PDF Version of County Report 2025-09
Council fines utility companies for unacceptable disruption
Cambridgeshire County Council is taking firm action to reduce disruption on the county’s roads, issuing fines totalling £483,000 to utility companies and developers for non-compliant and over-running roadworks during 2024–25.
In total, the council processed more than 32,000 street and roadwork permits last year, regulating when and how works can take place on the highway.
Of the total fines:
- £185,000 was issued through Fixed Penalty Notices for 1,655 offences, including works that lacked a valid permit or breached the conditions of their permit.
- A further £298,000 was recovered from 201 works that overran, resulting in 1,191 extra days of disruption for road users and residents.
In Cambridgeshire there are 51 utility companies that are entitled to work on our roads – and when that work is deemed an emergency they can legally start work even before notifying the council.
However, as the highways authority, the council does have powers to challenge how long emergency and urgent works remain in place. In 2024-25:
- Over 1,460 emergency permits were challenged for requesting excessive duration – more than 25% of all emergency permits.
- 254 immediate permit applications were rejected where they did not meet the legal criteria for emergency status.
The Council cannot prevent all disruption, as utility companies and developers have a legal right to carry out work on our roads – especially in emergencies. These powers are necessary to protect public safety and essential services, but they aren’t beyond challenge. The Council is doing everything in our power to soften the impact on Cambridgeshire’s communities and businesses.
Council achieves a ‘good’ CQC for its Adult Social Care services
Cambridgeshire County Council’s adult social care services have been rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with its assessment finding that early support and flexible options are helping people stay independent longer.
The report, which was published 20 August, follows a period of assessment which the CQC started in November 2024, culminating in a site visit in early April. It found that people who draw on the council’s care felt supported, listened to and offered choices, with care being co-ordinated in a planned way considering people’s interests and what was important to them.
A range of successes and areas of good practice were highlighted in the report, including:
- Prevention and Reablement success: Quick assessments and goal-focused care are enabling people to stay at home and thrive.
- Strong provider relationships: Staff build trust and offer tailored care packages, supported by robust quality assessments.
- Leadership that listens: A stable leadership team is driving cultural change and boosting morale.
- Wellbeing at work: Staff feel supported through flexible working, wellbeing initiatives, and caring leadership.
The report also includes a number of areas where the council needs to improve, including:
- Direct payments: The number of people receiving direct payments is significantly below the national average. This needs to be increased to give people more choice and control over their care.
- Equity and inclusion: The council needs to improve its use of demographic data to understand the needs of underrepresented groups in Cambridgeshire.
- Unpaid carers: The council should build on the work of our All Age Carers Strategy 2022-2026 to ensure unpaid carers have consistently good experiences.
- Transitions and continuity of care: The council should work to improve transitions from children’s services to adults’ services for young people, ensuring this is timely and well-coordinated.
The Council is aware that there are still steps needed to further improve how we support residents and deliver services, to ensure people in Cambridgeshire can live healthy, safe, and independent lives with timely, personalised support.
Around the Committees
There were no Council Committee meetings in August but quite a few (Home to School) Transport Appeal Panel Hearings. I occasionally sit on these panel which face difficult decisions, hearing individual appeals and weighing them up against Council policy.
Horningsea
I am seeking clarification from the Police and Crime Commissioner and from the Chief Constable about the circumstances of the accident on 12 August, which resulted in significant damage to a wall in the High Street.
Forthcoming Highways works
Waterbeach
Notice 2025-1713
From 10:00hrs on 28th August 2025, no vehicle shall proceed along Station Road, Waterbeach as lies between Whitmore Way and Lode Avenue. Access will be maintained to properties affected by this Order. This Notice is made in the interest of safety because of emergency carriageway repairs It is anticipated that these works will take place between 10:00hrs and 14:30 28th August 2025
Landbeach – Order 2025-1489 – to install the new A10 bridge
… to stop any vehicle from proceeding along various roads, as set out in Schedule 1 below. Nothing in this Order shall prevent access and egress from premises or land adjacent to the highway mentioned in Schedule 1.
The Order is necessary for safety reasons to facilitate S278 bridge construction and associated works. The proposed Order will come into operation on 5 September 2025 and will continue until these works have finished or on the 4 March 2027 whichever is the earlier. It is anticipated that this order will apply to the locations, at various times during the dates specified in the Schedule.
Schedule 1 – Road Closures Anticipated dates for works on the A10
Diversion 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs 5 September to 8 September 2025 (overnight 5, 6, 7 Sep*)
Between 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs 12 September to 15 September 2025 (overnight 12, 13, 14 Sep*)
Between 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs 19 September to 22 September 2025 (overnight 19, 20, 21 Sep*)
In each case, the formal diversion will be: (northbound) via A14 (eastwards) and A142 towards Ely, joining A10 and vice versa.
During these times there will be no access from Green End to the A10, only via Waterbeach Road.
*NB – I understood these would be overnight closures only but other information indicates they may be all-weekend closures. I am seeking clarification from Street Works about access to premises and will give a verbal update at meetings.
Chittering
513011 FW: Pathway A10 Chittering, School Lane
I emailed to County Highways, “On 10 July I reported the overhanging vegetation, making this footway impassable. I am exasperated that it is now over a month later, 20 August, and the job is just being ordered. How are the elderly residents in Chittering supposed to get to the bus stop without walking on the A10?”
The works were ordered on 30/07/25, allocated on 08/08/25. Work will be done early Sept.
To justify cutting back hedges in the bird nesting season (March to August inclusive) it would have to be demonstrated that it was dangerous and an emergency.
Fen Ditton
ORDER 2025-1371 Temporary Traffic Restriction
Church Street, Fen Ditton between Stanbury and High Street. Access will be maintained to properties affected by this order. The Order is made to facilitate footway repairs and associated works which are being carried out on or near this highway and it will come into operation on 25 August 2025 and continue until these works have finished or on the 24 February 2027 whichever is the earlier. It is anticipated that these works will be carried out between 25 August and 29 August 2025
ORDER 2025-1547 Temporary Traffic Restriction
High Ditch Road and Low Fen Drove Way, Fen Ditton, between Hardwick House and junction with Newmarket Road. Access will be maintained to properties affected by this order. The alternative route for vehicles is via Newmarket Road, Ditton Lane. The Order is made to facilitate bellmouth construction [at Low Fen Drove Way] and associated works which are being carried out on or near this highway and it will come into operation on 1 September 2025 and continue until these works have finished or on the 28 February 2027 whichever is the earlier. It is anticipated that these works will be carried out between 1 September 2025 and 7 September 2025.
ORDER 2025-1513 Temporary Traffic Restriction
…the effect of which is to stop any vehicle from proceeding along High Ditch Road, Fen Ditton as lies between Fen Ditton Footpath 9 and Orchard House. Access will be maintained to properties affected by this order. The alternative route for vehicles is via A1303, B1047 and vice versa. The Order is made to facilitate telecommunications and associated works which are being carried out on or near this highway and it will come into operation on 4 September 2025 and continue until these works have finished or on the 3 March 2027 whichever is the earlier. It is anticipated that these works will be carried out between 4 September 2025 and 4 September 2025.
Ditton Lane – I note the work to replace paving slabs with Tobermore blocks is being done, as promised, during the school holidays, to minimise disruption.
Milton
ORDER 2025-1793 (Temporary Restrictions) Cambridge Road, Milton between Benet Close and Coles Road. Access will be maintained to properties affected by this order. The alternative route for vehicles is around the A10 and vice versa. The proposed Order is necessary to facilitate new water connection and associated works. It is anticipated that these works will be carried out between 27 and 31 October 2025.
I am seeking clarification about the Citi 2 service and any re-routing needed.
The school bus also need to take an alternative route.
Cllr Anna Bradnam anna.bradnam@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 25 August 2025