Tim Bick On The City Deal For Cambridge

09:37 Thursday 12th December 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: Nick Clegg the Deputy Prime Minister is visiting Cambridge today, and he’s expected to announce that the Government is to make more money available to be spent on roads in the county. This is in addition to spending on the A14. So what can we expect? Well joining me is Tim Bick. Tim is the Liberal Democrat Leader of Cambridge City Council. Tim, good morning to you. Thanks for coming in.
TIM BICK: Good morning Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: So what is this money all about? We’ve been talking about the A14 money for some time, and obviously other main roads need work on, but this specific announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, how much and where is it to be used?
Continue reading “Tim Bick On The City Deal For Cambridge”

Cambridge City Council Building Houses

17:42 Wednesday 11th December 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Cambridge City’s ruling LibDems have proposed a major commitment to ease the city’s housing shortage. It’s a new way of financing an investment of £286 million over 30 years to build up to 2,000 new council homes. Cllr Catherine Smart haas the housing portfolio. She joined me earlier.
(TAPE)
CATHERINE SMART: We think we ought to be building more houses ourselves, that is city homes, the City Council, adding to our stock something up to about 2,000.
CHRIS MANN: That’s a huge enterprise. Over what sort of period of time?
Continue reading “Cambridge City Council Building Houses”

City Deal For Cambridge Will Help It To Grow

17:07 Thursday 5th December 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: A billion pound deal called the City Deal has been announced today for Cambridgeshire from the Government. It means more of the money made here will be invested here on housing and infrastructure, and it’s been negotiated by the City, the District, and the County Councils, and others. In a moment or two I’ll be talking to Tim Bick, the Liberal Democrat Leader of Cambridge City Council, who’s with me in the studio, but first of all, I spoke earlier to the Leader of the County Council, Martin Curtis.
Continue reading “City Deal For Cambridge Will Help It To Grow”

South Cambridgeshire Council Ventures Into The Housing Market

17:42 Thursday 28th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: A £7 million housing project in South Cambridgeshire has been given the thumbs up this afternoon. The District Council approved a project which they say will produce an annual income to pump back into supporting other Council services. Mark Howell is the Cabinet Member for South Cambridgshire District Council in charge of Housing and he joins me now. Hello Mark.
MARK HOWELL: Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: So this was approved today. What is this scheme? Explain how it would work.
Continue reading “South Cambridgeshire Council Ventures Into The Housing Market”

Unitary Authority For Greater Cambridge

17:07 Monday 11th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: So, the man who was, until earlier this year, the most powerful politician in Cambridgeshire local government, has declared his support for a radical shake-up, and the abolition of a tier of councils. It would mean an end to Cambridge City Council, East Cambs, South Cambs, Hunts District and Fenland. In their place, former Conservative Leader of the County Council Nick Clarke now favours a new unitary authority for Greater Cambridge, and an enlargement of the one in Peterborough that already exists. He says the move would save money and be more effective. I’ll get reaction live in the studio from the Leader of Cambridge City Council, and the Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, both with axes apparently poised above their heads. But first of all Nick Clarke. Welcome.
NICK CLARKE: Good afternoon Chris.
CHRIS MANN: You didn’t say this when you were in power.
Continue reading “Unitary Authority For Greater Cambridge”

The Peterborough Plan To License Private Landlords

07:07 Friday 1st November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Our big question this morning, is enough being done to regulate landlords behind houses of multiple occupancy? It’s a problem in Peterborough, in Wisbech and even in the relatively affluent Cambridge. But only just over 400 houses of multiple occupancy in Cambridgeshire have to be automatically licensed. It’s thought the actual amount of HMOs in the county is in the thousands. .. In Peterborough they’re considering going one step further and making all private landlords in specific problem areas get a licence. And on each individual licence will be a people limit specific to that house. .. Peterborough City Council says in a statement:
“We’re currently consulting on selective licensing to raise standards in the private rented sector, and tackle problems including rogue landlords, overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and poor property conditions for tenants. It’s important to note that whilst there are many good landlords, we recognise that poor management practices by others are having a negative effect on the areas. Selective licensing would enable the Council to direct more resource to the area, to bring about significant improvement to properties in the wider community, and give tenants more information about who they rent from. The licence fees would cover the costs of implementing and administrating the scheme.”
Continue reading “The Peterborough Plan To License Private Landlords”

Victory For Cambridge Blogger As Pickles Rules On Filming Council Meetings

17:39 Thursday 31st October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Another blow for openness and transparency in public life has been struck, following a campaign led by a Cambridgeshire activist. People who want to film and report on council meetings will have new rights, allowing them to do so. The Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has just announced that a new law will be put before Parliament. He had been lobbied by the Cambridge based journalist who’s with me in the studio now, Richard Taylor. Hi Richard.
RICHARD TAYLOR: Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Last time you were in here, you had, not exactly stormed, but you tried to film I think it was the Huntingdonshire ..
RICHARD TAYLOR: Yes it was Huntingdon District Council. Because Eric Pickles had said that we could just go along to council meetings and film them. He’d given guidance and asked councillors to open their doors to people like me who want to film, tweet, photograph and blog from council meetings.
CHRIS MANN: And when you went there they obviously hadn’t had the message from Mr Pickles, because they threw you out. (LAUGHS)
RICHARD TAYLOR: That’s right. It seems like the Minister Eric Pickles now has got fed up with local councillors not considering his guidance, and not doing what he wants, and he’s decided to go ahead and pass a law.
CHRIS MANN: You’ve actually had hostility at meetings, and they’ve prevented you filming.
Continue reading “Victory For Cambridge Blogger As Pickles Rules On Filming Council Meetings”

Illuminated Pathway Trialled In Cambridge

16:53 Monday 21st October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS BERROW: The world’s first UV powered pathway has been installed on a historic walkway at Christ’s Pieces in Cambridge. The path, which glows in the dark, is the first of its kind in the entire world. Some people are even calling it the starpath, because it looks like the night sky. Is this the future of night lighting? And have you seen it? You can call us now if you’ve seen it. .. Well I’m joined by the man behind it all. It’s Hamish Scott of Pro-teq Surfacing. Hello Hamish.
HAMISH SCOTT: Hello.
CHRIS BERROW: Good afternoon. So can you just explain how this luminous path works, in really simple terms?
Continue reading “Illuminated Pathway Trialled In Cambridge”