Agenda item

The purpose of this motion is to draw attention to the very real barriers to the Labour government’s ambitious growth plans for Cambridge and the concerns raised for quality of life and the natural environment.

 

Active Motion:

 

Background:

This council notes the announcement by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves on 29 January 2025 that she intends to go “further and faster” to deliver an Oxford- Cambridge Growth Corridor.

 

This Council notes that Chancellor Reeves places particular attention on life sciences, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

 

This Council notes the stated aim of Chancellor Reeves to overcome constraints on economic growth in the region and her statement that to grow we need to attract world class companies and world class talent.

 

This motion is intended to form an open letter to the Chancellor and her team.

 

Water Supply Concerns:

This Council notes with concern that the Chancellor wishes to pursue further investment in life sciences and AI. Both of these are particularly demanding in terms of water use as well as demands made on the national grid.

 

Cambridge is in a water stressed region and the national grid is also overstretched locally. The proposed new reservoir will be ten years too late to provide the water needed for the council’s original growth plans let alone the increases demanded by first Michael Gove and then Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves.

 

The council notes that just one small data centre uses 26 million litres of drinking quality water per year -enough water for 648 adults using 110L per day.

 

The council further notes that the new Fenland reservoir is in an area prone to flooding raising concerns over water security.

 

The council further notes that the “investment” required to build the new reservoirs will be provided by allowing water companies to raise their charges in excess of inflation while continuing to pay excessive amounts to management and investors.

 

The council asks in which sense is the Chancellor providing this investment and calls upon her to renationalise our failing water companies.

 

Transport concerns:

This council notes Chancellor Reeves’ desire to improve commuter routes across the region.

 

The council wishes to draw her attention to EW Rail’s own passenger transport figures which show a very limited demand for the proposed new services. EW rail will do nothing to help workers travelling to Cambridge from Haverhill and the east of the city.

 

Quality of life

This council notes the Chancellor’s emphasis on attracting world class talent to Cambridge. These are people who might choose to work anywhere and will expect a high quality of life not just a job.  Our excessively high housing costs mean that many workers don’t have enough disposable income to enjoy what Cambridge has to offer. Moreover, young GPs and other key workers can’t afford to live here so our health services suffer.

 

In conclusion

This council asks the Chancellor to reconsider her plans for Cambridge. We ask her to be open and transparent in acknowledging the extent of our water and other environmental problems as well as the fears of local communities who already perceive increasing inequity in our already rapidly expanding city.

 

We firmly believe that the measures she proposes are insufficient to secure the future and safety of our residents, our economy and of our natural environment.

 

 

 

 

Item deferred to 17 March 2025 council meeting.