Tag: Nazim Khan

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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Nazim Khan – the Labour Party and Peterborough City Council

17:37 Wednesday 11th June 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[N]ICK FAIRBAIRN: The Labour Group on Peterborough City Council has decided not to oppose the election of Conservative Marco Cereste as Council Leader. The Conservatives lost their overall control of the Council in the recent local elections, opening the opportunity for a leadership contest. Labour have just 12 seats on the Council, compared to Tories 28, but one Labour councillor feels they’ve given up without a fight. John Knowles has left the party, and will now serve the Paston ward as an Independent councillor. Earlier Mr Knowles said he’s disappointed with the Labour Group under their current Leader Nazim Khan.
(TAPE)
JOHN KNOWLES: I’m Labour. I don’t know what Mr Khan is. Only Mr Khan knows that, together with a number of other people in the Labour Group. I’ve not left the Labour Party. I’ve had to resign from the Labour Party, because I’ve resigned from a non-functioning so-called Labour Group.
(LIVE)
NICK FAIRBAIRN: Well Nazim Khan joins us on the line. Now Mr Khan, some stinging words there from John Knowles. What’s your response to what he had to say?
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Peterborough Council and the Section 106 Money

08:08 Monday 5th March 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A City councillor has expressed his dismay after the City Council agreed a deal with a developer to accept a lower Section 106 contribution. Basically every time a development is built in the city, a fee is agreed between the developer and the Council for how much money needs to be given to accommodate the new facilities. And it means if you get something built in your ward, then you generally get something nice to spend on say a park, or a community centre, or something that your ward needs. This particular deal means that Central ward has missed out on around £39,000. Now earlier we heard from Councillor Nazim Khan. He represents Labour in Central ward. He explained what happened. (TAPE)
NAZIM KHAN: There was a development taking place on Lincoln Road. There was about 23 apartments that were to be built. And the money was allocated, £50,000 towards the Hobson site, that they were going to make use of for children and young people. And apparently, after the completion of the building and everything else, they have decided that they can’t afford to pay £50,000, and they can only make the contribution of £11,000. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well the Council says the terms of the development has changed. Well last year the Council revealed that a total of £6.5 million of Section 106 money has yet to be spent, and was lying in Council coffers. Nick Sandford’s here from the LibDem group. Morning Nick.
NICK SANDFORD: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: It sounds a bit odd to me, that you make an agreement with a developer. They agree to pay £50,000. Then they go at the end, I can’t afford that. What if we call it student accommodation, and we only pay £11,000? Continue reading “Peterborough Council and the Section 106 Money”

Nick Sandford and Nazim Khan on Marco Cereste

07:13 Wednesday 18th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: In yesterday’s show we were speaking to the Leader of Peterborough City Council, Marco Cereste, after he made changes to his Cabinet at the Council. One of the changes involved Councillor Cereste taking on extra portfolios regarding business engagement, taking over from Councillor Gavin Elsey. Here’s what Mr. Cereste had to say, as he explained his thinking behind the move. (TAPE) “I’ve brought all the business bits and pieces under my portfolio. So now any businessman, any business person, investor, developer, entrepreneur wants to come to the city. You know, that’s my portfolio. It’s my responsibility. And they know where to go.” (LIVE) He went on to admit that the extra workload will be a challenge, so he’s asked the Cabinet Adviser to help him. (TAPE) “It’s far too much for me to do on my own, so we’ve reorganised the support that we had for the Cabinet. And we’ve put a Cabinet adviser in to help me .. And she will have .. personal responsibility for international links, business engagement and tourism” (LIVE) It means Marco is the key decision maker on growth, strategic planning, economic development and business engagement. It’s a lot. So has he taken on more than he can chew? Or do you agree with his plan to make it easier for investors by dealing with just one person? Later in the show we’ll be talking to a man who agrees with Marco’s decisions after eight o’clock. But first let’s hear from two local councillors who have very big concerns over the move, Councillor Nick Sandford Leader of Peterborough’s Liberal Democrat Group, and Councillor Nazin Khan, Leader of Peterborough’s Labour Group. Good morning gentlemen. Nick first of all, what’s your problem? It’s a one-stop shop for businesses coming to the city. Continue reading “Nick Sandford and Nazim Khan on Marco Cereste”

Darren Fower and Nazim Khan on Peterborough Funding Cuts

Following his appearance on the show, Eric Pickles has given Peterborough City Council precise details of the funding cuts he has in mind for Peterborough for 2011 and 2012. Opposition spokesmen Darren Fower (LibDem) and Nazim Khan (Labour) say how they would do things differently.
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Peterborough News 14th December 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 06:00 to 09:00 on Tuesday 14th December 2010.

Topics:
Peterborough faces an £8 million budget cut, from £164 million to £156 million, 5% of its Govt. allocation. The local Labour spokesman says the figure is in fact higher, and wants a slower reduction. The local LibDem suggests a number of areas to save money.
Cambridgeshire County Council announce their budget cut at 3%. The local Labour man says it’s nearer 11% and is, in fact, just the first step towards the complete privatisation of all council services. BBC insist it’s all the fault of the Labour Party.
Police are hand-delivering 40 Xmas cards to persistent offenders to remind them of their seasonal obligations towards the community. It’s also a good excuse to knock on their doors.
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Peterborough News 19th November 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 06:00 to 09:00 on Friday 19th November 2010.

Topics:
Council admits no money has been spent on Peterborough Market for some years. Opinion is divided on whether the market should be revamped or moved.
Council is finally awake to the popular local zeitgeist that small retailers with an eclectic range of offerings should be offered the opportunity to take up a city centre location, possibly in a shared setting.
Peterborough FM, a not-for-profit community radio station and beneficiary of a £90,000 grant from Children in Need and other funding sources, begins transmitting again for 28 days from 20th November to the 17th of December 2010 on 87.7FM. They are affiliated to the Peterborough African Community Organisation. “Using radio as a tool, Peterborough FM contributes to regeneration and improved community cohesion and capacity in the city. Peterborough FM is sees as a community resource, to be used by individuals and organisations making up the city’s community. The project brings together people from diverse backgrounds who would not meet each other in the normal course of their lives. ”
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Peterborough News 8th November 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 06:00 to 09:00 on Monday 8th November 2010.

Topics:
Council plans to cut £500,000 from its social care budget every year for the next five years. The BBC looks at how individual clients might cope, and what the likely effects will be on the cost to the end-user.
People living in Peterborough are being invited to participate in a new kind of personal tour of the city, identifying and talking about locations that matter to them and have had a big influence on their lives. The Council initiative is called “Take me to”
Queensgate Shopping Centre prepares for Christmas with an Acting Centre Director, who is upbeat about the trading prospects, with decorations up and new shops trading.
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