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(29/08/10) On top of the criticisms of recent job cuts by the recently created, VivaCity, the not-for-profit organisation has come in for further criticism on the ever popular Peterborough.Net forum!

(29/08/10) Elsewhere, specifically on Facebook, there are claims that VivaCity were making “special deals to encourage people to go..” Lib Dem councillors say they are looking into these allegations.

(29/08/10) The Tory MP for the north of Peterborough has been criticised for opening his mouth again! A BBC report claims that, via his Twitter page, where he was commenting on rates of STD [sexually trasmitted disease] rates in Peterborough, he remarked, “No doubt our liberal friends will tell us we need more sex education - as it's worked so well!" After getting feedback about his remarks, he posted another message saying: "Touched a raw nerve with shrill intolerant pro-sex education lefties who don't like debating the issues. Wonder why not?"

(29/08/10) According to a recent report, Peterborough City Council has no policy when it comes to sex shops?

(29/08/10) Did you know that Peterborough City Council’s Chief Executive once claimed £280.35 for a meal at Birmingham's Bank restaurant! (Source)

(29/08/10) A report in the Express claims an astonishing level of absenteeism has cost Peterborough City Council £2.5million! According to the report, its 2,123 employees took a total of 25,082 days off sick between April 2009 and March this year.

(16/08/10) According to sources in the Town Hall, a recent internal undertaking by senior council officers, to establish where some 600 mobile phones, that had been given to staff were, has resulted in only 300 being identified so far!

(17/08/10) New findings claim, that in some parts of the city properties for sale are on the market for an average of 150 days!

(17/08/10) According to documentation recently distributed to elected members, the City Councils Materials Recycling Facility, should get the final nod around October 2011, with the local authority claiming the new facility will be up and running by June 2013. It needs to be as the old one will be closing down then!

(17/08/10) Insiders at the Town Hall, tell us the City Councils own Head of Finance, John Harrison, has lost his office! Its now called the Vinnitsa Room, presumably he’s been bunked down to a slightly smaller orifice?

(17/08/10) Liberal Democrat city councillors were recently refused a paper recycling bin for their office in the Town Hall. Despite the large levels of paper still generated by the authority, they were told to make use of a solitary paper recycling bin further down the corridor. One Lib Dem told us, “Its crazy that each room or office has a general purpose bin, for stuff that does not get recycled, yet not a paper recycling bin. This sort of stance is untenable!”

(17/08/10) In February, a City Council study found that the council spends approximately £2,500 each year on internal mail being sent through the external system, instead of being delivered by the council courier.

(16/08/10) Then there is the recent disclosure, as established by Lib Dem council/lors following recent questioning of the Tory administration that seven members of the cabinet, enjoy the use of a Blackberry…….. at a cost of £30 per month to the local taxpayer!

(16/08/10) Whilst, in other I.T. related news, sources within the corridors of the Town Hall tell us officers within children services, apparently opened open up a cupboard one day and discovered loads of laptops, that no one knew about!

(16/08/10) Staffing news… there are reports of some council employees, despite only working 49 weeks during the year, are actually getting paid for working 52!!??

(16/08/10) While, on the topical issue of the fountains, its been suggested that they allegedly turned on a 1pm each day, as a direct result of the environmentally sound water features presently being powered by ….. a diesel generator!

(16/08/10) Education in the City is not looking too good at the moment with reports that every class in every year group is already full and the local authority is struggling to find places for all 2,438 pupils due to start classes in September.

(16/08/10) The issue of migrant workers in Peterborough continues to hit the national headlines.

(16/08/10) Is it really fair that people who own their own land, should not be allowed to do what they want with it? What do you think of this article?

(16/08/10) All this recent coverage (16/08/10) With ADHD allegedly on the up in many schools, it was good to see a Freedom of Information request trying to identify the number of young people in Peterborough with the disorder. However, it was less welcoming to read that the local authority thought it too expensive to bother looking into, more worryingly they appear not to have the information to hand!?

(13/08/10)A Conservative councillor recently said, of the Tory controlled City Council, “The Council is fast becoming a parasite on the community.”

(13/08/10) It seems an “oversight” is the reason why a nesting moorhen is causing a 22-week contract to replace the crumbling bridge on a key Fenland road to be extended! (Source)

(13/08/10) On the topic of creatures effecting the City Council, what about the Long-eared bats that halted a planning application for a £400,000 all-weather sports pitch at Orton Longueville School! The animals are just not COST EFFECTIVE! (Source)

(12/08/10) The number of CCTV cameras in Peterborough City Centre has more than tripled since 1997, when they had 44 cameras, to over 140 these days! Do you feel safer? (SOURCE).

(12/08/10) Peterborough has made it into the national headlines, AGAIN, for the wrong reasons! This time its to do with migrants in bushes etc See: Peterborough 'under siege' by migrant camps, locals claim

(12/08/10) But that’s not the only one! There is also, CCTV issued after attack in Peterborough McDonald's - NICE!

(12/08/10) Mental health concerns over killings in East of England, back in 2008,LIB DEMS in Cambridgeshire claimed they were “..frankly appalled that those who suffer this awful illness are only receiving a fair level of service from the Trust.”

(12/08/10) Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have now submitted the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan to the Government to be checked by an independent planning inspector. Apparently, there were nearly 14,000 comments. How many will be taken on board though??? (SOURCE)

(12/08/10) A study into levels of salt in food, that ran from 2005 to 2010 and in which Peterborough City Council took part in, discovered that on average, dried noodle products contained 1.1g of salt per 100g of food which is more than double the recommended amount of 0.5g per 100g of food. Sodium levels were also more than double, recording 427mg per 100g of food rather than then 200mg per 100g of food which is recommended. (SOURCE)

(12/08/10) Conservative Councillor criticises Tory controlled Peterborough City Council! The criticism comes after PCC closed a main road through Fenland without telling people. (SOURCE)

(12/08/10) Unpopular Peterborough? Despite the seemingly inevitable creation of a Cambridgeshire Local Enterprise Partnership, this recent article, seems to show that no one wants our city to be involved? One chap even said, “I don’t believe Cambridge has got anything in common with Peterborough…” - cheek!

(12/08/10) With all the whoo-haa about foreign nationals sleeping rough recently, it was little surprise to read a press release that came out from the Home Office, claiming that five people had now been removed from Peterborough to their home countries by the UK Border Agency. And a further, astounding, 11 people had taken advantage of the project’s reconnection service which sees travel and support provided as part of a voluntary return!

(31/07/10) Just who is the TOP Tory Dog in this city?? A recent article seems to indicate that the Tory leader of the City Council is now challenging the Tory MP to come up with a housing solution to the citys problems!

(31/07/10) Strong murmurings coming from within the Town Hall are suggesting that the local authority are preparing themselves for a further 40% reduction in services and expenditure…..on top of all the flogging off and job losses to date! Our advice to any council staff, is join UNISON!

(31/07/10) Apparently, Peterborough could help pioneer latest developments in ultra-low carbon electric vehicles if a proposal to establish a regional network of recharging points receives government approval? It seems that an East of England consortium, including Peterborough City Council, green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), other councils and local businesses, has been asked to develop a detailed business case for a £5.4 million network of recharging points. We asked Ladbrokes what odds they would gives us on this scheme being successful……….. they refused!

(31/07/10) According to is recent figures, an average of 20% of the prison population at HMP Peterborough, are foreign nationals. There were no figures to identify the number of Peterborians in the prison!

(31/07/10) While some other figures, highlight the fat that Peterborough has several areas which are amongst the 10% most deprived in England, they include Dogsthorpe, East, Central and Ravensthorpe.

(31/07/10) Do councillors earn their money? Of course they do! For example, newly appointed as one of the Tory Environment Cabinet members, and “qualified accountant”, Cllr Sam Dalton, recently decided, on her own mind you, that Peterborough City Council would start calling itself “home of environment capital”……..as opposed to using the phrase “creating the UKs environment capital”………..!!!

(31/07/10) Back in the real world, Peterborough's bid to become the Uk's environment Capital seems to have taken a serious knock back? A new study in carbon emissions show that per head of population - Peterborough produces more CO2 than the likes of Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds.......The government figures show that for 2008/2009 - over 36,000 tonnes of CO2 were produced in the city!

(29/07/10) Did you know that the City Councils spends hundreds of pounds of street lighting budget every year on repairing lights that have been damaged by urinating dogs? It seems that there is an eroding substance within the relieving K9s liquid?

(29/07/10) Last week saw Nick stand in for the PM at Prime Minister’s Question Time - first Liberal to answer questions at PMQs since Lloyd George in 1922.

(29/07/10) The City Council have now announced the school term dates 2011-2012, to view click here!

(29/07/10) Any truth in the rumours that senior council officers have to maintain an email communication hours after a full council meeting has finished, in order to deal with possible “dodgy” issues? Is your line manager looking tired after a Full Council; meeting? Let us know if you know of anything? Email tired_council_officer@peterboroughlibdems.org.uk

(29/07/10) Despite the Councils recent stance on the Icelandic Banks fiasco, one existing Tory councillor claims that prior to the collapse, a well informed financial paper raised serious concerns and warned against investing funds in Icelandic banks, going on to say that irrespective of what the council have said, the existing fixed term based funds could indeed have been withdrawn, prior to maturity, subject of course, to an early withdrawal penalty! This suggests that hundreds of thousands of tax payers’ money could have been saved!?

(29/07/10) What cost? Say some to the the news the news that the City Council are to extend Hampton Hargate Primary School, “..to Provide Six Additional Classrooms, Hall and Associated Facilities.” Insiders at the Town Hall have no doubt that it is a fine example of a multi million pound miscalculation of potential demographics?

(29/07/10) Latest news from the Cathedral Square works indicates a finish time of 2011 now!

(29/07/10) Who says Peterborough cannot compete with the rest of the country??? As reported in the ET, “THE brother of Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne has turned his life around thanks to a Peterborough jobs scheme – after refusing help from his millionaire sibling.” CLICK!

(29/07/10) More details were announced this week on the May 5th Fairer Votes Referendum. The question put to voters will be: "Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'Alternative Vote' system instead of the current 'First Past the Post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?"The Campaigns Department also published the first pack of Referendum campaign artwork. For regular news on the Fairer Votes Campaign, please visit www.FairerVotes.org.uk

(28/07/10) Heard the one about a group of people in Peterborough, who are disillusioned with party politics on the City Council and so ager going to ………..start their own party??? (Source ) Fact, the Liberal Democrat group on the City Council DO NOT have a whip system and individuals are free to vote with their conscious at all times. One insider said, “A couple of these people have already stood or been members of political parties, I’d suggest that the problem was not with party politics and more to do with joining the right party in the first place!”

(28/07/10) Insiders at the Town Hall tell us that a recent email to ALL STAFF, resulted in quite a large number of failed message alerts? The reason was that the City Council still had contacts for people and places that no longer existed? One senior LIB Dem in Peterborough commented, that there were “…..people at schools that were closed 3 years ago and 2 admin workers in Childrens' Services have email addresses that haven't existed for 4 years! Still, perhaps their £90k Communications Director can sort it out in his or her coffee break!”

(28/07/10) Looks like someone does not think that the VivaCity concept by the City Council is that great? They have submitted an FOI request to establish some of the costing involved.

(28/07/10) Peterborough City Council are seeking “expressions of interest” for an integrated drug and alcohol misuse service. The service is to offer early intervention, prevention, targeted and specialist interventions to targeted groups of young people in Peterborough ((Source). What does this mean? Well, a) We have a big problem in the city with drug and alcohol misuse problems, and b) we do not have the people available to deal with this problem. This in turns has an impact on other elements of the local society!

(28/07/10) A recent article claims the city council has told Railworld to settle a £125,000 debt within six months, or its land will be reclaimed. Seems a bit of a strange tactic to take, public embarrassment, given that an existing councillor, in Stephen Goldspink and a former leading Tory councillor, Mr Bob Burke, are both on Railworld’s board? Whilst the existing deputy leader of the Council used to be involved? Anyone would think it was a personal spat??

(22/07/10) In a recent edition of the Councils own in-house publication entitled, Weekly Round Up (19th July), there is a cracking line in an article that attempts to dissuade employees from panicking over recent claims that burglary had gone up 20%, the sentence reads; “A recent Peterborough Evening Telegraph headline suggested that burglary had risen 20 per cent. Unfortunately, the figures behind that headline cover a period up to September 2009 and encompass some months where there were particularly heavy crime months.” Classic!

(22/07/10) According to some Council documentation seen by this website, all District Hospital functions will be relocated to the new Peterborough City Hospital on the Edith Cavell site by the end of 2011.

(22/07/10) Talking about the PDH site, the City Council seem to be a bit worried about the impact of construction traffic, as they have recently agreed to a Construction Management Plan, on the 14 JUNE 2010, which amongst other things includes a scheme for the control of dust arising from building and site works??

(22/07/10) It looks like, given the impending cuts in public service IT budgets, senior figures from the Town Hall are looking at the ‘Cloud Computing’ concept, i.e. the catch-all term for IT services delivered over the web. Basically, rather than install the software themselves on their own computers, on their own premises, the "cloud" provider does this for a fee, for example Google's Gmail and Microsoft's Hotmail are consumer cloud computing services. The scary thing is though, that you could soon one day have Fujitsu's Flex service with complete access to the central government data…..meaning that corporations have the control and access to government data!

(15/07/10) Ahead of this weeks JLS concert, it all seems to be kicking off nicely within the corridors of the Town Hall, after the latest report in the Evening Telegraph, quoted one city councillor as saying, “Councillors should not have freebies, I think it’s disgusting.” Rather unsurprisingly, most of the councillors who received the JLS tickets have apparently handed them to good causes or people more needy than them! But, where does this leave all the other freebies that councillors get? Fee passes to the Beer Festival, free car parking passes, laptops, blackberries etc

(15/07/10) OH! And not forgetting that straight after the latest Full Council meeting, on 14th July 2010, city councillors received FREE pizza and garlic bread, and drank beer and wine, very nice eh?

(15/07/10) There are fears that this years park and ride scheme could be hit hard after a recent report claimed “Thousands of shoppers using Peterborough’s festive park and ride service could be charged for the first time in six years.” According a Council Press release last year, in the first three weekends of the 6 week scheme, some 4,497 took advantage of the Park and Ride scheme, so even if figures remained the same. The Council would only manage to raise, what in local authority terms, a measly £10k, more worryingly, many expect the policy to put people off using the scheme and thus, prove to be a massive backward step for congestion and pollution in the city!

(15/07/10) Peterborough, could be facing something of a regional battle in respect of its involvement with the Governments Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), with one report claiming that the city wants to join with three neighbouring districts to form an LEP. The belief is that any move would constitute a “real economic area”. However, the report suggest that Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire or Lincolnshire are likely to object.

(15/07/10) In a recent article, regarding the ongoing threat of demolition of the Great Northern Hotel, it states that resistance had previously come“…from Peterborough Civic Society and city MP Stewart Jackson, among others.” But who was it that organised online petitions and in the city centre, gained support from a cross party of councillors, from lords, MPs, local organisations and asked formal questions of the local authority etc? - Twas the Peterborough Lib Dems!

(15/07/10) According to PeterboroughBusiness.co.uk, the has been a growing number of manufacturers in the east of England reporting buoyant trading conditions over the past three months on the back of rising demand in overseas and UK markets – benefits of international trade and decent tarrifs secured via our involvement with the EU!?

(15/07/10) Bad news! Its being reported, that city based Ideal Shopping, who employ more than 500 people, are considering selling up! The news would prove a huge blow to the local economy and reputation of the city beyond the walls.

(15/07/10) The latest leakage from the Town Hall, alleges that Peterborough City Council pays the wages of people at the new trust VivaCity and on top of that recently paid them a load of money to “manage” the new fountains in Cathedral Square………which means that the new trust are quid’s in? We are yet to se some evidence on these drips of details yet, but are waiting for the tap to be turned on fully!

(15/07/10) Ever wondered how much that person who calls out the elections results on the stage or balcony after elections gets paid? Well if the person is doing it in Peterborough, its around £3,639, not bad for a nights work, eh? (Source)

(15/07/10) Binmen are hard! That is the conclusion you get from the Freedom of Information request FOI-10-0254, there were no assaults on bin men, and the only three incidents of violence suffered by its refuse operatives, were recorded. Two of these incidents were where Council crews were subject to verbal abuse and the third was where a tenant harmed himself in front of a crew, which they found unsettling.

(12/10/10) Some people within the Town Hall are wondering why if as reported last year, local ‘entrepreneur’ Rinaldo Fasulo’s 03 Leisure Ltd went into liquidation with debts of more than £500,000, leading to the selling off of the Broadway Theatre and allegedly large numbers of Peterborough people missimng out on refunds for pre-purchased tickets, is it that he is then, only a year later, involved in the re-opening of the bar on the corner of New Road, now called HALO? Worth noting that some councillors at the VIP opening of the aforementioned venue!

(10/07/10) Did you know that t he leader of Peterborough City Council has the power to award, assign and terminate contracts over £500k; plus, waiver or grant exemptions to contract regulations where contracts are over £500k?

(10/07/10) According to recent papers from the City Councils Audit Committee, “…. there were 5 Schools (from 4 at 31March 2009) with deficit balances at 31 March 2010. These Schools are required to submit plans to the Council demonstrating how these deficits will be overcome.”

(10/07/10) In other financial news from the City Council, “The Pension Reserve, which balances the Pensions Liability, has increased by £138.8m.”

(10/07/10) According to the local authority’s Statement of Accounts 2009/10, the City Council used £6,477,000 of their reserve during the aforementioned financial year!

(10/07/10) During an interview on BBC Radio Cambs to discuss the possibility of having all out local elections every four years in Peterborough, Lib Dem group leader, Darren Fower said, “Given these troubled times we’re in I think it really is important that people can have the peace of mind to know that …… they can have their say each May…” and went on to say that “….City Councillors, certain senior Council officers, can’t just have carte blanche for the first two years!”

(10/07/10) According to papers entitled “NHS Peterborough Equality Impact Assessment - Primary Care” forwarded to city councillors recently, under the header “What are the desired outcomes?”, one of the answers is “Reduced Primary Care estate” a.k.a flogging off your buildings!

(10/07/10) A recent press release sent out by the City Councils media machine i.e. press department claims the local authority use around 45,600 eggs each year, that’s 124+ a day and 5 per hour! Bet you always wanted to know that!?

(10/07/10) According to a recent Council document, claims “In November 2009 E.on gave PCC 48 hours notice of disconnection of electricity supply to the Regional Pool unless payment of the remaining £490,371.51 was forthcoming. Immediate payment was made to secure supply.” Oooeerr, missus!

(10/07/10) Ahead of the forthcoming publication of City Councillor salaries for 2009/10 (Source), one member, who people expect to experience a significant salary drop, is former Tory group leader Cllr John Peach. Until he was removed by the now leader Cllr Cereste, it seems that Cllr Peach was on quite a nice little number. As details by the City Councils (members allowance page, between 2004 and 2009 he received over £122k in allowances, an average of over £24k pa for the five year period, equating to nearly £70 a day! Given the job losses at the Town Hall these days and cuts in service, it won’t be a surprise if people in Peterborough have difficulty accepting that his annual allowance increased from £18,400 in 2004/05 to £28,500 in 2008/09, a 36% increase, which is an average of over 7% each year!

(22/06/10) More promises that become fairytales, after it was announced that that despite last year claiming that the city was about to become the centre for the construction and testing of the greenest car in the world, in reality, the company behind the urban and environmentally friendly car ended up deciding to locate their project to one of the city’s rivals, Leicester!

(22/06/10) There has been another blow to local radio in the city of Peterborough, after reports in the national media, detailed plans for Peterborough’s HEART radio station to be amalgamated with their Cambridge counterpart, leaving just one station for the county. The news will no doubt mean some job losses in our city?

(22/06/10) Its been suggested that as a direct result of Peterborough city council leader Marco Cereste’s recent announcement that the council is to ditch proposed allocations for Gypsy and traveller sites etc. Councils could leave themselves grappling with a series of human rights challenges in the future? (Source)

(12/06/10) There is a report to cabinet on Monday 14th June responding to the petitions regarding the proposed new allotments at Gunthorpe Rec and at the Werrington Paddocks. Basically the report just says that officers are still considering these and other sites. But, we will be keeping an eye on this!

(12/06/10) Recent suggestions that one way that the City Council could save money would be to sell the Town Hall itself. Insiders at the Town Hall tell us that the success of any such action would be remote as the building is, apparently, highly inefficient regarding energy usage and of course, who these days wants to spend millions on a building when you can build one for the same size at half the cost???

(12/06/10) Apparently, the City Councils Supportive Communities Committee shows a paper being submitted to the September meeting on the issue of electoral cycles. Insiders at the Town Hall suggest that the Council could be contemplating introducing all out elections every four years?

(12/06/10) A Tory city councillor is planning to set up an independent inquiry into the local authority’s use of consultants. As detailed in this letter, Cllr Fletcher I asking for volunteers to come forward who may have the qualified skills to assist.

(12/06/10) The recent abolition of the Regional Spatial Strategy means that the City Council have now removed all proposed allocations for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Show people sites from their current Site Allocations Document, including proposed sites in Eye (site H150) and Farcet (site H137a).

(12/06/10) “Slightly going against the grain!” that’s the comments from one City Councillor, following the above announcement by the Tory controlled City Council, regarding Gypsy or Traveller sites…… especially as only two days before making the announcement they were promoting the fact that June is “Gypsy Roma Traveller month” – which sees the local authority promoting an exhibition that will be touring Peterborough, Central Library - throughout June, Honeyhill Community Centre - 1 June to 10 June, Werrington Library - 11 June to 20 June, Orton Library - 21 June to 30 June, Story telling with Richard O'Neil, Central Library, 5 June at 2pm, Take part in a live debate to dispel and challenge myths about the Gypsy, Roma and Travellers - 22 June at 5.30pm, venue tbc and there is even a film screening of "When the violins stop playing" at the John Clare Theatre, 22 June at 5.30pm !!!!!

(23/05/10) The latest murmurings from within the Town Hall suggest that existing Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council, Gillian Beasley, is set to step down sometime during this municipal year?

(23/05/10) Tory councillor set to join the PIFS? Troublesome Tory city councillor, Mike Fletcher, is being touted as the latest Con to jump ship from the “Cereste Regime”, with his likely destination being the menagerie that is the Peterborough ‘Independent’ Forum ……led by Cllr Swift!

(23/05/10) However, other insiders at the Town Hall claim, the jump is unlikely this year as Cllr Fletcher is up for elected in 2011 and would prefer to get the financial support from the local Tory regime, rather than undertake an election campaign on his own steam?

(26/03/10) There's still plenty of questions being asked in regards the old B & Q building, located near the POSH ground? According to a recent council document NHS Peterborough have been leasing it from the local authority. They claim its been used as storage for minimising the effects of swine flu. The site has also been used as a NHS Park and Ride for staff at the city case centre. But what about its future?

(23/03/10) It seems that its not just theTories in Peterborough that like wasting Millions on consultants, the Tories on the County Council do too! Lib Dem county councillors have discovered that the cash-strapped council while shedding 300 jobs and needing to save almost £100 million over the next five years, has spent a whopping £8.8 million to buy in expertise from outside last year!

(23/03/10) There has been something of a blow for the Tory Council in Peterborough and their flagship Neighbourhood Council scheme, after elected members were informed that one of the more experienced Neighbourhood Managers, estimated salaries of between £40k-£50k, had handed in her notice and was off. Despite the fact that the new roles were only created a few months ago! According to sources, Alison Ivatt, Neighbourhood Manager for the North and West has now left Peterborough City Council and is off to take up an Enforcement Manager role at Bedford City Council? (18/03/10) According to local media reports struggling homeowners in Peterborough are to get more help. The Government's putting in extra cash after the city was identified as a repossession hotspot last year.

It seems that the Housing Minister's announced an additional two and a half million pounds will fund advertising for the mortgage help website and the National Debtline's freephone number.

Citizens Advice offices have been holding drop in sessions for people to get information and there've also been displays and stalls at libraries and supermarkets. However,they are predicting pressure on local homeowners will continue this year.

(22/02/10) Its been rumoured that because of something to do with supporting the Tory administrations decision to purchase the Football Ground recently, a city councillor has guaranteed that Cllr Sharp will be elected as the next mayor of Peterborough?

(22/02/10) More and more people are starting to ask, why is it that the police can increase your council tax, in order to pay for things like their expensive police helicopter, YET, the Air Ambulance is paid for solely by voluntary donations? If you had to keep one chopper, which would you choose??

(22/02/10) The Devil Wears Primark! The leader of Peterborough City Council, recently announced that he would “…do all he can to ensure the popular budget retailer Primark comes to the city.” But do local people actually want Primark in the city? Lets not forget in 2005, Ethical Consumer magazine rated Primark the least ethical clothes shop! (SOURCE)

(21/02/10) According to a recent City Council press release, the local authority is to reduce the speed limit to 20mph outside rural primary schools, following recommendations from Peterborough City Council's Scrutiny Commission for Rural Communities. So watch out all you 4 x 4’s!

(21/02/10) Is the Tory MP for Peterborough really dealing with the big issue of the day? We’ll let you decided, for example he our recently asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Trusts Services Authority issues guidance to local authorities on obtaining information on the sexual orientation of social tenants and leaseholders, eh?

(21/02/10) How rare is it to actually see a police presence in your community these days, on foot that is? Well some might suggest it is so rare now, that when they do go out and about, they actually film it!

(21/02/10) We understand some elected members are complaining about the level of service they are receiving from the Councils contracted I.T. section! Previously, Liberal Democrats publicly raised their concerns on the proposals to privatise the Councils I.T. department. And, after the action occurred, we highlighted pr0blems from the service within a week! Now, councillors including the former Mayor Marion Todd, was heard complaining that she had no internet access and that it had been weeks since she reported the problem?

(21/02/10) Other sinister claims that are presently circulating the corridors of the Council relate to the allegations that the ruling Tory administration, despite championing the Neighbourhood Councils/Committees scheme, have no desire to allow these supposed decentralised groups to refer planning applications to the local authority planning committee – one insider at the Town Hall said, “They want toothless dogs to do their barking for them!”

(21/02/10) Local residents recently spoke to their local LIB Dem ward councillor to tell them about the council replacing lamp-posts in their area. When they asked why the lamp posts were being removed, as they appeared to be fine, they were told that it was due to erosion of the base, caused by dog wee! So basically, dogs urinating on lamp posts are costing local tax payers, hundreds, maybe thousands of pounds!!!

(20/02/10) Strong rumours are starting to trickle out of London that Gordon will see the Queen over the Weekend and call a March 25th Election?

(19/01/10) An estimated 1000 people in Peterborough aged over 65 have dementia, around 600 of these people are over 85 and these numbers are increasing! (Source: OLDER PEOPLE’S ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY – Report)

(19/01/10) We wonder just how many councillors and council officers will be attending this years Mayoral Ball? It takes place on Friday, 12 March 2010, 7pm reception for 7.30pm dinner at the Town Hall. Tickets are only £37.50 per person or a bargain bucket £360 for a table of 10! And here is the best bit, if you drink too much of the fancy wine on offer, you can get a special deal at the Park Inn Hotel, pay just £60 for a room! Elitism – Alive and kicking in the Boro, eh?

(11/01/10) In Lib Dem run neighbouring Cambridge, they are actually putting up signs, that state only motorists are barred and that only cyclists may make use of the road.

(11/01/10) Insiders at the Town Hall tell us the Council are all set to sell the land which is presently occupied by the Stagecoach bus depot, Millfield, for housing – but will anyone buy the land? More importantly, will a fair price be received?

(11/01/10) Did you know that the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England (The East of England Plan), which envisages at least 25,000 new homes and 20,000 net additional jobs in Peterborough over the twenty-year period 2001 – 2021? Wonder how they are doing?

(02/01/10) As at 1st October 2009 there were 145 cameras linked back to Peterborough City Council’s CCTV Control Room that are monitored and controlled – BIG BROTHER! (Source)

(02/01/10) Between 31/12/2007 and 31/12/2008 Peterborough City Council recorded and repaired 1961 potholes by the Highway Maintenance Team on the Council’s Maintainable Highway, which works out nearly six per day! (Source)

(02/01/10) County Cons have followed the Tories in Peterborough by ignoring the party line, by refusing to back a national initiative aimed at tackling climate change! They might have a tree as their logo but they are still about as green as the colour blue!

(02/01/10) It’s surely a little bit greedy for UKIP member Frances Fox to stand in the recent West Ward by-election, while still being their parliamentary candidate? Surely, you cannot be a city councillor and MP for the city simultaneously?

(02/01/10) There have been calls for the leader and deputy leader of the city council to stand down. Its all to do with waste and basically the call is from two former Tories, who seem to be insinuating that levels of fairness could be effected!?

(02/01/10) The news section on the Opportunity Peterborough website claims, “There is no shortage of news in Peterborough – each day brings a new development.” - Section last updated = 23rd Sept 2009!!!

(02/01/10) Peterborough City Council over the coming financial year will spend over a million pounds of taxpayers money on funding their media team – two months ago England's most senior judge warned that town hall 'spin' is a threat to a free society!

(02/01/10) A Freedom of Information request to Cambs Police shows that in the yeasr 2005 and 2006, a 10 years was arrested for taking without the owners consent, a 13 year old was caught in possesion of a firearm, a 13 year old was supplying drugs and a 12 year old was arrested for possesionof a knife!

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