Huntingdonshire District Council

Last updated

Huntingdonshire District Council
Huntingdonshire District Council logo.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Steve McAdam,
Independent
since 22 May 2024 [1]
Sarah Conboy,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2022
Michelle Sacks
since 2023 [2]
Structure
Seats52 councillors
Huntingdonshire District Council 2022.svg
Political groups
Administration (32)
  Independents (12)
  Liberal Democrats (11)
  Labour (4)
  St Neots Ind. (4)
  Green (1)

Opposition (20)

  Conservatives (20)
Elections
Plurality-at-large and first-past-the-post
Last election
 5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Pathfinder House, Huntingdon.jpg
Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN
Website
huntingdonshire.gov.uk
Ward map of Huntingdon District Council Huntingdonshire District Ward Map 2018.svg
Ward map of Huntingdon District Council

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.

Contents

Since 2017 the district has been a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, led by the directly-elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. [3]

The neighbouring districts are Peterborough, Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, and North Northamptonshire.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the area of eight former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: [4]

These eight districts had constituted the county of Huntingdonshire until 1965 when it had merged with the neighbouring Soke of Peterborough to form the short-lived county of Huntingdon and Peterborough. As part of the 1974 reforms the area became part of an enlarged Cambridgeshire. The new district was initially named Huntingdon after the former county town. [5] The council changed the district's name from Huntingdon to Huntingdonshire in 1984. [6]

Governance

Huntingdonshire District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Cambridgeshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. [7]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2022 election, being led by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and independent councillors. [8]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: [9] [10]

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–2022
No overall control 2022–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Derek Holley [11] Conservative 20017 Dec 2005
Ian Bates [12] Conservative 7 Dec 2005May 2011
Jason Ablewhite [13] Conservative 18 May 2011May 2016
Robin Howe [14] Conservative 18 May 201626 Jul 2017
Graham Bull [15] Conservative 26 Jul 20174 Dec 2019
Ryan Fuller [16] Conservative 4 Dec 20198 May 2022
Sarah Conboy [17] Liberal Democrats 18 May 2022

Composition

Following the 2022 election and a by-election and change of allegiance in May 2024, and a vacancy arising from the death of one Conservative councillor, [18] the council's composition was: [19] [20]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 19
Independent 12
Liberal Democrats 11
Labour 4
St Neots Independent Group4
Green 1
Vacancy 1
Total52

Local party the St Neots Independent Group sits with five of the independent councillors as the "HDC Independent Group". The other seven independent councillors form the "Cambs Independent Group". The council's administration comprises all parties and groups except the Conservatives. [21] [22] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2018 the council has comprised 52 councillors elected from 26 wards. The whole council is elected together every four years. [23]

Premises

The council is based at Pathfinder House on St Mary's Street in the centre of Huntingdon. The current building was completed in 2010, replacing the council's former headquarters of the same name on the site. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntingdonshire</span> Historic county and district of Cambridgeshire, England

Huntingdonshire is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England, which was historically a county in its own right. It borders Peterborough to the north, Fenland to the north-east, East Cambridgeshire to the east, South Cambridgeshire to the south-east, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford to the south-west, and North Northamptonshire to the west.

St Neots is a town and civil parish in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It is 18 miles (29 km) west of Cambridge. The areas of Eynesbury, Eaton Ford, Eaton Socon, Love's Farm, Wintringham, and part of Eynesbury Hardwicke form part of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntingdon</span> Former county town of Huntingdonshire

Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there in 1599 and became one of its Members of Parliament (MP) in 1628. The former Conservative Prime Minister (1990–1997) John Major served as its MP from 1979 until his retirement in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godmanchester</span> Human settlement in England

Godmanchester is a town and civil parish in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It is separated from Huntingdon, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north, by the valley of the River Great Ouse. Being on the Roman road network, the town has a long history. It has a waterside location, surrounded by open countryside of high value for its biodiversity but it remains highly accessible, with a railway line to London, the A1 road and M11/A14 which run nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eynesbury, Cambridgeshire</span> Human settlement in England

Eynesbury is an urban area in the civil parish of St Neots, in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It mainly consists of housing, although there is an area of light industry, and a large supermarket. In addition there is a large area of open grassland and a caravan park.

<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 March. Other towns include Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire</span>

A civil parish is a country subdivision, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 264 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, most of the county being parished; Cambridge is completely unparished; Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire are entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 497,820 people living in the parishes, accounting for 70.2 per cent of the county's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

North West Cambridgeshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Sam Carling of the Labour Party. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801-1918 & 1983 onwards

Huntingdon is a constituency west of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire and including its namesake town of Huntingdon. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Ben Obese-Jecty of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbotsley</span> Human settlement in England

Abbotsley is a village and civil parish within the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It is three miles from St Neots and 14 miles from the county town of Cambridge. At the time of the 2001 census, the resident population was 425 people living in 164 households. increasing to a population of 446 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenstanton</span> Human settlement in England

Fenstanton is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England, 2 miles (3 km) south of St Ives in Huntingdonshire, a non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire and historic county. Fenstanton lies on the south side of the River Ouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetworth</span> Human settlement in England

Tetworth is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Waresley-cum-Tetworth, in Cambridgeshire, England. Tetworth lies approximately 12 miles (19 km)south of Huntingdon, near Waresley south of St Neots. Tetworth is situated within Huntingdonshire which is a non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire as well as being a historic county of United Kingdom. In 2001 the parish had a population of 45.

Huntingdonshire was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Huntingdonshire in England. It was represented by two members of Parliament in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was reconstituted as a single-member seat in 1918 and abolished once again in 1983.

<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">2013 Cambridgeshire County Council election</span> 2013 UK local government election

An election to Cambridgeshire County Council took place on 2 May 2013 as part of the 2013 United Kingdom local elections. 69 councillors were elected from 60 electoral divisions, which returned either one or two county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office. The electoral divisions were the same as those used at the previous election in 2009. No elections were held in Peterborough, which is a unitary authority outside the area covered by the County Council. The election saw the Conservative Party lose overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Huntingdonshire District Council election</span> 2012 UK local government election

The 2012 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Huntingdonshire District Council in Cambridgeshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Huntingdonshire District Council election</span> 2014 UK local government election

The 2014 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Huntingdonshire District Council in Cambridgeshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Huntingdonshire District Council election</span> 2018 UK local government election

The 2018 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Huntingdonshire District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.

References

  1. ↑ "Council meeting, 22 May 2024". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "District Council appoints permanent Chief Executive". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2017/251, retrieved 13 June 2023
  4. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. ↑ "Historical information from 1973 onwards". Boundary-Line support. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. ↑ Davies, Debbie (18 May 2022). "White roses and political history in Huntingdonshire". Hunts Post. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Huntingdonshire". BBC News Online . Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Leader to step down". Town Crier. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Council minutes, 7 December 2005". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2011". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2016". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Council minutes, 26 July 2017". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "Council minutes, 4 December 2019". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Brown, Hannah (19 May 2022). "New Huntingdonshire leader discusses aims after historic power change and is 'under no illusion scale of task ahead'". Cambridge News. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  18. ↑ Upcoming elections Hunts District Council
  19. ↑ "Statement on Huntingdonshire District Council Election Results 2022". Huntingdonshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Council report, 22 May 2024" (PDF). Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Your councillors by party". Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "The Huntingdonshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2017/480, retrieved 23 May 2023
  24. ↑ "Final phase of £16 million Pathfinder House scheme almost complete". Hunts Post. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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