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East Cambridgeshire District Council is continuing its commitment to only increase Council Tax as a last resort, as part of its new Corporate Plan for 2024/25.
To date the council is the only district, county or unitary authority still in operation in the country not to have increased Council Tax for the past 11 years.
Its innovative approach to financing, supported by its two trading companies, East Cambs Street Scene and East Cambs Trading Company, meaning, it is one of a handful of local authority organisations in the UK with no debt.
Over the next 12 months the council has pledged to deliver a new housing and homeless strategy to provide safe, affordable and high-quality housing for residents. It follows the council's release last month of four £100k affordable homes at the new Eden Square development for eligible residents who live or have strong connections with the Ely area.
Following government announcements earlier this year, the council will also be further developing its waste strategy. This will include plans to consider improvements to street cleansing and incorporate a weekly food waste collection and black wheeled bins for residents.
Other commitments include:
- delivering its annual top 20 environmental commitments, these include a 'hedges for hedgehogs' campaign to support the increase in native hedgerows and extension to the Pride of Place grant scheme, to date this has awarded more than £60,000 towards 18 community nature projects, delivering new ponds, tree planting, hedgerow planting, bird and bat box installations, churchyard restoration, wildflower sowing and much more
- continuing to engage with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) on its bus reform and network review
- working with CPCA and partners to deliver improvements to the BP roundabout between Witchford and Ely, the A10 towards Ely and the A14 and phase 2 of Soham Railway Station
- progressing work to deliver a new ecologically friendly bereavement centre near Mepal
There will be a crack down on environmental crime, such as fly-tipping and littering, and further development of the council's Love Your Street campaign to improve the look and feel of local communities.
Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "Over the next 12 months we are packing a lot in to help us meet our three key priorities of sound financial management, creating a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire and delivering sustainable communities.
"There's lots going on. From ensuring we have affordable housing schemes in place to delivering a waste service fit for the future to maximise our already high recycling rates. We're also focused on protecting our green spaces and promoting sustainable travel.
"I am extremely proud of the innovate approach the council takes and the sheer volume of work it undertakes for the benefit of residents, our communities and the environment as a whole, all without having to raise Council Tax for the past 11 years.