East Cambridgeshire

2025-11-01T16:49:00Z

185.111.130.1: /* Governance */

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement


| timezone = [[GMT]]
| utc_offset = 0
| timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +1

| settlement_type = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Non-metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_type4 = Status
| subdivision_type5 = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[England]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| government_type = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title = Leadership
| leader_title1 = [[MP elected in the 2034 United Kingdom general election|MP]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| population_density_km2 = auto
| blank1_name = [[ONS code]]
| blank2_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]


| official_name = East Cambridgeshire District
| image_skyline = Ely Cathedral from Quanea Drove D.jpg
| imagesize = 280px
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] [[Ely Cathedral|Cathedral]]
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| shield_alt =
| shield_link =
| image_map = East Cambridgeshire UK locator map.svg
| mapsize = 150px
| map_alt =
| map_caption = East Cambridgeshire shown within Cambridgeshire
| subdivision_name2 = [[East of England]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Cambridgeshire]]
| subdivision_name5 = [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]]
| established_date1 = 1 April 1974
| governing_body = East Cambridgeshire District Council
| leader_party = {{English district control|GSS=E07000009}}
| leader_name = Alternative – Sec. 31
| leader_name1 = [[Charlotte Cane]]
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{United Kingdom district population citation|area}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = {{English district area|GSS=E07000009}}
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000009}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_total = {{English district population|GSS=E07000009}}
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{United Kingdom district population citation|England}}</ref>
| population_as_of = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000009}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]

| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000009|title=East Cambridgeshire Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 94.5% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
| 2.1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
| 1.9% [[British Asians|Asian]]
| 0.8% [[Black British people|Black]]
| 0.7% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
}}

| demographics_type2 = Religion (2021)
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 48.5% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
| 42.9% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
| 8% [[Religion in England|other]]
| 0.6% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
}}
| blank1_info = 12UC (ONS) E07000009 (GSS)
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|TL535799}}
}}
'''East Cambridgeshire''' (locally known as '''East Cambs''') is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] in [[Cambridgeshire]], England. Its council is based in the cathedral city of [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]]. The district also contains the towns of [[Littleport]] and [[Soham]] and surrounding rural areas, including parts of [[the Fens]].

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]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017|year=2017|number=251|access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref>

The neighbouring districts are [[South Cambridgeshire]], [[Huntingdonshire]], [[Fenland District|Fenland]], [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]] and [[West Suffolk District|West Suffolk]].

==History==
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. The new district covered the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
*[[Ely Rural District]]
*[[Ely Urban District]]
*[[Newmarket Rural District]]
The new district was named East Cambridgeshire, reflecting its position within the wider county.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name = East Cambridgeshire District Council
| logo_pic = East Cambridgeshire District Council logo.svg
| logo_res = 150px
| house_type = Non-metropolitan district
| leader1_type = [[Chairperson|Chair]]
| leader1 = Kelli Pettitt
| party1 = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election1 = 22 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council decisions, 22 May 2025 |url=https://eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/220525%20Council%20Decision%20List_0.pdf |website=East Cambridgeshire District Council |access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Anna Bailey
| party2 = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election2 = 30 May 2019
| leader3_type = Vice Chair
| leader3 = Keith Horgan
| leader4 = Julia Huffer
| leader5 = John Hill
| party3 = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election3 = 22 May 2025
| leader4_type = Deputy Leader
| party4 = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election4 = 25 May 2023
| leader5_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| election5 = 2000
| structure1 = United Kingdom East Cambridgeshire District Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1 = ;Administration (14)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (14)
;Opposition (14)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (13)}}
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1)
| session_room = File:East Cambridgeshire District Council offices.jpg
| meeting_place = The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7{{nbsp}}4EE
| last_election1 = [[2023 East Cambridgeshire District Council election|4 May 2023]]
| next_election1 = 6 May 2027 (subject to LGR)
| website = {{URL|www.eastcambs.gov.uk}}
}}

East Cambridgeshire District Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Cambridgeshire County Council]]. The whole district is also covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] had been elected with a majority of the seats at the [[2023 East Cambridgeshire District Council election|2023 election]]. The council went under [[no overall control]] following a change in allegiance in August 2024, which left the Conservatives with exactly half the council's seats.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elworthy |first1=John |title=Councillor quits Tories leaving balance of power finely poised at East Cambs Council |url=https://www.cambsnews.co.uk/news/councillor-quits-tories-leaving-balance-of-power-finely-poised-at-east-cambs-council/29327/ |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=Cambs News |date=28 August 2024}}</ref> The Conservatives continue to form the council's administration by virtue of holding the chair's casting vote.

The Liberal Democrats and the Independent councillor have sat together as the Liberal Democrat and Independent Group since November 2024.

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:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "East Cambridgeshire" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=hold>{{cite web| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/council/html/12uc.stm | title = East Cambridgeshire | access-date = 2017-01-26 | publisher = [[BBC News Online]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1974–1999
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 1999–2003
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2003–2007
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2007–2024
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2024–present
|}

===Leadership===
The [[Leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 2011 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Fred Brown<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Chris |title=Tories hold onto East Cambridgeshire Council, but leader loses Littleport seat |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/local-council/21145564.tories-hold-onto-east-cambridgeshire-council-leader-loses-littleport-seat/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Eastern Daily Press |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right| || align=right|May 2011
|-
| Peter Moakes<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mansfield |first1=Daniel |title=New leader at district council after Cllr Peter Moakes steps aside |url=https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/22778280.new-leader-district-council-cllr-peter-moakes-steps-aside/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Ely Standard |date=10 May 2013}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 2011 || align=right|May 2013
|-
| [[James Palmer (British politician, born 1969)|James Palmer]]<ref>{{cite news |title=James Palmer elected as first Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2017-05-05/james-palmer-elected-as-first-mayor-for-cambridgeshire-and-peterborough/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=ITV News |date=5 May 2017}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 2013 || align=right|May 2017
|-
| Charles Roberts<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elworthy |first1=John |title=East Cambs Council to face the challenge of finding a new leader - and Cambs Mayor James Palmer a new deputy - after Charles Roberts stands down |url=https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/22761918.east-cambs-council-face-challenge-finding-new-leader---cambs-mayor-james-palmer-new-deputy---charles-roberts-stands/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Ely Standard |date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 2017 || align=right|May 2019
|-
| Anna Bailey<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 30 May 2019 |url=https://eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/fc300519%20min%20%281%29.pdf |website=East Cambridgeshire District Council |access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|30 May 2019 ||
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2023 East Cambridgeshire District Council election|2023 election]], a by-election in April 2024, a change of allegiance in August 2024 and a by-election in May 2025, the composition of the council is:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boothroyd |first1=David |title=Reeves value added to Wychavon |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/2024/08/reeves-value-added-to-wychavon/ |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=Local Councils |publisher=Thorcliffe |date=30 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eastcambs.gov.uk/about-council/voting-and-elections/election-results/election-results-2025/stretham-district |title=Stretham District by-election results 1 May 2025 |website=eastcambs.gov.uk |access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|14
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|13
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|28

|}
The next election is due in 2027, subject to Local Government Reorganisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=East Cambridgeshire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=east_cambridgeshire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>

===Elections===
{{see also|East Cambridgeshire District Council elections}}
Since the last full review of boundaries in 2019 the council has comprised 28 [[councillor]]s, representing 14 [[wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]]. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The East Cambridgeshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2016|year=2016|number=1230|access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at The Grange on Nutholt Lane in Ely. The building was originally a large Victorian house. It served as a maternity hospital from the 1940s until the 1970s. The building was acquired around the time East Cambridgeshire was created in 1974 and converted to offices. Several large extensions have since been added.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ely |url=https://ely.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/the-older-part-of-the-east-cambridge-district-council-offices-nutholt-lane-ely-for-30-yrs-this-was-the-grange-maternity-house-from-about-1940-1970 |website=Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network |access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref>

==Archaeology==
The [[Fenland Survey]] of [[archaeological]] finds carried out in the 1980s mentions an enumeration of findings made between 1884 and 1994 in the region to the north of [[Devil's Dyke, Cambridgeshire|Devil's Dyke]] and [[Cambridge]], from the [[Stone Age]], the [[Bronze Age]] and the [[Iron Age]] (the region south of Devil's Dyke is not yet included in the survey). By far the greatest quantities of bronze objects found in England were discovered in East Cambridgeshire.

The most important Bronze Age finds were discovered in [[Isleham Hoard|Isleham]] (more than 6500 pieces), [[Stuntney]], [[Soham]], [[Wicken, Cambridgeshire|Wicken]], [[Chippenham, Cambridgeshire|Chippenham]], [[Coveney, Cambridgeshire|Coveney]], [[Mepal]] and [[Wilburton]]. These findings include [[sword]]s, [[spear]]-heads, [[arrow]]s, [[axe]]s, [[palstave]]s, [[knives]], [[dagger]]s, [[rapiers]], [[armour]], decorative equipment (in particular for horses) and many fragments of [[Metal sheet|sheet]] [[bronze]]. The greater part of these objects have been entrusted to the Moyse's Hall Museum in [[Bury St Edmunds]] while other items are in the [[University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology]] in [[Cambridge]]. Other finds include traces of [[cremation]]s and [[Tumulus|barrows]], golden [[Torque (jewelry)|torques]], an extensive ditch system and a wooden track-way between Fordey Farm (Barway) and [[Little Thetford]].<ref>{{cite book|title= Fenland survey : an essay in landscape and persistence / David Hall and John Coles |first=David|last=Hall|year=1994|publisher=London;English Heritage|isbn=1-85074-477-7|pages= 81–88 }}</ref> Bronze [[razors]] have also been found and it is well known that [[Celts]] shaved their cheeks.<ref>{{cite book|title= Fenland survey : an essay in landscape and persistence / David Hall and John Coles |first=David|last=Hall|year=1994|publisher=London;English Heritage|isbn=1-85074-477-7|page= 4}}</ref>

==Parishes==
{{see also|Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire}}
The whole district is divided into [[civil parish]]es. The parish of Ely holds [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]], and the parish councils for Soham and Littleport take the style "town council".<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish Councils |url=https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/parish-councils/parish-councils |website=East Cambridgeshire District Council |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=17 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917114542/https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/parish-councils/parish-councils |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Settlements in East Cambridgeshire ==
[[File:StAndrewSoham.JPG|thumb|[[Soham]], one of the district's towns.]]
{{div col|colwidth=17em}}
*[[Aldreth]]
*[[Ashley, Cambridgeshire|Ashley]]
*[[Barway]]
*[[Bottisham]]
*[[Brinkley, Cambridgeshire|Brinkley]]
*[[Burwell, Cambridgeshire|Burwell]]
*[[Chettisham]]
*[[Cheveley]]
*[[Chippenham, Cambridgeshire|Chippenham]]
*[[Coveney, Cambridgeshire|Coveney]]
*[[Dullingham]]
*[[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] (City)
*[[Fordham, Cambridgeshire|Fordham]]
*[[Haddenham, Cambridgeshire|Haddenham]]
*[[Isleham]]
*[[Little Downham]]
*[[Little Thetford]]
*[[Littleport]]
*[[Lode, Cambridgeshire|Lode]]
*[[Long Meadow, Cambridgeshire|Longmeadow]]
*[[Mepal]]
*[[Prickwillow]]
*[[Pymoor]]
*[[Queen Adelaide, Cambridgeshire|Queen Adelaide]]
*[[Reach, Cambridgeshire|Reach]]
*[[Soham]] (Town)
*[[Stetchworth]]
*[[Stretham]]
*[[Stuntney]]
*[[Sutton-in-the-Isle|Sutton]]
*[[Swaffham Bulbeck]]
*[[Swaffham Prior]]
*[[Upware]]
*[[Wicken, Cambridgeshire|Wicken]]
*[[Wilburton]]
*[[Witcham]]
*[[Witchford]]
*[[Woodditton]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[East Cambridgeshire local elections]]
*[[Ely and East Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)]]
*[[Isleham Hoard]]
*[[Mereham]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{East Cambridgeshire}}
{{Cambridgeshire}}
{{East_of_England}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|52.387|0.294|display=title|region:GB_scale:100000}}

[[Category:East Cambridgeshire District| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Cambridgeshire]]

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East Cambridgeshire