"Business people probably think about what the local authorities are doing – but perhaps only occasionally when they are looking for planning permission or reading the local news. There is a general perception that someone else is getting things done.
"The City Council or South Cambs may only get to hear from business leaders when they have a complaint; we need to keep the dialogue much better than that," says Claire.
The LEP has had a £21.1 million Growth Deal signed earlier this month, which is expected to create thousands more houses and local jobs.
The City Deal potentially gives Cambridge £500 million and decisions are made by a partnership between the councils, the LEP and the University of Cambridge. A new Assembly has just been created to help decision making.
She continues: "I’ve been asked to represent businesses on the City Deal Assembly. It is a significant challenge to make good decisions on infrastructure, and this will be hard work, but some of us need to do it and I’m extremely keen that we spend the money as effectively as we possibly can."
Business interests are represented on the Assembly by Claire as chief executive of Cambridge Network, Sir Michael Marshall of The Marshall Group and Andy Williams of AstraZeneca.
Claire is keen to have input from Cambridge Network members. She says: "Now is the time to have the clearest possible vision for the region. It will take more than a few bus stops to cope with the congestion we see in school term time, so how can we be imaginative and find solutions?
"If anyone has views and wants a channel into the thinking, then please do get in touch!"
Contact Claire by email: Claire.Ruskin@CambridgeNetwork.co.uk
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