Blog Posts

  • Fenland – Investments

    I listened recently to the Lib Dem Leader of the opposition claim we were not investing in Fenland. I am normally a little dismissive of the Lib Dems because they lack substance and flop around in the wind to gain votes. In this case I was irritated. Irritated because the Cambridge centric Lib Dems rarely… Read more

  • County Council budget facts and figures – for those that like them

    Headline figures• Total authority budget for 2012/13 is £848m • Without schools the 2012/13 budget is £472m (2.5% more than last year) • Government formula grant funding for 2012/13 is £107m (11% less than last year) Capital Spend• Total planned capital spend for 2012/13 is £147m • Capital spend over the next five years will… Read more

  • County Councillors short listed for awards

    It was my pleasure to nominate a numbers of our councillors for the 2012 LGiU and CCLA C’llr Achievement Awards. This year there was a large increase in the number of entries for the awards, so it was a reflection on the calibre of our councillors that they have been short listed. COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF… Read more

  • Shared Services to expand – Norwich

    Cabinet tomorrow will consider expanding the scope of LGSS to provide finance, IT and Revenue and Benefits services for Norwich City Council. Northamptonshire CC’s Cabinet will consider the proposal in February. The LGSS Joint Committee, which I chair, met on Friday afternoon and has made a positive recommendation to both Cabinets about the deal. Expanding… Read more

  • Superfast broadband – we are off and running

    We have published something called the ‘prior information notice’ along with Peterborough City Council to try and secure private sector investment in broadband services across the two Councils’ areas. The notice makes clear that there may be £6.75M available from Broadband Delivery UK and around £23M from the two Councils but the project to delivery… Read more

  • Last year the Lib Dems wanted to put up council tax 3.4%

    2011-alternative-budget Lib demLets see what the Lib Dems will say this year about a council tax rise. Last year in the Lib Dem alternative budget they wanted to raise council tax by 3.4%, we held it at 0%. So, I wonder what they will do this year? They could not really speak out for a… Read more