Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed terms of reference for the transport commission, which was set up following the disintegration of the initial TIF proposal.

Council leader Jill Tuck emphasised the commission would be given a free hand to look at all options for dealing with congestion.

‘The commission will need to gain a thorough understanding of the key transport issues we face and consider whether the proposals put forward last year are appropriate,’ she added.

However, she said the commission would need to recognise that without a congestion charging scheme ‘there is no chance of massive Government investment in public transport improvements’.

The county council will now appoint an independent chairman of the commission and it will be expected to report to the council later this year with recommendations for tackling the congestion problem in Cambridge.