Cambridgeshire County Council

Cambridgeshire County Council
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Peter McDonald,
Liberal Democrat
since 20 May 2025[1]
Lucy Nethsingha,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2021
Stephen Moir
since 21 Feb 2022
Structure
Seats61 councillors
Political groups
Administration (31)
  Liberal Democrats (31)
Other parties (30)
  Conservative (10)
  Reform UK (10)
  Labour (5)
  Green (3)
  Independent (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
1 May 2025
Meeting place
New Shire Hall, Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon
Website
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

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 2025, it has been run by a majority administration of Liberal Democrats.

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 2025 Cambridgeshire County Council election the Liberal Democrats won a majority of the council's seats.[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]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1974–1977
Conservative 1977–1985
No overall control 1985–1989
Conservative 1989–1993
No overall control 1993–1997
Conservative 1997–2013
No overall control 2013–2017
Conservative 2017–2021
No overall control 2021–2025
Liberal Democrats 2025-present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1997 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Keith Walters[7][8] Conservative 1997 15 May 2007
Shona Johnstone[8] Conservative 15 May 2007 12 Nov 2007
Keith Walters[9][10] Conservative 23 Nov 2007 May 2008
Jill Tuck[11][12] Conservative 13 May 2008 May 2011
Nick Clarke[13][14] Conservative 17 May 2011 May 2013
Martin Curtis[15][16] Conservative 21 May 2013 13 May 2014
Steve Count[16][17] Conservative 13 May 2014 May 2021
Lucy Nethsingha[18] Liberal Democrats 18 May 2021

Composition

Following the 2025 election, the composition of the council is:[19]

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

The next election is due on 3 May 2029.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22] The first committee meeting to be held at New Shire Hall was in September 2021.[23] An official opening ceremony for New Shire Hall was held on 8 July 2022.[24]

Elections

See also: Cambridgeshire County Council 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.[25]

Councillors and electoral divisions

Electoral Division Parishes[26] Councillor[26] 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 D’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 Dupré 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

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.)
Banner
the heraldic banner of the council
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.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The journey ahead for Cambridgeshire will be led by the Liberal Democrats". Cambridgeshire County Council. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Fostering in Cambridgeshire". Cambridgeshire County Council. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/251, retrieved 13 June 2023
  4. ^ "Understand how your council works". www.gov.uk. HM Government. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Cambridgeshire election results". BBC News. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Cambridgeshire" in search box to see specific results.)
  7. ^ "County council leader steps down". BBC News. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Shona Johnstone resigns". Hunts Post. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Council minutes, 23 November 2007". Cambridgeshire County Council. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Keith Walters named new County Council leader". Hunts Post. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Jill Tuck named new county council leader". Hunts Post. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Cambridgeshire County Council leader to stand down". BBC News. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Nick Clarke new leader of Cambridgeshire County Council". South Cambridgeshire Conservatives. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Cambridgeshire County Council election: Tories lose control". BBC News. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Cambridgeshire's council leader is Tory Martin Curtis". BBC News. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Cambridgeshire Conservatives announce Steve Count as next leader". Cambs Times. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  17. ^ Hatton, Ben (9 May 2021). "Elections 2021: Conservative leader Steve Count explains why he believes Tories lost overall control of Cambridgeshire County Council". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  18. ^ Hatton, Benjamin (20 May 2021). "Lib Dem Lucy Nethsingha officially selected as leader of Cambridgeshire County Council". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Cambridgeshire election results". BBC News. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Cambridgeshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  21. ^ "The city of Cambridge: Public buildings | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  22. ^ elworthy, john (15 February 2021). "What's in a name you ask?". Cambs Times. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Children and Young People Committee, 14 September 2021". Cambridgeshire County Council. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  24. ^ Mason, Daniel (12 July 2022). "County council's £18m headquarters officially opens for business". Ely Standard. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  25. ^ "The Cambridgeshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2016/1222, retrieved 13 June 2023
  26. ^ a b "Council and committee meetings - Cambridgeshire County Council > Councillors". cmis.cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  27. ^ "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)
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