Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

As your Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my job to set the budget for policing. I need to make sure the Chief Constable has the resources he needs to effectively police Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over the coming year.  

I have therefore launched an online survey asking people for to tell me their views when it comes to police funding. The survey was launched yesterday (7 January).

Police funding is based on a woefully inadequate funding formula which results in our county remaining one of the lowest funded forces in the country. Since the funding formula was set, our population has grown by 11% and is forecast to grow much faster than the national average. 

Roughly half of the funding for Cambridgeshire Constabulary comes from government with the remainder from the policing part of council tax (known as the precept). What this means is that taxpayers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must contribute almost half of our total police budget.

I recently wrote to the Home Secretary (as I have done with previous Home Secretaries since first being elected in 2021) to express my concerns about this issue and will continue to lobby for fairer funding.

For the financial year, 2025-2026, Police and Crime Commissioners are expected to increase the precept element of council tax by £14 (based on a Band D property).

While I welcome the recent government settlement increase of 5.5%, it is important to note that some of this increase has to pay for already-committed cost increases such as employer national insurance contributions. The force has already worked hard to identify £5.5m of further cost savings for 2025-26 – without the proposed £14 increase in the policing part of council tax, further cost savings will need to be made.

Every community deserves a properly funded and well-equipped police force. In Cambridgeshire, we have made huge strides to adapt and expand our capabilities to improve the way we prevent, solve and investigate crime and this effort needs to be sustained. I am therefore reluctantly proposing an increase of 4.89% for taxpayers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough which equates to an increase of 27p per week for Band D properties and 18p per week for Band A properties.

Please do take a moment to tell me your views. 

The survey is available online and will be open until midnight on Monday 20th January 2025.

If you need help to share your views or would prefer to give your views by telephone, please call 0300 333 3456 or email cambs-pcc@cambs.police.uk.

Many thanks

Flood Warning no longer in force: North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice.

The situation is improving and no further flooding is expected in this area.

Flood Warnings and Alerts may still be in force for surrounding areas.

The River Nene has being falling steadily today, Wednesday 8 January. North Bank Road will be reopened once the Highways Authority have been able to inspect the road surface and carry out any necessary works to ensure the road is passable. There may be standing water in low lying areas and fields for several days.

Today I have been informed that The Secretary of State has decided NOT to intervene,
Therefor Fenland District Council can issue the approval notice.

Declaration  : I am currently a member of the Fenland District Council Planning Committee.
The below item will be determined.

I am not predetermined and will look at the application without any prejudice.
I am being lobbied – please be aware, only planning matters are valid.

F/YR24/0903/0
Land adjacent New Saxon Works, Peterborough Road, Whittlesey
Erect up to 65,000 sq m floor space consisting of E (b)(d)(f) (amenity buildings) and
E (G)(i)(ii)(iii) (office, laboratory and manufacturing) including renewable energy
infrastructure, parking, country park and other associated infrastructure
(outline application with matters committed in respect of access).

There is an article in depth – on CambsNews JE

GhosterCambsNews&FDCPlanning.

The WTC Offices will only be attended for limited periods this week.
For contact information or find your Councillor you can click on my link or
go to Click Here..

I am informed that at last nights Whittlesey Town Council Planning Committee, ‘only’ 2 Councillors attended – this makes the meeting invalid because the committee is NOT quorate. A member of the public came out on a cold winters night to attend the meeting
.
When Cllr Alex Miscandlon gave an introduction to his chairmainship of Whittlesey Town Council he placed great emphasis on being ‘Respectful’.

This not attending and NOT giving any apologies is most disrespectful as it has happened on more than one occasion – by the same Councillors.
We all miss meetings due to various circumstances, but should always inform the Clerk/Chairman of our absence – …..

The ‘missing Councillors’ not attending and not giving any apologies…. were.
Cllrs Haq Nawaz, Saeed Aarman, Diana Dickinson, & Gurninder Singh-Gill.
Cllr Peter Bibb sent his apologies.

North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, East of Peterborough and West of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice

A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency.

Flood Warning in force: North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice.

Flooding is expected for: North Bank Road alongside the River Nene to the east of Peterborough and the West of the Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice.

Immediate action required.

Heavy rain has fallen in the Peterborough area which has caused levels to rise on the River Nene. During periods of high tide the River Nene will be unable to discharge into the sea, resulting in tide lock conditions. This is likely to lead to localised flooding of the North Bank Road, between Peterborough and Rings End.

Whilst this Flood Warning is in force, the Local Authority will close North Bank Road. Diversionary routes will be put in place and further updates will be available through local media. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.
We are closely monitoring the situation and this message will be updated by 07/01/2024, or before, if the situation changes.