Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

Paul Davies MP introduced a debate in Parliament (Westminster Hall debate) calling on the Government to bring in a new National Lifelong Learning Strategy. You can: watch the video of the debate from 11:30:00 here read the transcript of the debate here In his remarks, Mr Davies invited ministers to take inspiration from the reportContinue reading “The Government should bring in a National Lifelong Learning Strategy say MPs”

This post follows on from my preview in this earlier blogpost which featured the final draft transport plan for Greater Cambridge which the Combined Authority’s Transport Committee was asked to approve. You can: Have a look at the Transport Committee’s meeting papers (item 8 has the extensive transport strategy papers) Watch the video of theContinue reading “What did councillors say about the draft transport plan?”

This comment from officers came as City Council leader Cllr Katie Thornburrow slammed decades of underinvestment Cambridge’s Guildhall, Corn Exchange, and Market Square. Officers made clear just how serious the problems are at what are two of the largest non-university indoor spaces in the city centre. You can: Read the meeting papers for the Performance,Continue reading “‘Some shows have been cancelled at the Corn Exchange due to the leaking roof’”

The question was put by Cllr Adam Bostanci (LibDems – Bassingbourn) – who also is the Chair of Climate Change & Environment Advisory Committee on South Cambridgeshire District Council You can watch the video footage on the weblink in the agenda via the CPCA here “More broadly, while national policy remains supportive of datacentre development,Continue reading “Could data centres undermine growth plans in Cambridgeshire?”

‘…while employers invest one third less training per employee than in 2005.’ says the 2026 Adult Participation in Learning Survey published by the Learning and Work Institute You can read their report here The footnotes also link back to previous reports – ones that indicate investment in their own workers by employers has fallen evenContinue reading “‘Adult skills funding in England is £1 billion lower than in 2010’”

The think tank / public policy institute had a look at the impact of the implosion of genuinely local and regional media, and the scaling back of social media profiles by some councils – and has some hard-hitting recommendations (that will probably be put in the ‘too difficult’ box’ “Information voids created by a lackContinue reading “Filling local disinfo voids – by Demos”

Cambridge City Council, the Greater Cambridge Partnership, and the Combined Authority all have meetings this week – the papers for which I’ve blogged about earlier. Image: The Politician Badge from the Rebel Badge Club scheme – have you earnt yours? You can see the blogposts on p1 of October 2026 here The meetings are asContinue reading “Transport, water, and the future of the Guildhall up for debate as public questions are published”

It’s in the Growth Committee Papers for 03 November and yes it is gone 2am in the morning. There are also other items that need scrutinising, including the digital connectivity prospectus. (It’s now 3am. Sorry!) You can read the Growth Committee papers here – the report is appended to Item 7. Also see the latestContinue reading “Water Resilience Plan 2026-2031 published by Combined Authority”

A short blogpost to highlight recent publications that might otherwise get missed given The Budget and also the new Cambridge Transport Strategy papers from the Combined Authority *Declaration of Interest: I was commissioned to write one of the background local history research reports for the CamDevCo Picking up on what Phil Rodgers spotted a fewContinue reading “Greater Cambridge Development Corporation publishes transparency guidance”

The ***fourth*** transport strategy in just over 12 years has been published in its final form by the Combined Authority for the Transport Committee to debate next week. It then goes to the CPCA Board on 25th November for approval and if all is good, for submission to the Transport Secretary Image: Can we getContinue reading “Final Greater Cambridge Transport Strategy published (2026)”