Cambridge benefits

I won't be able to get to Cambridge using public transport

This will not be the case. Public transport is largely the remit of the CPCA which will continue to support the whole county. Under Option B investment has been earmarked for improved transportation links, particularly to college and hospital sites.

I won't be able to use Addenbrooke's or Papworth Hospitals

This will not be the case. These are regional, specialist centres and they will continue to provide healthcare services to all Cambridgeshire residents. Option B will also ensure more money is invested at a grass roots level into care and preventative measures.

I am concerned my health needs will be overlooked

The northern unitary would use its size to negotiate better deals for care services, while Greater Cambridge would work with cutting edge companies to develop better care technologies. By working in close partnership with the NHS, care services, community groups, sporting and lifestyle organisations, we aim to keep people healthy and living independently for longer.

I won't be able to send my child to college in Cambridge

Cambridgeshire will still exist as a county and therefore educational places will be available as they were before.

It is important to be close to Cambridge for jobs, shopping or leisure

This will not change. People living in East Cambridgeshire will still be encouraged to work in Cambridge and to visit it for shopping or leisure purposes.

I or my business wants to be associated with the prestige that surrounds Cambridge

Our close proximity to Cambridge means you will still be easily able to access all of the benefits Greater Cambridge bring to you as an individual or a business.

What benefits will there be for my business

On the one hand we have Greater Cambridge, famed globally for technology, innovation and AI, on the other hand the northern economic powerhouse of Peterborough and its market towns, specialising in agri-tech, advanced manufacturing and fresh produce logistics. With each area playing to its strengths, we have a clear voice for attracting investment, which in turn leads to jobs.

By working together, we also benefit each other. Greater Cambridge benefits from supply chains, services, labour and manufacturing locations in the north, especially in agri-tech, while Peterborough and the more rural districts benefit from the economic spill-over of the south.

Housing

The new homes will just be built anyway

All councils have a requirement to provide new homes for people. Under Option A, we risk losing control of where homes go to the Cambridge Growth Company.

The Cambridge Growth Company is owned by the government and has the remit to provide up to 150,000 new homes in the Greater Cambridgeshire area. It is not a democratically accountable body. In short, it will be able to put homes where it wants, and East Cambridgeshire will be the cheaper option.

Under Option B, East Cambridgeshire will be part of a larger, unitary authority, and as part of the Local Plan (and Neighbourhood planning process), local councillors who have been democratically elected will have a larger area to choose from in deciding where to put new homes.

Peterborough

I never go to Peterborough. I don't want to be part of a unitary authority which has its headquarters there

A significant advantage of the North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Unitary is its size. Because it is so geographically large, there will be a need to deliver services at a local level. This means retaining many of the community-based services council's currently offer. The only difference will be the administration and finances will be held centrally. Under Option A, it is likely local services will be overlooked in favour of more Cambridge based offering.

Peterborough has a lot of debt which we will inherit

Both Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council have significant amounts of debt, this is largely due to the nature of the services they provide, such as adult social care and SEND support. When you look at the reserves each council holds and also the amount of debt each council has (we have no debt in East Cambridgeshire), residents are better off under Option B than Option A. This means Council Tax will be lower under Option B.

The value of my house will go down if we are aligned with Peterborough

House prices are affected by market forces, their geographical location and the quality of the area in which they are situated, not which council they sit under.

Peterborough is already a unitary. It would just continue to do what it already does and it won't care about me or my community

Under Local Government Reorganisation all of the existing councils, including Peterborough, will cease to exist. There will be a new unitary authority set up to serve a larger geographical area and population. Because the political makeup of the unitary authority will change, it will have a new democratically elected leader who will be supported by elected councillors. There will also be a new chief executive. The unitary authority will also have a new remit covering the entire area, as well as more money. Because it is so large, satellite offices will also remain in operation in East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Fenland.

The new unitary being proposed is so large my voice will get overlooked

On the contrary, one of the reasons for creating a large unitary is to ensure that local voices are heard. In fact that North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is so large means there is an undisputed need for local satellite offices offering local services to communities.

These areas will be supported by locally based staff and councillors who live and work in the same areas and know first-hand the communities they serve. The large buying power of the new unitary also means there will be more money to spend on services and goods tailored to local needs.  Option B also includes a strong commitment to carry out regular community engagement with local people, ensuring their voices are always heard and listened to. Under Option A, because it is smaller, there is not such a clear need for local based services, councillors or staff.