Cambridge City Council facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cambridge City Council |
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Coat of arms
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| Type | |
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Non-metropolitan district
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| Leadership | |
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Mayor
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Leader
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Robert Pollock
Since April 2021 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 42 councillors |
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Political groups
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| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
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Last election
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4 May 2023 |
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Next election
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2024 |
| Meeting place | |
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| The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ | |
The Cambridge City Council is the group that helps run the city of Cambridge in England. It is the local government for the area. This council makes decisions and provides services for everyone living in Cambridge.
Contents
History of Cambridge City Council
Cambridge has had a local government for a very long time. In 1207, a special document called a Royal Charter was given to the area by King John. This allowed Cambridge to have a mayor. The first mayor we know about was Harvey FitzEustace in 1213.
Over time, the way local councils worked changed. In 1836, Cambridge became a "municipal borough." This meant its council followed new rules that were the same across the country.
Cambridge was officially given "city status" on March 21, 1951. This was because of its long history and how important it was for business and administration. This change allowed the council to be called the Cambridge City Council.
In 1974, new laws changed how local governments were set up. Cambridge remained a city with the same boundaries, but the council's duties changed a bit. The city of Cambridge is surrounded by another area called South Cambridgeshire. The two councils sometimes work together on big projects.
What the Council Does
The Cambridge City Council provides many important services for the city. These are called "district-level" services.
- Looking after parks and green spaces
- Collecting waste and recycling
- Managing council housing
- Planning new buildings and developments
The council also helps organize fun events throughout the year. For example, they help with the Cambridge Folk Festival. They also put on free summer entertainment called Summer in the City.
Bigger services, like schools and major roads, are handled by the Cambridgeshire County Council. There are no smaller local councils (called civil parishes) within Cambridge city itself.
Who Controls the Council?
The council is made up of elected members called councillors. These councillors belong to different political parties. Since 2014, the Labour Party has had the most councillors, meaning they have overall control.
Here is a simple look at which party has been in charge since 1974:
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
Council Leaders
Cambridge has a Mayor, but this role is mostly for ceremonies and representing the city. The real political decisions are made by the "Leader of the Council."
Here are the leaders since 2003:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Howarth | Liberal Democrats | 2000 | 17 Jul 2003 | |
| Ian Nimmo-Smith | Liberal Democrats | 17 Jul 2003 | 27 May 2010 | |
| Sian Reid | Liberal Democrats | 27 May 2010 | 24 May 2012 | |
| Tim Bick | Liberal Democrats | 24 May 2012 | 12 Jun 2014 | |
| Lewis Herbert | Labour | 12 Jun 2014 | 30 Nov 2021 | |
| Anna Smith | Labour | 30 Nov 2021 | 25 May 2023 | |
| Mike Davey | Labour | 25 May 2023 | ||
How Many Councillors from Each Party?
After the 2024 election, here's how many councillors each party has:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 26 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | |
| Green | 5 | |
| Conservative | 1 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | |
The next election for councillors is planned for 2026.
Where the Council Meets
The Cambridge City Council holds its meetings at the Guildhall. This building is in the middle of Cambridge, near Market Square. It was built especially for the council and finished in 1939. The council also has offices at Mandela House on Regent Street.
Council Elections
The city of Cambridge is split into 14 areas called "wards" for elections. These wards include Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Queen Edith's, Romsey, Trumpington, and West Chesterton.
There are 42 city councillors in total. Each ward elects three councillors. Elections for about a third of the council seats happen in three out of every four years. In the fourth year, elections for the Cambridgeshire County Council take place instead.
See also
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- List of mayors of Cambridge
