Unitary Authority For Cambridge?

27 May 2010, 06:08

Cambridge City Council could soon take the first steps to it's own demise.

The idea of scrapping separate County and City councils for a single or "unitary" authority is being put forward.

Leading Labour councillor Lewis Herbert said: "With two councils at the moment, and with various local and regional quangos, the decision makers, don't always put the needs of Cambridge first".

Mr Herbet added: "We've got a muddle at the moment, it's like pushing muck uphill.

If we have one council, one set of decisions, we'll get a better Cambridge for everyone".

Liberal Democrat City Council leader Sian Reid says her Lib Dem councillors have been suggesting that for about 3 years, but want the initial priority to be an integrated Transport Authority just for Cambridge.

Their call for an integrated transport authority, would be to improve public transport to Cambridge and around the city.
 
They want Cambridge City Council to join forces with Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, to set up the new authority.

Sian Reid, who takes over as leader of Cambridge City Council told Heart: "Many Cambridge residents and workers see the city’s transport issues as top of the agenda, whether it be to improve bus services, tackle congestion or keep pavements clear of ice.

They want to see real joined up working on this and an ITA would achieve this"

A new transport authority would be a realistic and fast first step to a single tier authority. 

She added that an integrated single tier authority for the Cambridge area remains the city council’s goal, as it has been for many years, concluding: "We will look to the new coalition government to facilitate it."

The idea of scrapping separate County and City councils for a single or "unitary" authority is being put forward.

Leading Labour councillor Lewis Herbert said: "With two councils at the moment, and with various local and regional quangos, the decision makers, don't always put the needs of Cambridge first".

Mr Herbet added: "We've got a muddle at the moment, it's like pushing muck uphill.

If we have one council, one set of decisions, we'll get a better Cambridge for everyone".

Liberal Democrat City Council leader Sian Reid says her Lib Dem councillors have been suggesting that for about 3 years, but want the initial priority to be an integrated Transport Authority just for Cambridge.

Their call for an integrated transport authority, would be to improve public transport to Cambridge and around the city.
 
They want Cambridge City Council to join forces with Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, to set up the new authority.

Sian Reid, who takes over as leader of Cambridge City Council told Heart: "Many Cambridge residents and workers see the city’s transport issues as top of the agenda, whether it be to improve bus services, tackle congestion or keep pavements clear of ice.

They want to see real joined up working on this and an ITA would achieve this"

A new transport authority would be a realistic and fast first step to a single tier authority. 

She added that an integrated single tier authority for the Cambridge area remains the city council’s goal, as it has been for many years, concluding: "We will look to the new coalition government to facilitate it."