District Council’s Cabinet outlines aspirations for years ahead

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s plans for the year ahead include building a permanent community centre at Northstowe, making it even easier for residents to get support online and by phone, and introducing weekly food waste collections.

The Council’s Cabinet met today (Tuesday 4 February) to discuss goals not only for the next 12 months – but also a longer-term Corporate Plan for the years ahead. The plans were agreed by Cabinet Members and now go forward for discussion at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 25 February.

One major project for the forthcoming year will be the beginning of construction work, in March, of the Northstowe Phase One Community Centre - named the "Unity Centre" by the local community.

The Unity Centre, one of several community buildings the Council is delivering at Northstowe, places sustainability and inclusivity at its heart. It is expected to open in early 2026 - featuring a spacious multi-use hall, a playful messy room, meeting rooms, provision for a cafe and a landscape courtyard with bespoke artwork inspired by Northstowe's history. The Centre will be equipped with solar panels, ground source heat pump and sustainable super-insulated timber frame. The Council will work closely with local stakeholders to select an operator who will run the building for the benefit of the whole community.

Elsewhere, following the successful introduction of the Council’s first public-facing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on its website during the past year – new websites for the Council, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and Greater Cambridge Shared Waste will make it even easier for residents to access services, find information and complete tasks online. The new sites will help signpost localised information for residents in one central place – including bin collection dates, important information and local community events.

A telephone Voice AI Assistant will also be introduced – to complement Contact Centre staff who take calls. This new way of getting in touch will help free-up Contact Centre staff, for longer, to support residents with more complex issues over the phone.

Meanwhile, the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste service that South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City councils share will commence the roll out of a new food waste collection service to residents in 2026.

Residents will be given plenty of notice to help prepare for the introduction – which will see them benefit from a dedicated weekly food waste collection. This will help Greater Cambridge Shared Waste capture even more food waste - by diverting it from disposal in the black bins - which will then be transformed into renewable energy or a valuable compost product for agricultural use.

Setting a vision for the years ahead

Cabinet members also backed the Council’s proposed new priorities for the next five years.

It’s after the Council asked residents to help shape its plans for the years ahead – to ensure South Cambridgeshire remains one of the best places to live and work in the country. Almost 400 responses were received during last year’s six-week consultation which asked for views on the proposed new priorities. That feedback helped develop a new draft Corporate Plan, setting out key objectives for how, over the next five years, the Council will achieve its new priorities for South Cambridgeshire.

The five new proposed priorities are:

• Healthy and Supported Communities​ - Supporting and engaging with our communities is key to tackling the challenges we face as a district. Our diversity is our strength and helping everyone live freely and independently is essential to promoting healthy and supported communities.
• Sustainable Homes and Vibrant Places​ - A home is more than a roof over your head, it is the foundation on which people build their lives. In light of the housing crisis, we are committed to strengthening our communities by delivering sustainable, affordable homes and vibrant places to live.
• Being Green to our Core​ - Being green is at the heart of everything we do. We’re tackling the climate and ecological crises head-on, ensuring our district is ready for the challenges of climate change.
• Helping Businesses to Thrive in South Cambridgeshire​ - Already recognised as a nationally significant area for development, helping local businesses thrive is key to the development of our district - bringing new jobs and opportunities into people’s communities.
• Financially Secure and Fit for the Future​ - We have a duty to provide high quality cost-efficient services. Being open, transparent, and inclusive and letting evidence guide our decisions is critical to putting residents first.

The Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Bridget Smith, said: “We want to work towards our vision of a fairer, kinder and greener South Cambridgeshire. Working together, all residents can be equal partners in their communities.​ Our aspirations for the year ahead are all about creating a better district that will benefit everyone who lives, works, learns and plays in our communities. Although South Cambridgeshire is already a wonderful place – we do have challenges. We will continue to work to overcome these to help the district realise its full potential.​”

Balancing the budget

Most of the Council Tax that South Cambridgeshire District Council collects is passed to Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and parish or town councils. Some is also passed to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, to support local buses.

Less than half of the District Council’s annual budget is funded from local Council Tax. Other funding sources include some outside of the Council’s control, such as Business Rates and grants, whilst funding is also generated from our investments.

A £5.09 per year increase in Council Tax for the average band D home was agreed by Cabinet members – to help to ensure essential frontline services continue to be delivered effectively. If approved at the Full Council meeting on 25 February, this would mean the average band D home charge for South Cambridgeshire District Council would become £175.40 per year. This is still expected to maintain the Council’s position among the lowest 25% of District Councils in the country when it comes to its Council Tax charge.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr John Williams, said: “It continues to be challenging for councils due to increasing demand for our services coupled with reduced funding. So, it’s a fantastic achievement for residents that we’re a financially-sound Council – but important to remember we only retain a very small amount of the Council Tax we collect. Most of it gets passed on to other authorities – and we continue to do all we can to make the most of every pound we do receive.”