County Councillor Report for Parishes – October 2024 – Cllr Anna Bradnam
Updates from the Committees:
ASSETS AND PROCUREMENT
The costs of looking after children and young people with complex needs are high. The average cost of an unregistered placement was over £16,000 each week, in March 2024 and often the provision is out of county. Currently the rising level of demand isn’t keeping up with supply and there’s a lack of capacity in the area. To reduce these costs and keep our children in care closer to home, the Committee agreed to convert two empty farmhouses near Soham, to provide accommodation for children with complex needs. We want those children and young people to be able to access care in registered settings here in Cambridgeshire.
Both properties are owned by the Council; they will be fully refurbished, including energy efficiency measures subject to planning permission. Refitting the buildings means we can create dedicated, specially adapted and environmentally sustainable homes for up to five children and young people in the heart of Cambridgeshire.
An external service provider will be offered a contract for up to 10 years to provide care services at the farmhouses to best meet the needs of the children.
The pilot project is anticipated to avoid over £635,000 of expenditure each year on external placements and help reduce financial uncertainties on a key statutory service.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Amongst other items, additional capital funding was agreed in order to deliver school building projects including at Teversham Primary School, to replace an aged mobile classroom and at Darwin Green Secondary School (new build).
CORPORATE PARENTING SUB-COMMITTEE
I attended a Children in Care Council meeting (19 Sep) to deliver informal training in Chairing skills.
Libraries – Library Live are putting on lots of events:
Details here of all the events and for booking: Returning favourites and new delights set to perform in Cambridgeshire libraries this Autumn and Winter | Cambridgeshire County Council
Tickets go on sale Thursday, September 19th. Some are in distant villages. I have boxed and added the locations of events in libraries closest to us:
What’s On: Highlights of the Season
Twinpossible by Kane & Abel: The comedic duo returns with a show blending stand-up, magic, and theatrical illusions – fun for all ages.
The Three Little Pigs by Garlic Theatre: A fresh puppetry twist on the classic tale, set in Paris.
LORE by James Wilton Dance: A super-physical, dynamic dance performance that dives into a pagan world of gods, demons, and humans. 29 October 7:15 PM 8:30 PM Clay Farm Centre (map)
The Rainbow Butterfly by Ella Mesma Company: A vibrant family show combining storytelling, carnival, aerial circus, beatboxing, and Hip Hop dance.
Havisham by Emul8 Theatre: Step into the dark, fractured world of Dickens’ most gothic character.
Ghost of a Smile!: Two creepy, comical tales from Dickens performed by Nicholas Collett.
Opera Dudes Christmas Special: Music and laughter in Whittlesey and Littleport.
Folk Tales and Fiddles: Local folk music, foot-tapping tunes, and mysterious tales in Histon and March. 30 Nov 7:00 PM 8:40 PM Histon Library (map)
Nature Elly from Barmpot Theatre: An exciting family puppet show for early years children and their families. This show includes British Sign Language and a pre-show Touch Tour is available on request. 29 October 10:15 AM 11:40 AM Arbury Church of the Good Shepherd, Community Hall, (map)
Murder Mystery: The Library Lock-in (Workshop) 1 November 2pm, 4pm Cambridge Central Library
Printing Workshop 9 November 10:30 AM 12:30 PM, Barnwell Christ the Redeemer Church (map)
Digital Animation 31 Oct 2:00 PM 4:00 PM Arbury Court Library (map)
Get Creative: Workshops for all ages
Explore your creativity with workshops in visual arts, crafts, digital animation, dance, and more! New workshops this season include Murder Mystery, Miniature-Making, and more.
HIGHWAYS ISSUES (I’m not planning to include this every month, it’s just to give a flavour of the work going on locally and the necessary traffic arrangements)
TTRO – Butt Lane (C206) – entrance to the P&R – relates to new police station Rear of Milton Road park and ride. Closure dates (maximum) 11/11/2024 – 15/11/2024 – 24/7. I am in touch with Street Works Inspector about provisions for school bus and local implications. Will update after 23/09.
Roadway items 16-30 September
CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (CCC) NEWMARKET ROAD, FEN DITTON
Some carriageway incursion – 30/09/2024 – 04/10/2024 – Works for road purposes – CL91249407496
CCC HIGH STREET, FEN DITTON – Multi-way signals – 16/09/2024 – 27/09/2024 – Highway improvement works – CL902-GW-HORN-02-A
CAMBRIDGE WATER – NEWMARKET RD, FEN DITTON – Contra-flow – Dates – 26/09/2024 -27/09/2024 – New service connection – CK001D3250111OCL
CCC – HORNINGSEA ROAD (C210) – HORNINGSEA Two-way signals – 30/09/2024 – 11/10/2024 – Highway improvement works – CL902-GW-HORN-04-B
CCC -HIGH STREET, HORNINGSEA – Two-way signals – 23/09/2024 – 27/09/2024
Highway improvement works – CL902-GW-HORN
(In view of local discussions in Horningsea, these items may have been postponed)
CAMBRIDGE WATER , GREEN END, LANDBEACH – Two-way signals – 18/09/2024 – 20/09/2024
Utility repair and maintenance works – CK001D3323522OCL
CCC GREEN END, LANDBEACH – Two-way signals 23/09/2024 – 27/09/2024
Remedial works CL91246698319
CAMBRIDGE WATER – WILLOW CRESCENT, MILTON -Some carriageway incursion
19/09/2024 – 23/09/2024 – Utility repair and maintenance works – CK001D3332417OCL
E S PIPELINES LTD, CAMBRIDGE ROAD, MILTON – Multi-way signals – 23/09/2024 – 27/09/2024
Utility repair and maintenance works – ZY0079850_5
CCC – BUTT LANE (C206) – MILTON – Two-way signals – 30/09/2024 – 11/10/2024
Highway improvement works – CL91296230848
CAMBRIDGE WATER – CAMBRIDGE ROAD, MILTON – Multi-way signals – 18/09/2024-20/09/2024
Utility repair and maintenance works – CK001D3286309OCL
CITYFIBRE METRO NETWORKS LTD, ROBSON COURT, WATERBEACH – Give and take
24/09/2024 – 07/10/2024 – Utility asset works – KG079-D1-CB21-PN6-05
CITYFIBRE METRO NETWORKS LTD, BANNOLD ROAD, WATERBEACH – Multi-way signals
17/09/2024 – 19/09/2024 – Remedial works – KG079-D1-CB21-PN6-02B
CCC – HARTLEY CLOSE – WATERBEACH – Priority working – 23/09/2024 – 27/09/2024
Works for road purposes – CL91237290827
CITYFIBRE METRO NETWORKS LTD – PAYTON WAY – WATERBEACH – Give and take
16/09/2024 – 18/09/2024 – Utility asset works – KG079-D1-CB21-PN1-P41
E S PIPELINES LTD – CAMBRIDGE ROAD (C210) – WATERBEACH – Multi-way signals
18/09/2024 – 25/09/2024 Utility repair and maintenance works – ZY0079850_4
CAMBRIDGE FIBRE NETWORKS LTD – CATTELLS LANE, WATERBEACH – Some carriageway incursion
17/09/2024 – 19/09/2024 – Utility repair and maintenance works – A7001DIB00024B
CAMBRIDGE FIBRE NETWORKS LTD – VICARAGE CLOSE, WATERBEACH – Some carriageway incursion
17/09/2024 – 19/09/2024 – Utility repair and maintenance works – A7001DIB00023A
CAMBRIDGE FIBRE NETWORKS LTD – ROSEMARY ROAD, WATERBEACH – Some carriageway incursion
17/09/2024 – 19/09/2024 – Utility repair and maintenance works – A7001DIB00025
CITYFIBRE METRO NETWORKS LTD – HIGH STREET, WATERBEACH – Multi-way signals
16/09/2024 – 20/09/2024 Utility asset works – KG079-D1-CB21-PN6-02
Optional permit (no fee) e.g. for traffic
NETWORK RAIL – CROSS DROVE, WATERBEACH – Two-way signals
21/09/2024 – 21/09/2024 – management etc KL737BGK-62-70-210924
WEED TREATMENT
The Council has published the weed spraying schedule (works already undertaken in County)
For villages in Waterbeach Division, the dates when weeds were treated were:
Horningsea 24 June
Fen Ditton 24 June
Milton 22 July
Waterbeach 22 July
Landbeach 23 July
I note some roads appear to have been missed. I understand a second round of treatment will be undertaken in October.
CONSULTATIONS – have your say:
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – Bus Franchising
Deadline to respond: Wednesday 20th November 2024
CPCA have just announced the launch date for the formal bus franchising consultation. From Wednesday 14th August, everyone is being invited to have their say on the potential pathways for improving bus services for local communities.
The franchising consultation will take place online and in person (via a series of drop-in events) over 14 weeks and will run until Wednesday 20th November 2024
Cllr Anna Bradnam anna.bradnam@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 23/09/2024