Election

Ely West by-election — April 18th

Following the resignation of a Councillor for Ely West (Lib Dem), a by-election has been called for 18th April 2024.

Campaigned hard against the Cambridge Congestion Charge, and supported the petition for a referendum
Frozen the District Council element of Council Tax for 10 years with no cuts to services
Delivered £3.6m support to the Council’s budget through East Cambs Trading Company
Kept FREE car parking in our town and city centre car parks
Worked with the Police on a new Road Safety enforcement role to control illegal car parking and speeding
Supported Community Land Trusts and secured £100k homes to deliver new genuinely affordable homes
£2.3m for nine fantastic new community projects
Identified nine areas for a biodiversity boost
We’re installing solar panels on buildings and EV charging points in Council car parks and purchasing new low emission waste lorries
Developed a Cycling and Walking Strategy and funded studies for priority routes
Developed a Bus Prospectus and helped to save the axed Stagecoach bus services

We’ll work tirelessly to STOP the Lib Dems, Labour and Independents from bringing in the Cambridge Congestion Charge
We will keep pressuring the Lib Dem led County Council to FIX our roads
Keep Council Tax low, and keep delivering great services
Continue to support the Council’s budget through East Cambs Trading Company with decisions that benefit the community
Keep car parking FREE in our town and city centre car parks
Support the Police with communications about illegal parking enforcement and speeding
Continue to support new and existing Community Land Trusts across the district and deliver new forms of affordable housing
Continue to provide funding and support for community driven projects, health services and infrastructure across the district
Consider the business case for a district crematorium, natural burials site and pet cemetery
Boost biodiversity and deliver our Environment Plan
Bring in black wheelie bins to improve district recycling rates even further
Commission further cycling and walking route studies
Support the case for more frequent and direct rail services
Keep pushing other Authorities for better bus services and transport improvements for East Cambs

Ely Bypass – OPEN
Ely Leisure Village – OPEN
The Hive district leisure centre – OPEN
Free Wifi in Ely and Soham centres – DELIVERED
New commuter car park at The Dock, Ely – OPEN
Free parking in city centre ECDC car parks – DELIVERED
Action on the A10 – dualling Ely to Cambridge NOW in Combined Authority delivery plan
Grants and funds to community projects throughout the district – DELIVERED

Business, jobs and skills – local businesses supported; new businesses and high quality jobs brought into the district (closer to home); apprenticeships delivered
Housing – championed Community Land Trusts (CLTs) that deliver truly affordable housing for local working people and proper infrastructure
Low Council Tax – ECDC element of Council Tax frozen for 6 years, with no cuts to services
Low management costs – by far the lowest of any District Council in Cambridgeshire
Fewer Councillors – number of Councillors reducing from 39 to 28 in May 2019

A freeze on the East Cambs element of Council Tax in 2016/17 – that’s a 0% increase for 3 years
Continued support for Community Land Trusts – an innovative method of delivering genuinely affordable housing for local working people, run by local people, for local people
A fantastic record on recycling following the introduction of wheelie bins – going from a 33% recycling rate to 54% across the District, with the aim of increasing this to 60% over the next term
Planning permission for the six-screen cinema and leisure centre on Downham Road, Ely, with the cinema set to open by summer 2016
Ensured commitment and planning permission from Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver the Ely Southern Bypass by the end of 2017
Got a timetabled plan for Network Rail to rebuild Soham Railway Station

Retained free parking in our city and town centre car parks and a promise to do the same over the next term
Helped to ensure the continuation of community transport ‘Dial-a-Ride’ services across the district
Introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which ensures up-front payments for infrastructure and services from developers
Introduction of a tough policy on wind farms so we can control and refuse inappropriate developments
Brought in new jobs and businesses to the district and encouraged start up companies
Supported opportunities for young people, promoting apprenticeships with local businesses and running of the East Cambs Skills Fair to introduce young people to companies