few weeks. Here is a round up of planning applications in the ward.

This week there is a significant application at 110 Arbury Road, for "Outline Planning Permission for the erection of five apartments and widening of existing access onto Arbury Road following the total demolition of the former caretaker's house." 110 is the Manor school caretaker's house. Follow the link for more details. The reference is 12/0147/OUT.

Of a smaller scale there is an application in Arbury Court for "Extraction canopy and ductwork to exiting fish and chip take away", reference 12/0213/FUL.

Also I should point out an application that came up a couple of weeks ago for the "Hive" or "Triangle Development Site", on King's Hedges Road near CRC and roughly opposite Northfield Avenue. The application is partly technical involving change of use but does include change of appearance in terms of height and window arrangements. The reference is 12/0199/FUL. For more details see this page on the online planning gateway.

As always in case of difficulty contact the team.

Huppert Calls On Government To Reform Libel Law

MP Julian Huppert will call on the government to introduce a new Libel Reform Bill in the next Queen’s Speech to protect freedoms and reputations.

Julian will raise the issue during Justice Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday (March 14) after gaining resounding support for the move at the Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference yesterday (Sunday, March 11).

He told the Gateshead conference that every citizen should have the chance defend his or her reputation in the courts through a libel action not just those who can afford the exorbitant costs.

And he demanded the right to claim ‘public interest’ as a defence against criminal and civil charges to protect and foster investigative journalism.

“Our libel laws are outdated and unbalanced,” said Julian. “Under English law at the moment, the cost of defamation proceedings limits freedom of expression; and it is only the rich and powerful who can afford to defend their reputations by suing for libel.

“We must give every individual the ability to protect themselves in law if they become a victim of false or damaging material, not just those who can afford to pay. But we must not allow free speech to be silenced by the rich and powerful.

“That is why I want to see a new Libel Reform Bill to provide better protection for every citizen.”

Julian’s Civil Liberties motion also called for an end to heavy handed policing, kettling – where protesters are cordoned off in an area during a demonstration – and stronger controls on tasers and stop and search measures.

Huppert Calls On Lansley To Publish Risk Register

MP Julian Huppert has written to Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, calling on him to publish the health service transition risk register promptly after the government lost its fight to keep it under wraps.

Julian’s call comes just days before the Lords get their last chance to debate and vote on controversial health reforms. The Bill has already passed the Commons, where Julian voted against it.

He said the risk register needed to be published to inform the debate on the Health and Social Care Bill.

Julian said: “The Information Tribunal has ruled that the risk register should be published and the government should do so now.

“I have argued for this to happen both publicly and privately to ministers and now this view has been supported by the tribunal. There must be no further delay in publishing this register if we are to have a fully informed debate on this Bill.”

Cambridge Half-Marathon – Sunday 11th March (Today!)

Just a quick reminder that today is the Cambridge half-marathon and so a number of roads in the area will be closed or have restricted access until the afternoon.

You can also get more details from the organisers’ web site, the map below shows details of the route.

Cambridge Half-Marathon Map

Residents Consultation on the Roman Courts Development

On the 21st March at 3pm there is a public meeting at the Meadows Community Centre just off King's Hedges road regarding the proposed development to replace the existing Roman Courts site in King's Hedges. A letter has been sent to residents;

Residents Consultation Letter

I'd urge those interested in this new development to attend.

The meeting runs until 7pm, so it will be a long meeting, and I will be there and report back what I hear.

Roman Courts: Residents Consultation Letter

Lib Dems Renew Call For Freeze In Councillor Allowances

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have renewed their call for a freeze in Councillor allowances as a vote on the issue is imminent.

They maintain that as Cambridgeshire County Council makes cutbacks Councillors should not be voting to increase their pay.   

Lib Dem group leader Kilian Bourke said: “We believe that at a time of redundancies, wage freezes and cuts to frontline services it would be wrong for Councillors to use the proceeds of an increase in council tax to give themselves a pay rise.

“A freeze would be the right outcome, and would go some way toward repairing the loss of public trust that took place last year when the Conservatives gave themselves a 25 per cent pay rise.

“It is a shame that they have made provision in this year’s budget for a £100,000 increase, but they still have the opportunity to reject that increase and reallocate it to core services.  We would support this and urge them to do so.”

As well as calling for a freeze in allowances, the Liberal Democrats have made three specific proposals regarding allowances in their alternative budget:

• To delete the £100,000 set aside in the Conservative budget for an increase in Councillor allowances, and use this to reduce council tax by a small amount;
• To encourage people from a wider range of backgrounds to stand for election as Councillors by holding meetings later in the day and evening.  Lib Dems believe this would have a greater effect in terms of attracting a wider range of people than even a substantial increase in Councillor pay.
• To reduce the size of the Cabinet, investing some of the money saved in council services, redistributing the rest between the remainder of the Cabinet.  This better than cost neutral proposal addresses concerns that the Cabinet role is more full time, making holding down a professional job difficult.
  

County Councillors are expected to vote on Councillor allowances on March 27 if the Independent Review Panel has lodged its report.

How The Liberal Democrats Are Delivering For Women

Liberal Democrat Policy Briefing

As we celebrate International Women's Day tomorrow, I'm proud to represent Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government. I know that our involvement has made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of women in a range of ways.

We’ve got lots to shout about, so please spread the word: blog and tweet about it and forward this email to your friends.

Here’s how we’re delivering for women -

• When it comes to shielding women in need from the brunt of the economic squeeze, our policy to free the lowest paid from income tax has played a key role in protecting women. Women make up the majority of those on low incomes who will benefit from this key Liberal Democrat policy. 60 per cent of those already taken out of paying tax altogether are women
• A new system of shared parental leave will make it easier for women to return to the workforce after having children or acting as a carer
• We are providing 260,000 free childcare places for 2-year olds. Having this free childcare enables mothers and fathers to work and help improve the economic prospects of the whole family
• Our Body Confidence campaign highlights the negative impact of unrealistic media representations of women and girls' bodies, and takes action to address thisWe have published the first cross-government Action Plan on Tackling Violence Against Women & Girls, which allocates £28 million for specialist services in this area
• We are also taking action internationally to reduce infant and maternal mortality, saving the lives of 50,000 mothers and 250,000 babies.

Read more about these policies, and many others that the Liberal Democrats are delivering in Government for women here.

So, on International Women's Day, there are many reasons for being proud of what we've achieved together. I hope you will join me in continuing to fight for equal opportunities for women and girls both in the UK and worldwide - there is still a lot to be done.

Best wishes

Lynne Featherstone MP
Minister for Equalities

Longstanding School Governor Vacancies Across Cambridgeshire

The link below is the document provided to County Councillors with the list of all vacancies for Local Authority Governors in Primary and Secondary Schools across Cambridgeshire.

February 2012 Governor Vacancies

Governor Vacancies are advertised quite widely and if you're interested in becoming a Governor of a School please visit Cambridgeshire Governors website;

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/education/governors/becoming/

And complete the "Register an Interest" form and send it off.

There is also lots of other information related to being a School Governor on the website which is well worth a read if you have time!

E-Cops - Cambridge Murder Update

A murder investigation is underway following the death of a man in the city on Saturday (March 3).

Officers were called to reports of a disturbance in Hanover Court at 6.30am on Saturday.

On arrival they found 26-year-old Miciajah Brown who later died at the scene as a result of multiple stab wounds.

Two men, aged 20 and 29, were also seriously injured during the incident and they remain in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in a stable condition.

Officers believe the Hanover Court disturbance is linked to two others disturbances in the Market Square and Ditton Walk during the early hours of Saturday.

One man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident and we are working to trace a second man who we are keen to speak to in connection with the murder.

Incidents like these are extremely rare and this case is being treated as isolated. As a precaution there will be additional patrols in the areas where these offences took place.

Kind regards

PS Mark Kathro

Cambridge Half-Marathon – Sunday 11th March

The Cambridge half-marathon will be taking place on Sunday 11th March (one week today), and a number of roads in the area will be closed or have restricted access until the afternoon.

Residents who are directly affected should have already received a letter with details; but for people outside the immediate vicinity, we have posted a copy of the map that has been provided below.

You can also get more details from the organisers’ web site, the map below shows details of the route.

Cambridge Half-Marathon Map