Cambridgeshire County Council
The elected administrative body governing Cambridgeshire, England
Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council for non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire , England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county , which additionally includes the City of Peterborough . The county council consists of 61 councillors, representing 59 electoral divisions. The council is based at New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald , near Huntingdon . It is part of the East of England Local Government Association and a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority .
Since May 2021, it has been run by a joint administration of the Liberal Democrats , Labour Party , and independent groups.
History
Cambridgeshire County Council was first formed in 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888 as one of two county councils covering Cambridgeshire; the other was the Isle of Ely County Council . In 1965, the two councils were merged to form Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely County Council .
This arrangement lasted until 1974, when, following the Local Government Act 1972 , Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely were merged with Huntingdon and Peterborough to form a new non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire under the control of a newly constituted Cambridgeshire County Council. The first elections to the new authority were in April 1973 , and the council took office on 1 April 1974.
From its re-creation in 1974 until 1998, the county council administered the entire county of Cambridgeshire. In 1998, Peterborough City Council became a unitary authority , thus outside the area of the county council. For ceremonial, geographic , and certain administrative purposes, however, Peterborough continues to be associated with and work in collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council.[2] Since 2017, the council has been a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority , led by the directly-elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough .[3]
The council is responsible for public services such as education, transport, highways, heritage, social care, libraries, trading standards, and waste management.[4]
District councils
The county council is the upper-tier of local government, below which are five councils with responsibility for local services such as housing, planning applications, licensing, council tax collection and rubbish collection. The districts of Cambridgeshire are:
Political control
Following the 2021 Cambridgeshire County Council election a joint administration formed comprising the Liberal Democrats , Labour , and independent councillors.[5]
Political control of the county council since the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972 took effect on 1 April 1974 has been as follows:[6]
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 1997 have been:[7]
Composition
Following the 2021 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to March 2024, the composition of the council was:[14] [15]
Three of the independent councillors sit together as a group, the other three are not aligned to any group.[16] The next election is due in 2025.
Premises
Shire Hall , Castle Hill, Cambridge: Council's headquarters 1932–2021.
Until 2021, the county council had its offices and meeting place in Cambridge, being based at different times at the Guildhall , County Hall , and Shire Hall .[17]
In 2021 the council vacated Shire Hall and left Cambridge, moving to New Shire Hall at Alconbury Weald in the parish of The Stukeleys , north-west of Huntingdon .[18] The first committee meeting to be held at New Shire Hall was in September 2021.[19] An official opening ceremony for New Shire Hall was held on 8 July 2022.[20]
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2017, the council has comprised 61 councillors representing 59 electoral divisions , with most divisions electing one councillor but two divisions (March North & Waldersley and Sawston & Shelford) elect two councillors each. Elections are held every four years.[21]
Councillors and electoral divisions
Electoral Division
Parishes[22]
Councillor[22]
Party
Abbey
Abbey
Alex Bulat
Labour
Alconbury and Kimbolton
Alconbury, Alconbury Weston, Barham & Woolley, Brington & Molesworth, Buckworth, Bythorn & Keyston, Catworth, Covington, Easton, Ellington, Great Gidding, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Hamerton & Steeple Gidding, Kimbolton, Leighton, Little Gidding, Old Weston, Perry, Spaldwick, Stow Longa, Tilbrook, Upton & Coppingford and Winwick
Ian Gardener
Conservative
Arbury
Arbury
Hilary Condron
Labour
Bar Hill
Bar Hill, Boxworth, Dry Drayton, Girton, Lolworth
Edna Murphy
Liberal Democrats
Brampton and Buckden
Brampton, Buckden, Diddington, Grafham, Offord Cluny & Offord D’Arcy and Southoe & Midloe
Ken Billington
Conservative
Burwell
Burwell, Reach, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior
Josh Schumann
Independent
Cambourne
Bourn, Cambourne, Little Gransden and Longstowe
Mark Howell
Conservative
Castle
Castle
Catherine Rae
Labour
Chatteris
Chatteris
Anne Hay
Conservative
Cherry Hinton
Cherry Hinton
Bryony Goodliffe
Labour
Chesterton
Chesterton
Gerri Bird
Labour
Cottenham and Willingham
Cottenham, Rampton and Willingham
Neil Gough
Liberal Democrats
Duxford
Babraham, Duxford, Fowlmere, Great Abington, Hinxton, Ickleton, Little Abington, Pampisford, Thriplow, Whittlesford
Peter McDonald
Liberal Democrat
Ely North
Ely
Alison Whelan
Liberal Democrat
Ely South
Ely, Stuntney
Piers Coutts
Liberal Democrats
Fulbourn
Fen Ditton, Fulbourn, Great Wilbraham, Horningsea, Little Wilbraham, Stow cum Quy, Teversham
Claire Daunton
Liberal Democrat
Gamlingay
Arrington, Barrington, Croydon, Gamlingay, Guilden Morden, Steeple Morden, Tadlow, Hatley, Shingay-cum-Wendy, Abington Pigotts, Litlington Orwell, Wimpole
Sebastian Kindersley
Liberal Democrat
Godmanchester and Huntingdon South
Graham Wilson
Liberal Democrat
Hardwick
Barton, Caldecote, Childerley, Comberton, Coton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Kingston, Madingley, Toft
Michael Atkins
Liberal Democrat
Histon and Impington
Ros Hathorn
Liberal Democrat
Huntingdon North and Hartford
Jonas King
Independent
Huntingdon West
Tom Sanderson
Independent
King's Hedges
King's Hedges
Elisa Meschini
Labour
Linton
Balsham, Bartlow, Carlton, Castle Camps, Hildersham, Horseheath, Linton, Shudy Camps, West Wickham, West Wratting, Weston Colville
Henry Batchelor
Liberal Democrat
Littleport
Littleport
David Ambrose Smith
Conservative
Longstanton, Northstowe and Over
Firouz Thompson
Liberal Democrats
March North and Waldersey
March
Steve Count
Conservative
Janet French
Conservative
March South and Rural
Benwick, March
John Gowling
Conservative
Market
Market
Nick Gay
Labour
Melbourn & Bassingbourn
Foxton, Great and Little Chishill, Heydon, Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth
Susan van de Ven
Liberal Democrat
Newnham
Newnham
Lucy Nethsingha
Liberal Democrat
Papworth and Swavesey
Conington (S), Croxton, Elsworth, Eltisley, Fen Drayton, Graveley, Knapwell, Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Swavesey
Mandy Smith
Conservative
Petersfield
Petersfield
Richard Howitt
Labour
Queen Edith's
Queen Edith's
Alex Beckett
Liberal Democrat
Ramsey and Bury
Ramsey
Adela Costello
Conservative
Roman Bank and Peckover
Gorefield, Leverington, Newton (F), Tydd St Giles, Wisbech
Simon King
Conservative
Romsey
Romsey
Neil Shailer
Labour
Sawston and Shelford
Great Shelford, Harston, Hauxton, Little Shelford, Newton (S), Sawston, Stapleford
Brian Milnes
Liberal Democrat
Maria King
Liberal Democrat
Sawtry and Stilton
Barham and Woolley, Brington and Molesworth, Buckworth, Bythorn and Keyston, Catworth, Conington (H), Easton, Ellington, Glatton, Great Gidding, Hamerton, Leighton, Little Gidding, Old Weston, Sawtry, Spaldwick, Steeple Gidding, Stow Longa, Upton and Coppingford, Winwick
Simon Bywater
Conservative
Soham North and Isleham
Chippenham, Fordham, Isleham, Kennett, Snailwell, Soham, Wicken
Mark Goldsack
Conservative
Soham South and Haddenham
Dan Schumann
Conservative
Somersham and Earith
Bluntisham, Broughton, Colne, Earith, Old Hurst, Pidley cum Fenton, Somersham, Woodhurst
Steve Criswell
Conservative
St Ives North and Wyton
Holywell-cum-Needingworth, St Ives
Ryan Fuller
Conservative
St Ives South and Needingworth
Kevin Reynolds
Conservative
St Neots East and Gransden
St Neots
Stephen Ferguson
Independent
St Neots Eynesbury
Simone Taylor
Independent
St Neots Priory Park and Little Paxton
Keith Prentice
Independent
St Neots The Eatons
Geoff Seeff
Liberal Democrat
Sutton
Coveney, Downham, Mepal, Sutton, Wentworth, Witcham, Witchford
Lorna Dupré
Liberal Democrat
The Hemingfords & Fenstanton
Fenstanton, Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Hilton, Houghton and Wyton
Douglas Dew
Liberal Democrat
Trumpington
Philippa Slatter
Liberal Democrat
Warboys & the Stukeleys
Abbots Ripton, Bury, Houghton and Wyton, Kings Ripton, Upwood and the Raveleys, Warboys, Wistow, Wood Walton
Steve Cortney
Conservative
Waterbeach
Landbeach, Milton, Waterbeach
Anna Bradnam
Liberal Democrat
Whittlesey North
Whittlesey
Chris Boden
Conservative
Whittlesey South
Whittlesey
David Connor
Conservative
Wisbech East
Wisbech
Samantha Hoy
Conservative
Wisbech West
Wisbech
Steven Tierney
Conservative
Woodditton
Ashley, Bottisham, Brinkley, Burrough Green, Cheveley, Dullingham, Kirtling, Lode, Stetchworth, Westley Waterless, Woodditton
Alan Sharp
Conservative
Yaxley and Farcet
Yaxley
Andrew Wood
Liberal Democrat
Coat of arms
Coat of arms of Cambridgeshire County Council
Notes
Granted on 1 November 1976.
Escutcheon
Or three Palets wavy alternating with two Palets Azure a Bordure Gules flory on the inner edge Or; the Shield ensigned by a Mural Crown Or.
Supporters
On either side a Great Bustard proper the exterior leg resting on a closed Book Gules garnished Or pendent from the neck of the dexter by a Cord Argent two keys in saltire wards uppermost uppermost and outwards Gules and from the neck of the sinister by a like Cord a Hunting Horn mouth to the dexter Or.
Motto
Corde uno sapientes simus (With one heart let us be men and women of understanding.)
Badge
Within an Annulet ensigned by a Coronet a Bar Or between two Bars wavy Azure.
The council was granted a coat of arms on 1 November 1976. The three wavy blue lines represent the county's three main rivers of the Cam , Great Ouse and Nene , and the two straight lines represent the many drainage ditches in the Fens . Other parts of the design represent different parts of the county and the council's predecessors: the supporters are great bustards, birds which were formerly common in the Fens, the crossed keys are a symbol of Saint Peter , representing Peterborough , and the hunting horn is a symbol of the former county of Huntingdonshire . The birds stand on books representing the University of Cambridge .[23]
See also
References
^ Davies, Debbie (24 May 2023). "Cllr Sebastian Kindersley is named as new county council chair" . Cambs Times . Retrieved 2 June 2023 .
^ "Fostering in Cambridgeshire" . Cambridgeshire County Council . Retrieved 7 August 2022 .
^ "The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , SI 2017/251, retrieved 13 June 2023
^ "Understand how your council works" . www.gov.uk . HM Government . Retrieved 17 May 2021 .
^ "Lib Dems, Labour and Independent groups agree joint administration for Cambridgeshire County Council" . Cambridge Independent . 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021 .
^ "Compositions calculator" . The Elections Centre . Retrieved 13 June 2023 .
^ "Council minutes" . Cambridgeshire County Council . Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "County council leader steps down" . BBC News . 26 March 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "Shona Johnstone resigns" . Hunts Post . 12 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "COUNTY COUNCIL (EXTRAORDINARY MEETING): MINUTES" . cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/ . Cambridgeshire County Council. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2024 .
^ "Jill Tuck named new county council leader" . Hunts Post . 9 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "Nick Clarke new leader of Cambridgeshire County Council" . South Cambridgeshire Conservatives . 17 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "Cambridgeshire's council leader is Tory Martin Curtis" . BBC News . 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2022 .
^ "Cambridgeshire County Council" . BBC News . Retrieved 12 May 2021 .
^ Elworthy, John (25 April 2023). "Conservative at Cambridgeshire County Council leaves Conservative group" . Cambs News . Retrieved 7 June 2023 .
^ "County Councillors" . Cambridgeshire County Council . Retrieved 12 March 2024 .
^ "The city of Cambridge: Public buildings | British History Online" . www.british-history.ac.uk . Retrieved 20 May 2021 .
^ elworthy, john (15 February 2021). "What's in a name you ask?" . Cambs Times . Retrieved 20 May 2021 .
^ "Children and Young People Committee, 14 September 2021" . Cambridgeshire County Council . Retrieved 24 March 2022 .
^ Mason, Daniel (12 July 2022). "County council's £18m headquarters officially opens for business" . Ely Standard . Retrieved 20 July 2022 .
^ "The Cambridgeshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2016" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , SI 2016/1222, retrieved 13 June 2023
^ a b "Council and committee meetings - Cambridgeshire County Council > Councillors" . cmis.cambridgeshire.gov.uk . Retrieved 30 May 2018 .
^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
External links
New creation
County council 1889 – 1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by
County council 1974 – present
Current
Local authorities in Cambridgeshire
County council and unitary District councils Parish councils