Agenda

Please find attachedroad closures information for week commencing 6 December in relation to the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.

For all queries relating to the scheme, please email: A14CambridgeHuntingdon@highwaysengland.co.uk

Further updateson scheme progress can be found on their website.

Community Chest Grants - increase of maximum award

The upper limit for all Community Chest Grant (CCG) awards has been increased from £1,000 to £2,000 per application. Increasing the upper CCG grant limit will allow community groups and, where eligible, parish councils to request a larger contribution to their projects. The Lead Cabinet Member for Finance agreed the change on Friday 26 November following a review by the Grants Advisory Committee. The change reflects the rising cost of materials which has meant most CCG applications have been for the maximum award.

Inclusion of Biodiversity Grants

Wildlife Enhancement Grants, formerly delivered through the Planning Service, will now be included within the Community Chest Grant (CCG) application process. These grants support biodiversity projects through a ringfenced fund. Parish Councils will be eligible to apply for this funding, provided that they are not already in receipt of a grant from the Council’s Zero Carbon Communities (ZCC) fund for the same financial year. Applications will be processed as part of the established CCG process and recommendations will be considered at Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) on a monthly basis. It is possible that some projects will include elements of the core CCG scheme and ringfenced biodiversity fund. By bringing the formerly separate schemes together GAC will be able to make recommendations to the Lead Cabinet Member for an appropriate award at the same time. This will enable us to support a diverse range of projects via the CCG scheme. £10,000 is ringfenced for these types of projects.

Funding for Community-Led Plans

The Council is also putting £50,000 into a rolling fund for two years for grants for villages who want to develop a community-led plan, with the money to be earmarked for the initial development costs - such as printing, the delivery of surveys and costs involved in holding public meetings - rather than delivering the project.  Applications for this funding will also be included within the Community Chest Grant (CCG) application process

What follows is a message from National Highways:

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, our work to the M11 Alsa Wood Footbridge will be carried out later than originally planned. Our work will involve waterproofing and resurfacing to the Alsa Wood Footbridge, located over the M11 to the west of Elsenham. Once finished, pedestrians and ramblers will benefit from a safer and smoother walking surface across the bridge.

“We now plan to complete this work over 2 weeks from Monday 6 December to Friday 17 December, working on weekdays only between 8am and 6pm, weather conditions permitting. 

Closures and diversions

“For this work to be carried out safely, there will be a full closure on the M11 between junctions 8 and 10 northbound on Monday 6 December overnight from 11pm to 5amto install narrow lanes directly under the footbridge on the northbound carriageway.

“Northbound traffic will be diverted off the M11 at junction 8 onto the A120, A10 and the A505 before re-joining M11 at junction 10.

“The footpath leading to the bridge on either side will be closed 24/7for the duration of this work. Pedestrians will be diverted to cross the M11 via the B1051 over bridge.

“Diversion maps for both drivers and pedestrians is attached.

How to find out more

“To find out more about road improvements we’re carrying out across the East of England, please visit our website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/east/. 

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at  info@highwaysengland.co.uk.”

On 14 December the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) will be hosting a community forum to update residents and stakeholders on projects in the North of Cambridge.

The forum will start at 6pm on Tuesday 14 December and run until 8 pm.

Projects that will be discussed include Waterbeach to Cambridge, Histon Road, Milton Road and The Greenways. We will also have an update from the project managers leading the current ‘Making Connections’ consultation.

To attend this event, please register here - https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eDQ1GoKmSZKFBo7pAdIw1w

Thursday 2 December, Independent: Biodegradable plastic claims may be untrue

According to an open letter from Greenpeace and various trade associations “oxo degradable” plastic, which is sometimes used as shopping bags and plastic bottles, can be easily disposed of and compostable may be untrue.

Friday 3 December, BBC News: Inadequate fraud checks for Government Bounce Back Loans

A report by the National Audit Office has found that the Government failed to put adequate measures in place to prevent fraud in its Bounce Back Loan scheme for businesses.

Saturday 4 December, Times: American-style governors could level up England

Swathes of rural England could elect powerful American-style governors under Michael Gove’s plans to “level up” the country.

Saturday 4 December, Guardian: Woodland walks save UK £185m a year in mental health costs, report finds

Walks taken by people in UK woodlands save £185 million a year in mental health costs according to a report by Forest Research.

Sunday 5 December, Observer: “Councils have been short-changed. We need more Government money”

Hundreds of councils are wondering how to reconcile the Chancellor’s message that austerity is over with shortfalls across the public sector which run into billions of pounds.

Monday 6 December, BBC Online: Levelling-up report likely to be delayed to 2022

It has been confirmed that the Government’s white paper on “levelling up” all regions of the UK is likely to be delayed until next year.

Tuesday 7 December, Times: Supply of chargers lags behind electric car sales

The increase in sales of electric cars could be overshadowed by a lack of public charging points as figures show that only one point is installed for every 52 cars sold.

Wednesday 8 December, FT: LEPs to be “scrapped” as part of levelling up plans

It is reported that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will scrap Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) as part of its now-delayed Levelling Up White Paper.

Wednesday 8 December, Guardian: Ash dieback warning

At least 30,000 ash trees are due to be felled by the National Trust this year due to ash dieback.

A list of decisions currently within the call-in period is available on the Council’s website.

The call in procedure is set out in full in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, ‘Scrutiny and Overview Committee Procedure Rules’. 

Cabinet:

a)    Approved the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2021 -2025, as set out at Appendix A, to go out to wider public consultation

b)    Delegated authority to the Lead Member for Housing to approve the final Strategy subject to minor amendments, if any, arising from the consultation.

Cabinet:

a)    Approved the fees and charges as detailed in Appendix A of the report to take effect from 1 April 2022 (unless otherwise stated) or the earliest feasible date thereafter.

b)    Noted the proposed variations to fees and charges in comparison to the prevailing inflation rate detailed in the report.

This decision was first published on 6 December and so the deadline for call-in is 5 pm on Monday 13 December.

Please click on the link to find details of decisions made by officers under delegated authority.