I’m pleased to announce that I’m standing as your Lib Dem candidate for the County Council elections in Romsey this May. I’ve already posted some general information on my blog about myself and why I’m standing this year, so here I’ll post some more specific information about what I will do as your councillor, if […]

The City Council have just published their initial review of the provision of community centres in Cambridge. In the review, the Council are recommending that the community centre on Ross St is maintained, but they will be looking for an external voluntary organisation to manage the day-to-day running of the centre. As such, the review […]

On Tuesday the County Council narrowly voted to keep basic council tax the same, but add a 2% social care levy earmarked for social care only. Other needed funding will be paid for out of the reserves. As I mentioned on my blog, the County council faces a huge budgetary challenge over the next few […]

So it is your last chance to comment on this controversial proposal. It closes Tuesday 23 August. This will, amongst other things, add a new layer of local government to our region and introduce a powerful elected mayor for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. This will, initially at least, bring financial benefits to the city including a […]

A note from Catherine Smart: Usually the Councils do not try to consult people over the summer, believing it to be more efficient if it is done outside the holiday period.    This does not seem to apply to this summer as there has been a build up of issues for which consultation is needed… Mill […]

The result of the vote was Labour                         1409 Liberal Democrats       1016 Green                          273 Conservative               139 A message from Catherine Smart: So Labour’s Sophie Barnett was elected as one of your ward councillors.  I wish her well and trust she will enjoy serving the people of Romsey as much as I have. It has […]

16/0314/NMA    115 Vinery Road, CB1 3DW Non-material amendment on application 15/1761/FUL to revise distance from Site Entrance to Garage and Boundary Wall dimensions; more details here. 16/0504/S73    Land R/O 8 Montreal Road, CB1 3NP S73 application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) of permission 14/1649/FUL to permit minor material amendment to the approved dwellings to […]

A new bus service will start to operate on May 3rd from Abbey to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. From Newmarket Park and Ride, it will go along Newmarket Road, Barnwell Road, Brooks Road, Perne Road, up Cherry Hinton Road, then down Hills Road to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, The journey the other way will be along the same route […]

Councillor Catherine Smart answers a request for more information. Exactly how much to put in a leaflet is always a balance. Some people want all the details but most will be put off by close lines and small print. Recently I was asked to justify a claim made in a leaflet about fighting for better […]

Councillor Catherine Smart comments on what has been going on. The Government has offered to devolve power from Whitehall if there is an Elected Mayor for East Anglia. Cambridge City Council, the Cambridgeshire business community (as represented by the LEP) and Cambridgeshire County Council, have all said, “Thanks but no thanks”. The reasons for saying […]