County News - my report to Little Abington parish council AGM

Report to Parish Council AGM - Little Abington

A year of significant change and challenge for the County Council, which is moving to a committee system in May 2014. The County has, along with the City Council and South Cambs, secured the funding from the government known as the City Deal which will allow major infrastructure investment - in tranches of £100millions.

County finances. The county council set a budget for 14/15, increasing rates by 1.99 per which will see the average band D household’s rates pay an extra £21.89 annually. To protect transport services, an additional sum has been allocated to that area, but given that the council’s Government grant is expected to drop by £30 million – 21 per cent – over the next two years, the county is facing very tough decisions.

Bus shelter. Little Abington was successful in getting funding for bus shelter and real-time bus sign for Cambridge Road as a result of an application to the county's Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF). I was happy to move the process on earlier this year after it seemed to stall at the county end.

Cycleway running down A505 to Whittlesford is close to completion. There will be a second stage of improvement aimed at making access safer by changing traffic flows. I have confirmed with the highways team that this cycleway and the one to Babraham are open to horse-riders and to people on mobility scooters, so not just for cyclists.

Local traffic initiative scheme. The Little Abington bid for reducing traffic speeds on A1307 is on the County "reserve" list for this year. Regarding the long standing aspiration for a 20 mph zone in the village centre, this will require early liaison with the police (who will need to see a traffic survey done) and the county highways authority, as well as being able to demonstrate public consultation and backing for the scheme. Costs associated with creating the scheme would require a bid to the County's Local Transport Initiative Scheme in late 2014. From my experience of being on the assessment panel for bids made to the 2013 Traffic Initiative, and from working with another parish council on a 20mph zone, I am very willing to work with Little and Great Abington parish councils to take this forward and make it happen. 

A1307 issue.  The County Council's transport strategy highlights the importance of access along the A1307, and wants better bus services along it with possible transport interchanges at Granta Park. More recently proposals from people at Haverhill and Linton to improve the A1307 have led to suggestions that funding it could be by house building on a large scale at the Abingtons. I attended the joint meeting with Suffolk CC where this was mooted.  This option needs to be carefully monitored. 

Water. A number of drains could not cope under the pressure of the incessant rain in January, but we got the County Highways team to jet them out - the one on Cambridge Road in particular. 

Streetlighting changes in 2014. Little Abington will not lose any of its existing streetlights that belong to the County Council. I have met with officers to assess the proposed impact on local villages. 

Roman Road. After concerns were expressed to the parish council about County Council cutting back of scrub there has now been a meeting between the County,  the Friends of RR and others, to agree the scrub management for the coming year. I attended the AGM of the Friends of Roman Road to get a better understanding of the issues. 

Broadband. The junction boxes are being upgraded in local villages ready for superfast BB to be made available later in 2014 or early 2015 in this part of Cambridgeshire. All suppliers, not just BT, will offer the service, though BT provides the infrastructure. I am the local broadband champion and will take issues to the team at the county as they are raised with me. 

Police panel. I regularly attend the police panel which has met at Sawston. In future, the size of area covered by the police panel will be three times as big, which means there will probably be less time available to discuss specific local parish issues.