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- Healthy and supported communities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sustainable homes and vibrant places<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Being green to our core<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Helping businesses to thrive<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Financially secure and fit for the future<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
SCDC is asking for comments on how these priorities should be delivered in the year ahead, through its annual<\/em> Corporate Action Plan for 2026\/27. The consultation will run until the end of the day on Sunday 16 November. To find out more and take part, visit www.scambs.gov.uk\/consultations<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anglian Water\/Cambridge Water Fen Reservoir Consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third phase of the non-statutory consultation for the Fens Reservoir DCO Project commenced on 15 October and will run for 8 weeks until 10 December 2025. It can be accessed here: https:\/\/fensreservoir.co.uk\/documents\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pipeline runs south of Bluntisham, via Swavesey, to the proposed service reservoir site at Madingley. The pipeline corridor (the area within which the pipeline could be located) is up to 500 metres wide. The proposed site for the new service reservoir is to the south of Madingley (on the existing Cambridge Water site). It will have an approximate capacity of 30 megalitres (Ml) on a land area of approximately 13 hectares. The key changes since the last consultation are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The pipeline corridor between Holywell and Swavesey has been moved to avoid existing environmental habitats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The pipeline route south of Swavesey has been revised to align with another Anglian Water and Cambridge Water project \u2013 the Grafham to Cambridge pipeline. This revised route avoids heritage sites and provides improved access during construction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The area identified for the service reservoir has been modified to include additional land that may be needed for an outfall pipeline connecting the reservoir to the Bin Brook stream.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Draft Local Plan \u2013 \u201cThe most important document you\u2019ve never heard of\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The draft Local Plan and supporting evidence has just been published ahead of a public consultation which will run between 1 Dec 2025 \u2013 30 Jan 2026. Cambridge City Council and SCDC are working together to create this joint Local Plan for the Greater Cambridge area. The plan sets out the future land use and planning policies for the area for the period 2024-2045.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Local Plan identifies the need for new homes and jobs, the services and infrastructure to support them, and guides where this development should happen. It has been informed by several stages of public engagement and working with stakeholders. There is a useful little video to help people understand what the Local Plan is and its importance: What is a Local Plan for Greater Cambridge?<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time of writing the draft Local Plan exists only in reports to relevant committees at both SCDC and the City Council. These are public meetings and if you wish to get ahead of the game you can pick through the meeting papers here: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ynwxkk5a<\/a> Alternatively, you can wait until a more user-friendly version becomes available in readiness for the consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have any questions about the Draft Local Plan, please contact the Planning Policy Team: localplan@greatercambridgeplanning.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latest on the Four-day week (4DW)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SCDC\u2019s move to a 4-day working week has recently reappeared in the press, since a Government Minister wrote to the council and the letter\u2019s contents were leaked to a national newspaper. To be clear and to counter misinformation, the council is open 5 days a week, many services are available 24\/7 and the contact centre is now open for longer than before the change. The Minister focused on SCDC\u2019s council housing performance, but he had clearly not looked at the data in enough detail, or he had been overly influenced by some of the misinformation that is swirling in the press and on social media because the council is actually in the top 25% of councils nationally for performance on reletting vacant council houses, for doing repairs and for council rent collection. 100% of emergency repairs are carried out in 24 hours. The council is saving just under \u00a3400,000 per year as a direct result of the 4-day week due to significant improvements in staff recruitment and less reliance on agency staff; planning applications are approved on average 3 weeks quicker than before and people\u2019s benefit claims are sorted 3 days earlier. There is a lot more positive information available on the council\u2019s website: https:\/\/www.scambs.gov.uk\/four-day-working-week<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018How are we doing?\u2019 survey<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SCDC has recently launched a new \u2018How Are We Doing\u2019 Survey to give residents, businesses and other stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council\u2019s services \u2013 both positive and negative \u2013 to ensure that we are delivering the best services possible. The feedback received will be reported to the Leadership Team and the appropriate teams. If you wish to comment, please use the QR code below or follow this link: www.scambs.gov.uk\/leave-feedback<\/a> Official complaints or service requests should still go through the usual channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-1.png?resize=122%2C122&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBill Handley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District Councillor for Over and Willingham<\/p>\n\n\n\n