Nick Boles on Delivering Homes and the Right to Build

10:30 Thursday 3rd July 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: People who want to build their own home will be able to turn to their council to make their dream a reality. This is the idea under measures announced by Nick Boles today. The Planning Minister said he would give aspiring self- and custom-builders a new right to build. In Europe it’s the thing to do, but will it work in Cambridgeshire, with the cost of land at such a premium? Is this something for the elite rather than the masses? Well I’m delighted to say that Nick Boles joins me now. Good morning to you.
NICK BOLES: Good morning.
ANDIE HARPER: So what is the thought behind this? I know that it’s much more common on the Continent. Is that what we’re trying to emulate?
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Cambridge Housing Crisis a Test for Labour

08:08 Tuesday 1st July 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: The cost and quality of homes is the single most important issue for people in Cambridge. That’s the claim of Labour’s new executive councillor for housing. And given what we’ve heard this morning about just how difficult it is to actually find a place to live in the city, it’s no surprise, is it? Earlier we met Jenny Norman. She and her partner are looking to buy a three bedroomed house in Cambridge. They’re both earning and earning well, and have a thirty per cent deposit, and you’d think they’d be in a strong position.
(TAPE)
JENNY NORMAN: We’ve been looking for six months. We’ve viewed thirty one houses. We’ve put offers in on six, and we’re still unsuccessful. Last weekend we went and saw a property that was open for forty five minutes only, and that was it. They had fifteen parties through in that forty five minutes, and they needed best offers on Monday. And there are ten parties offering on that property including us, and it’s already twenty per cent over the asking price before they went to best and final offers.
(LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: That’s amazing, isn’t it? And according to Jenny, the reason behind all of this, very simple.
(TAPE)
JENNY NORMAN: It’s just lack of supply. And do you know what it is? Cambridge is an awesome city. It’s beautiful. It’s a very desirable place to live and to raise a family and to work. And more people want to live here than what the city can currently house.
(LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well the lack of housing is a problem every council in Cambridgeshire is facing of course. In Peterborough local MP Stewart Jackson suggested fining developers if they don’t build houses fast enough. In South Cambridgeshire the District Council has set up their own property company to build and sell houses. So what ideas does the new Labour administration of Cambridge City Council have? Well Kevin Price is their Executive councillor for Housing. Morning Kevin.
KEVIN PRICE: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: So, a bit of blue sky thinking. What are we going to be doing ?
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Cambridge Public Wi-Fi Launched

08:06 Monday 23rd June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridge

[P]AUL STAINTON: Free wi-fi launching across central Cambridge today, ahead of the Tour de France arrival on July 7th. It’s been in place in Peterborough city centre for just under a year. Business and locals alike have said a lot of good things about it. Earlier we spoke to Neil Darwin, who’s the Director of Enterprise and Skills at the local enterprise partnership.
(TAPE)
NEIL DARWIN: It’s about having a complete package for a city, which obviously is the line Cambridge is taking. We’re in such a connected world these days, and quite simply it’s something we need to have to be able to compete.
(LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Let’s find out more now about the year-long pilot in Cambridge, and plans to extend it, should it prove a success. I’m joined in the studio by John Holgate, Head of Network at the University of Cambridge, and Noelle Godfrey, who’s Connecting Cambridgeshire Programme Director. Morning.
BOTH: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: A lot of titles to contend with this morning, it has to be said. That’s a mouthful. Connecting Cambridgeshire Programme Director. It’s a big title. It’s a big title. John first of all, explain to those who are unclear about what exactly wi-fi is, and how are they going to benefit from this. Continue reading “Cambridge Public Wi-Fi Launched”

Juncker Nominated for President of the European Commission

17:24 Friday 27th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Despite David Cameron strongly objecting, EU leaders have gone ahead and nominated Jean-Claude Juncker to be the next European Commission President. Arriving in Brussels earlier, the Prime Minister set out why he believes the former PM of Luxembourg is the wrong man for the job.
(TAPE)
DAVID CAMERON: It is not right for the elected heads of government of the European countries to give up their right to nominate the head of the European Commission, the most important role in Europe. That is a bad principle, and it’s the wrong person. Jean-Claude Juncker has been at the heart of the project to increase the power of Brussels and reduce the power of nation states for his entire working life. He is not the right person to take this organisation forward.
(LIVE)
CHRIS MANN: Well our Europe Correspondent Duncan Crawford is in Brussels. Continue reading “Juncker Nominated for President of the European Commission”

Regional Revenue Offices Go

07:25 Tuesday 24th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: In a week’s time getting face-to-face advice about your tax won’t be an option. HMRC’s enquiry centres in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and across the country are closing down. It’s a move the Public and Commercial Services Union is protesting today in a series of strikes. Mike Black is the secretary of the union’s Cambridge branch. Mike, morning.
MIKE BLACK: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: Just remind us what these enquiry centres were about.
MIKE BLACK: Thousands and thousands of people in Cambridgeshire have come through our enquiry centres asking for advice for their tax, to try and make sure that they pay the right tax at the right time, that they don’t incur penalties, and that they get the repayments to which they are entitled.
PAUL STAINTON: Can’t you do all that online though, or on the phone?
MIKE BLACK: Well no, and it’s strange that the Government makes a defence that it’s all about digital, when they’re actually, the public service cuts of this government are actually wrecking Government digital services as well.
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Private Security Policing the Streets

08:20 Thursday 19th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Fenland District Council are paying for security staff to act as street marshals during England games in case of trouble. Why? Was the World Cup in 2010 a particularly violent time in Wisbech? And is it a valid use of taxpayers’ money? Is the Council stepping on the police’s toes? Well let’s find out. Councillor David Oliver is in charge of Licensing and Community Safety for Fenland District Council. David, morning.
DAVID OLIVER: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: How did all this come about then?
DAVID OLIVER: I’d like to just correct you on one thing. Fenland District Council haven’t put any money actually into this, other than officers’ time. It’s actually the Wisbech Pubwatch and Shopwatch and a local security firm that’s actually put the money forward for this to actually happen.
PAUL STAINTON: OK. So it’s a win win really.
DAVID OLIVER: It’s a win win. Yes.The reason for it, Shopwatch and the relevant partners want to improve the perception of safety and reduce crime associated with visiting the town for the football entertainment.
PAUL STAINTON: Is it particularly bad when the football’s on then?
DAVID OLIVER: No it hasn’t been.
PAUL STAINTON: So what’s the point then?
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Peterborough LibDems – Cereste on Trial

08:20 Tuesday 17th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: So it was a busy old AGM at Peterborough City Council last night. As we mentioned earlier, Marco Cereste is still the Leader. One of the other big announcements to come out of it last night was the Council voted unanimously in favour of following in Cambridgeshire County Council’s footsteps and looking into switching to the committee system. It’s an idea that’s been championed by the LibDem Group. Nick Sandford is their Leader. Nick. morning.
NICK SANDFORD: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: We’ll get onto that in a moment, but first of all many people unhappy with you this morning for siding with Marco Cereste. Why did you?
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Peterborough Labour Let Tories Off the Hook

07:07 Tuesday 17th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Our main story this morning, one of Cambridgeshire’s biggest political characters, Marco Cereste, has survived a challenge to his leadership and will remain Leader of Peterborough City Council until at least next year. It’s after the Council’s Annual General Meeting last night. A motion to oust him as Leader was voted down by 32 votes to 14. 10 councillors chose to abstain. The result means he remains as Leader, but without overall control. It was also agreed the Council will explore the possibility of switching to a committee system, and that a cross-party working group will discuss next years Budget, and that councillor David Over will be Mayor for next year. Ben Stephenson was at the Town Hall last night.
BEN STEPHENSON: Peterborough’s Town Hall won’t have seen many escapes as great as this one. A few weeks ago Marco Cereste had lost overall control of the Council, and his critics were predicting the end for the Tory general. But last night he made a miraculous escape that even Steve McQueen would have been proud of. The first motion put forward by the Peterborough Independent Forum spoke of a need to remove Marco as Leader. Three Tory rebels agreed, but Labour and the LibDems were not for turning. They said a minority party coalition wouldn’t work, meaning victory for councillor Cereste, and another term as Leader, albeit without the overall control he’s enjoyed in years gone by. The Council also agreed to explore the pros and cons of switching to a committee system a la Cambridgeshire County Council, a move that the LibDems will count as a post-election victory. But what now for Marco and his Tory colleagues? He may have survived another scare, but the anti-Cereste brigade are still insisting that last month’s election result was a clear signal of discontent from the Peterborough public. The question now is whether that message has been received at Tory HQ, or whether the need to balance the books next year will once again put pressure on Marco and his Cabinet.
PAUL STAINTON: Ben Stephenson at the Town Hall in Peterborough last night. So after weeks of uncertainty, Marco Cereste remains as Leader of Peterborough City Council, and he did it with support from his apparent opposition, the LibDems and Labour. Well before we hear from the Labour Group, let’s speak to councillor Mike Fletcher from the Peterborough Independent Forum. He put forward a motion that the Forum’s Leader David Harrington should replace Marco. As it turned out, that was never heard. Mike good morning.
MIKE FLETCHER: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Now, your reaction?
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