East Cambridgeshire District Council remains debt free and is freezing its element of Council Tax again in 2026/27 - for the 13th year running.

For residents it means Council Tax paid to the district council can remain at £142.14 for an average Band D property - the same as it was for the year 2013/14.

This is less than £2.75 a week for all our services, which include free parking, free garden bin collections, community advice drop-in centres and affordable housing.

It is the only district, county or unitary authority still in operation in the country not to have put up bills during this time.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "We put our success down to an innovative and prudent approach to financing.

"We run a tight ship at the district council. Working with our subsidiary companies - East Cambs Street Scene and East Cambs Trading company - we are able to provide internal borrowing for schemes such as the leisure centre, waste and recycling services and affordable housing. This means we are able to avoid external borrowing costs which afflict many other councils."

This year will see some massive projects cross the finish line - like the opening of Lake View Bereavement Centre and the launch of new waste and recycling services.

The council is also continuing to develop affordable homes. It has just released three £100k homes in Kennett and is working with East Cambs Trading Company's Palace Green Homes to ensure all 27 homes at its Arbour Square development in Ely are affordable.

The amount residents pay to the district council is less than 6% of the total bill.

The remainder is divided between Cambridgeshire County Council, parish, town or city councils, the emergency services and the Combined Authority.

As well as a freeze in Council Tax, the balanced budget takes into account an allocation of £50,000, set aside as match funding to support parish councils for Neighbourhood Plans, as agreed at Full Council in October 2025.

Anne adds: "This balanced budget places is in an enviable position of our peers, allowing us to continue to provide high quality services to our residents.

"But significant change is coming, which in future is likely to impact how much residents pay for their Council Tax.

"Under Local Government Reorganisation existing district and county councils are being replaced with simpler and more efficient unitary authorities.

"Four proposals have been put forward to national government by different councils across the region.

"In East Cambridgeshire, the district council, together with Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire councils, is supporting option B, which would see East Cambridgeshire become part of a new unitary council with Huntingdonshire, Fenland and Peterborough.

"I encourage you to find out more and have your say by completing the government's consultation which runs until 26 March.

"A final decision will be made by central government this summer, with the new councils running from April 2028. Whatever option it chooses, we'll ensure we continue to stand up for residents and deliver excellent services."