The council has agreed an extension of its road maintenance contract with M Group, which will provide improved value for taxpayers and stability during local government reorganisation (LGR).
This follows ongoing collaborative work with M Group over a number of years to address serious and systemic challenges on our highways (long term government under investment, climate change impacts and our soil affected roads) and deliver a revitalised highways service that’s equipped to ensure safe and well-connected travel across our county.
The council’s contract with M Group, which was due to end in June 2027, will be extended until June 2030. As part of the extension a number of enhancements to the contract have been jointly agreed between the council and M Group, prioritising improved value for money and quality control.
The new contract extension will come into effect in July this year, with agreed improvements in the delivery of road maintenance services to be rolled out over the course of the summer.
In July 2025, the Government advised that authorities going through LGR should ensure that their decisions do not negatively impact the sustainability of successor authorities or limit the ability of those future councils to deliver on their priorities, within their budgets.
Securing a prudent extension and enhancement of the council’s road maintenance contract with M Group was agreed by the Highways and Transport Committee, in January 2026, to be the best way to ensure a safe and legal LGR transition process, whilst representing good stewardship by the county council.
This short-term extension will enable the future councils to procure their own road maintenance contract, rather than tying them into a long-term contract.
The collaboratively agreed enhancements secure an improved deal for Cambridgeshire’s taxpayers a year ahead of when the current contract was due to expire, and include:
Fixed costs – introduction of fixed costs for regular maintenance activities to secure better value for money and improved accuracy for budgeting
Quality control – a revised quality control regime that incentivises delivery of work on time and meeting standards
Financial penalties – direct penalties for failure to deliver to the required quality and time standards (in addition to remediation of work)
Maintenance vehicle tracking – All road maintenance vehicles will be tracked to enable monitoring of their whereabouts and outputs to ensure we are getting an efficient service
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "We’ve more than doubled our investment in Cambridgeshire’s highways over recent years and I’m proud of much of what we’ve managed to achieve. This contract extension puts in place a framework to enable us to do far better together with M Group.
“Agreeing the enhanced contract extension until 2030 allows us to put in place quality improvements now rather than wait for the contract to expire in 2027. It also follows government guidance about local government reorganisation, ensuring that the county council’s successor authorities are in a strong position to procure their own maintenance contracts, rather than being tied into a lengthy deal which might not match their future priorities.”
Matthew Riches, Operations Director, M Group, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our productive and collaborative relationship with Cambridgeshire County Council.
“We will continue to drive innovation and best practice, taking a proactive approach to ensure Cambridgeshire residents receive an efficient, high-quality service.
“With our commitment to safer, greener highways, combined with the council’s ambitions, we are placing safety, value for money, environmental responsibility, and our communities at the heart of everything we deliver.”
