Election results
In the local elections that took place on 1st May, where the County Council and the Mayor were up for election, we now have a Liberal Democrat run County Council which we had previously but now the Liberal Democrats have a majority rather than leading a coalition with Labour. We also have a Conservative Mayor, previously this was held by Labour. I would like to congratulate all of the successful newly elected Councillors and Mayor but also, everyone that stood for election which is never an easy thing to do.
Civil Parking Enforcement
Cambridgeshire County Council’s latest reports (up to the end of March 2025) on Civil Parking Enforcement in South Cambridgeshire have been published. One of the documents is the main report, which summarizes the County Council’s activities for the most recent quarter and includes a brief overview of the full financial year. The second document contains data on patrols carried out and the Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued. As noted in the report, most PCNs continue to be issued for parking violations on single or double yellow lines.
At the moment, the County Council is seeing a 76% recovery rate for the quarter, though they expect this to increase as more outstanding cases are resolved. I’m also seeing a continued decline in the number of PCNs issued, which could suggest that compliance is improving.
As chair of Scrutiny Committee, I will be reviewing Civil Parking Enforcement at the June meeting. Happy to discuss, share or answer questions on the reports coming to scrutiny.
Zero Carbon Communities Grant open for applications
The Zero Carbon Communities Grant is now open for applications and will close on Tuesday, 1 July 2025. I’m inviting parish councils and voluntary or community organisations to apply for grants ranging from £2,000 to £15,000. These grants can support projects that either reduce carbon emissions—such as improvements to a community building—or help engage the community on climate issues and encourage sustainable behaviour change.
To check if you’re eligible, please take a look at the guidance documents available on our website.
SCDC will also be hosting an online application workshop where you can ask questions and share your project ideas:
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
5:00 – 6:30pm
If you’d like to join the session or need more information, just email zcc@scambs.gov.uk.
Biodiversity Duty webinar
SCDC will be hosting a webinar, along with the Climate and Environment team, to support parish councils in responding to the Biodiversity Duty. In this session, the aim is to clearly explain what the Duty involves, share practical tips to help you stay compliant, and present case studies showcasing good work already being done. There will also be plenty of time for questions.
Councillors, clerks, and anyone else who’s interested in learning more about the Duty is welcome to attend.
Date: Wednesday 28 May
Time: 5:00 – 6:30pm
Where: Online
SCDC will offering grants of up to £10,000 to support projects that improve the productivity, sustainability, and social value of allotment spaces. The key priorities for funding include:
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Improving water access with reliable connections and rainwater harvesting
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Introducing effective pest control measures, like fencing
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Upgrading facilities, including the installation of waterless toilets
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Creating measurable social benefits—such as supporting mental well-being, encouraging outdoor activity, and fostering community engagement
They will also consider other types of allotment improvements that help ensure these spaces remain vibrant, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.
For more details, please visit the Allotment Improvement Grant webpage:
https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-and-people/community-action/allotment-improvement-grant
Thank you for taking the time to read my report; if you have any questions or want to discuss any of the issues raised email me on graham.cone@councillor.online or ring 07595 361 285 (please leave a voicemail if I am unavailable) Councillor Graham Cone