A leading Liberal Democrat in the city has accused the government of a “creeping takeover” of Cambridge’s local decision-making powers.
Cllr Tim Bick says councils “well understand” the need for more housing and the city’s importance to the national economy, but any suggestion of imposition from Whitehall risks “just increasing local hostility”.
Instead, the opposition group leader calls for a “more constructive way of going forward” including a “proper partnership” between local and national government, leading to the creation of a single unitary council for Greater Cambridge.
Cllr Bick’s comments come in response to housing secretary Michael Gove’s announcement of plans to establish a new dedicated growth company tasked with accelerating development in Cambridge.
“We have all in turn overseen the growth here over the past 25 years. But this is a fragile flower. Although it has brought huge benefits, not everyone feels that or likes the change,” said Cllr Bick.
The new company will be responsible for leading development through “large-scale land assembly, major infrastructure projects and ensuring maximum recovery including through planning contributions”, according to the government.
Its remit will also include unlocking development that has been held up on sites allocated in the current Local Plan.
Cllr Bick told the Cambridge Independent: “A government with its own back less against the wall than this one would look for a more constructive way of going forward. That should be a proper partnership in which central government undertakes to do the things only it can do – invest in our water and transport infrastructure, help fund social housing and provide an evidence-based national industrial strategy into which Cambridge’s contribution is properly measured.
“In return, the local councils should fold into a single unitary council for Greater Cambridge, providing a more simple and equal way of talking to central government with a single democratic voice, rather than the current room full of people that it now takes.”
In September, a campaign was launched calling for a simplification of Cambridgeshire’s highly complex system of local government.
The Cambs Unitaries Campaign – which is not affiliated with any political party – is pushing for a reorganisation of authorities within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough into at least two new unitary authorities.
It was launched by Cambridgeshire residents Chris Howell, Martin Lucas-Smith and Phil Rodgers – the Cambridge Independent’s political columnist – who say the current system is a “confusing mess”.
Cllr Bick says a new council should be empowered to prepare its own integrated local plan and transport plan, taking account of national industrial strategy and the complementary contribution that would be needed from central government.
“But at the end of the day, locally elected representatives know their people and their area better, understand the area’s character, and are best placed both to orchestrate quality new communities and to address the challenges that growth inevitably brings with it.
“We just don’t think this is a job for a growth company or a development corporation,” he said.
Cambridge City Council’s Labour leader Cllr Mike Davey responded: “Successful innovation hubs thrive because they are based on partnership and collaboration, providing opportunities and tangible benefits for local communities. I remain concerned that the Case for Cambridge offers a top-down vision that has not listened to local people.
“Perhaps and most significantly it remains unclear whether the ‘Case for Cambridge’ will share the wealth created by our successful city either locally or nationally in a meaningful way.
“I do hope that the Cambridge growth company will take on board these points.”
Green Party group leader Cllr Naomi Bennett said: “Gove is a modern King Canute. Our water and other natural resources problems aren’t going to go away just because he gives a few orders. He and his Water Scarcity Group have produced a few ‘solutions’.
“These are really tinkering around the edges. They cannot produce enough water to give us a viable Water Management Plan for the 50,000 homes in the city council local plan, let alone his grandiose target. Gove is failing yet again to understand the full scale of our natural resources shortages.”
