Tag: Charles Swift

A Tradition of Public Service

08:20 Thursday 28th June 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

DOREEN MURRAY FORMER COUNCILLOR: I was a councillor for almost twelve months before I was told I should claim expenses. And I said I’m not in here to claim expenses, I’m in here to make things better for people around me. Because my son was born partially sighted, and I saw the way things weren’t being done for them. So many things within the community needed doing. And I was approached three times by the Conservatives to run for them. And then I looked around, and my son said to me Mum, you’re always saying you want to help people out. This is your opportunity. So that’s why I became a councillor. I never, ever drew expenses. The only expenses I drew was for my telephone bill, because it never stopped. And I am absolutely disgusted. Because where everything went downhill with the Council is when councillors started to get a wage. They joined the Council not to make things better. They joined it because it’s a gravy train. And Charlie (Swift) saying that it was a traditional thing to get sandwiches. That’s rubbish. I never ever. The only time you got a cup of tea was when the Mayor would invite us into the Parlour. And that was it. I get very upset about it all. You’ve got some good people within, but you’ve also got an adminstration that really needs kicking out. And everything starts at the top. It starts with the Head of the Council. And things need changing, and I think councillors should start giving up the wage that they’re getting, and give it to charity. Because it’s needed more for charitable causes. Charlie (Swift) is a good guy. I like Charlie. He’s worked hard for his community, and that’s why he’s still a councillor. I think it’s immoral. I get very upset when I know how much money that they’re getting, the councillors, and they’re getting advisors who are earning salaries, to advise them. Why should they need people to advise them? Go out in the community. Knock on doors. Find out is there anything you want. That’s what Jack Rigby and I used to do. Every Saturday morning we did a walkabout in Orton Longueville. Everybody knew us. We asked, is there any problems? What’s needed? You don’t need advisers. The public are your advisers. Listen to them.

================

Peterborough Blighted by Street Drinkers

08:21 Tuesday 19th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Residents in Fletton say proposed non-drinking zones don’t work, and the Designated Public Place Order shouldn’t be extended. Fletton was one of the first places in Peterborough to get one of these DPPOs, but people living there say it hasn’t really helped. The Safer Peterborough Partnership are now proposing to extend the bans across the areas of New England and the North Ward. Charles Swift is the councillor where these changes will be brought in, and our reporter Sam Appleby has been to meet him. (TAPE)
CHARLES SWIFT: Every morning you’ll find about forty or fifty on here. Anytime, empty beer cans, and things like that, vodka bottles and Jack Daniels whisky bottles. I stopped counting at 450 the other morning, when I was cycling round on my bicycle. Continue reading “Peterborough Blighted by Street Drinkers”

Labour Back in Force in Peterborough

07:08 Friday 6th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Now, last night, passion, turnout, jubilation. (AUDIO: CHANTING AND CLAPPING) Who says local elections don’t count? Who says nobody cares? Jubilant scenes last night in Peterborough. 19 seats up for grabs. Leader Marco Cereste increased his majority in Stanground Central, but he watched in agony as his Tory Party lost 4 seats to Labour. Continue reading “Labour Back in Force in Peterborough”

Local Elections Tomorrow- Radio Cambridgeshire Coverage

07:50 Wednesday 4th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY GALL: Tomorrow many of you will be voting in local elections across the county. 477 candidates are competing in 154 seats across 5 District Councils and Peterborough City Council. That’s as well as the Alternative Vote referendum. With the latest news, and looking ahead to tomorrow, I’m joined by our political reporter Steve Titman, who’s with us. Good morning Steve.
STEVE TITMAN: Good morning Andy.
ANDY GALL: Now what are we expecting to happen in the local elections in Cambridgeshire? Continue reading “Local Elections Tomorrow- Radio Cambridgeshire Coverage”

Peterborough City Councillors’ Allowances and Reduced Workload

07:08 Monday 24th January 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show. BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Let’s kick off .. with a plan to save us hundreds of thousands of pounds, possibly. Councillors are costing Peterborough taxpayers too much money. It’s a claim from the city’s Independent Councillor Forum, ahead of next month’s budget setting. They say there should be fewer councillors, because the Council has outsourced many services and there’s less work to do. Their Leader, Councillor Charles Swift, says by removing the Cabinet system, and taking away Special Responsibility Allowances that some councillors receive would save £250,000 a year. Charlie Swift’s on the phone now. Morning Charlie. Continue reading “Peterborough City Councillors’ Allowances and Reduced Workload”

Peterborough Hospital Aftercare Neglect Claims

08:15 Wednesday 12th January 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A Peterborough councillor has slammed health care officials over the quality of aftercare given to some patients in this city. Charles Swift who represents the North Ward was contacted by residents who say they’ve not been given a proper care plan. One of those is 40 year old Yona Kroft who returned from her stay at hospital to find an eviction notice on her house. Our reporter Kerry Devine went to meet Charlie Swift who says it’s unacceptable. (TAPE) Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital Aftercare Neglect Claims”

Councillor Reports School Place Crisis

08:10 Monday 10th January 2011 Peterborough Breakfast Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: All but two of Peterborough’s schools have a waiting list. Questions have been asked this morning about whether the city has enough school places to cope with the influx. Earlier Jonathan Lewis from Peterborough City Council said the system was under pressure. (TAPE)
JONATHAN LEWIS:We have waiting lists across the city. Places have filled up. We’re seeing the impact of higher birth rates and migrants moving to the city. I’m still confident we have enough places for the next year’s admissions round, and we continue to invest to build more schools and more places in the city. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: The Council has already said that 2012 could be the crunch year for places. Jonathan Lewis said that more money will be spent. (TAPE)
JONATHAN LEWIS: The Budget actually identifies further capital investment. There’s a hundred and thirty five million pounds going to be spent on schools. And we will get schools, physical schools built. Maybe short-term issues with mobiles, hope there won’t be but obviously planning can take some time. But I’m confident there are schemes on the table that will give us additional capacity. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: One school with a waiting list is Fulbridge Primary School in Central Ward. Their councillor is Charlie Swift. Morning Charlie.
CHARLES SWIFT: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: It’s not so much a waiting list as a waiting toilet roll, it goes round and round this waiting list, doesn’t it?
Continue reading “Councillor Reports School Place Crisis”

Peterborough News 28th October 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 06:00 to 09:00 on Thursday 28th October 2010.

Topics:
The Site Allocation Document for Peterborough has had its final discussion and will now go to Full Cabinet in December. Eye residents say they want no further housebuilding as services are oversubscribed. Some question why massive development plans are concentrated to the South and East of the city. Cllr. Charles Swift points out that there are 1500 acres available near Castor.
Voices are joined in condemning the state of the Lincoln Road Triangle area, with the dumping of asbestos, crime, reckless driving and prostitution being the main areas of complaint. Council are taking too long to deal with the issues as they arise.
Eastern Angles are touring a play called Lincoln Road, which aims to celebrate the diversity of the area.
Continue reading “Peterborough News 28th October 2010”