Cambridgeshire County Council serves as the upper-tier local authority for our county, providing essential services across all five district areas: Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Cambridge City, and South Cambridgeshire. Working alongside district councils and parish councils like ours, the County Council delivers many of the vital services that affect our daily lives.
The County Council oversees a broad range of services that impact residents across Cambridgeshire. These include education services, from school admissions and place planning to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support, as well as home-to-school transport provision. They also manage fostering and adoption services and youth justice programmes.
As the statutory Highways Authority, the County Council is responsible for maintaining our roads and pathways, managing traffic flow, providing street lighting, and ensuring road safety. They also operate important transport infrastructure including the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway and Park and Ride services, as well as managing on-street parking.
Social care represents a significant area of the County Council’s work, encompassing both children’s and adults’ social work and care services. This includes safeguarding vulnerable individuals and providing support to those who need it most within our communities.
The County Council manages our library network, including archives and heritage services that preserve Cambridgeshire’s rich history. They oversee public health services and health protection, coordinate emergency planning and civil contingencies response, and provide Trading Standards services to protect consumers and support businesses.
Environmental responsibilities include waste disposal and the operation of Household Waste Recycling Centres, flood risk management, strategic planning for natural environment protection, and archaeological services. The Council also provides registration services for births, deaths, and marriages, along with HM Coroner’s services.
Understanding the division of responsibilities between different levels of local government helps residents know where to direct queries and concerns. While the County Council handles the services mentioned above, your district council manages council tax collection, household bin collections, housing services, leisure facilities, environmental health, and residential planning applications. Parish councils like ours focus on local matters including community buildings, open spaces, allotments, play areas, and bus shelters.
For matters relating to County Council services, residents can contact them through their website at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk or by telephone on 0345 045 5200. Our parish council works cooperatively with the County Council to ensure our community’s needs are represented and our residents receive the services they require.
