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Proposed abolition of the Cambridge Joint Area Committee (CJAC)

We, the undersigned, petition the Council to:

Suspend the proposal to abolish the Cambridge Joint Area Committee, which addresses transport issues in the city, until the coronavirus pandemic is over, and more extensive consultation can be carried out.

Cambridge residents are concerned that:

  1. Their interests in local transport matters will not in future be represented by local councillors.
  2. They will find it very much more difficult to attend and observe meetings where decisions about their neighbourhoods are made.

Cambridgeshire County Council has published a proposal to abolish the Cambridge Joint Area Committee (CJAC) by July 2020. This committee has a central role in deciding on many local transport matters, such as cycling schemes; pedestrian crossings; parking, waiting and loading restrictions; traffic calming; residents’ parking schemes and charges; vehicle access and weight restrictions; dockless bikes; and electric vehicle charging points. The committee comprises councillors from Cambridge City Council as well as the county. It has existed for over 20 years, and its meetings are well attended.

Under the new proposals, local transport matters will in future be decided by County Council officers or a new Highways and Transport committee which, from next year, will meet in new offices in Alconbury (24 miles from Cambridge). Decisions will be made by a majority of people who do not live in Cambridge, and may have little experience or understanding of the city.

In other parts of the county, town and parish councils provide a forum for detailed consideration of Local Highway Improvement proposals, Traffic Regulation Orders and other local transport schemes. Without CJAC, there will be no equivalent forum in Cambridge.

Not Specified
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Sunday, 10 May 2020
Smarter Cambridge Transport
This petition currently has 1518 signatures in total.
Petition Signatories
1518 electronic signatures
 Page 9 of 152, items 81 to 90 of 1518.
Karen Beaumont
Tamsin Beevor
Roland Beevor
Andrew Bell
Sharon Bellard
Joanna Bellis
Gianna Bello
Jane Belman
Catherine Belsey
Naomi Bennett
This petition has been reviewed and the following response has been offered:

Dear Mr Leigh

The Council considered your petition on 19 May 2020.

The intention of the change is to bring Cambridge City in line with other parts of the County in terms of how matters such as Traffic Regulation Orders are determined.  Local involvement will still very much be a part of the process.  Proposals will be discussed with local County Councillors and as with other parts of the county, it is expected that most decisions will be made by agreement between the relevant local County Councillor and the Assistant Director, Highways. This will speed up the process of determination and it is expected that local communities and City Council Members will work with the relevant County Councillor as those decisions are made. It is anticipated that only a small number of issues will need to be referred to the Highways and Transport Committee and in that instance, all the same public speaking and petition rights exist as do currently for CJAC. 

Overall, this changed process will increase efficiency whilst maintaining local involvement.

Regards

Councillor Mac McGuire

Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council

DateUserDescriptionStatus
 Page 15 of 154, items 141 to 150 of 1534.
04/05/2020 16:21Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Nick McCavePetition Active
04/05/2020 16:19Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Mark BushfieldPetition Active
04/05/2020 16:13Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Rogier ten HoopenPetition Active
04/05/2020 16:08Unregistered UserPetition Signed: J FairbairnPetition Active
04/05/2020 15:52Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Jennifer BurchPetition Active
04/05/2020 15:46Unregistered UserPetition Signed: David LivingstonePetition Active
04/05/2020 15:21Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Monica FrischPetition Active
04/05/2020 15:15Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Alison BrookePetition Active
04/05/2020 14:57Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Wendy BlythePetition Active
04/05/2020 14:38Unregistered UserPetition Signed: Dougal RitsonPetition Active

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