Your City ~ Your Council, Cabinet Meeting 7th November 10am

Your City ~ Your Council

Cabinet Meeting Monday 7th November 10am, report by Morag Irving

A short agenda for today starting off with the presentation of a proposed ‘Single Equality Scheme’ presented to the cabinet by Cllr Irene Walsh. This is an ‘umbrella’ document which would cement all the council’s equality schemes into one.

Cllr Scott hoped the document would be accepted, and Cllr Walsh expressed her hope this would happen as she "wanted to see this going forward sooner than later".however, under questioning from other members of Cabinet, it emerged the document was put together with out of date information.

Cllr Holdrich questioned if the cabinet should agree this document. Cllr Cereste suggested it was re-introduced at the next PCC meeting with amendments made.

At this point Cllr Walsh changed her position and said she would not put her name to it, and was “not happy with the way this was put together as the statistics need looking at and I am not prepared to put my name to it”. Incredible, a complete turnaround, 10 minutes it would seem is a long time in politics. What a mess!

Cllr Hiller presented the “Draft Housing Strategy 2011-2015", Cllr Hiller stated Peterborough was one of the first councils to produce a Strategy. It includes sections devoted to affordable housing and takes into account a growing population. (I am reading this document closely as I would like to report on how this impacts our areas).

The final item again presented by Cllr Hiller was the ‘Peterborough Local Development Framework”. This one is much more interesting than it sounds. It includes a list of buildings of local importance.

Guild House - On the list

Simon Machen Head of Planning answered questions from the cabinet. As the document states it will ‘protect woodland’. Cllr Fitzgerald was very keen to add that one tree could stop a development and said some people considered a tree more important. The Cllr went on to point out if ancient woodland had not been cut down the Bretton centre would not exist, some of us would consider that a bad bargain Cllr Fitzgerald !

Cllr Lee also pointed out that some trees although not ancient and not of any special species remained important to people - indeed.

Cllr Fitzgerald then turned his attention to the Bridge Street trees, saying that some people had sought to save them, when the councils report (which has not been made public) said the trees should be thinned out ~ (perhaps someone should take Cllr Fitzgerald aside and tell him about Peterborough’s Green policy!)

Watch out! Here comes Cllr Fitzgerald & his little axe

A final note from Cllr Goodwin who asked about section PP6, the criteria for tourism in villages.

Julian Bray (who attended) adds: In all, the Cabinet robustly debated the issues and one flawed major piece of work has been rightly rejected and sent back to be reworked. Clearly Cllr Walsh (and all other Councillors for that matter) need to take a closer detailed interest, outside of council meetings in all projects bearing their name. It seems strange that Cllr Walsh would not have closely read through, checked and signed off the document in consultation with officers prior to the formal cabinet meeting. The 70 page document contained out of date information and therefore totally misleading and incorrect. Cllr Walsh had clearly not seen this version of the document prior to cabinet. It was also sad to see that not all members of Cabinet were wearing poppies. ..

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