en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cambridgeshire County Council has signed a road maintenance contract renewal agreement with M Group, extending the existing partnership until June 2030, aiming to improve taxpayer value for money and maintain service stability during Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
This renewed contract is a continuation of the long-standing collaboration between the two parties, designed to address severe systemic challenges facing the highway network, including long-term government underinvestment, the impacts of climate change, and damage to roads from soil conditions, thereby revitalizing highway services and ensuring safe and convenient travel across the county.
The contract, originally set to expire in June 2027, has been extended by three years. As part of the renewal, the Council and M Group have jointly agreed on several contract improvements, prioritizing enhanced value for money and quality control. The new contract will take effect this July, with gradual improvements in the delivery of highway maintenance services to be implemented over the summer.
In July 2025, the government advised authorities undergoing local government reorganisation to ensure their decisions do not negatively impact the sustainability of successor authorities, nor should they limit the ability of future councils to deliver priorities within budget. In January 2026, the Highways and Transport Committee agreed that prudently renewing and improving the road maintenance contract with M Group was the best way to ensure a safe and lawful transition process, while demonstrating good governance by the County Council. This short-term renewal will enable future councils to procure their own road maintenance contracts, rather than being bound by a long-term agreement.
Cllr Alex Beckett, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Highways and Transport Committee, stated that investment in Cambridgeshire's roads has more than doubled in recent years, and the renewed contract establishes a framework for the Council to do better together with M Group. Agreeing to extend the improved contract until 2030 allows the Council to implement quality improvements now, rather than waiting until the contract expires in 2027, while also following government guidance on local government reorganisation to ensure successor authorities have the capacity to procure their own maintenance contracts.
Matthew Riches, Operations Director at M Group, expressed delight in continuing the productive partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, stating they will continue to drive innovation and best practices, proactively ensuring residents receive efficient, high-quality services. With a commitment to safer, greener roads aligned with the Council's ambitions, both parties place safety, value for money, environmental responsibility, and community at the heart of their work.
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