Monthly Archives: July 2024

It’s 1.30am but I’ve only just stumbled across this report while listening into an excruciating press conference by the US President. Only it felt like this was potentially a significant moment in international political history. It remains to be seen what that significance will be. In the meantime… The Combined Authority is back with aContinue reading “Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – State of the Region 2024”

For all of the planning and consultation going on – too much of which is fragmented and poorly co-ordinated, people need to see that councils and the government are serious about long term improvements if they are to become willing participants in a new era of community action A handful of current and former councillorsContinue reading “Maintenance, prevention, enforcement – short term measures to improve Cambridge”

The inevitable outcome of the Cambridgeshire Conservatives’ decision to move the county council out to Alconbury, west of Huntingdon, in the face of over a decade of local government austerity imposed by their party in government. You can see the papers at item 9 here The preferred bidder at the moment is another hotel proposalContinue reading “Could Old Shire Hall become science labs or more student accommodation?”

He was interviewed on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire by Louise Hulland about what the Prime Minister had said to them – Sir Keir Starmer mentioning growth strategies in his remarks to the media. In the meantime, one of the political allies of Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has just been appointed a minister at the Department forContinue reading “Mayor Dr Nik Johnson returns from Downing Street”

Cambridge City Council launches early survey to find out what you think You can take the survey here – over 100 people have already made their views known. The work stems from a council motion debated and passed on 19th October 2023 at a meeting of the full council of Cambridge City Council. “Accordingly, CouncilContinue reading “Consultation: The future of local government for Cambridge”

Cambridge MP joins the Government – which will mean a few things to be aware of for local residents, and a higher profile for the Liberal Democrat MPs in the three constituencies surrounding our city. It has been half a century since an MP for Cambridge has been a government minister – Sir David LaneContinue reading “Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner becomes Farming Minister”

Only the local government calendar of meetings starts up again as the new MPs head down to Westminster The first set of senior ministerial appointments have been made – see the announcement here. Further ministerial appointments are due in the next 48 hours, one of which is likely to see Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner stepContinue reading “How will Cambridgeshire’s new MPs influence our local councils?”

Time will tell whether this is a short term blip or the permanent shifting of the political tectonic plates in Cambridgeshire – historically a safe-as-castles blue-voting county Image – Before & After map from Labour’s 2019 SE Cambs candidate James Bull The inexplicable decision of Labour’s HQ to deprive a number of candidates for non-targetContinue reading “Lib Dems crush Tories in Southern Cambridgeshire in political earthquake as Labour wins power”

Cambridge City Council publishes its report on local democratic engagement – including recommendations on what will replace the old area committees This will be discussed on Wed 10 July 2024 – see Item 7 App B for the report here. For me, the consultant’s report (which I was one of the interviewees for) highlighted howContinue reading “Cambridge city council to overhaul community engagement”