Cllr Neil Davies, Independent candidate on the May 3 South Cambridgeshire District Council elections
Thursday, May 3 is set to be a tight contest across the District.
On South Cambridgeshire District Council there are already six independent councillors and, if elected, they will proactively influence the future direction of the council.
As a result, residents will benefit from an inclusive council with all views and ideas thoroughly evaluated.
Independent councillors are genuinely different from those councillors representing political parties as they are able to represent their community and are not tied to a political party. There is no requirement to avoid issues that conflict with party politics. Independents are free to vigorously pursue local interest and have the freedom to vote according to the wishes of their community and not according to the party line or whip.
South Cambridgeshire has a great need for advocates who understand the needs of the area.
South Cambridgeshire is a unique rural area covering over 100 villages, but also has new communities being built now and planned for the future.
This presents challenges when combined with cuts in council budgets over the last eight years, which has caused real issues and problems for local communities. Therefore, the council needs an inclusive approach that allows flexibility for innovation to be a reality.
An overriding concern to all communities in South Cambridgeshire is the provision of affordable and social housing for local people, for which there are no easy solutions.
Local Community Land Trusts are one option to be encouraged and have proved successful elsewhere in the county. In Histon and Impington independent councillors are working with SCDC, the local parish council, a local landowner and a regional housing association on a potential project to try to create much-needed affordable and social housing alongside a new community park. This is an example where independent councillors are making a difference with creative ideas fulfilling a vision which can be shared across the district.
Histon and Impington have shown in the previous four elections that independents do win and work with the interests of the community as their sole priority. Therefore, if there are independent candidates in your area, remember they run for the benefit of your community and work freely to deliver results.
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Simon Saggers, Green Party candidate on the May 3 South Cambridgeshire District Council elections
Full list of candidates standing for election to South Cambridgeshire District Council
