PDF Version of District Councillors Report October
Supplementary Report of Councillor Carla Hofman
and Councillor John Williams to
Parish Councils for October 2025.
This report contains factual information which we hope will be of use and of interest to the parish council and to the wider community of the parish.
For queries pleaser email us at cllr.williamsjg@scambs,gov.uk or cllr.hofman@scambs.gov.uk
Also, look out for the Parish Clerks e-Bulletin from South Cambridgeshire District Council
Parish councils invited to claim six free trees
Its that time of year again with town and parish councils being invited to claim up to six free trees for public or school land. The popular Six Free Trees scheme has already helped plant 758 trees in communities across South Cambridgeshire since 2019 as part of the council’s commitment to being green to its core to help fight climate change.
And this year the scheme is being extended to include schools in the district.
The initiative offers each parish or town council the opportunity to claim either six small trees (whips) or one large pot-grown tree, with a choice of native species. Trees are delivered along with stakes, ties, and supports to help them establish – all town or parish councils need to do is plant and care for them.
As to schools, the trees can be planted on school grounds, and schools interested in participating are encouraged to contact their parish or town council to apply on their behalf. And we are also including other public spaces not owned by the parish council. We hope town and parish towns will help us reach out to their local schools and other owners of public spaces.
The Six Free Trees Scheme has been run by South Cambridgeshire District Council since 2019, making this its fifth year in operation. As a result, some parish or town councils may find they have limited space for more trees. The District Council will therefore also consider providing free trees for other publicly accessible locations that are not on parish or town council or school land. This is subject to permission from the landowner and the District Council’s approval.
Help shape climate and nature work in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council have teamed up to invite people to help shape the councils’ approaches to climate and nature work in the coming years.
The councils have set out transformative visions for a region where nature thrives, the air and rivers are clean, communities are resilient to the changing climate, and future generations can flourish. They are developing new strategies to take this work Zero Carbon Communities grants – successful applicants revealedforwards and want local people and organisations to have their say.
You only need to take the survey once, on either council’s website:
Cambridge City Council – open until 9 November.
South Cambridgeshire District Council – open until 5 November.
The responses will all be analysed together and made available to both councils.
Zero Carbon Communities grants – successful applicants revealed
Community projects are being supported to act on climate change thanks to new funding awarded in the Zero Carbon Communities (ZCC) grant scheme.
Now into its seventh round, the ZCC grant scheme empowers parish councils and non-profit community groups to deliver projects that either reduce or lock up carbon emissions or engage residents in climate change awareness and action. Since its launch in 2019, the scheme has funded 82 projects, awarding over £650,000 to initiatives across the district. The money comes from Business Rates levied on commercial renewable energy projects in the district such as the Wadlow Wind Farm.
This year, the Council received applications from 22 organisations. Following a rigorous assessment process, 14 projects were selected to receive funding – totalling more than £161,291. These projects encompass a diverse range of initiatives which will be allocated to carbon reduction and community engagement efforts. Details can be found on the South Cambs website.
£300,000 available to support community services in South Cambridgeshire
A £300,000 annual funding programme has been launched, aimed at empowering local groups that deliver vital services to South Cambridgeshire residents.
The Service Support Grants funding has significantly increased from the previous £167,400 a year budget – underscoring South Cambridgeshire District Council’s commitment to community wellbeing, tackling inequality and reducing social isolation. The enhanced funding acknowledges a growing pressure faced by the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector – particularly in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis. The increase in funding has been made possible by the council’s peer recognised strong and well managed financial position.
The grants will be delivered for three years in six key areas to be shared among groups which support a wide range of activities including the following, with example allocations:
Mental health and wellbeing – £50,000 a year
Advice services – £120,000 a year
Independent living – £50,000 a year
Support for the voluntary and community sector – £20,000 a year
Cost-of-living support – £30,000 a year
PLACE-based Initiatives – £30,000 a year
Applications open on Monday 8 September, with a deadline of 5pm on Friday 31 October. Funding runs from April 2026 to March 2029.
Any voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation delivering services for South Cambridgeshire residents can apply on the council’s website. Applications from consortia are also welcome, provided one lead agency is identified.
Current recipients include Citizens Advice, Cambridge Dial a Ride, Cambridge Reuse and Cambridge Women’s Aid for their South Cambs coverage.
Council leaders thank communities for helping shape the future of local government
Council leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have thanked residents, businesses, and community organisations for their vital role in shaping the future of local government in our region.
Between 19 June and 20 July 2025, a total of 3,406 people, including residents, stakeholders and staff, took part in a countywide engagement survey to share their views on the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s.
The feedback will help to inform how councils are structured and residents access services from April 2028, when the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) takes effect.
This will replace current district, county and city councils, and existing unitary authorities such as Peterborough, with single-tier unitary councils. It means residents will get all their council services – for example, bin collections, housing support, roads maintenance or social care – through one organisation.
The seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council – have been working collaboratively to identify viable options for the new unitary authorities since the Government announced LGR in December 2024.
The engagement survey, which was supported by a series of focus groups, revealed a strong appetite for reorganisation if it improved services (84% of responses). The ‘one stop shop’ unitary council model was supported in principle, but many were concerned about maintaining local knowledge. Respondents were clear that reorganisation must safeguard rural representation and identity as well as deliver tangible benefits, such as investing in services and being quicker in responding to residents.
People who took part also said the unitary councils’ top three priorities should be having local councillors who understand their area, simplifying access to services, and increasing the transparency and accountability of local government decision-making.
Survey analysis showed the responses reflected a broad representation of people from all seven councils in the region. They also exceeded the nationally recognised standard for market research, meaning the findings offer a robust and balanced snapshot of local opinion.
Feedback from the survey will help to inform the business cases for the three proposed options for reorganisation which were announced on 11 June 2025 and a fourth Greater Peterborough option which has since been put forward by Peterborough City Council.
The business cases, which are being developed by different councils, must be submitted by the Government’s deadline of 28 November. The Government will then consult further before the Secretary of State ultimately makes a final decision on which new arrangements are put into place for unitary elections in 2027, with the current South Cambridgeshire District Council being abolished in 2028.
In the meantime, some of the seven councils including South Cambridgeshire are planning further engagement work on their preferred option. South Cambridgeshire’s preferred option is to join with the City in a Greater Cambridge Unitary Council which will also take over County Council services in this area. All seven councils will also discuss the final response they will be providing to Government at public meetings before the Government’s November’s deadline.
Carla & John