Cambridge Independent, 2nd September 2025
Innovation Must be Retained in Local Government Reorganisation
It is shocking that the Labour Government has undertaken no analysis of the costs of what is set to be the largest reorganisation of local government in England for decades. A decision of such consequence will have a profound effect on communities and should have been underpinned by a thorough financial assessment. Instead, decisions are being taken first, with costs and consequences considered later, if at all.
The evidence used to justify this upheaval is equally troubling. The County Councils Network, the very body Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner cited when claiming “a significant amount of money” could be saved, now casts doubt on that claim. It warns reorganisation may not save money at all and could even cost taxpayers more. That should alarm anyone who cares about sound public finances and efficient government.
As Leader of a small, effective district council, I cannot help but ask: what are we doing, and why are we being forced to do it? The frustration is real, but the Government has decided. My task now is to ensure innovation, best practice, and the unique strengths of East Cambridgeshire are not lost in the process.
One area where East Cambs has been a national leader is community-led development. Our council has long supported communities that wish to take control of growth in their villages—ensuring it happens with local people, not to them. At the centre of this effort are Community Land Trusts (CLTs): organisations run by local people, for local benefit.
The need for such initiatives is pressing. High housing costs are forcing residents away from the towns and villages where they grew up, work, and put down roots. This damages quality of life and the social fabric of our communities.
CLTs are one of the most effective tools we have to address this. East Cambs District Council has built strong support systems around them:
· Our Local Plan gives preferential treatment to community-led development
· We provide £5,000 start-up grants for new CLTs
· A dedicated fund covers professional support with land investigations, planning applications, and technical work
· We offer ongoing advice and guidance throughout the process
CLTs put decision-making firmly in local hands. They choose the land, partners, site design, and infrastructure. Projects deliver not just homes but new roads, GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, and even community heating – developments shaped by local priorities rather than developer profits. CLT sites are typically lower density and higher quality than commercial schemes.
Perhaps most importantly, CLTs decide who benefits from the homes. Allocations policies ensure housing goes first to local working people and those with deep community ties. Applicants must demonstrate those links – through family, work, or residence – with the strongest cases prioritised. Rents can be pegged to local wages, making homes genuinely affordable.
The benefits extend beyond housig. CLTs receive an income stream from these homes in perpetuity, which can be reinvested into community priorities: additional affordable housing, a village shop, or a new community centre. Crucially, it is local people, not distant officials or profit-driven developers, who decide how their community grows and thrives.
This is innovation worth protecting. It empowers local people, strengthens community bonds, and delivers lasting benefits. It represents the best of what local government can achieve when it is close to those it serves.
Conservatives in East Cambridgeshire have worked hard to create the policy environment that makes this possible. As reorganisation looms, my commitment is clear: I will fight to ensure that the ability of local people to shape their own future is not swept away in the rush to restructure. Innovation must not be a casualty of reorganisation – it must be retained, nurtured, and built upon for the benefit of generations to come.
Anna Bailey
East Cambs District Council, Member for the Downham Ward
Leader of the Council
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Chairman of East Cambs Community Land Trust
Deputy Chair Political of Ely & East Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
