County Council Conservatives are proposing to abolish the Cambridge Joint Area Committee (CJAC), a committee of Cambridge councillors which takes decisions on traffic matters in Cambridge, such as parking restrictions. Many local residents have attended the committee to speak, notably on the Morley residents’ parking scheme.

Liberal Democrat councillors are very concerned that the abolition of this committee will make it very much more difficult for residents to make their views on issues such as residents’ parking heard at the County Council, especially when the County Council moves to Alconbury next year.

We are also extremely concerned that the Conservatives are taking such a decision now, when it is difficult to consult and in circumstances where the public ability to ask questions or put their case will be very limited.

The first stage in the process is due to be debated at the first of the County Council’s virtual meetings, where no public will be able to speak against this proposal.

If you too are concerned that this shows a lack of respect for the legitimate concerns of Cambridge residents about how decisions relating to them are made, I encourage you to write to Cllr Lis Every, the Chair of the Council’s Constitution and Ethics Committee asking her to delay this decision until Cambridge residents have a proper opportunity to scrutinise the proposals and make their views known. Her address is here: [email protected].

You can follow the meeting on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/CambsCountyCouncil. Click here for the agenda and reports.

You can also find them on the County Council website under Council – Committee calendar – Constitution and Ethics on 22.4.20.

We are deeply concerned that the County Council are using the current situation to push through a decision which will be detrimental to Cambridge and its residents.

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