An 11th hour bid to halt East Cambridgeshire District Council’s £9m crematorium on the site of the former outdoor centre failed. The Liberal Democrat and Independent Group on the council proposed a series of measures at the budget meeting last night (Tuesday) but were blocked by the ruling Conservatives from debating them. It included ditching the crematorium.
“This amendment would have ceased spending nearly £9m on the Conservatives’ expensive and unwanted crematorium at Mepal,” said opposition group leader Cllr Lorna Dupre.
She said the opposition would have voted to use the money to provide for more investment in district-wide community facilities and inclusive play and local facilities
And to improve footpaths and cycleways in the district.
She said: “Our amendment to the Conservative budget would have offered new and better amenities for local residents, a renewed push on climate and the environment, and the prospect of real parking enforcement—all with no increase in the Council Tax.
“They blocked any discussion of alternatives to their unwanted crematorium plans for Mepal, which is taking millions of pounds from popular amenities for which there is a real need.
“We would have invested these infrastructure funds instead in popular community and play facilities, and in more connected footpaths and cycleways.”
Early visuals of the new crematorium at Mepal that will cost East Cambridgeshire District Council at least £9mCllr Dupre added: “Even more importantly, we would have set aside the £2.2 million that is urgently needed for Staploe Medical Centre to expand at Soham, for which there is currently no specific provision at all in the council’s financial plans.
“Even knowing they can win the vote in the council chamber, the Conservatives are still determined to deny democracy, and rule in the same autocratic way to get their unpopular crematorium plans through.”
A spokesperson for East Cambs Council confirmed after the meeting that “this summer will see the council begin building a new state of the art lakeside bereavement centre. “The plan for the council-owned land includes a crematorium and a natural burial area”.
Cllr Dupre said opposition proposals would also have:
- Increased funding for tourism and the arts to boost the local economy and secure a future for Babylon Arts
- Increased the council’s actions on climate and the environment
- Used funding from the abandoned Local Plan review to prepare for proper parking enforcement across East Cambridgeshire.
“The Liberal Democrat and Independent proposals were defeated, and the Conservative budget passed,” she added.
After the meeting the council announced it remains “debt free and is freezing its Council Tax again in 2025/26 – for the 12th year running”.
A spokesperson said: “This is despite an economically challenging environment which has seen many other local authorities rack up millions in debt.
“But there are fears low Council Tax could soon be a thing of the past for East Cambs residents when government plans to merge district and county councils come into effect in 2028.”
Cllr Lorna Dupre (left) and Cllr Anna Bailey clashed at the budget setting meeting of East Cambridgeshire District Council, especially over the £9m crematorium planned for Mepal.Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Out of more than 500 local authority organisations in the UK only 22 (4%) have been debt free since 2020.
“We put our success down to an innovative and prudent approach to financing.
Aerial view from 2020 of the fire ravaged Mepal centre“But we are concerned this could all change when we are forced to merge with neighbouring councils which typically put up their Council Tax by the maximum amount each year.”
The decision to freeze Council Tax was made at a full council meeting and for residents it means Council Tax paid to the district council will remain at £142.14 for an average Band D property, the same as it was 12 years ago.
The spokesperson said: “It is the only district, county or unitary authority still in operation in the country not to have put up bills during this time.”
“As well as a freeze in Council Tax, the balanced budget takes into account nearly £2 million set aside for the purchase of waste vehicles; £1 million to purchase wheeled black bins and £280,000 to buy food waste caddies.
June start date target for £9m Mepal crematorium
“This is to ensure the council is ready to meet the government’s long term Waste Strategy being implemented in 2026. For residents this means weekly food waste collections and black wheeled bins from June 2026 to help improve our recycling rate even further.
“It also includes an 8% increase in fees the council pays to the Internal Drainage Board.”
