Agenda

To elect a Chair of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25th February 2026.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, other registerable and non-registerable interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below.

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To receive a report by the Returning Officer summarising the results of the District Council elections held on 7th May 2026.

To elect the Executive Leader of the Council.

(NB: The Executive Leader is elected by the Council from among its membership for a four year term or until the Member’s term of office comes to an end as a Councillor, he/she resigns from office or he/she is removed from office by the Council).

The Executive Leader to announce the names of

a)  a maximum of nine Councillors who shall be Members of the Cabinet; and

b)  a Deputy Executive Leader who shall be a Member of the Cabinet.

(NB: The Deputy Executive Leader is appointed by the Executive Leader until the end of the term of office of the Executive Leader, they resign from the office or they are removed from office by the Executive Leader)

To consider a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager on the representation of political groups on Committees and Panels in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the District Council’s Constitution

Report to follow

To appoint to:

  i.  Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth)  12 Members

  ii.  Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) 12 Members

To appoint to:

To appoint seven Members to a Constitution Review Working Group. The Review Working Group will report to the Corporate Governance Committee.

To appoint/nominate members to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combine Authority for the municipal year 2026/27.

Motion from Councillor R Martin.

This Council Notes:

• The recent local elections held on 7 May 2026, which have returned a new mandate from the residents of Huntingdonshire.
• The ongoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and that the government consultation has ended regarding the future of single-tier unitary councils in the region.
• That on 24 November 2025, the previous Cabinet approved the submission of Option E to the government.
• That Option E proposes the creation of three new unitary councils, specifically establishing Huntingdonshire as a standalone unitary authority, while considering the future of Tempsford New Town.
• That competing proposals submitted by other authorities—most notably Option D—threaten to fracture Huntingdonshire.

This Council Believes:

• That a standalone Huntingdonshire authority (Option E) remains the most robust, evidence-led, and financially sustainable model to replace the current two-tier system, bringing decision-making closer to our communities.
• Options A and B, while keeping Huntingdonshire in one piece, do not represent the best options for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and would risk the potential of Project FAIRFAX and Tempsford to support future growth.
• That Huntingdonshire possesses a distinct heritage, a strong community identity, and recognised economic boundaries that must not be diluted or divided.
• That our district is a regional engine for growth—serving as an emerging international defence powerhouse and a key strategic hub within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. Fragmenting the district would risk stalling this vital economic growth.
• That smaller, more locally focused councils are best equipped to deliver efficient public services and strengthen the crucial focus on community health and prevention.

This Council Resolves:

1. To formally reaffirm its unwavering support for Option E as the best choice for Local Government Reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
2. To reject splitting Huntingdonshire boundaries and categorically oppose any LGR proposals, including Option D, that seek to carve up Huntingdonshire’s historic and administrative boundaries.
3. To instruct the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders to write immediately to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution and our local MPs, outlining this newly elected Council's reaffirmed mandate for Option E as the government deliberates its consultation findings.

To note the Councillors Attendance and Expenses Information for 2025/26