Issue details

This report responds to the resolution of Full Council in July 2026 requesting an officer report reviewing current Council activity relating to the River Cam and its tributaries, existing partnership arrangements, opportunities for improvement, and alignment with the Council's Biodiversity Strategy, Climate Change Strategy, Urban Forest Strategy and the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

The motion recognises the River Cam and its tributaries as important environmental, ecological, recreational and cultural assets and confirms that the Council will continue to have regard to the impact of its decisions on the health of the river, consistent with its statutory duties, powers and responsibilities.

The Council has an important role as a significant riverbank landowner, local planning authority, open-space manager, land drainage authority, project funder and delivery partner. It undertakes riverbank management, biodiversity enhancement, sustainable drainage and flood resilience work, manages public access and assets adjoining the river and is directly involved in a growing programme of river and chalk-stream restoration.

Responsibility for the health and management of the River Cam is distributed between several organisations. These include the Environment Agency, Cambridge Water, Anglian Water, the Conservators of the River Cam, Natural England, Cambridgeshire County Council, universities and colleges, other riparian landowners and local communities.

The report therefore considers both the activity for which the City Council is directly responsible and the wider partnerships through which the Council can influence water quality, water quantity, biodiversity, river infrastructure and the long-term resilience of the Cam catchment.

The report also covers investment in river infrastructure, including the Council-owned river wall and work relating to Jesus Green Lock; activity at Sheep’s Green; planning and water-resource work through the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service; and collaboration with statutory, voluntary, academic and community partners.