Papers just released show an initial contribution to the £12.6m allocated by Cambridge City Council. See https://cambridgecivicquarter.co.uk/ if you need a reminder of what’s proposed
See item 6 of the Investment Committee papers here. (There’s enough time for you to table public questions – you’ll need them in by 10am Wednesday as the meeting is on Monday 10th March).
I’ve written a fair amount about the civic quarter (see previous blogposts here) but have largely washed my hands of it because all of my suggestions were ignored by the architects despite turning up to the consultations and trying to engage constructively at the workshops. The proposals have caused controversy because:
- of the impact on market traders
- of the restructure of local government which will have implications on what council buildings might be needed in the future
On the civic quarter project, The Cambridge Green Party picked up on this in their additional submission to the city council’s budget – see item 12 p31 here
“Shouldn’t the disposal of all assets be frozen until such a time any future unitary council knows what it needs?”
That would be the sensible thing to do, but such is the state of instability in local government finances that even National Audit Office thought it serious enough to intervene, which they did yesterday in this report. Not surprisingly, the Housing & CLG Select Committee’s inquiry into council finances across England continues.
A video summary from former Independent candidate in Romsey, Will Bannell
He uploads his videos to his Cambridge Cracker YT Channel, and you can see his commentary on local government restructuring here. Have a listen to his question about the old Shire Hall site on Castle Hill at 10m45s here. Shouldn’t it be saved
A new confidential bid has come forward for Shire Hall
Their Assets and Procurement Committee meets in Alconbury, ***ages away*** from the community affected, to discuss confidential items that won’t be broadcast because of all things ‘commercial in confidence’. But you can see the agenda for 07 March 2025 here should you wish to table a public question and make your way up to Alconbury.
“An unconditional long leasehold bid from Bidder E is now recommended for acceptance, together with the draft Heads of Terms (Confidential Appendix 2). Pending Committee approval, the Heads of Terms will be agreed, and an exclusivity period will be entered with Bidder E, with a view to exchange contracts within this 3-month period.”
Cambridgeshire County Council Assets and Procurement Cttee item 4
“It could be a bid for something splendid – an expanded heritage site or something?”
Won’t happen. The sci-tech bubble is why. It makes far more financial and commercial sense to try and comprehensively redevelop the site. But if someone did want to provide such a new heritage site to display the many recent archaeological finds, please step forward!
If you are interested in the longer term future of Cambridge, and on what happens at the local democracy meetings where decisions are made, feel free to:
- Follow me on BSky <- A critical mass of public policy people seem to have moved here
- Like my Facebook page
- Consider a small donation to help fund my continued research and reporting on local democracy in and around Cambridge.
Below: The Cambridge Room. Prof Flora Samuel has posted: “Very excited to announce that the Cambridge Room, a consultation space for the region, is finally opening in the Grafton Centre, on 5 March 2025“
The Cambridge Town Owl 