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Buckden Roundabout
March 2018
FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR
In my article for last month’s Roundabout, I forecast that the ruling group of the Cambridgeshire County Council, the Conserva-
tives, would decide not to increase Council tax by more than the 2% permitted for Adult Social Care. I was wrong! On February
6
th
they proposed a Business Plan for 2018-19 with an additional 2.99% tax increase on top of the 2% for Adult Social Care. This
is the maximum increase permitted by government without there having to be a local referendum. This increase brings in an
extra £7.5 million. So the question for discussion was: what is the best use of that extra money?
To start with, they have to use £4.3 million to pay off the overspend on the current year’s budget. Their proposal for the re-
mainder was to put it into what they call a ‘smoothing reserve’ so that they have something ready to pay off the expected loss
in next year’s budget.
Why are they running losses every year? To be fair, it is not entirely their fault. The demand for services is increasing (more
young children, more elderly people), the cost of providing these essential services is rising above standard inflation, and, most
critically of all, central government is decreasing the subsidy it gives to local councils (all councils, not just Cambridgeshire).
If the Conservatives had taken the advice of the Liberal Democrats and Labour on the council, they would have used the tax
increase flexibility available in the two previous years. Allowing for compound interest and population growth, this would have
given the Council an extra £18 million for 18-19 instead of the extra £7.5 million. But, in 16-17 and 17-18, with the voting sup-
port of UKIP in the previous Council, they rejected that option, putting them out of line with nearly all the other Conservative-
controlled councils in England.
So, for the coming year, the Council will pursue its policy of making severe reductions in its service provision. All the Opposition
groups argued that it would be better to spend the available money on minimising the damage to services but their combined
votes were not sufficient to win the day. We argued that most people would be prepared to accept small increases in council
tax if they could see some benefits for those in greatest need and other wider improvements such as better road maintenance.
On more local matters, I supported parish councillors Rick Screaton and Amy Burbidge when they attended a county councillor
panel to present the case for a pedestrian crossing near The Green to make it easier for children to cross to school and for peo-
ple to get over to the shops. We will know the outcome in mid-March. The potential new crossing of Buckden Road in Bramp-
ton is logged by Amy Burbidge as a separate agenda item but I very much hope you will support it.
If you wish to raise any local matters with me personally and would welcome a face-to-face conversation, I come to the Aragon
Room in the Village Hall at 7 p.m. on the evening of the parish council meeting, the 2
nd
Tuesday in the month. At other times,
please ring me on 07765 833 486 or write to me at peter.downes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Peter Downes, County Councillor for the Brampton and Buckden division
FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
A14
We are all very much aware of the way that trees and other vegetation have been cleared during the construction of the
new A14. I have been pressing for the early planting of trees not only to soften the landscape but also to reduce noise and pol-
lution. I have now received written assurance that tree planting and other landscaping will be started as soon as each phase of
the new road is completed. If they keep their word this should mean that we should see start of the “re-greening” of the area
north of Buckden and the Offords in early 2019. I shall keep my fingers crossed.
COMBINED AUTHORITY
Residents will have heard or read that the Combined Authority are planning a revolutionary scheme
for a Mass Rapid Transport system for the city of Cambridge. This will involve a tunnel running under the city. The Authority
have also commissioned a Strategic Review of buses and other public transport in Cambridgeshire. Hopefully this may find ways
to ease the lack of public transport for Buckden and other villages.
SPEEDING IN BUCKDEN
On three occasions in the last month I have been overtaken by speeding cars in the 20mph section of
Mill Road. On each occasion the miscreant has been one car ahead of me when we reached the closed level crossing gates. The
sooner we get some Speed Watch facility in this area the better. I fear an accident will occur when reckless and impatient driv-
ers overtake more law abiding citizens.
ANOTHER LOSS
During the last three years I have occasionally reported with regret the passing of a village character. Sadly
Buckden has lost another long term resident who has served the village in so many ways. The passing of June Woods will leave
in gap in the village. She moved to Buckden with her parents in 1941. Her father became a County Alderman and June followed
in his steps of service to the community. She was a Parish Councillor for over forty years and was involved in many other village
activities. The village has lost a loyal servant and I have lost a good friend.
With all best wishes,
Terry Hayward, District Councillor for Buckden, Stirtloe, Diddington, Southoe and Midloe.
If you have any queries about the above or would like to talk to me about any other matter please don’t hesitate to contact me
on either 01480 810974 or terry.hayward@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
From Your Councillors