Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 3, 2024

Purpose:

Content: The Council (19 voting in favour, 6 voting against, 2 abstaining from voting) agreed to accept an amendment submitted by Councillor Stephen Drew.   Councillors In Favour: Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Anna Bradnam, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sunita Hansraj, Sally Ann Hart, Geoff Harvey, Dr Tumi Hawkins, Helene Leeming, Brian Milnes, Peter Sandford, Bridget Smith, Richard Stobart, John Williams, Eileen Wilson   Councillors Against: Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Graham Cone, Daniel Lentell, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams   Councillors Abstaining: Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie   The Council (19 voting in favour, 4 voting against, 3 abstaining from voting) agreed the following motion:   “This Council requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and the Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at the County Council to express concern and dismay at how little has been spent on South Cambridgeshire’s roads compared to other areas in Cambridgeshire and applauding the administration’s programme of investment to address the historic neglect of South Cambridgeshire’s roads that they inherited from the previous Conservative administration.   In particular, this letter should set out the following points: -       In the eight years preceding the joint administration’s leadership, the Conservative administration spent twice as much per kilometre on carriageway and footway resurfacing in Conservative-controlled Fenland compared to South Cambridgeshire. -       Per capita, the Conservative administration spent only half as much in South Cambridgeshire on carriageway and footway resurfacing compared to Fenland, and 0.6 times as much compared to East Cambridgeshire. -       That due to Conservative underinvestment and mismanagement of highways, the joint administration has been left with a £600m backlog of highway maintenance across the county. -       The Conservatives ceased routine gulley cleaning for four years and failed to maintain accurate maps of gully locations, leading to increased flooding and degradation of roads. -       The Joint Administration has nearly doubled the road maintenance budget for the next two years, adding over £40 million in new capital spending, marking the reversal of decades of managed decline under the Conservatives. -       A new commercial team has been established, dedicated to ensuring the best quality and value from contractors. This team has already saved approximately £1.4 million this year. -       In South Cambridgeshire, a number of significant highway improvements are being funded by the County Council, amounting to £5,019,000 of investment in South Cambridgeshire’s roads over this financial year.”   Councillors In Favour: Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Anna Bradnam, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sunita Hansraj, Sally Ann Hart, Geoff Harvey, Dr Tumi Hawkins, Helene Leeming, Brian Milnes, Peter Sandford, Bridget Smith, Richard Stobart, John Williams, Eileen Wilson   Councillors Against: Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Graham Cone, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams   Councillors Abstaining: Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie, Daniel Lentell