A Richardson’s candle streetlight returned and reinstalled in Cambridge.
Contents
- · Growth Company Presentation
- · Orchard Park, Unadopted roads
- · Guided busway
- · New Virtual Smart Flat
- · Bikeability contract
- · Stolen streetlights
- · £1.38m water resilience scheme
- · The Library Presents
Growth
Cambridge Growth Company presented at Histon & Impington’s annual village meeting. They failed to make any type of case for growth. Here is my analysis of government’s position.
Covid, Ukraine and the Truss government added to the nation’s debt.
Brexit has had a massive impact on our economy thought to be a reduction of around 8% annually compared to our European neighbours.* This has a cumulative effect, every year we drift further from our European neighbours in terms of our economy’s performance.
The reduction in the size of the economy affects how much tax flows through HMRC and reaches the Treasury and how much money there is to spend on public services. This is a big part of the reason our roads have potholes, the NHS and education feels stretched and so forth, there isn’t enough money and everything is shortchanged.
Solutions are:
- increase taxes
- cut spending
- or ‘grow’ the national economy,
Government claims to be focussed on growing the economy. In Cambridgeshire there are almost unique opportunities for economic growth through high value companies investing in the UK. Our region is already a net contributer to the Treasury. Greater Cambridge is one of the few areas where it feels possible to focus attention and make a significant contribution to the national economy relatively quickly.
Separately there is housing growth. To make housing more affordable we need to build a lot more houses nationally. This is not something Cambridgeshire alone can achieve although we are one of the few parts of the country building housing at the rate government wants to see.
More houses is part of the ‘growth’ in greater Cambridge but it’s really a focus on economic growth, which means more jobs, more people and consequently more demand for housing.
A lot of people locally are resistant to growth and there is a lot of confusion. A top politician on R4’s Today programme miscategorised a drive for economic growth as trickle down economics, that is a different thing, the focus here is on making Cambridge even more internationally competitive. It means change, which is difficult to cope with, difficult to manage well but it also means opportunity.
I’m not arguing for growth here but trying to elucidate where government is coming from. I think it’s extremely difficult to accept what is being done to us if we don’t think about why it is being done.
There are already more jobs here, more opportunities, more access to training than in many parts of the country. Economic growth does bring benefits but it also brings challenges particularly if you put your foot on the accelerator.
We need to push government to ensure it’s good growth, hold the Growth Company to account and find ways to effectively argue when things are going in the wrong direction.
*Professor Nick Bloom, Stanford university.
https://www.nber.org/papers/w3445
Orchard Park, Unadopted roads
I am thrilled to see the signs up about the adoption of Cranesbill Road and part of Ring Fort Road to move from developer to County Council responsibility. This has been a long time coming and I have been working hard to make it happen.
I am pushing for the remaining outstanding unadopted to get adopted roads and am sending regular emails, there does seem to be progress for Aster Way, Buttercup Way, Iceni Way & Stanley Avenue but it will require ongoing work.
Guided busway & Mere Way
Work has now commenced on the Milton Road – Orchard Park section of separation fencing. I am due to meet with CRC, busway safety officer and a resident to flag up some issues around the CRC and Orchard Park junctions – please let me know of any other issues.
Histon & Impington will be having a public meeting to review the proposed new crossing at the community orchard. As a community making sure we get the best possible design must be a focus, also pushing the council to come good on their commitment to ‘review the palisade/ 2.4m spiked fencing’ and improve things like the Primrose Lane access point and maintain the noise fencing.
5.30-7.30pm Tuesday 9 June, Histon Baptist Church public busway meeting.
New Virtual Smart Flat
For those looking at care options for adults hoping to remain living independently the county council offers advice on technological solutions. Visit their website to look at their virtual smart flat or get in touch for more information and ideas.
Bikeability contract
Highways committee confirmed the next year’s Bikeability contract providing in school training for year 5 & 6s. This is a brilliant government funded scheme. We discussed it in Highways and Transport committee and are looking at ways to encourage more schools to participate.
Stolen streetlights
As a trader at All Saints Craft market in central Cambridge there was always something magical and distinctive about the Richardson’s Candles streetlights along Trinity Street. It was sad when thieves targeted them, but then they were discovered for sale that felt exciting and they have now been reinstated.
£1.38m water resilience scheme
I chaired Environment and Green Investment Committee where we debated and confirmed support for a £1.38m grant funding package for farmers and rural businesses to invest in measures which will improve water efficiency such as capturing rainwater from roofs or investing in tech solutions to target water efficiency. Sponsored by government departments MCHLG and DEFRA this is part of the focus for water efficiency in our area. Details of the scheme administered by Water Resources East will go live in the early summer.
The Library Presents
The Library Presents has lots of feel-good events to keep you entertained from 16 May until 25 July. Tickets are available to book now.
Chosen by over 500 local residents, this season has a line-up of 29 different events. There is a mix of live music, theatre, comedy and puppetry and workshops in art, craft, dance and writing. Hosted in 24 towns and villages around the county, there will be something on your doorstep to enjoy.
Come along to laugh, relax, meet new people, express yourself or support your wellbeing. Your favourite shows Graffiti Classics and, The Zoo That Comes To You are returning. Also back, the popular Rhythms of Africa Percussion Workshop and Sea Shanties Workshop.
Find more information at: www.library.live/the-library-presents
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