Cambridge City Council

Last updated

Cambridge City Council
Arms of the Cambridge City Council.svg
Coat of arms
Cambridge City Council.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Baiju Thittala,
Labour
since 23 May 2024 [1]
Mike Davey,
Labour
since 25 May 2023
Robert Pollock
since April 2021 [2]
Structure
Seats42 councillors [3]
Political groups
Administration (26)
  Labour (26)
Other parties (17)
  Liberal Democrats (10)
  Green (5)
  Conservative (1)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 2 May 2024
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
The Guildhall, Cambridge - geograph.org.uk - 514416.jpg
The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ
Website
www.cambridge.gov.uk

Cambridge City Council is the local authority for Cambridge, a non-metropolitan district with city status in Cambridgeshire, England. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. It meets at Cambridge Guildhall. The council is a member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Contents

History

Cambridge was an ancient borough. Its date of being established as a borough is unknown, with its earliest known charter dating from 1102. [4] A subsequent charter issued by King John in 1207 granted the borough the right to appoint a mayor. The earliest recorded mayor was Harvey FitzEustace, who served in 1213. [5]

The borough of Cambridge was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which standardised how boroughs operated across the country. It was then governed by a body formally called the 'Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Cambridge', generally known as the corporation, town council or borough council. [6] Cambridge was granted city status on 21 March 1951 in recognition of its history, administrative importance, and economic success, allowing the council to call itself Cambridge City Council. [7]

The Local Government Act 1972 reconstituted Cambridge as a non-metropolitan district with effect from 1 April 1974; it kept the same boundaries and its city status, but there were changes to the council's responsibilities. [8]

The city of Cambridge is completely encircled by the neighbouring district of South Cambridgeshire. The two authorities work together on some projects, such as the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. [9] Since 2017 the city has been a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, led by the directly-elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. [10]

Governance

Cambridge City Council provides district-level services, including parks and open spaces, waste collection, council housing and town planning. The Council also organises numerous events throughout the year, including the Cambridge Folk Festival and a programme of free summer entertainment entitled Summer in the City. County-level services are provided by Cambridgeshire County Council. [11] There are no civil parishes in Cambridge; the entire district is an unparished area. [12]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows: [13]

Party in controlYears
Labour 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1979
No overall control 1979–1986
Labour 1986–1987
No overall control 1987–1988
Labour 1988–1992
No overall control 1992–1996
Labour 1996–1998
No overall control 1998–2000
Liberal Democrats 2000–2012
No overall control 2012–2014
Labour 2014–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Cambridge. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2000 have been: [14]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
David Howarth Liberal Democrats 200017 Jul 2003
Ian Nimmo-Smith Liberal Democrats 17 Jul 200327 May 2010
Sian Reid Liberal Democrats 27 May 201024 May 2012
Tim Bick Liberal Democrats 24 May 201212 Jun 2014
Lewis Herbert Labour 12 Jun 201430 Nov 2021
Anna Smith Labour 30 Nov 202125 May 2023
Mike Davey Labour 25 May 2023

Composition

Since the 2024 election, the composition of the council has been: [15]

PartyCouncillors
Labour 25
Liberal Democrats 10
Green 5
Conservative 1
Independent 1
Total42

The next election is due in 2026.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes came into effect in 2021, the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 14 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office. Cambridgeshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no city council elections. The wards are: [16] [17]

Premises

The council meets at the Guildhall, on the south side of Market Square in the centre of Cambridge. The building was purpose-built for the old borough council and completed in 1939. [18] The council also has offices at Mandela House at 4 Regent Street. [19]

Flag used by Cambridge City Council Cambridge City Council Flag.svg
Flag used by Cambridge City Council

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "New Mayor of Cambridge to champion support for rough sleepers and new cancer research hospital". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Veale, Andy (19 December 2020). "Former civil servant Robert Pollock appointed as city council's new chief executive". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Control of the Council". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 4. 1835. p. 2185. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ceremonial maces, 1207 charter and the city's coat of arms". Cambridge City Council.
  6. ↑ "Cambridge Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "No. 39201". The London Gazette . 13 April 1951. p. 2067.
  8. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. ↑ "Greater Cambridge Local Plan". Greater Cambridge Shared Planning. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2017/251, retrieved 13 June 2023
  11. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  12. ↑ "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Council minutes". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "The Cambridge (Electoral Changes) Order 2019", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2019/1123, retrieved 27 May 2024
  17. ↑ "Ward boundary review". Cambridge City Council.
  18. ↑ Historic England, "Guildhall (1268372)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 4 January 2018
  19. ↑ "Council offices". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 14 June 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Lynn and West Norfolk</span> Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

King's Lynn and West Norfolk is a local government district with borough status in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in the town of King's Lynn. The district also includes the towns of Downham Market and Hunstanton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The population of the district at the 2021 census was 154,325.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Stafford</span> Non-metropolitan district and borough in England

The Borough of Stafford is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire, England. It is named after Stafford, its largest town, which is where the council is based. The borough also includes the towns of Stone and Eccleshall, as well as numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Cambridgeshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

South Cambridgeshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, England, with a population of 162,119 at the 2021 census. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Chesterton Rural District and South Cambridgeshire Rural District. It completely surrounds the city of Cambridge, which is administered separately from the district by Cambridge City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Cambridgeshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

East Cambridgeshire is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in the city of Ely. The district also contains the towns of Littleport and Soham and surrounding rural areas, including parts of the Fens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenland District</span> Non-metropolitan district in Cambridgeshire, England

Fenland is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. It was historically part of the Isle of Ely. The district covers around 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) of mostly agricultural land in the extremely flat Fens. The council is based in Fenland Hall, in March. Other towns include Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech, the largest of the four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Winchester</span> Place in England

Winchester, or the City of Winchester, is a local government district with city status in Hampshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle City Council</span> Local government body in England

Newcastle City Council is the local authority for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. Newcastle has had a council from medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. In 2024 the council became a member of the North East Combined Authority. The council is based at Newcastle Civic Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath and North East Somerset Council</span> English local government council

Bath and North East Somerset Council is the local authority for Bath and North East Somerset, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2017 the council has been a member of the West of England Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hull City Council</span> Local government body in England

Hull City Council, or Kingston upon Hull City Council, is the local authority for the city of Kingston upon Hull in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Hull has had a council since 1299, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1996 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterborough City Council</span> Local authority in England

Peterborough City Council is the local authority for Peterborough, a local government district with city status in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. Peterborough has had a council since 1874, which has been reformed several times. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2017 the council has been a member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridgeshire County Council</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exeter City Council</span> UK non-metropolitan district council

Exeter City Council is the local authority for the city of Exeter in Devon, England. Exeter has had a city council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 it has been a non-metropolitan district council. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. It meets at Exeter Guildhall and has its main offices at the Civic Centre on Paris Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsmouth City Council</span> Local authority of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire, England

Portsmouth City Council is the local authority of the city of Portsmouth, in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Portsmouth has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1997 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Hampshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntingdonshire District Council</span>

Huntingdonshire District Council is the local authority for the district of Huntingdonshire in Cambridgeshire, England. The council is based in the town of Huntingdon. The district also includes the towns of Godmanchester, Ramsey, St Ives and St Neots and surrounding rural areas. The district covers almost the same area as the historic county of Huntingdonshire, which had been abolished for administrative purposes in 1965, with some differences to the northern boundary with Peterborough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walsall Council</span> Local government body in England

Walsall Council, formally Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands, England. The town of Walsall had been a borough from medieval times, which was reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worcester City Council</span> Local authority for the city of Worcester, England

Worcester City Council is the local authority for Worcester, a non-metropolitan district with city status in Worcestershire, England. The council consists of 35 councillors, elected from 15 wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council</span> London borough council

Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council, which styles itself Kingston Council, is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. It is based at Kingston upon Thames Guildhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council</span>

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council is a member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Lincoln Council</span>

The City of Lincoln Council is the local authority for the district of Lincoln, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. The council consists of 33 councillors, three for each of the 11 wards in the city. It is currently controlled by the Labour Party, led by Naomi Tweddle. The administrative headquarters is at Lincoln City Hall although council meetings are held at the guildhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Chesterfield</span> Borough and non-metropolitan local government district Derbyshire, England

The Borough of Chesterfield is a non-metropolitan district with borough status in Derbyshire, England. It is named after the town of Chesterfield, its largest settlement, and also contains the town of Staveley and the large village of Brimington. In 2022 it had a population of 104,110.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.