Latest news with #EastCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mepal bereavement centre is approved by councillors
Councillors have paved the way for a new bereavement centre to be built on the grounds of a former outdoor activity Mepal Outdoor Centre near Ely was closed following a fire in at the Conservative-controlled East Cambridgeshire District Council approved a business case for the bereavement centre at a meeting on the project has been opposed by some residents and opposition Liberal Democrats who have criticised an increase in costs. The council says the centre will include a crematorium, natural burial area, pet cemetery, a function room for wakes, a memorial tributes walkway and a remembrance will be set within flower meadows and woodland walks, with views overlooking a site will be "skilfully developed to enhance the significant biodiversity and ecology" - the council says - and it is working with the Wildlife Trust because of a number of "endangered plants and animals" in the area. A petition against the plans was set up by the Liberal Democrats who said it was a "grotesque waste of money" and pointed out it was only 12 miles away from another crematorium in the town of also criticised the cost of the scheme, which has risen from £8.2m to £13m, and said developers could be spending the money Dupre, who leads the opposition group of councillors, said she did not believe it was a suitable site for a bereavement centre."Many residents have commented on the smell from the enormous next-door biodigester on the A142, and the thundering of the aggregate lorries from the gravel extraction sites across the road." Anna Bailey, the Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said she was "delighted that after many, many years of planning, work is finally able to begin on the bereavement centre"."Being able to say goodbye to a loved one in such a beautiful and tranquil lakeside setting – that not only protects, but enhances wildlife, is something this council is very proud to be able to deliver," said said it was important the council invested in the "future of our community" as soon as possible, because the local authority is due to be dissolved within the next three are expected to be dismantled and replaced by larger local authorities as part of a major shake-up of local government. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Corkers Crisps factory near Ely to be rebuilt after fire damage
A crisp factory destroyed by a fire in 2020 will be rebuilt after plans were approved by Taylor, who owns the Corkers Crisps site in Pymoor, near Ely, said it was a "tragic day" when he lost the family business five years the factory would reinstate 120 jobs, a meeting of East Cambridgeshire District Council's planning committee was councillor Lucius Vellacott said the restoration would create a "huge employment benefit" for the area. The gourmet crisp business once turned over £10m a year at the family's potato Taylor founded it in 2010 and previously told the BBC it "went up in minutes" when the blaze broke out in May 2020. Speaking at the planning meeting on Wednesday, Mr Taylor said: "We supported a lot of jobs over the years and brought a lot of young people into jobs and trained them."It has been a big journey for us as a family to lose our family farm. "We were so proud of this business, it was such a big loss to the area."One person raised concerns at the meeting about emissions from the factory when it Mr Taylor said only condensation was emitted previously and this would be managed by a steam insisted the factory "basically won't emit any fumes at all". Alan Sharp, a Conservative councillor, praised Mr Taylor for his resilience in light of what was a "very sad situation".He questioned why an increase of car parking spaces was included in the plan, but was told this was to allow for "a better designed layout".Councillors unanimously approved the plans when it was put to a vote. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three historic buildings could be sold for £1 each
Three historic buildings could be sold to a city council for a total of £3. City of Ely Council is currently leasing Maltings Cottage, the Oliver Cromwell House and The Maltings from East Cambridgeshire District Council. And the district councillors have now unanimously agreed to either extend the leases, or sell the freeholds for each of sites for £1 to the city council. It is hoped the move will put the buildings "in the hands of people who have the interests of people in Ely at their heart". The decision was made during the district council's finance and assets committee on Thursday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. During the meeting councillors were told that, because the buildings were proposed to be sold to another public body, there was a "community value" in selling the buildings at the rate of £1 each. The condition of the buildings was also discussed. Maltings Cottage, for example, had deteriorated further than the council would have liked. And Oliver Cromwell House is an old timber building which officers said would always need ongoing maintenance and repairs, something the city council was "fully aware" of. Officers told councillors the city council had not yet decided if it wanted to buy the buildings or continue to extend the leases for another 25 years. Alan Sharp, a Conservative councillor who chairs the committee, echoed this but said there was "no pressure" from the district council either way. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Bash-prone city bridge gets struck again Art gallery to close due to 'financial challenges' East Cambridgeshire District Council City of Ely Council
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Authorities agree plans for council tax and rent
Councillors at two authorities have approved council tax plans for the next financial year. East Cambridgeshire District Council has agreed to freeze its share of council tax for the 12th year, something its leader, Conservative Anna Bailey, said she was "very proud" of. However, residents will still see an increase in their payments as other authorities in the county have increased their share of the bill, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. People living in a Band D property will continue to pay the district council £142.14 a year. Bailey said the council had "yet again managed to show a balanced budget for the next two years with no cuts" and highlighted plans to keep free car parking in the town centres. Papers published by the authority said a budget gap of £5.2m was still forecast in 2027/28. South Cambridgeshire District Council, meanwhile, has agreed to increase its share of council tax by 2.99%. This means a Band D household will pay £175.40 to the district council a year, an increase of £5.09. The authority has also agreed to increase council house rents by 2.7%. John Williams, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for resources, told a meeting on Tuesday: "The rents our tenants pay not only pay for repairs and maintenance of homes, but also for our capital programme to build more council houses. "In that context we really had no choice but to put council rents up." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Council tax rise to fund policing to be discussed Council with budget gap says tax rise on the cards East Cambridgeshire District Council South Cambridgeshire District Council
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Councils in Cambridgeshire confirm council tax plans
Councillors at two authorities have approved council tax plans for the next financial year. East Cambridgeshire District Council has agreed to freeze its share of council tax for the 12th year, something its leader, Conservative Anna Bailey, said she was "very proud" residents will still see an increase in their payments as other authorities in the county have increased their share of the bill, according to the Local Democracy Reporting living in a Band D property will continue to pay the district council £142.14 a year. Bailey said the council had "yet again managed to show a balanced budget for the next two years with no cuts" and highlighted plans to keep free car parking in the town published by the authority said a budget gap of £5.2m was still forecast in 2027/ Cambridgeshire District Council, meanwhile, has agreed to increase its share of council tax by 2.99%.This means a Band D household will pay £175.40 to the district council a year, an increase of £5.09. The authority has also agreed to increase council house rents by 2.7%.John Williams, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for resources, told a meeting on Tuesday: "The rents our tenants pay not only pay for repairs and maintenance of homes, but also for our capital programme to build more council houses."In that context we really had no choice but to put council rents up." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
