Councillor Katie Thornburrow has been elected as the leader of Cambridge City Council following a reconvened Annual Council Meeting on Monday 1 June, bringing an end to a leadership deadlock that emerged after last month’s local election. The vote enables Labour to form a minority administration after leading with 17 seats but failing to achieve an overall majority on the council.
The leadership decision follows an inconclusive Annual Council Meeting on 22 May, when no alternative candidate was put forward, the meeting adjourned and was rescheduled for 1 June.
New leader pledges collaborative approach
Following her election, Cllr Thornburrow said she would seek to work across party lines to address the challenges facing the city.
“I am honoured to serve as Leader of uk/local/cambridge-city-council/">Cambridge City Council,”
she said.
She brought focus to delivering good quality housing, protecting vital local services, while ensuring support through the cost-of-living crisis. To help grow Cambridge sustainably and fairly, she mentioned working constructively across the council for the greater good of residents.
She also added,
“Cambridge faces significant challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, and I am committed to providing stable, collaborative leadership focused on achieving the best outcomes for our city.”
Further details regarding cabinet appointments, portfolio responsibilities, and committee positions are expected to be announced by the council in the coming few weeks.
Greens call for greater cooperation despite failed negotiations
The election followed a period of negotiations between the parties, as a result of which no single party secured overall control of the council.
Securing the second largest number of seats, the leader of the Green group said that discussions had taken place in an attempt to establish a power-sharing arrangement, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement despite intensive negotiations in good faith.
She added,
“Although we could not agree a power sharing arrangement, we did reach agreement on the key issues affecting the city: Local Government Reorganisation, the proposed development corporation and cost of living are the key issues facing our residents. We are hoping for a more collaborative and consensual way of conducting council business in future.”
Liberal Democrats focus on local priorities
Councillor Tim Bick said his party’s decision to abstain was based on securing progress on issues they had long campaigned for.
“Failing any agreement from other parties for an administration which better reflects the current make-up of the whole council, this arrangement provides the scope for all parties to exert an influence,”
he said.
With the new arrangement, he said that the Liberal Democrats will work on issues of importance to residents, such as street cleaning, anti-social behaviour, and re-opening public toilets.
As part of the agreement, the council’s Cabinet will consider a report on 7 July supporting proposals to reopen public toilets at Parker’s Piece and Quayside, alongside measures to strengthen street cleaning and public realm enforcement.
In the meantime, additional temporary staff will be recruited to increase street cleansing operations and enforcement activity in Cambridge city centre during the busy summer period.
Labour-led administration outlines next priorities
The new Labour-led administration has also outlined a number of policy areas it intends to bring forward for consideration.
These include exploring stronger controls on the concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and short-term visitor accommodation, as well as examining the potential use of Article 4 Directions to provide greater planning control over smaller HMOs.
The administration has also committed to consulting on a possible citywide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at tackling anti-social driving and enhancing police enforcement powers, similar to measures being introduced by neighbouring councils.
Another forthcoming report will examine the council’s response to Equalities Act guidance regarding public toilet access, with the stated aim of protecting the rights of transgender people while ensuring public facilities remain safe and welcoming for all users.
New political landscape at the Guildhall
The appointment of Cllr Thornburrow marks the beginning of a new political chapter at Cambridge City Council, where no single party now commands a majority.
With Labour governing as a minority administration and key votes likely to require support from other groups, collaboration and negotiation across the council chamber are expected to play a central role in decision-making over the coming year.
