Local Government
Four-Day Week Trial Success at South Cambridgeshire District Council
The first UK Local Authority trial of the four-day week has taken place. It was with about 450 desk-based staff in South Cambridgeshire District Council from January to March 2023. Analysis of the Key performance data collected during the 3-month trial is by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy. Results show the trial was successful. […]
Stop the Government Power Grab on Planning
I was pleased to be invited to speak at the LibDem virtual conference on the proposed changes in the planning process. The focus was on the challenge of how to oppose government meddling in our planning system while delivering the homes we need. IT issues disrupted my opportunity but here’s my contribution.
Not enough women and minorities stand in Council elections
Voters around England will be heading to polling stations next Thursday to vote in local elections. And chances are many will be faced with a ballot paper mainly containing the names of white men of a certain age. Does it matter, and why are women, younger people and those from black, Asian and minority ethnic […]
Council bids for Government funds to build new affordable homes
If there is one thing that the district is short of, it is homes that are affordable for people to live in. Therefore, a bid to increase the amount of borrowing by £17 million is being submitted by South Cambridgeshire District Council to Government to help deliver a further
South Cambridgeshire District Council named one of worst offenders in credit card fee racket
Lib Dems in South Cambs are demanding that the council immediately ceases its practice of charging people who want to pay bills by credit card a fee of 2.5% which has been exposed in a report in The Times. The Treasury
The SCDC Local Development Plan – How Councillors Voted
The debate, if one can call it that, that took place on 13th March 2014 on the proposed draft local development plan ended in a vote that was closer than most people expected. I have already given you a flavour of what occurred in a previous article. The voting was recorded and following is the […]
Bedroom tax forcing social housing tenants into rent arrears, debt and potential eviction
The much talked about and hated bedroom tax has hit the headlines yet again. This time, the claim is that the bedroom tax has resulted in more than 50,000 people falling behind with their rent, leaving them facing eviction from their homes. This figure was revealed by the campaign group False Economy, after it […]
Local Authority seeks new independent person to help keep standards high
At the end of March 2013, South Cambridgeshire District Council announced that it was inviting applications from impartial and dedicated people to step forward to help the Council keep standards high. The Council is looking for a new ‘Independent Person’ to assist in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst its elected Members […]