A new Corporate Plan covering the next four years is being presented to the Full Council meeting at East Cambridgeshire District Council this week.

The document builds on the authority’s 100 Day commitment to bring more detail to how the Council will improve the district for residents and businesses in East Cambridgeshire through the following six priorities:

• Delivering a financially sound and well managed Council
• Genuinely affordable housing
• A fantastic place to live
• Improving local transport
• Improving infrastructure
• New Jobs and Funding

To deliver on these priorities, the authority will be working on a number of areas which include:

• Freezing the East Cambridgeshire element of Council Tax for 2016/2017
• Support more Community Land Trusts to develop in the district
• Aim for a 60 per cent recycling rate and ensure bins are put back tidily
• Oversee delivery of the multiplex cinema
• Deliver the leisure centre in Ely and review and support leisure services throughout the District
• Push to ensure the Ely Bypass is built
• Keep free car parking in our city and town centre car parks
• Seek to increase car parking spaces at Littleport Station and Angel Drove, Ely
• Use the business rates retention fund on business development to create new jobs and opportunities for young people

Councillor James Palmer, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring that East Cambridgeshire continues to be a district where people want to live, work and visit. Over the last few years, we have faced many financial challenges which we have met and emerged as a stronger and more focused authority. In the last year, we have delivered on many projects and objectives for the benefit for our residents. Whether it is approving a new multiplex cinema, supporting the roll-out of superfast broadband across 69 areas of the district or helping to deliver three Community Land Trusts, we have worked to deliver a vibrant and thriving area.

“However we know there is plenty to do if we are to continue to succeed – we must continue to act as a catalyst for growth. This was why following the elections in the Spring, we felt it was important to set a direction for the District Council through our 100 day commitment. This has now formed the basis of the new Corporate Plan for the next four years of the Council.

“This document will be the blueprint for the future of all our work. From recycling initiatives to supporting new apprenticeships, from securing a railway station for Soham to investing in young apprenticeships and working for the Ely Bypass, there is much to do. We like to set ourselves targets in East Cambridgeshire – goals which challenge us all to do better for the benefit of the communities, residents and businesses in the district.”