Your City ~ Your Council, Meeting 12th October

Full Council Meeting 12th October



The meeting began with a statement from Cllr Irene Walsh in her role as chair of the War Memorial Fund. Clr Walsh explained the fund had not yet reached the halfway mark. (The majority of the money already raised, comes we understand, from Cllr Sharps term as Mayor).

Money was now being raised from school children (£200 from a group visiting Ieper [YPRES] in Belgium ). Cllr Walsh suggested more money could be raised by asking OAP’s to contribute....
Cllr Walsh then not content with raiding childrens pocket money and OAP Pension books then distributed large brown envelopes to the assembled council requesting a cash contribution from councillors at the meeting, and to top it all, further asked Councillors to seriously consider donating money from their CLF funds (this is the £10k money pot given to councillors to spend in their wards; however as we have previously reported much of Stanground’s fund has been spent in Dogsthorpe and other areas).

All councillors agreed to co-operate in organising a jobs fair for young people. Cllr Sandford made the point that by contracting out council services to Enterprise, Serco and Vivacity, many jobs had been lost within PCC. Cllr Cereste (leader) said that contrary to newspaper headlines, there had been a small improvement in the jobless levels level in the City ie they had fallen.

It emerged Bridge Street Police Station faces closure, with the front desk being moved to Baynard Place, but some administration offices inside the buidling would still function. Th new desk at Bayard Place would be manned by Police civilian staff.

The decision to cancel the fireworks fiesta on road safety grounds was discussed. Councillors expressed anger they had to read the final decision in the ET and had not been informed in advance of the outcome. Cllr. Walsh admitted she ‘could do better on communications’.

Cllr Scott (Cabinet member responsible for childrens services) faced questions following the recent OFSTED findings. Labour councillors queried why she had not fallen on her sword and resigned as had John Richards. Cllr Scott appeared flustered and answered she did not know how many OFSTED reports had been completed over her time in the role, if it was 4 or 5; all had berated her department, and said she viewed OFSTED as ‘only a snapshot’.

Cllr Scott continued: She thought resigning would be ‘the easy thing to do’ and thanked her collegues for their support, some councillors thought that Cllr Scott somewhat missing the point that she is there to protect the disenfranchised children and that she was not the victim. Again councillors expressed anger they had heard of key decision in the ET and had not been advised personally. Cllr Scott held out little hope of an immediate improvement, darkly suggesting this would only be achieved over a period of time specifically twelve to eighteeen months ....


The issue of verge parking was debated at length, with political point scoring batting across the chamber. Various ways of combatting the city wide problem were discussed such tree planting on verges to stop anti social parking problems. Presentations were to be made City wide at Neighbourhood Councils, explaining the legal/civil problems PCC had in controlling this issue but some pilot schemes had been carried out in Dogsthorpe but for some reason the trail although successful had not been continued.

Section 106 money was the focus of a question to Cllr Hiller. he explained the money was divided 65/35. 65% of the money was spent by the council on long term plans, with a strategy already in place. The remaining 35% (called POISE) was allocated to neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods would decide where the money went with reference to neighbourhood committees, and a long term plan which the committee would themselves draw up.(Section 106 is the money paid over to tghe council by a builder when a new development of new homes/ factories/ warehouses etc  is built).

New 'No Drinking Zones' were voted though, covering swathes of Millfield. Confusingly perhaps, they only become ‘no drinking zones’ when alcohol drunk in public is physically confiscated by a Police Officer. The scheme had party wide support however and may cover much more of the city in the near future.

And finally, you will have read councillors have been issued with new fully expensed I-Phones. Not everyone has taken up the offer or is happy with the deal.  That aside, we could not help noticing that the council member for Barnack. Cllr David Over, played constantly (i.e. not putting it down or turning it off) with his new acquistion thoughout the formal meeting. Should have all the apps loaded by now!

(My thanks to Alex and all at the Beadles office).

Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW