New cabinet unveiled at South Cambridgeshire District Council

A new Cabinet team has been announced at South Cambridgeshire District Council during today’s meeting of Full Council (Thursday 23).

Cllr Bill Handley has stepped down from his position as Lead Cabinet Member for Communities and will be replaced by Cllr Henry Batchelor.

Cllr Batchelor’s former role as Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing will be taken on by Cllr Natalie Warren-Green.

The full updated list of Cabinet Members can be found on the Council website.

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are delighted that Cllr Bill Handley remains as a local councillor for Over and Willingham and would like to pay tribute to his unwavering commitment and exemplary service during his time as a member of the Cabinet. Bill has served with distinction, bringing a wealth of experience, insight, and steadfast dedication to the District and its residents. His contributions have left an indelible mark and his tireless efforts on behalf of our community means he has been instrumental in driving positive change, most recently leading on the Council’s Cost of Living campaign.”

Cllr Handley has spent the past five years on the Council's Cabinet. Initially as Lead Member for Environmental Services and Licensing before taking-on the Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing role and latterly as Communities lead.

Cllr Henry Batchelor, the new Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, was first elected as a ward councillor for Linton Ward 10 years ago in 2014. He has been a member of the Cabinet since 2022, where he previously held the Environmental Services and Licensing portfolio. He said: “I’m excited to take on this role and continue the good work my predecessor has done. Our cost-of-living work as a Council and the work we’re doing to support our New Towns are important pillars of everything we’re doing at South Cambs. I look forward to working closely with the Communities team and with the communities in our New Towns.”

Cllr Natalie Warren-Green is a councillor for Longstanton ward, being first elected in 2022. Living just outside Northstowe, Cllr Warren-Green is a change and transformation expert, and mother of three young adults. Joining the Cabinet today, her portfolio will include responsibility for bin collections, recycling, fly-tipping, environmental health, and licencing.

She said: “I am really pleased to join the cabinet and look forward to spending time with the Waste and Environment teams at South Cambs. Becoming a councillor in the winter of 2022, I quickly learnt how important it was that bin collections continue whatever the weather and saw how committed the team are to delivering an effective service and to communicating early when schedules need to be changed. For residents everywhere, the Council’s work to support environmental sustainability and to tackle fly-tipping are so important to our resident’s wellbeing. I can’t wait to get stuck into this new role.”

During the meeting members agreed to re-elect Cllr Peter Fane as Council Chair and Cllr Peter Sandford as Vice Chair of the Council for the 2024/25 municipal year.