From our Local County Councillor
Budgets and the Government announcement on the comprehensive spending review
set the scene for much of my activity at the County Council in December,
including 2 informal meetings of the Cabinet and a Member Briefing on the
budget headline figures. The CSR and grant settlement for Cambridgeshire mean
that the County Council is faced with making savings of £160 million over
the next five years. Because of the Government front-loading of savings to try
to tackle the national debt we are faced with making savings of £50
million on 2011/12. The scale of the required savings is bound to have
implications for employment and it is likely that around 450 posts will be lost
in the County in the coming year. Further details on proposed savings will be
known shortly.
Another "hot" topic, in light of the weather has been gritting. Cllr Mac McGuire, as portfolio holder for highways and access has written to all parishes explaining the latest position regarding salt stocks and gritting schedules. Whilst it has been a difficult start to the winter season, I believe the gritting teams have worked incredibly hard.
The Guided Busway situation continues to cause exasperation in Cabinet. Trials have taken place on the busway and it is looking increasingly likely that Bam Nuttall will fail to remedy the faults in an acceptable time-frame. If this is the case CCC will have little option but to appoint a different contractor to complete the work and charge Bam Nuttall.
County Council met in December. In addition to the above topics, there was a lengthy debate on a motion claiming that the County Council is not doing enough to combat climate change. Probably unsurprisingly, in view of the subject matter, the debate quickly became polarised and the motion was eventually voted down in favour of an amendment calling on continued action in this area.
The Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee met. The committee held a lengthy discussion regarding Rural Crime. It was agreed to set up a meeting of County and District Councillors and Cambridgeshire constabulary to discuss the best way to scrutinise rural crime. The other major subject discussed was the report of the member-led review into the Integrated Offender Management programme.
On a more social note I also had the pleasure of attending the Cambridgeshire Schools Carol Concert at Kings College.