Cambridge City Council is required to appoint four members of the public (along with three city councillors) to be Cam Conservators for a three year period starting 1 January 2013. The collective body is known as the Conservators of the River Cam and as a collective body it is responsible for maintaining the River Cam between the Mill Pond and Bottisham Lock.

The City Council is seeking to recruit the four members of the public by an open recruitment process. The most important criteria is that you are interested in, and/or have knowledge of, some aspect of the river and its use. Please note that the positions are voluntary and carry no remuneration.

For informal enquiries, further background, an application form and person criteria please contact Glenn Burgess on 01223 457169 or email glenn.burgess@cambridge.gov.uk.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 10 August 2012.

For more information on the Conservators, its purpose and work, please see its website.

On Tuesday 10th July Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge, Julian Huppert, will propose new measures to defend local pubs and independent shops from being taken over. Under the current system, councils and local residents often have no opportunity to stop the process.

Julian will ask to bring a Bill preventing the demolition or change of use of a pub or local independent shop without planning permission. Planning permission would also be needed before premises or land could be used for a supermarket.

If you agree that pubs and independent shops need greater protection against being lost, please sign Julian’s petition:

Please note that from 30 July bin collection days will change for some
streets. Look out for a sticker on your black bin to see if you are affected,
and find out more on the city council website here.

Now is your opportunity to have your say about the future development of
Cambridge both from a planning and a transport point of view. Consultation is
open in preparation for a the City Council’s new Local Plan for the period
until 2031, and to help develop a complementary County Council Transport
Strategy for the city and South Cambridgeshire.

Consultation reading and input documentation is available on the following
websites:

Local Plan:
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-plan-review/local-plan-review-issues-and-options-report.en

Transport:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/strategies/currenttransportplans/Transport+Strategy+for+Cambridge+and+South+Cambridgeshire.htm

The Local Plan consultation closes on July 27th and the Transport Strategy on
Sept 28th.

There are combined exhibitions on both exercises taking place in the city
centre over the next couple of weeks:

Saturday 7th July at the Big Weekend on Parkers Piece 10am – 3pm
Monday 16th July in the Small Hall at the Guildhall 10am – 8pm