Queen Edith’s councillors uphold the tradition of advice surgeries, a regular slot in the area where we can talk to people face-to-face about local issues or requests for help with resolving a problem. We have held these at various spots around the ward but at present we are in Wulfstan Way every second Saturday morning, either at St James’s if they have a cakes and coffee morning on, or at the Coffee House. (Yes, we like cake!)

I started life as a county councillor on Cambridgeshire County Council at about the same time as the Council introduced its community website, www.shapeyourplace, to Cambridge following its successful launch in the north of Cambridgeshire. It sets out to host The Conversation and to offer people the opportunity to ‘shape’ their neighbourhood.

So: new councillor, new website. Ashley Whittaker, our local community engagement officer, was working hard to introduce people to ShapeYourPlace, and was meeting up with local people. We met for a drink one lunchtime to talk about the Friends of Rock Road Library, of which I am am member. When I explained I was also a councillor, Ashley challenged me to host one of my advice surgeries on the site.

I did so today. At first I was a bit worried no one would ‘turn up’ but I need not have worried. Questions came in thick and fast and I was glad that I am a fast typist! I spent a busy hour answering questions, covering young people and democracy, Lib Dem policies, transport (especially cycling), community events and development, parking (including the contentious Pa, and ShapeYourPlace itself. Very varied!

Thanks very much to all those who took part. And here is a link to the ‘surgery’ for anyone who’d like to see what we were talking about. Please join in — it’s easy to do so on the ShapeYourPlace website.

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