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Cambridgeshire Governance Unveiled

An in-depth exploration of the Cambridgeshire County Council: Its structure, history, and democratic functions.

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Understanding Cambridgeshire County Council

Civic Authority

Cambridgeshire County Council serves as the elected body governing the non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is distinct from the broader ceremonial county, which also encompasses the City of Peterborough. The council is composed of 61 councillors, representing 59 electoral divisions, and is headquartered at New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald.

Regional Integration

As a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, the County Council collaborates on strategic regional development and governance. This integration ensures coordinated planning and service delivery across the wider Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area.

Administrative Role

The council operates as the upper tier of local government, responsible for a wide array of essential public services. These include education, transport infrastructure, highways management, heritage preservation, social care provision, library services, trading standards enforcement, and waste management, impacting the daily lives of residents.

Evolution of Governance: A Historical Perspective

Foundational Years

Cambridgeshire County Council was initially established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888. Initially, two county councils served Cambridgeshire: one for the county itself and another for the Isle of Ely. These were merged in 1965 to form the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely County Council.

Reorganization and Consolidation

The significant local government reforms of 1974, driven by the Local Government Act 1972, led to the amalgamation of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely with Huntingdon and Peterborough. This created the new non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire, governed by a newly constituted Cambridgeshire County Council, which officially took office on April 1, 1974.

Modern Structure

From 1974 until 1998, the County Council administered the entirety of Cambridgeshire. Subsequently, Peterborough City Council became a unitary authority, operating independently of the County Council for many functions, though collaboration persists for ceremonial and certain administrative purposes. Since 2017, the council has been a key component of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Organizational Framework

Two-Tier System

Cambridgeshire operates under a two-tier local government structure. The County Council functions as the upper tier, overseeing strategic services. Below it are five district councils, each responsible for more localized services such as housing, planning applications, licensing, and council tax collection.

District Councils

The district councils within Cambridgeshire are:

  • Cambridge City Council
  • East Cambridgeshire District Council
  • Fenland District Council
  • Huntingdonshire District Council
  • South Cambridgeshire District Council

Representation

The County Council comprises 61 councillors, elected from 59 electoral divisions. This structure ensures representation across the diverse geographical and demographic landscape of the county, with most divisions electing a single councillor, while two divisions elect two councillors each.

Political Landscape

Current Representation

Following the most recent elections, the political composition of Cambridgeshire County Council reflects a diverse range of representation. The council operates with a four-year term for its elected councillors.

Council Composition

As of the 2025 election, the council's composition is as follows:

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 31
Conservative 10
Reform UK 10
Labour 5
Green 3
Independent 2
Total 61

Shifting Political Mandates

Historical Control

The political control of Cambridgeshire County Council has evolved significantly since its re-establishment in 1974. The council has experienced periods of Conservative majority rule, as well as times of 'No Overall Control', necessitating coalition or minority administration.

Party Years
No overall control 1974โ€“1977
Conservative 1977โ€“1985
No overall control 1985โ€“1989
Conservative 1989โ€“1993
No overall control 1993โ€“1997
Conservative 1997โ€“2013
No overall control 2013โ€“2017
Conservative 2017โ€“2021
No overall control 2021โ€“2025
Liberal Democrats 2025โ€“present

Current Leadership

As of May 2025, the leadership structure is as follows:

  • Chair: Peter McDonald (Liberal Democrat), since May 20, 2025.
  • Leader: Lucy Nethsingha (Liberal Democrat), since May 18, 2021.
  • Chief Executive: Stephen Moir, since February 21, 2022.

Public Service Provision

Core Responsibilities

Cambridgeshire County Council is entrusted with the administration and delivery of a broad spectrum of vital public services essential for the well-being and development of the county's residents. These include:

  • Education and Schools
  • Transport Planning and Infrastructure
  • Highways Maintenance and Development
  • Social Care Services (Adults and Children)
  • Library Services
  • Trading Standards and Consumer Protection
  • Waste Management and Recycling
  • Heritage and Archives

Administrative Hubs

Transition to New Shire Hall

Until 2021, the council's administrative heart was located in Cambridge, with various offices including County Hall and Shire Hall serving as its headquarters. In 2021, the council relocated its primary operations from Cambridge to the newly constructed New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald, near Huntingdon. This move marked a significant shift in the council's operational base.

Operational Milestone

The first committee meetings were held at New Shire Hall in September 2021, signifying the commencement of operations at the new site. An official opening ceremony for the modern facility took place on July 8, 2022, underscoring its importance as the central administrative hub for Cambridgeshire County Council.

Symbols of Authority: The Coat of Arms

Heraldic Design

The Coat of Arms for Cambridgeshire County Council, granted on November 1, 1976, is rich in symbolism reflecting the county's geography, history, and heritage.

Escutcheon (Shield): Features three wavy blue bars alternating with two wavy gold bars, representing the county's major rivers (Cam, Great Ouse, Nene) and the drainage ditches of The Fens. A red border flory (decorated with fleurs-de-lis) signifies historical connections and administrative predecessors.

Supporters: Two Great Bustards, birds historically common in the Fens, stand on closed gold books symbolizing the University of Cambridge. The dexter supporter (left side) bears two crossed red keys (symbolizing St. Peter and Peterborough), while the sinister supporter (right side) carries a hunting horn (representing Huntingdonshire).

Motto: "Corde uno sapientes simus" (Latin for "With one heart let us be men and women of understanding").

Banner: A heraldic banner depicting the council's arms.

Badge: A design featuring an annulet surmounted by a coronet, with blue and gold bars representing rivers and drainage.

Electoral Processes

Election Cycle

Elections for Cambridgeshire County Council are held every four years. The most recent election took place on May 1, 2025. The council's electoral divisions were last redrawn in 2017, resulting in 61 councillors representing 59 divisions, with two divisions electing two councillors each.

Voting System

The electoral system employed for these elections is First-past-the-post (FPTP), a common method in UK local elections where the candidate with the most votes in each division wins.

Detailed Councillor Breakdown

The following table provides a comprehensive list of electoral divisions, associated parishes, and the elected councillors, reflecting the composition following the 2025 election.

Councillors and Electoral Divisions (Post-2025 Election)
Electoral Division Parishes Councillor Party
Abbey Abbey   Elliot Tong Green
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   Mike Black Labour
Bar Hill Bar Hill, Boxworth, Dry Drayton, Girton, Lolworth   Edna Murphy Liberal Democrats
Brampton and Buckden Brampton, Buckden, Diddington, Grafham, Offord Cluny & Offord Dโ€™Arcy and Southoe & Midloe   Liam Beckett Liberal Democrats
Burwell Burwell, Reach, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior   Yannifer Malinowski Liberal Democrats
Cambourne Bourn, Cambourne, Caxton, Little Gransden and Longstowe   Lucy Nethsingha Liberal Democrats
Castle Castle   Rory Clark Liberal Democrats
Chatteris Chatteris   Daniel Divine Reform
Cherry Hinton Cherry Hinton   Bryony Goodliffe Labour
Chesterton Chesterton   Ian Manning Liberal Democrats
Cottenham and Willingham Cottenham, Rampton and Willingham   Yasmin Deter Liberal Democrats
Duxford Babraham, Duxford, Fowlmere, Great Abington,
Hinxton, Ickleton, Little Abington, Pampisford,
Thriplow, Whittlesford
  Peter McDonald Liberal Democrats
Ely North Ely   Alison Whelan Liberal Democrats
Ely South Ely, Stuntney   Christine Whelan Liberal Democrats
Fulbourn Fen Ditton, Fulbourn, Great Wilbraham,
Horningsea, Little Wilbraham, Stow cum Quy,
Teversham
  Matthew Morgan Liberal Democrats
Gamlingay Arrington, Barrington, Croydon, Gamlingay,
Guilden Morden, Steeple Morden, Tadlow, Hatley,
Shingay-cum-Wendy, Abington Pigotts, Litlington
Orwell, Wimpole
  James Stuart Liberal Democrats
Godmanchester and Huntingdon South   Graham Wilson Liberal Democrats
Hardwick Barton, Caldecote, Childerley, Comberton,
Coton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Kingston,
Madingley, Toft
  Christopher Morris Liberal Democrats
Histon and Impington   Ros Hathorn Liberal Democrats
Huntingdon North and Hartford   Leedo George Conservative
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 Democrats
Littleport Littleport   John Wells Reform
Longstanton, Northstowe and Over   Luis Navarro Liberal Democrats
March North and Waldersey March   Stefan Fisher Reform
  Colin Galbraith Reform
March South and Rural Benwick, March   Christopher Thornhill Reform
Market Market   Alex Beckett Liberal Democrats
Melbourn & Bassingbourn Foxton, Great and Little Chishill, Heydon,
Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth
  Adam Bostanci Liberal Democrats
Newnham Newnham   Peter Rees Green
Papworth and Swavesey Conington (S), Croxton, Elsworth, Eltisley,
Fen Drayton, Graveley, Knapwell,
Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Swavesey
  Chris Poulton Liberal Democrats
Petersfield Petersfield  

Richard Howitt

Labour
Queen Edith's Queen Edith's   Karen Young Liberal Democrats
Ramsey and Bury Ramsey   James Sidlow Reform
Roman Bank and Peckover Gorefield, Leverington, Newton (F),
Tydd St Giles, Wisbech
  Andy Osborn Reform
Romsey Romsey   Darren Green Green
Sawston and Shelford Great Shelford, Harston, Hauxton,
Little Shelford, Newton (S), Sawston, Stapleford
  Laurence Damary-Homan Liberal Democrats
  Peter Fane Liberal Democrats
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   Tom Hawker-Dawson Liberal Democrats
Somersham and Earith Bluntisham, Broughton, Colne, Earith, Old Hurst,
Pidley cum Fenton, Somersham, Woodhurst
  Charlotte Lowe Conservative
St Ives North and Wyton Holywell-cum-Needingworth, St Ives  

Julie Kerr

Conservative
St Ives South and Needingworth   Alex Bulat Conservative
St Neots East and Gransden St Neots   Sarah Caine Liberal Democrats
St Neots Eynesbury   Ricky Ioannides Reform
St Neots Priory Park and Little Paxton Robin Wyatt Liberal Democrats
St Neots The Eatons   Geoffrey Seeff Liberal Democrats
Sutton Coveney, Downham, Mepal, Sutton, Wentworth, Witcham, Witchford   Lorna Duprรฉ Liberal Democrats
The Hemingfords & Fenstanton Fenstanton, Hemingford Abbots,
Hemingford Grey, Hilton, Houghton and Wyton
  David Keane Conservative
Trumpington   David Levien Liberal Democrats
Warboys & the Stukeleys Abbots Ripton, Bury, Houghton and Wyton,
Kings Ripton, Upwood and the Raveleys,
Warboys, Wistow, Wood Walton
 

Ross Martin

Conservative
Waterbeach Landbeach, Milton, Waterbeach   Anna Bradnam Liberal Democrats
Whittlesey North Whittlesey   Chris Boden Conservative
Whittlesey South Whittlesey   Michael Fisher Reform
Wisbech East Wisbech   Samantha Hoy Conservative
Wisbech West Wisbech   Steve Tierney Conservative
Woodditton Ashley, Bottisham, Brinkley, Burrough Green,
Cheveley, Dullingham, Kirtling, Lode,
Stetchworth, Westley Waterless, Woodditton
  Jonny Edge Liberal Democrats
Yaxley and Farcet Yaxley   Des Watt Reform

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Cambridgeshire County Council Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily from Wikipedia, and may not be entirely exhaustive, current, or perfectly accurate. It is not intended to substitute for official documentation or professional consultation.

This is not official advice. The information provided herein is not a substitute for professional advice regarding local governance, public administration, or legal matters. Always consult official sources and qualified professionals for specific guidance related to Cambridgeshire County Council or any governmental body.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.