Editor

In the meantime, Julie Spence, deputy chair, will take the lead.

Eurovision? Coronation? Cambridgeshire has you covered

Community groups in Cambridgeshire can apply for funding to celebrate major national events including May’s coronation and Eurovision. The National Lottery Community Fund offers grants between...

The bomb is said to be about 3ft long and weighs nearly 40 stone.

News2 years ago

Residents evacuated as WWII bomb found on Norfolk coast

Police released an aerial photograph of the site on the Norfolk coast where an unexploded World War Two bomb is being disarmed by specialists. The device,...

Exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral is open during cathedral visiting hours, 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon to 3pm on Sundays. Entry is by donation.

Leisure2 years ago

‘Made in 2022’ exhibition opens at Peterborough Cathedral

2022 is the subject of an art exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral. The exhibition displays over 300 works of art all around the walls of the historic...

The victim, who is in his 30s, was in Samuel Pepys bar and restaurant in the High Street between 12.30am and 2am on Sunday when the attack happened.

Crime2 years ago

Man stabbed multiple times in Huntingdon bar and restaurant

A man suffered a collapsed lung after being stabbed multiple times in a Huntingdon bar and restaurant. The victim, who is in his 30s, was in...

Conservative social clubs across Fenland each received £10,000 as part of a grant scheme set up under Covid – but it was £10,000 to a Conservative association that continues to trouble one councillor. Cllr John Clark remains critical of the NE Cambs Conservative Association (NECCA) for accepting a £10,000 Covid furlough business support hand out. And he referred to it in his resignation letter from the Conservative group on Fenland District Council and from the Conservative Party itself. “The Conservative office is hardly a business,” he said. “It only has one part time employee (Cllr Sam Hoy is part time association agent) who is a councillor who continued to receive their allowances of £24,411.64 through the Covid period.” “The Conservative group has a large cash reserve of some £90,000. “Our MP Steve Barclay was against the application and receipt of the central government furlough funding.” Fenland Council confirmed it had paid grants to the following organisations. It noted that “all of these organisations occupy properties which qualified for small business rate relief”. In 2020 the council confirmed that £10,000 went to: • Whittlesey Conservative Club • Wisbech Conservative Club Ltd • Wisbech & District Conservative club • The Chatteris & District Conservative Club £10,000 was also paid to March & District Conservative & Unionist Club Ltd as part of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure scheme. But at the same time, Fenland Council announced £10,000 had also been paid to NECCA. It was an issue first raised in September 2020 by independent councillor Will Sutton (himself a former Conservative councillor until he was de-selected but kept his seat at Elm and Christchurch as an independent. He asked, at a council meeting that month, whether leader Cllr Chris Boden could authorise publication of the different business grants and discretionary grant schemes to be publicised “due to the fact that it is £20,000,000 of public money that has been paid out”. Cllr Boden responded, according to minutes from that meeting, that “Councillor Sutton is correct, it is public money that has been allocated as part of the scheme, however, there is an implied confidentiality when it comes to disclosure as to who has received that funding”. Cllr Boden added that as it is public money and with the amount being so large, there is a public interest to ensure those monies have been spent correctly and prior to the first grant process scheme commencing the council were advised that there would be an audit process which would be followed up after the grants had been distributed and that process has commenced by Central Government. The council leader said that an internal audit process has also been initiated to check our records “and as a council we are of the opinion that Central Government will find no matters of concern as part of their external audit process”. Cllr Boden added that if there is anybody who wishes to challenge any inappropriate allocation of funds then they should report it to the Section 151 Officer who will carry out a thorough investigation. Cllr Sutton said that he had been made aware of various party-political offices across the country who has claimed monies as part of the scheme, which, is in his opinion, is very wrong and he would hope that this is not the case locally. Cllr Boden stated that under the rules of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), he cannot make any comment on any applications for funding, but he will discuss with officers and report back to members of the council when he has ascertained what his position is to be able to respond. The council leader reiterated that if any member has any knowledge of any improper allocation of grant funding, then they should report it directly to the Section 151 Officer for investigation The minutes were later to include details of The Local Government Transparency Code which places a requirement on Local Authorities to publish each individual item of expenditure that exceeds £500, this requirement includes grant payments. “It is therefore the intention of the District Council to publish this information however we are aware that there have been a number of issues with the administration of the Business Grant scheme nationally involving fraudulent applications,” said the response. “Whilst we remain committed to complying with the transparency code we also have an obligation to protect public money and therefore the data will be published once the Business Grant Scheme is complete and all outstanding applications have been processed and finalised. “All applications for grants from politically related premises have been processed and finalised. “To provide additional transparency, there is therefore no reason not to provide that part of the information now.” In February of 2021, Cllr Sutton returned to the issue. Two meetings ago, record the minutes, he asked about the small business grants to political party offices across the country and in particular the NECCA office. He said Cllr Boden was unable to give an answer at the time because of GDPR but he came back in writing, and it was appended to the minutes of the last meeting. “NECCA did receive a grant payment which was legal although Councillor Sutton questioned the morality of it but he asked, given that the government have now given out more money, can Cllr Boden confirm whether or not the local office has received further monies,” record the minutes. Cllr Boden emphasised that the small business grant fund, which was set up during the first lockdown, had business grants that were given out which were not discretionary, specific rules were set down by Government about whom we may pay and any breach of those rules then we would have been penalised. Every legal application that came in was paid. Regarding the current regime, it is similar with the LRSG winter lockdown payment. There have been 12 payment regimes put into place by central Government, and under that only businesses that are in retail, hospitality and leisure industries are going to quality so he does not know if NECCA have made any application, and if they had then it would be refused. Cllr Sutton stressed that he understood Cllr Boden was not responsible for choosing who got paid but he still questioned the rules. He pointed out that various political offices across the country have either refused to claim or given the money back and his understanding is that he believes the MP (Steve Barclay) also thought it wrong to claim. Cllr Boden concluded by pointing out that “he is at this meeting as Leader of FDC to provide answers to questions regarding FDC and Councillor Sutton needs to write to the organisation concerned regarding this question”. Former Fenland Council leader John Clark says: “The Conservative group has a large cash reserve of some £90,000. Our MP Steve Barclay (pictured at a Conservative garden party in Whittlesey last summer) was against the application and receipt of the central government furlough funding.” Former Fenland Council leader John Clark says: “The Conservative group has a large cash reserve of some £90,000. Our MP Steve Barclay (pictured at a Conservative garden party in Whittlesey last summer) was against the application and receipt of the central government furlough funding.”

Local Council2 years ago

Rumblings over £10,000 lockdown grant to run NE Cambs Tory HQ

Conservative social clubs across Fenland each received £10,000 as part of a grant scheme set up under Covid – but it was £10,000 to a Conservative...

Grace Robinson, 20, of Station Road, Wisbech St Mary, was a passenger in a Jaguar XKR that crashed near Wisbech at about 5pm.

News2 years ago

‘Beautiful, young, loved by everyone’ Grace 20, killed in Wisbech crash

“She lit up every room with her smile – beautiful, young, loved by everyone,” a family’s moving tribute to their 20-year-old daughter killed in a Wisbech...

CAPTION: From Left Cllr John Clark, Cllr Steve Tierney and current council leader Chris Boden

Breaking2 years ago

Former Fenland Council leader John Clark quits Conservative Party

A former Conservative leader of Fenland District Council has quit with a scathing attack that includes criticism of councillors caught on CCTV breaking Covid restrictions at...

Jonathon Austin, 23, of Histon Road, Cambridge, has been charged with murder and will appear at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court today.

News2 years ago

Pedestrian killed on A10 near Cambridge

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a truck driver on the A10 near Cambridge last night. At about 11.15pm last night (8 February) a DAF...

The victim was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for emergency lifesaving surgery after suffering an arterial bleed.

Crime2 years ago

Life sentence for man who nearly killed a man in Cambridgeshire village

A man who stabbed a man in the neck and kidnapped another has been handed a life sentence. Michael White used a kitchen knife to stab...

Top row: from left Jean Stewart (admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice), Lewis Hutchinson (guilty of murder) and Christopher Pycroft (guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery). Bottom: from left Diane Riley (admitted conspiracy to pervert course of justice) and Mihai Dobre (the murder victim).

Crime2 years ago

Murder verdict in Peterborough ‘accidental’ drug dealer shooting

A man who claimed he accidentally shot a drug dealer in Peterborough has been found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery. Lewis Hutchinson, 29,...

Sudereli Ökkeş lost both parents in the Turkey earthquake. He is now in Turkey and has been forced to close his kebab shop in Soham for two weeks

Breaking2 years ago

Cambridgeshire kebab shop owner loses both parents in Turkish earthquake

A Cambridgeshire kebab shop owner has closed for two weeks to be with family and friends in Turkey after his mother and father died in Monday’s...

2022 successful Wisbech Rock Festival staged by the town council. PHOTO: Wisbech Town Council

Local Council2 years ago

‘Go it alone’ Wisbech council rejects inviting others to expand town festival

A town council said ‘thanks but no thanks’ to a suggestion put to the Arts Council – who gave them £29,000 for a one-day festival –...

Paul Wells, 58, of Ackerman Gardens, Eaton Socon, banned from owning or taking responsibility for a dog and must allow officers to search his home address to check he is adhering to the order.

Crime2 years ago

Drink driver who killed Shahrose Nawaz on A47 at Thorney jailed for 8 years

A drink-driver who caused a head-on crash which killed one man and left three seriously injured has been jailed for eight years. Tomasz Zylinski, 48, had...

Drug dealer Tariq Malin was jailed at Huntingdon for conspiring to supply and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Crime2 years ago

Knuckleduster and hammer Cambridgeshire drug dealer jailed

A man who drove around Cambridgeshire dealing drugs and collecting money had a hammer and knuckle duster in the glove compartment. Tariq Malin was spotted by...

Jason Driver, 43, has been jailed for assault causing actual bodily harm

Crime2 years ago

Peterborough ‘biter bit’ as judge sends him down for 18 months

A man who threatened and assaulted his partner by biting her has been jailed for 18 months. Jason Driver, 43, met the victim online in October...

Reward offered to catch culprits seen on CCTV stealing £2,500 worth of fuel from premises in Whittlesey Road, March. PHOTO: Cambs Police

Crime2 years ago

Cash reward to catch thieves who siphoned £2,500 fuel from March firm

A March businessman is offering a reward after intruders broke into his yard and stole 1400 litres of diesel and vandalised all of the lorries. The...

Lucy Frazer posted this photo yesterday as part of a campaign for more defibrillators. “Whilst serving as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, I was pleased to work on government funding for a community defibrillator scheme,” she wrote.

Politics2 years ago

Rishi ‘loves Lucy’ as he promotes the SE Cambs MP to culture secretary

She’s on the move again – SE Cambs MP Lucy Frazer has been appointed culture secretary in Rishi Sunak’s government. Her appointed was confirmed today as...

Blameless: The St Neots Voluntary Welfare Association runs the day centre on Church Walk for the elderly and people with dementia and built what Huntingdonshire District Council told them. PHOTO: Terry Harris

Special Report2 years ago

St Neots ‘lorry container’ and ‘carbuncle’ day centre extension creates outcry

Replacement toilets and a new lobby for a day centre have created an outcry in a Cambridgeshire town, with critics describing them as a “carbuncle”, “a...

Wifi coming to town celebrations. Cllr Ryan Fuller with Conservative colleagues including then Mayor James Palmer

News2 years ago

Finding Councillor Ryan – still on his Christmas holidays?

Cambridgeshire county councillor Ryan Fuller – who removed both any home address and occupation from his register of interests last September – will miss tomorrow’s crucial...

Crown Holdings, a metal can manufacturing company based in the US, is building a new beverage can manufacturing facility at Delta Park, Peterborough, in the UK. . The facility will become Europe’s largest beverage can manufacturing facility upon completion and support the company in meeting growing customer requirements for sustainable beverage packaging options in the UK.

Business2 years ago

WATCH: Massive new Peterborough factory will create 280 jobs

The enormity and scale of a 625,000ft2 factory complex under construction in Peterborough – which when complete will create 280 jobs – can be revealed. American based...

The only photo we have of Chang is from April 2020, outside Huntingdon Police Station. Chang joined musicians across the UK to play their rendition of Over The Rainbow as a tribute to our NHS.

Crime2 years ago

100mph ‘singing’ detective sacked by Cambridgeshire chief constable

A police detective crashed who admitted a 100mph crash on the A1 whilst on his phone, failed to stop and lied about it afterwards, has been...

The application for change of use for the court house has been made by The Wisbech Masonic Benevolent Fund CIO which is based at The Wisbech Masonic Centre in The Crescent, Wisbech

Property2 years ago

Online auction date for sale of redundant Wisbech court house

A redundant court house in Wisbech bought for £150,000 nine years ago by property developer John Foster is back on the market with a guide price...

Jonathan Djanogly MP said today: “Rebecca (his wife) accepts the resulting tribunal judgements and will be reviewing contractual terms with future employees. “Neither tribunal judgement referred to mistreatment of employees, let alone modern-day slavery, and any suggestion that this occurred at any point is firmly denied”. Picture by Terry Harris

Special Report2 years ago

MP Jonathan Djanogly and the housekeeper obliged to rotate avocados

A housekeeper at the £7m London home of MP Jonathan Djanogly was given duties by his wife that included “detailed instructions about the rotation of avocados...

For the TV debate on Cambridge Congestion Charge, the BBC hand picked an audience of around 50 to quiz a panel. PHOTO: Neil Mackay

News2 years ago

BBC host major debate on Cambridge Congestion Charge

Billed as ‘the big debate’ the issue of a congestion charge for Cambridge airs on an extended 45-minute episode of BBC One Politics East on Sunday...

Budget disagreements: Cllr Steve Count said: “If the Conservatives had been in control, they would not have made the same profligate decisions this joint administration has, because we always worked on five-year strategy.”

Local Council2 years ago

Budget battle at Cambridgeshire County Council

A change in the direction of travel for Cambridgeshire County Council’s wholly owned, arms’ length trading company This Land Ltd has been criticised by one of...

Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee, said: “These major resurfacing projects involve road reconstruction to replace the top layers of the road. It makes a huge difference for users and improves the quality of the roads.

Special Report2 years ago

Cambridgeshire faces ‘Forth Bridge’ challenge to tackle road repair crisis

More money needs to be found to tackle the impact of climate change on our roads, says county council highways chief Cllr Alex Beckett. Cllr Alex...

Noelle Godfrey, retiring director of the Connecting Cambridgeshire digital connectivity programme, was voted one of the top 10 Female GovTech Leaders in UK, is a #DigitalChampion for MobileUK, and has played a leading role in government and industry digital connectivity forums.

Local Council2 years ago

Retiring director pioneered Cambridgeshire digital connectivity

Noelle Godfrey, director of the Connecting Cambridgeshire digital connectivity programme has retired after working for Cambridgeshire County Council for 33 years. Noelle has led many highly successful collaborative...

Reginald Lilley, of Cheyney Court, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, began repeatedly calling the woman for no reason and threatening to send her further messages.

Crime2 years ago

Peterborough cleaner, 70, stalks woman, in her 20s, and slashes her car tyres

A 70-year-old cleaner stalked a woman he vaguely knew from work and slashed her car tyres. Problems arose in March 2020 when Reginald Lilley, of Cheyney...

DC Stefan Karanja said: “The victim was terrified by Aaron Granger (above) and genuinely feared for his safety.”

Crime2 years ago

Peterborough robber threatened to stab victim and throw him off bridge

A robber threatened to stab a man and throw him off a railway bridge, a court heard. Aaron Granger, 36, approached the victim on the bridge...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue has moved its Huntingdon station to Percy Road

News2 years ago

Huntingdon firefighters complete move to new headquarters

Huntingdon firefighters completed the move to their new station in Percy Road, just off the A141. Adjoining the station is a new training centre with other...

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Peterborough & Cambridgeshire News | CambsNews.co.uk

John Elworthy

Stories By John Elworthy

Eurovision? Coronation? Cambridgeshire has you covered

Residents evacuated as WWII bomb found on Norfolk coast

‘Made in 2022’ exhibition opens at Peterborough Cathedral

Man stabbed multiple times in Huntingdon bar and restaurant

Rumblings over £10,000 lockdown grant to run NE Cambs Tory HQ

‘Beautiful, young, loved by everyone’ Grace 20, killed in Wisbech crash

Former Fenland Council leader John Clark quits Conservative Party

Pedestrian killed on A10 near Cambridge

Life sentence for man who nearly killed a man in Cambridgeshire village

Murder verdict in Peterborough ‘accidental’ drug dealer shooting

Cambridgeshire kebab shop owner loses both parents in Turkish earthquake

‘Go it alone’ Wisbech council rejects inviting others to expand town festival

Drink driver who killed Shahrose Nawaz on A47 at Thorney jailed for 8 years

Knuckleduster and hammer Cambridgeshire drug dealer jailed

Peterborough ‘biter bit’ as judge sends him down for 18 months

Cash reward to catch thieves who siphoned £2,500 fuel from March firm

Rishi ‘loves Lucy’ as he promotes the SE Cambs MP to culture secretary

St Neots ‘lorry container’ and ‘carbuncle’ day centre extension creates outcry

Finding Councillor Ryan – still on his Christmas holidays?

WATCH: Massive new Peterborough factory will create 280 jobs

100mph ‘singing’ detective sacked by Cambridgeshire chief constable

Online auction date for sale of redundant Wisbech court house

MP Jonathan Djanogly and the housekeeper obliged to rotate avocados

BBC host major debate on Cambridge Congestion Charge

Budget battle at Cambridgeshire County Council

Cambridgeshire faces ‘Forth Bridge’ challenge to tackle road repair crisis

Retiring director pioneered Cambridgeshire digital connectivity

Peterborough cleaner, 70, stalks woman, in her 20s, and slashes her car tyres

Peterborough robber threatened to stab victim and throw him off bridge

Huntingdon firefighters complete move to new headquarters

Whittlesey man jailed for harassment, assault and threats to drown long term partner

GALLERY: ‘Eastenders’ Ricky Groves joins Peterborough fund raisers for ‘Carry on Golfing’ charity event

Motorcyclist killed in 3 vehicle crash at Pampisford near Duxford

Jonathon Austin, 23, charged with murdering a man in Cambridge

‘Serious risk to children’ Peterborough paedophile, 71, jailed for 13 years

McDonald’s forced to pull the plug on new restaurant and drive-thru in Fenland town

Channel 4 ’24 Hours in Police Custody’ features Wisbech murderer who stabbed victim multiple times

‘We do’ says Fenland planning committee when asked to approve rural wedding venue

Peterborough to King’s Lynn speed reductions after surge in crashes and casualties

Exclusive: St Neots Citizen Hub praised by Sir Ed Davey as ‘an inspiration’ closes

£150m upgrade and 40 new jobs at Purina pet food Wisbech

Lessons not learnt says report into latest overspeeding train incident at Spital Junction, Peterborough

WATCH: Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes applauds ‘exceptional’ local deaf charity CDA

WATCH: Stagecoach add ‘significant extra capacity’ to Cambridgeshire guided busway

WATCH: Gotcha moment for Cambridgeshire police after breathless run to catch drug dealer

Read More

Whittlesey man jailed for harassment, assault and threats to drown long term partner

GALLERY: ‘Eastenders’ Ricky Groves joins Peterborough fund raisers for ‘Carry on Golfing’ charity event

Motorcyclist killed in 3 vehicle crash at Pampisford near Duxford

Jonathon Austin, 23, charged with murdering a man in Cambridge

‘Serious risk to children’ Peterborough paedophile, 71, jailed for 13 years

MPs urge Government to back Ely and Haughley rail upgrades

Site of former Huntingdon fire station could be used for 48 luxury retirement flats

Shoplifter flicked blood at Peterborough shop staff

Students enjoy ‘an inspirational day of learning’ at Moss UK St Neots

£8.4m regeneration of March town centre to complete in October

£150m upgrade and 40 new jobs at Purina pet food Wisbech

Off-peak concession could turn into all-day free travel for Cambridgeshire bus pass holders

Fenland councillors – both taxi drivers – clash over massive fares hike of up to 46 per cent

Peterborough murder charge follows death of 19-year-old Ben Procter

Cambs smoker stung with £400 fixed penalty for dropping cigarette butt

Cambridge rapist jailed for ‘horrific and sustained attack” on Peterborough woman

Two in court after £2m cannabis factory raid on Cambridgeshire industrial estate

Conmen sabotage cars before offering to buy them at lower price

CCTV image of man wanted for ‘racially aggravated assault’

Peterborough striker Ricky-Jade Jones unveils plaque at new city care home

Whittlesey – in danger of becoming the waste capital of the Fens

Villagers win time to buy pub after demolition plans withdrawn

Lessons not learnt says report into latest overspeeding train incident at Spital Junction, Peterborough

McDonald’s forced to pull the plug on new restaurant and drive-thru in Fenland town

Councillor wants full funding restored to Wisbech and Fenland museum

Cambridgeshire County Council to turn redundant farmhouses into children’s care homes

Norfolk/Suffolk lose out in deal former Cambs Mayor James Palmer called ‘puppet devolution’

Restaurateur Peter Fierro bombshell closure shock of Peterborough pizza parlour

LGBTQ+ Kite Trust in Ely to become key centre for reporting hate crimes

Magnificent Mary – 41 years of devotion and dedication to the NHS