Month: March 2010

Peterborough City Council and Consultants Update – for research purposes only

The relationship between Peterborough City Council and consultants is becoming a cause for concern for some councillors. This is an update on events up until 16th March 2010.

Continued from Part One

USE OF CONSULTANTS – SCRUTINY REVIEW
1. PURPOSE & BACKGROUND
1.1 This report has been prepared following a series of scrutiny meetings.
At a meeting of the Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee on 14th January 2010, to discuss the proposed council budget, the subject of use of consultants arose. The minutes of this meeting are attached at
Appendix 1.
It was agreed that the Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee be recommended to undertake an in-depth scrutiny review into the cost and effectiveness of the Council’s use of consultants and to make recommendations on the future use of consultants by the council to inform the development of budgets in future years.
Although not referred to in the minutes, the Executive Director – Strategic Resources, offered to meet with the Chair of the Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee to prepare the terms of reference for the review. That meeting did not take place and at its meeting held on 18th January 2010 the Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee produced a list of questions which it asked to be answered,
Quoted from this document: Use of Consultants – Scrutiny Review

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Interview with Mike Fletcher March 16th 2010

Interview with Cllr Mike Fletcher Chairman Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee Peterborough City Council following the meeting on Monday 15th March 2010 where Council was invited to account for it’s spending on consultants. Broadcast at 07:45 on 16th March 2010 in Paul Stainton’s BBC Peterborough Breakfast Show.

Interview with Cllr Mike Fletcher Chairman Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee Peterborough City Council following the meeting on Monday 15th March 2010 where Council was invited to account for it’s spending on consultants. Broadcast at 07:45 on 16th March 2010 in Paul Stainton’s BBC Peterborough Breakfast Show.

PS: Now a review has begun into the amount of money the City Council spends on consultants. You may remember last week we broke the news that we’d spent something like .. was it nine million or something like that I don’t know? It was a million pounds a month, wasn’t it? Something like that. Five councillors will now spend six months looking at the cost of experts, and the amount of money they save the Council. It was twelve million, wasn’t it? We revealed on the Breakfast Show that it was twelve million for this financial year and Cllr. Mike Fletcher is Chairman of the Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee. Morning Mike.
MF: Good morning.
PS: The purpose of the meeting?
MF: Well to enquire into the use of consultants, and see just how effective they are. I can assure you that if I have anything to do with it, it’s not going to take six months, more like six weeks.
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BBC Peterborough March 16th 2010

BBC Radio Peterborough Breakfast Show summary for Tuesday 16th March 2010

BBC Radio Peterborough Breakfast Show summary for Tuesday 16th March 2010

Topics:
Council leaders answer Members’ questions about their spending on consultants.
Scheme launched to provide needle bins for drug users around the town after churchyard problems.
Central Park Tea Rooms are open for business.
Health guru cautions against vitamins.
Orton Wistow Rocker releases album for charity.
Peterborough United big news day. Chairman will speak following talks with manager..
Kidnapped Oldham boy found safe and well in Pakistan.
National Gamete Donation Trust targets sports fans in donation drive.
The Cheltenham Festival is underway.

Interviewees:
Mike Fletcher Cllr. and Chairman Sustainable Growth Scrutiny Committee.
Karen Kibblewhite Safer Peterborough Partnership.
Vincent Terranova Buttercross Tea Rooms.
Michael van Straten Health Guru.
Father David Jennings All Souls Geneva Street.
Paddy Power Bookmaker.
Paul Johnson Sheffield-based Peterborough United Fan and owner of Brian the Pig.
Pip Morris National Gamete Donation Trust.
Mick Fry (aka Mich Cochrane) Orton Wistow Rocker.

Companies mentioned: Boss Micro.

Team:
Presenter: Paul Stainton
Producer: Steve Titman
Sport: Chris Osborne
News: Susie Roberts
Travel: Justin Peterson
Weather: John Gray
Phones: Kerry Devine
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Interview with Adam Barker March 15th 2010

Interview with Adam Barker selected Conservative candidate for the Walton ward replacing ousted candidate Charles Day. 07:20am 15th March 2010 on the Peterborough Breakfast Show.

Interview with Adam Barker selected Conservative candidate for the Walton ward, replacing ousted candidate Charles Day.  Broadcast at 07:20am on the 15th March 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show.

PS: Last week on the show we revealed that Charles Day had been deselected as the Tory councillor in Walton. And next we are going to speak to a man who’s hoping to take his place.
(Sport Relief Promo)
PS: So as I mentioned, Charles Day deselected as the Tory councillor in Walton last week. We mentioned on the show that he will be replaced as Conservative candidate at the next election by Adam Barker. Charles Day not very happy about being deselected. This is what he had to say about it.
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Posh Talk: Bob Burrows and Peter Lloyd

Posh Talk: A live three-way chat between Paul Stainton BBC, Bob Burrows, Commentator, and Peter Lloyd Chairman Posh Supporters Trust, following the win at Watford – broadcast at 08:25am Monday 15th March 2010.

A three-way conversation between The BBC’s Paul Stainton,  Commentator Bob Burrows and Posh Supporters’ Trust Chairman Peter Lloyd following the away win at Watford, broadcast at 08:25 am on Monday 15th March 2010.

Paul: Bob Burrows is here, Posh legend. I think I might have said Posh are still ten points from safety, eight, I meant to say. Speedy in Market Deeping has pulled me up on text Bob. They don’t mess about.
Bob: Oh, well done Speedy. He’s on the ball.
Paul: For a bloke from Market Deeping, he’s pretty quick.
Bob: Well, people hang on every word. And there’s nobody makes more mistakes than myself.
Paul: But it sounded like Posh played well on Saturday.
Continue reading “Posh Talk: Bob Burrows and Peter Lloyd”

Interview with Andrew Edwards March 15th 2010

Interview with Andrew Edwards Peterborough City Council’s Head of Strategic Property, on their plans to sell off the Lady Lodge Arts Centre for use as a private care facility. Paul Stainton’s Peterborough Breakfast Show – March 15th 2010 08:35 am.

Interview with Andrew Edwards Head of Strategic Property Peterborough City Council on Paul Stainton’s Peterborough Breakfast Show concerning the planned sell-off of the Lady Lodge Arts Centre to a private nursing facility.

PS: Before all that though, news that plans have been finalised to sell the former Lady Lodge Arts Centre in Orton Goldhay. If approved, a specialist care home will be built to cater for young people with disabilities. Andrew Edwards is the Council’s Head of Strategic Property. Morning ..
AE: Good morning Paul, how are you this morning?
PS: I’m very good thank you. The sun is shining, it’s a spring-like day across Peterborough. I can see it streaming in through the window in Priestgate. Beautiful day, and remind us of the history behind the Lady Lodge which was an arts centre for a while, wasn’t it, but it sort of fell into disrepair, didn’t it.
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BBC Peterborough March 15th 2010

BBC Radio Peterborough Breakfast Show summary for Monday 15th March 2010

BBC Radio Peterborough Breakfast Show summary for Monday 15th March 2010

Topics:
Following a controversial deselection, the replacement Conservative candidate for Walton ward sets out his stall.
The Lady Stern review of the handling of rape cases recommends improvements.
Peterborough United win away after a 29 week drought.
100th anniversary of the founding of Rolls Royce.
Exorbitant parking charges noted at Peterborough Railway Station.
Following closure dereliction and fire, council plans to sell off Lady Lodge Arts Centre to a private care home.
Local newspaper uses Cathedral image to advertise Mexican restaurant.

Interviewees:
Adam Barker prospective Conservative ward councillor for Walton.
Lisa Longstaff Women against Rape.
Graham Simmons Aviation Historian.
Guy Dangerfield Passenger Focus.
Kate Elmy NHS Peterborough.
DCI Melanie Dales Cambridgeshire Police.
Peter Lloyd Chairman Posh Supporters’ Trust.
Andrew Edwards Head of Strategic Property Peterborough City Council.
Toby Earl TV Easy Magazine.

Companies mentioned: Peterborough Evening Telegraph. Rolls Royce.

Team:
Presenter: Paul Stainton
Producer: Steve Titman
Sport: John Symes
News: Susie Roberts
Travel: Justin Peterson
Weather: Steve Weston
Phones: Kerry Devine
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Interview with Rowen Squibb March 10th 2010

An interview with Rowen Sqibb from Growborough on Paul Stainton’s Peterborough Breakfast Show – talking about vibrancy, Opportunity Peterborough and the night-time economy in Peterborough city centre.

Interview with Rowen Squibb from Growborough – 10th March 2010 08:40 am on Paul Stainton’s Peterborough Breakfast Show.

Paul: On yesterday’s show we revealed that Opportunity Peterborough had appointed a Head of City Vibrancy. You may remember we mentioned it once or twice. Now the organisation is currently being restructured, with all regeneration portfolios returning to the council. Steve Bowyer has took on the vibrancy role. He is the vibrant one. And he told us what the title actually means.
STEVE BOWYER TAPE: Vitality, if you like, would be another word. Actually a place where people want to come, and enjoy. Where businesses most importantly want to come and invest. Where it is a place of commercial interest, cultural interest, leisure interest etcetera. So a vibrant city is one where people want to be, whether they be individuals, people who live there, whether they be tourists, whether they be visitors, whether they be commercial companies, businesses, cultural organisations etcetera.
Paul: Well Darren Fower is Head of Peterborough Liberal Democrats. He was critical of Opportunity Peterborough’s project.
DARREN FOWER TAPE: I think questions need to be asked. And I will look forward to seeing what the people of Peterborough say, but from our point of view as the Liberal Democrat group on the city council, we’ll certainly keep an eye on them, as we have done for several years now. And if we find anything of interest, we’ll make sure that you find out first.
Paul: Well another organisation who are keen to raise the profile and awareness of Peterborough and add a bit of vitality and vibrancy to the city centre are Growborough. Rowen Squibb is looking to the heavens as I speak. He’s from the group. Good Morning.
Rowen: Good morning to you. How are you?
Paul: Are you vibrant?
Rowen: Well, it’s Wednesday morning isn’t it? Yes, I’ve been more vibrant.
Paul: It’s been pointed out to me this morning that it is 2010 as well. I was slightly wrong with the year earlier on, but, um, what do you make of this role of Head of City Vibrancy?
Continue reading “Interview with Rowen Squibb March 10th 2010”