February 2025

7 Buckden Roundabout February 2025 From your District Councillor Buckden District Councillor Report Dear Residents and Parish Councillors, As we move into the new year, I want to extend my warmest wishes to each and every one of you for a prosperous and joy- ous 2025. This past year has been a journey filled with both challenges and triumphs, and your resilience and community spirit have been truly inspiring. As your district councillor, I am filled with hope and excitement for the opportunities that the new year will bring. Together, let's continue to build on our successes and work towards a brighter future for our parish. May 2025 be a year of health, happiness, and fulfilment for you and your loved ones. Here's to a year filled with new ad- ventures, growth, and shared accomplishments. Happy New Year! HUNTINGDON DISTRICT COUNCIL TO BECOME PART OF A NEW UNITARY AUTHORITY My notes from a recent meeting to brief District Councillors on the changes: 1. Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) will not exist in 3 years time : Within this parliament all local authorities that are not currently Unitary Authorities will be con- verted to Unitary Authorities. This means that HDC and Cambridgeshire County Council will no longer exist as a separate administrative entities. 2. Move to unitary authority : A unitary authority is a type of local government that operates as a single tier, re- sponsible for all local government functions within its area. This means that instead of having separate county and district councils, a unitary authority handles every- thing, including services like education, transportation, social services, housing, planning, fire, police, and health. 3. County Council elections currently planned to go ahead in May : Despite the proposed changes, the elec- tions for the County Council are almost certain to take place in May 2025. 4. HDC is in Wave 2 – submit a final proposal in Autumn : Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is part of the second wave of councils required to submit their final proposals for the new local government structure by Autumn 2025. 5. CPCA is only combined authority with 2 tiers : The Cam- bridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is unique in that it operates with two tiers of local government, while all other combined authorities operate with just one tier. 6. Peterborough City Council is included : Peterborough City Council will be part of the new local government framework, working alongside Huntingdonshire and other authorities within the CPCA. 7. Outside Cambridgeshire and Peterborough bounda- ries? This point raises the question of whether the new local government framework will extend beyond the boundaries of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, po- tentially impacting neighbouring areas. 8. Impact on capacity likely to be an issue – evidence gathering required to support proposal : There are con- cerns that the proposed changes may strain the capaci- ty of local authorities. Evidence gathering and analysis will be necessary to support the proposal and ensure that the new framework can be effectively implement- ed. PROCUREMENT FOR PRECEPT - FUNDED BUS ROUTES, KNOWN AS THE ‘ TIGER ’ ROUTES DELAYED On Wednesday 8th January, the Combined Authority an- nounced it is restarting the procurement process for the final 7 precept - funded bus services. This is in response to news that a bus operator – who cannot be named for legal reasons – has withdrawn all of its winning bids to run these services. As a result of the withdrawn bids, the tendering process for the remaining 7 routes – covering places including Peterbor- ough, Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Wisbech and surrounding villages – now has to start over, meaning the services are not expected to launch until May/June. The route likely to affect residents by the withdrawal of bids is the Tiger 1 – Huntingdon to Cambridge https://www.cambsnews.co.uk/news/stagecoach - please - sir - i - want - some - more - cash - plea - rejected - by - combined - authority/34107/ Buckden Landfill I am pleased to note that our local MP, Ben Obese - Jecty, has raised the issue of odours from the Buckden Landfill site with the Environment Agency. He has asked them to provide fur- ther information on the actions being taken and provide reas- surance to residents that the issue will be resolved. Wishing you well, Martin Martin Hassall District Councillor for Buckden, Diddington and Southoe Phone: 07480 798 342 - Email: martin.hassall@huntingdonshire.gov.uk