South Cambs District Councillor Report
Bill Handley’s Report to Over residents – September 2025
SCDC makes £300,000 available to support community services
SCDC has just launched a £300,000 funding programme which will help local groups deliver vital services to South Cambridgeshire residents. This Service Support Grant funding is a significant increase from the previous year’s budget of £167,400.
The enhanced funding is intended to help exiting voluntary, community and social enterprise bodies deal with the difficulties faced by residents and to expand the scheme to benefit a greater number of organisations.
The grants will be delivered 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
The scheme is open for applications between now and 5pm on Friday 31 October. With the funding period running between April 2026 and March 2029. Any voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation delivering services for South Cambridgeshire residents can apply. Applications from consortia are also welcome, provided one lead agency is identified.
Local Climate Action Conference
SCDC’s third Local Climate Action Conference is to be held on Friday 17 October 2025, 12-5 pm at Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington Ave, Cambridge CB3 1AA. The event is open to anyone in the district who is interested in tackling climate change and enhancing biodiversity. Delegates will have the opportunity to input into the upcoming SCDC Climate and Nature Strategy 2026-2030. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP using this form: https://forms.office.com/e/DKWNNDkxfF
Consultation on draft 2 Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP) Service is currently reconsulting on an updated draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The SPD provides detailed guidance on how planning obligations (known as Section 106 contributions) should be used to mitigate the impact of new developments across Greater Cambridge. The SPD will define when developers need to make contributions and what they might involve. Some examples are more affordable homes, better transport options like cycle paths or bus improvements, and protecting nature by improving habitats and planting more greenery.
Members of the public in the Greater Cambridge area are being asked for their views on the updated draft SPD by 5 p.m. on Friday 17 October 2025. To read the updated draft SPD and to find out how to submit your comments, visit: https://greatercambridgeplanning.org/spd
New Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Website Launch
In the middle of September, SCDC plans to launch a dedicated website for bins, recycling, and waste services across Greater Cambridge, serving both residential and business users. This will become the single platform for all waste-related services. A Beta version of the site is available now UAT (User Acceptance Testing) environment and you are invited to check it out and make comments and suggestions.
Housing achievements in the last year
An £8.2 million government grant has been secured to retrofit social housing in South Cambridgeshire, in line with the administration’s policy of cutting carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty by making homes warmer and cheaper to heat. https://www.scambs.gov.uk/news/a-landmark-year-of-housing-achievements-in-south-cambridgeshire
Bill
Bill Handley
District Councillor for Over and Willingham Phone: 01954 200287 (leave a message). Email: cllr.handley@scambs.gov.uk
