Conservatives were clinging onto power today at East Cambridgeshire District Council following the decision by one of their councillors to leave the party and to become independent. Suddenly the balance of power has shifted dramatically for although the Conservatives remain the largest party on the council, with 14 seats, Liberal Democrats are only one behind with 13 seats.
Which leaves former Conservative – and now independent – councillor James Lay making up the 28-strong council.
Tories will still continue to run the administration because if ‘push comes to shove’ the chairman, Soham councillor Mark Goldsack, and a Conservative, will have the casting decision.
Cllr Lay is yet to give reasons for his sudden departure from the Ely and East Cambridgeshire Conservative group, but sources tell me he had become disenchanted with the actions taken by council leader Anna Bailey.
Ironically, Cllr Goldsack took over as chairman last year, succeeding Cllr Alan Sharp, who is a colleague of Cllr Lay as Woodditon ward councillors.
Left: Cllr Mark Goldsack receiving the chairman’s medallion and a scroll from Cllr Alan Sharp, who stepped down in 2023 after two years as chairman but retained his role as Woodditton ward councillor. Right: Independent Woodditton councillor James LayConservatives retained administration of the council last year with 15 seats won at the district elections on May 4. The Liberal Democrats won 13 seats.
This was the result from Woodditton in May 2023.
Woodditton (2 seats)
Helen Claire Barker – Lib Dem 404
Sarah Fraser – Lab 283
Richard Alexander Downing Fullerton – UKIP 85
Jaqueline Lacey-Eresh – Lab 225
James Lay – Con 842 ELECTED
Lindsey Anne Moss-Eccardt – Lib Dem 329
Alan Gordon Sharp* – Con 918 ELECTED
Turnout: 32.6%
Until last year Cllr Lay had been a member of Newmarket Town Council and also represented the town on West Suffolk Council.
At one point he criticised the district council over its budget proposals and also attacked what he believed was a lack of investment in Newmarket.
