East Cambridgeshire

Political control

The Conservatives were elected with a majority of the seats at the 2023 election. The council came under no overall control following a change in allegiance in August 2024, which left the Conservatives with exactly half the council's seats, retaining control through the casting vote of the Chair.^[9]

Since April 2026, the Council has been run by a coalition of 14 Conservatives and 1 Independent, sitting as the majority Conservative and Independent Group. The opposition Liberal Democrats and the other Independent councillor have sat together as the Liberal Democrat and Independent Group since November 2024.^[10]

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:^[11][12]

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2011 have been:

Composition

Following the 2023 election, two by-elections and two changes of allegiance, the composition of the council is:^{[18][19][20][21]}

The next election is due in 2027, but due to Local Government Reorganisation, it is likely that the 2027 election will be held to the new Shadow Unitary Authority, and the District Council will cease to exist from April 2028.^[22]

Elections

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2019, the council has comprised 28 councillors, representing 14 wards. Elections are held every four years, subject to Local Government Reorganisation.^[23]

Premises

The council is based at The Grange on Nutholt Lane in Ely. The building was originally a large Victorian house and 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.^[24]