The 11 Villages of the Kimbolton Ward are special places to live here in West Huntingdonshire: each has its own distinctive community spirit.

Full statement

But things are not going to stay the same. We know that Local Government Reform will create a new Council, whilst the Labour Government seems intend on allowing housing and solar farms wherever developers want.

Jonathan Gray was born and bred in Cambridgeshire and Kimbolton resident for almost 30 years. He combines an insurance business career in with serving as a school governor and District Councillor. He has represented Kimbolton at the District Council for 22 years, serving in the Council's Cabinet for 14 years, and as Leader of the Opposition between 2022 and 2024.

Jonathan provides a strong and experienced voice for Kimbolton in this time of change, making sure that the values and concerns of rural communities are not ignored.

His priorities are:

1. Stopping Inappropriate Housing Developments, and making sure that those that are approved have the correct infrastructure. For example, his lobbying has led to 2 housing developments near Kimbolton being paused to find workable solutions to prevent sewage entering the River Kym.

2. Ensuring that proper infrastructure is provided for any development and that our existing infrastructure is better maintained. Jonathan has been working closely with our County Councillor Ian Gardener to tackle the blight of potholes that 5 years of a LibDem County Council has led to.

3. End the Green Bin Tax Madness. We had a perfectly workable solution for collecting garden and food waste. But the foolish decision of the Joint Administration (all parties plus independents, other than Conservative) to charge for green waste has seen thousands of tons of food waste go to landfill, and also means buying 10's of thousands of food caddies to now collect food waste that is, predictably, mandated by Westminster.

4. Keeping more money in your pocket. Between 2013 and 2022 I was responsible for HDC budgets. My goal was to have sound finances, but keep Council Tax as low as prudently possible. Fees, charges and Council Tax have rocketed under the past 4 years with the Joint Administration. A fully costed proposal by the Conservatives to freeze Council Tax this April was voted down by all other Councillors.

5. Planning Enforcement makes up a large part of my caseload. Its very frustrating for residents when they see others not following the rules and seeming to get away with it. Another costed proposal from Conservatives to add another Council employee to the team was voted down by all other Councillors.