Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

I was asked ‘why’ most of our local taxes are going up by either cost of living inflation or the maximum allowed by the government – in particular the Police precept (tax).

I would say most weeks another survey or consultaion hits my inbox – some (not all)
I publish and attempt to get you the electorate to have an opportunity to have
|YOUR SAY|.
Most of these surveys/consultaions can be ‘boring and somewhat lengthy, and people just can not be bothered.

We are rapidly approaching local elections in May and I have been sent the latest Conservative Newsletter asking  to ‘tick’ pre-determined boxes – clever questions which require limited answers.

However I will give credit where due – Both Whittlesey Town and Fenland District Councils have NOT put up local precept/tax for many years –
However it is not only the Conservatives (some of whom want tax increases) who have kept these increases at zero, myself and others have also lobbied and  fought to keep at zero increase.
The same can not be said of Cambridgeshire County Council which at best is somewhat dysfunctional (as I|’ve said on a number of occasions).

I see that Cllr Steve Count now states that if the conservatives were in control at Cambs CC there would be a ‘Zero’ increase – Sorry again for having a go at Cllr Count – It never happened before when he was leader of the majority conservative Group.

Back to the Police Precept : – I wrote an e-mail to :- Cllr Edward Leigh
Chair and independent co-opted member Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel asking him for further information as to how much, if any weight is given to the consultaion which took place re- Police funding increases.

He wrote back to me the same day (Friday) :- The Panel meeting did examine the consultation report, expressing concern about the relatively small number of responses, and poor representation of women and younger people.

Nevertheless, the consultation responses provided some degree of evidence that the majority of the public do want funding to be increased for policing (though still below inflation).

About 1% of the voting population of Cambridgeshire bothered to express their views on the implending increase. Some 66% were in favour and supported an increase and 33% were not supportive, a very small sector of respondese.

So – when people complain (myself included) of our never ending Tax increases, ‘we’ are partly to blame….and I go back to the argument that sometimes we are overloaded with these surveys and consultaions that the mere thought puts people off.

Elections at best 35% turnout for local elections – 65% not bothered or apathetical at best.

I am grateful to Edward Leigh for sending me the following links where if you have a spare 10 minutes can read all the reasoning and answers to the consultaion and its outcome.

The consultation report is available here:
https://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=543&MId=4691&Ver=4

The specific report is here:
https://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/documents/s48961/23%2002%2001%20-%20Appendix%202%20-%20Precept%20Survey%20Report%202023-24%201.pdf

There is an article on© The Peterborough Telegraph Click Here about the increase Police precept.

Many groups have contact with The Whittlesey Charity – sometimes applying for grants.

Just for information Graham Abblitt has stepped down following a very short period of time as the Clerk to Whittlesey Charity.

The new Clerk to Whittlesey Charity is Mary Johnson and for any future contact please use the following:

email:  clerk@thewhittleseycharity.co.uk

The recommendations for Whittlesey can be viewed at the end of this article.
Further information can be seen of the FDC Website – RHS/Downloads

Click Here

View direct and zoom better by Clicking Here

My apologies for the later posting, the monthly Whittlesey Town Council –
Councillor Surgery will be taking place at ‘Peel House’ Saturday 04th February.
09:30 – 10:30
Cllrs in attendance will be CCC/FDC & WTC Cllr Cris Boden and WTC Cllr Haq Nawaz

I am aware that there are residents who have pre-booked.

ALL documents are available on WTC Website from Home Page, Top Heading Neighbourhood Plan, Drop Box Referendum to view.

Residents are able to view hard copies in Whittlesey Library

WTC Website – www.whittleseytowncouncil.gov.uk

Fenland District Council – www.fenland.gov.uk/WhitteseyNeighbourhoodPlan

Register to vote – www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

You can view more documents and details by Clicking Here

Catalytic converter theft in Cambridgeshire is at an all-time high.

The number of catalytic converters stolen from cars across the county has risen by 141 per cent in the past four years.

Last year (2022) thieves stole 758 catalytic converters, an average of two a day, compared to 314 in 2019.

With 133 further thefts recorded so far this year (up until 31st Jan) – more than four a day – we are urging residents to call in any suspicious behaviour around vehicles so it can be acted upon as soon as possible.

We believe there are several groups of people coming from out of the county to carry out these thefts.

It takes just minutes for these people to remove a catalytic converter and on many occasions victims are unaware their vehicle has been targeted even though it was sat on their driveway.

We’ve recently seen an increase in people reporting the thefts as they are happening which on some occasions has resulted in arrests and seizures of stolen catalytic converters.

We’re urging you to:

• Look out for vehicles jacked up (especially in the middle of the vehicle)
• Listen out for the sound of metal being cut. There may be a vehicle nearby with the engine running and two or three people involved
• But please don’t approach this people, they have been known to be violent in the past and may even be carrying weapons
• Instead, call us on 999 and share the vehicle number plate and any other details that could help us

Catalytic converters are found in the exhaust system of every car and reduce the output of toxic gases and pollutants. Stealing them has become popular because they are not easily identifiable when sold on for the metals found inside them.

Toyotas and Hondas have been predominantly targeted but other vehicles including Lexus, Mercedes, Mazda and Volkswagen have also been singled out.

You can read more about catalytic converter theft on our website.

Kind Regards
Detective Inspector Dan Cooper

Disclaimer:- As a Whittlesey Town Councillor, I am part of the Planning Committee at WTC, I have and maybe lobbied on planning matters, but be aware, I must not be pre-determined on any planning matters. I have published this document as I believe it is in the public interest.

More bad news for the Fenland Conservative Group, some may call an implosion, some may call toxic and others call dysfunctional.

Whilst ‘trying’ to put on a ‘united front’ the news just gets worse, today Elworthy prints the latest –  The president of the Conservative association in Health Secretary Steve Barclay’s Cambridgeshire constituency has quit.

Former Fenland District Council leader Alan Melton has resigned as both president and treasurer of the NE Cambridgeshire Conservative Association (NECCA).

Alan Melton not being very complimentary to the current leadership.

See the story Click Here

(RG) I met on several occasions Alan Melton and got on OK with him, his ‘style’ was somewhat Brusque – but then again so can many others.
The in fighting then is not much difference to now – it just that different areas of Fenland just can not gell very well.

The damage limitation could be that AM is a yesterday man…?

Having lost and been outgunned by opposition politicians at The Cambridge and Peterbough Combined Authority on the £12 (Tax) to be imposed this year to subsidise ‘some’ routes in/around Cambridgeshire, to be paid by ALL Households. Read more  Click Here