Delivering the Vision for the future of the city
Current Structure
The Policy & Projects Service comprises 46 FTE (2007-08) managed by a Head of Service. The structure of the Service is set out in the Appendix 1 (see Organisational Structure) and comprises a diverse range of functions that includes:
- Urban Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Biodiversity and Local Nature Reserves
- Public Consultation
- Engineering and Drainage
- Historic Built Environment
- Arboriculture
- Planning Policy
- Research and Information
- Graphics and Design
- NLPG/LLPG and GIS
- Transport Planning
- Public and Community Transport
- Sustainable City
- Business Management and Support
The Service manages an annual revenue budget of £4.74 million and an annual capital budget of £1.51million. The activities undertaken operate at Service, Departmental, Corporate and external partnership levels.
The Service plays a key role in setting innovative, and robust policies as well as delivering good quality specialist advice and action for the whole City Council. The role is particularly important in enabling high quality decision making within the development control process.
The Service is increasingly operating within a framework of enhanced partnership and joint working arrangements involving both members and officers. In particular, specialist officers provide advice to a Joint Development Control Committee, the Joint Strategic Growth Implementation Committee and to a number of other joint Member fora (which will include a new S29 Committee dealing with joint plan-making on the City Fringes and the Joint Transport Forum). See structure diagram in Joint Working Framework.
The existing structure is likely to change with the establishment of a new Joint Urban Design team that will exist outside of the current Service structure.
Context for the Future Success of the Service
The Service comprises four main components: a strong policy function, specific project implementation roles, regulatory functions and also supporting functions that include key ICT systems, business management and support and research. The success of the Service is very much dependent upon a commitment to quality both in terms of processes and outcomes.
All four of these functions play an important role in allowing the City Council to achieve its Vision. Significantly, the functions of the Service are identified specifically in the Vision:
“OUR VISION
… is of a compact, dynamic, sustainable City with a thriving historic core surrounded by attractive neighbourhoods and green spaces, and where the community as a whole and every person in it matters. There will be strong leadership on environmental issues, and diverse local communities will enjoy a high quality of life in safe, accessible neighbourhoods supported by affordable housing, integrated transport, and good access to leisure and community facilities. Cambridge will continue to foster a strong local economy together with its development as a centre of excellence and a world leader in the fields of higher education and research.”
The Service's contribution to the Vision for the authority is also important given the four medium term objectives that are to:
Promote Cambridge as a sustainable city, in particular by reducing carbon emissions and the amount of waste going into landfill in the City and sub-region
- Climate change and carbon reduction
- Sustainable construction
- Sustainable transport
- Waste, recycling and pollution
Ensure that residents and other service users have an entirely positive experience of dealing with the Council
- Service quality and efficiency
- Engaging with residents and service users
- Access and equality
Maintain a healthy, safe and enjoyable city for all, with thriving and viable neighbourhoods
- Improving local amenities
- Health and safety
- Getting around
Lead the growth of Cambridge to achieve attractive, sustainable new neighbourhoods, including affordable housing, close to a good range of facilities and supported by transport networks so that people can opt not to use the car
- Integrated environmental, land use, transport and economic policy framework
- Sustainable new developments on fringe sites
- Resources
The Service plays a vital role in helping deliver the four Cambridgeshire Quality Growth Charter Principles: Community, Connectivity, Climate and Character. Although these principles are intended to relate to the major new development areas, it is recognised that similar standards of excellence are required for the remainder of the city, especially within the neighbourhoods that comprise the residential areas.
In the future, the City Council will be seeking to develop the Vision of the City to reflect the increasing importance of addressing the carbon agenda and ensuring that the quality of life of a greatly expanded City will be properly safeguarded. Officers within the Service have discussed the future challenges and have commented that Cambridge is undergoing major changes that represent another stage in its transition from the market town and university town of the1950s into a dynamic city of international significance. They believe it is important to combine the traditional qualities with the growth agenda in the concept of Cambridge: International Knowledge City - Global Village.
All these priorities need to be successfully communicated both to the residents of the city and to all the stakeholders who will contribute to the achievement of these objectives.
Some Specific Challenges
The future growth of the City beyond 2021 is uncertain. It is likely that government will seek the continued growth of the City and the Regional Spatial Strategy that sets housing targets up until 2021 omits reference to the City being 'compact'. The Service will play a pivotal role in influencing the future of sub-regional policy of the area both in relation to the scale and nature of future growth but also in ensuring that environmental, land use, transport, economic and social policies are closely aligned to achieve the City Council’s objectives.
In the short to medium term, the Service will take an active role in ensuring that the emerging Long Term Transport Strategy for the City successfully supports the planning and environmental objectives of the authority. In addition, a whole range of specific policy and implementation issues are being addressed from ensuring improved delivery of capital schemes to ensuring that conservation policies continue to be developed and implemented to represent best practise.
Head of Service Role
The Head of Service role will continue to lead the preparation of the medium to long term environmental and spatial strategy of the City Council.
It is considered vital that there is a strong link between land use planning, transport, economic and social policies with the carbon agenda. The senior manager role is well placed to ensure this integration.
This role will be important in ensuring the City Council’s objectives are not undermined if the government brings forward an Eco-town proposal within the sub-region.
The role is well placed to keep abreast of best practice elsewhere The role is also vital in ensuring the communication of the vision to maintain and develop a highly sustainable city with a high quality of life.
Simon Payne
Director of Environment & Planning
Brian Human
Head of Policy Projects