Cambridge City’s Labour Group, who took control of the Council in 2014,
have revealed they are developing a ‘Plan for 2020’. The Plan was
highlighted in the Labour Group’s Manifesto for the elections on 5 May
2016 which was published on Friday 15 April.

Labour Councillors have already transformed the council’s finances in
the last two years and set up shared services with neighbouring councils
to protect the services residents need most, removing the Council’s
funding deficit caused by the steady removal of all grants by central
Government and planning ahead rather than being forced into damaging
cuts like some councils.

Councillor Lewis Herbert, Leader of the Labour run City Council, said:
“We are facing a period of unprecedented national cuts to services and
the ending of government grant to councils by 2020. Cambridge is a city
with considerable strengths. Its continuing success is vital to the
local economy in delivering real prosperity across our region and vital
to the national economy as one of the few cities making a major net
contribution to the Treasury.

“At the same time we face significant growth pressures, especially from
the need for affordable housing and high quality transport
infrastructure, and we need a coherent plan to close the funding gap and
protect local services. Our 2020 Plan will lay the foundations for the
City Council to be resilient and ambitious for the future.”

Councillor Herbert added: “We have already had two years of success in
transforming how we deliver services and support those who need us the
most in Cambridge. Labour councillors have also paid for and produced a
report back to residents on our achievements over the last two years
which we are delivering to every resident.

“Looking forward, we must ensure that devolution is the right deal for
Cambridge, not a rushed and wrong Three Counties Deal, and we will
continue to focus on making sure prosperity reaches all the City’s
residents.”