Tag: Nick Sandford

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?
Continue reading “Peterborough Labour Let Tories Off the Hook”

Councillors in Cahoots

09:35 Thursday 17th April 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: The Liberal Democrats in Peterborough caused a stir last night after walking out of the City Council meeting. They were protesting against a decision to give five senior officers in the Council pay rises ranging from £10,000 to £30,000 a year. Councillor Darren Fower told the Bigger Breakfast Show why he led the walkout.
(TAPE)
DARREN FOWER: I made the point that the whole thing had reached a new level in PottyBorough. I think the phrase I used was obfuscation personified, as far as I’m concerned. Luckily my colleagues supported me. And the only thing we could do at the end of the day was to protest by walking out, and showing our dissatisfaction with what we considered to be a truly truly out of touch, insane idea.
(LIVE)
ANDIE HARPER: Darren Fower talking earlier. But is walking out of a meeting the best way of making a political statement? The Liberal Democrat group leader for Peterborough is Nick Sandford, and I’m delighted to say he joins me now. Nick, good morning to you.
NICK SANDFORD: Morning Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: Was much thought given to how you would register your protest? Or was this something which just happened off the cuff, almost?
Continue reading “Councillors in Cahoots”

The Newborough And Thorney Solar Debate

19:00 on Friday 13th December 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: So tonight (Thursday 12th December 2013) we bring everybody together that’s got something relevant to say about one of the biggest issues that I’ve ever known in Peterborough, in the 25 years I’ve lived in and around the city, the grand Newborough and Thorney solar debate. We also bring together two people who have played out a bit of a debate in public as well. The MP for Peterborough, Stewart Jackson, and the Leader of the Council, Marco Cereste. The key facts: the debate is about 900 acres of farmland North of Peterborough (East), described as good quality land, most of it around Newborough Thorney and Eye, fields that are used to farm crops to feed what is an ever-growing, as well known, population. But cover it in solar panels is the plan, and some wind turbine,. and you have, according to the Leader of the City Council, an income that will protect front line services. It will mean the people of Peterborough will have more, pay less, at a time when the Government has put the squeeze on local councils. Well tonight we’ll look at the wider issues, around the financial challenges of the Council, around the potential black hole in five years time in their finances, and how do we balance farm land, green energy, sustainability and the future of our children. We begin though with the two men who have been it’s fair to say I think right at the heart of the debate. We’ll start with Leader of the Council Marco Cereste. Marco, good evening. And just explain your position if you would.
Continue reading “The Newborough And Thorney Solar Debate”

Safer Streets In Peterborough – Petition On Council Agenda

07:19 Monday 15th April 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: There have been renewed calls for Peterborough City Council to support the 20 is Plenty campaign. Residents in Park Ward have compiled a petition calling for lower speed limits in their neighbourhood, whilst opposition councillors will also be raising the issue at this week’s Council meeting. Our reporter Johnnie D. is in Park Ward this morning. Morning Johnnie.
JOHN DEVINE: Good morning Paul. We have to explain that 20s Plenty is a national campaign to make 20mph the default speed limit wherever people live, in residential areas of course, instead of 30mph like it is now. Cambridgeshire County Council have signed up for it. Peterborough City Council have not yet, and I’m actually now standing talking to you Paul from Princes Gate in Peterborough, which runs alongside the entrance to Central Park, a public green space. Lots of joggers and dog walkers around even now. The road is not very long, but it’s in the middle of Princes Street , which is one side, and Princes Gardens which is the other. And they cross importantly Broadway, a very busy road, and Park Road. So it’s like two very very busy crossroads, either side of this short road I’m on now. And there’s residential housing each side of those roads, cars parked either side of the street, an area where you wouldn’t like to see speeding traffic really Paul. I’ve got with me this morning Richard Ferris from the 20s Plenty campaign for Peterborough, and Labour councillor John Shearman. So Richard first, why does this area need a 20mph speed limit?
RICHARD FERRIS: Because we’ve got very narrow streets here, as you say, and it’s become very dangerous now for pedestrians and cyclists. You see a lot of cycling on pavements, because cyclists no longer feel safe on the roads. The traffic speeds round here are above 30mph, at least 50% of them. And it would just make for a safer environment for everybody.
JOHN DEVINE: We’ve seen two or three examples already standing here this early of illegal driving, haven’t we, just up the road here? Continue reading “Safer Streets In Peterborough – Petition On Council Agenda”

Viridor Peterborough Waste Incinerator Plans Raise Infant Mortality Fears

07:07 Thursday 30th August 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY GALL: Peterborough will be getting a multi-million pound incinerator to deal with waste in the city. That’s despite concerns from opposition councillors and local environmental groups. A special meeting was held last night with a coalition of councillors (who) weren’t happy when the City Council announced the waste management company Viridor as to be the preferred bidder. Now David Harrington is the leader of Peterborough Independent Forum and we can speak to him now. Now you’re one of the councillors to call in the decision. Why did you do that? Continue reading “Viridor Peterborough Waste Incinerator Plans Raise Infant Mortality Fears”

What’s Going On Here Then?

07:15 Tuesday 18th June 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

 

 

NICK SANDFORD LIBDEM: PREL are building a high technology waste treatment plant. What the Council are proposing is a conventional old-fashioned incinerator where you don’t sort the waste out you just throw it in.

RICHARD OLIVE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: The PREL one will be absolutely state-of-the-art, a much better process. It is almost 100% recycling, the PREL one.

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Councillors Bicker Over Committee Places

07:08 Tuesday 19th June 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A meeting has been held to discuss how the health services which will be inherited by Peterborough City Council next year will be dealt with in the future. The Council will run some of the services currently being operated by NHS Peterborough, when the Trust is abolished next year. Well Nick Sandford is Leader of the LibDems. He was at yesterday’s meeting. We need to start by simplifying this and clarifying it. What services will the City Council be running when it comes over to them next year?
NICK SANDFORD: Good morning Paul. What’s happening is there’s going to be a split really. The Primary Care Trust is being abolished from April 2013. The commissioning services that the Primary Care Trust used to fulfil will go to these new GP consortia, whereas the actual public health responsibilities, that’s the development of a public health strategy, control of drugs, that sort of thing, that will go over to Peterborough City Council. And that aspect of it is something I very much support.
PAUL STAINTON: What are you unhappy about then? Continue reading “Councillors Bicker Over Committee Places”