Ros Hathorn, 76 Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9NU Ros.Hathorn@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Tel: 07548 745197
https://hiopcouncillors.wordpress.com/

CONTENTS: GCP Making Connections/ Sustainable Travel Zone consultation, Communities Priorities Capital fund, Pot holes, graffiti and Station Road, Vapes, Cultivate fund successful awards, Community Safety partnership, Orchard Park school, Combined Authority Electric Buses

Camtrust who were successful in their bid for a County Council Cultivate grant.

Highways, transport and waste

Greater Cambridge Partnership – Making Connections – Sustainable Travel Zone Following the public consultation, the Greater Cambridge Partnership published the report of their findings on 26 May. MC22-consultation-report (greatercambridge.org.uk)

“The key findings and the wide-ranging views – both in favour and against the proposals – are contained in a paper to the GCP’s Joint Assembly, which meets on 8 June. After this there will be a further paper to the Executive Board on 29 June, when a recommendation will be formulated, which will be put to the County Council in July. The headlines are:

• Over 70% of people were in favour of the future transport network – with more buses to more locations, cheaper fares and longer operating times supported by better walking and cycling infrastructure to give people faster, cheaper and more reliable travel alternatives to the car.
• 58% of respondents opposed the proposed Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) as the means for delivering the transport vision. Opposition increased with age from 35 to 64 with 55–64-year-olds the most likely to oppose. Those who lived outside of Cambridge were also more likely to oppose.
• 34% of people support the STZ as proposed. Support was highest among the youngest and the oldest respondents, who are more likely to find it most difficult to access education and healthcare due to the limitations of the existing bus network. Support was highest in the city centre and west of the city.
• Around half of those who oppose the STZ did support the vision for better buses.
• The views from organisations such as business, healthcare and others were broadly supportive of the plans but with caveats about the impact on staff or those who were vulnerable.
• Additional representative opinion polling was carried out which showed opposition and support for a road user charge was more balanced.

The reasons for supporting or opposing varied but covered a variety of areas:

• Those who supported the proposals were keen to get more frequent bus services, would be able to cycle more safely and generally were positive towards the idea of a charge to tackle climate change and reduce congestion.
• While those who opposed felt the exemptions didn’t go far enough, and perceived a charge to be unfair, in particular on those travelling to Addenbrooke’s and Papworth hospitals, and also believed there would be a negative impact on jobs.”

A direct question in the poll asked what measures would make the STZ more acceptable. “Aside from those who said that no measure would persuade them to support the STZ, the most commonly mentioned amendment was the rate paid by cars, followed by alteration of the STZ boundary, and then changes to discounts, exemptions and reimbursement for the charge.”

County Council Communities Priorities Capital Fund – applications from communities to open summer 2023 Funding is being made available to improve community buildings across Cambridgeshire to bolster local services. Communities can apply for a grant of up to £40,000 for projects which will improve community cohesion, especially caring for the elderly in the community.

Applications can relate to capital funding projects which includes buildings, indoor and outdoor equipment and installation services. Those applying will have to show how their projects will support the council to achieve its vision of becoming a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire through the delivery of at least three of its ambitions. These are:

• Net zero carbon emissions for Cambridgeshire by 2045
• Travel across the county is safer and more environmentally sustainable
• Health inequalities are reduced
• People enjoy healthy, safe, and independent lives through timely support that is most suited to their needs
• People are helped out of poverty and income inequality
• Places and communities prosper because they have a resilient and inclusive economy, access to good quality public services and social justice is prioritised
• Children and young people have opportunities to thrive.

Applications which will support the council to achieve the aims and ambitions of its Care Together programme – to keep people remaining independently at home for as long as possible – are particularly welcome.

The fund will open later this year with successful bids expected to be chosen early in 2024.

Pot holes and Station Road As many residents of Histon and Impington are aware there was significant graffiti on Station Road here is a timeline of events.

Early May, myself and a group of Parish Councillors walked the village with the local highways officer, who marked up the large pot holes on Station Road for urgent repair amongst other work.

The next day the local highways officer was signed off sick until the first full week in June.

Seemingly nothing happened.

During May local highways officers from the 4 surrounding areas were working at weekends to cover the absence of our local highways officer, I did not have contact details and the only method of communication was the online ‘report a fault’ portal as they were very much doing us a favour.   Simultaneously the highways department was in a state of flux as a much needed restructuring was taking place.

First weekend of June (before local highways officer had returned) significant graffiti of an obscene nature was applied to the pot holes in Station Road Histon between the High Street and Saffron Road.

First Monday back for the local Highways Officer straight after graffiti incident. I contacted him urgently but could not get through to speak to him so messaged and spoke to his manager (new in role). The local highways officer attended Station Road that day.

I spoke to the local highways officer on the Tuesday, apparently the most serious pot holes on Station Road were thought to have been filled during May, however, the maintenance crew fixed the pot holes outside the wrong dentist.  Due to staff absences this error was not picked up.  On Tuesday the local highways officer went out of his way to pick up black spray paint from a council depot elsewhere in the county to cover the graffiti on Station Road and marked up only those pot holes of sufficient depth to qualify for fixing adhering strictly to the rule book.  

The local highways officer has stated that he will not mark up for fixing any pot holes which do not fit the official criteria in that stretch of Station Road for the foreseeable future as he views it as rewarding the graffiti.  He has also threatened to remove Station Road from the list (where it is currently at number 4) for serious remedial works.  There are other more urgent roads in his area of 27 parishes and if the system for allocating this work does not change (which is a possibility) he will know if he has sufficient funding for that stretch by the start of 2024.  If there is more graffiti he is expected to deal with the works will not happen. 

The local Highways Officer is adamant that he will not reward defacing the highways and we are in effect being punished as a community for the graffiti as he will not take a more generous approach to the assessment of Station Road.  

I will raise this with Histon and Impington Parish Council, I suggest they purchase a can of black spray paint so that any future graffiti can potentially be dealt with locally if safe and we work together to respond to these challenges.

Vapes Following a number of fires, an information campaign is being planned about the safe disposal of vapes and the hazards of fires in collection vehicles and waste plants arising from the batteries sealed inside these items. There is currently a six week campaign of bus advertising, radio and social media across the whole of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough promoting the need to recycle all metals.

Disposable vapes go with the WEEE electrical stuff at Household Recycling Centres. All vape and e-cigarette retailers also have a legal obligation to offer customers a free recycling point for these items. 

Thriving communities

Successful applications to the County Council’s Cultivate Fund I am pleased to report that both both Camtrust in Impington and Orchard Park who applied for funding for a youth worker were successful in their recent applications to the County Council Cultivate fund.

Community Safety partnership I attended the excellent Community Safety Partnership meeting in Orchard Park. There is a lot of work to do but it is now on the radar at the county council.  With proposed work in the pipeline. I will report back on next month.

Orchard Park School, North Cambridge Academy and Darwin Green. I continue to work with Orchard Park school and the county council and will be meeting with Meridian the academy trust North Cambridge Academy sits in.  Orchard Park school like all other schools in the area has seen a falling role due to a reduced birth rate, when budgets are extremely tight this is particularly challenging for a one form entry school.  All CB4 schools were concerned about the imminent opening of Darwin Green primary school, the County Council has confirmed that this will not happen until there are sufficient pupils ie the process will be slowed down.  

This year a number of year 6 Orchard Park students were offered school places in St Neots in the first round of secondary school place allocations, as parents did not put down a third choice school on the application form.  The County Council believes all students have now been offered a secondary school place within the city area with transport where necessary. Please encourage parents to get in touch if this is not the case with students potentially moving out of the state system it can be difficult to confirm these things.  This issue was exacerbated as parents did not wish to put North Cambridge Academy as a third choice.  

North Cambridge Academy has recently gone through a challenging period. A meeting with myself, the Orchard Park head and the County Council’s Director of Education gave him the confidence to address this with the academy trust who in turn have made significant changes to the School’s leadership team.   Myself, the Orchard Park head and the academy trust are now in dialogue. 

Please get in touch if you wish to talk about anything raised here it is only by understanding the issues that change can happen.   

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Electric Buses

On 12 May Cambridgeshire received 30 brand new electric buses, which will replace some of our older buses and will be used on our P&R sites from 15 May. Putting in a bid for this small fleet of electric buses- and winning it – was one of the first things Mayor Nik Johnson did and has taken time for Volvo to build them for us. You may have noticed these zero emission buses out and about in Cambridge. With many thanks to Councillor Anna Bradnam of Milton whose excellent words I have directly copied for the GCP, Priorities Fund and CPCA parts of this report as she was so eloquent. 

INFORMATION

Report a Highways fault If you see a problem; blocked gully/ drain, pot hole or other Highways issue please report it using the tool below. https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/roadworks-and-faults

Adult care assessment Call centre: 0345 045 5202  8am – 6pm Mon to Fri,  9am – 1pm Sat https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/adults/organising-care-and-support/care-needs-assessment Do get in touch with me directly if you have any problems, questions or concerns.

I’ve got a problem who do I contact? Organisational structure in Cambridgeshire is complicated, just ask the question.  Email me, a District Councillor or the Parish Clerk we’ll all point you to the right person (or try to).

Climate Emergency the county council wants to hear your thoughts.  What are your ideas?  What have you done?  What projects could do with some help?  The County Council really wants to hear your ideas email climate@cambridgeshire.gov.uk .

Government Structure in Cambridgeshire  detailing responsibilities

County Council; education, transport, highways, heritage, social care, libraries, trading standards, ­waste management, maintaining their estate.

District Council; council tax payments, household bin collections, housing and housing benefits, council leisure facilities, environmental health, residential planning, local emergency, community policing contact point.

Parish/ Community Council; looking after community buildings, open spaces, allotments, play areas, bus shelters, community projects.

Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) ‘The local delivery body for a City Deal with central Government worth up to £500 million over 15 years to deliver infrastructure (decarbonising transport), 44,000 new jobs, 33,500 new homes and 420 additional apprenticeships.’ Partnership between Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, University of Cambridge

The Combined Authority, Cambridge and Peterborough, our elected Mayor (CPCA)  A board consisting of representatives from the District, City and County Councils and Peterborough Unitary Authority, headed by the Mayor.   Responsible for – Business support, skills, housing, transport strategy-liaising with Department of Transport, environment, international, digital connectivity, resilience, research and strategy and new homes.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridge and Peterborough To support and challenge the Chief Constable to provide effective and efficient policing services for the area.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority the governing body responsible for the fire and rescue service, made up of County Councillors and Peterborough City Councillors.