Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Last updated
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority logo.svg
Cambridgeshire UK locator map 2010.svg
Area covered by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Type
Type
Houses Unicameral
Term limits
None
History
Founded3 March 2017
Leadership
Structure
Political groups
  Labour (3)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
  Conservatives (2)
  Non-political (1)
Elections
Directly elected mayor since 2017
Last election
6 May 2021
Next election
1 May 2025
Meeting place
Pathfinder House, Huntingdon.jpg
Pathfinder House, St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN
Website
https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is a combined authority covering the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire in the East of England. The authority was established on 3 March 2017. The authority is led by the directly elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Contents

History

Plans for a combined authority covering the entirety of East Anglia, including Norfolk and Suffolk, were announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on 16 March 2016 as part of the 2016 United Kingdom budget, with the aim of creating an "Eastern Powerhouse" analogous to the government's Northern Powerhouse concept. [1] Norfolk and Suffolk had initially submitted separate devolution bids, but government ministers called for a joint bid including all three counties. [2] [3] Initial proposals had been agreed by all county and district councils in the region, with the exception of Cambridge City Council.

The East Anglia devolution deal was subsequently rejected by Cambridgeshire County Council, [4] with Peterborough City Council also opposing the deal. [5] Plans for devolution in the region were split in June 2016, with one deal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and a separate deal covering Norfolk and Suffolk. [6] The Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deal was later scrapped, after several district councils withdrew. [7] [8]

The devolution deal was agreed by the constituent local councils in November 2016, [9] and the first meeting of the shadow combined authority was held in December 2016. [10] The draft statutory instrument required for formal establishment of the combined authority was laid in Parliament on 23 January, made on 2 March 2017, and came into force the following day. [11]

Responsibilities

As part of the devolution deal, the responsibilities of the combined authority will include the following: [12] [13] [14]

Mayor

The combined authority is chaired by a directly elected mayor. The first election was held on 4 May 2017 for a four-year term of office, with further elections in May 2021 and every fourth year thereafter. [11] The mayor's salary has been reported to be £70,000 a year. [15] The mayor is a member of the Mayoral Council for England and the Council of the Nations and Regions.

Membership

Map of constituent local authorities. The area in pink is covered by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Peterborough City Council (unitary authority)
Fenland District Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
East Cambridgeshire District Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Cambridge City Council Cambridgeshire numbered districts.svg
Map of constituent local authorities. The area in pink is covered by Cambridgeshire County Council.

In addition to the elected mayor, the seven constituent local councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council, Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, each nominate one member of the combined authority. The Chairman of the Business Board, which functions as the Local Enterprise Partnership for the region, also holds a seat. Substitute members are also nominated in case of absence. [16]

NamePosition within nominating authorityNominating authority
Nik Johnson Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Direct election
Dennis JonesLeader of the Council Peterborough City Council
Lucy Nethsingha Leader of the Council Cambridgeshire County Council
Anna SmithCouncil's appointed representative Cambridge City Council
Anna BaileyLeader of the Council East Cambridgeshire District Council
Chris BodenLeader of the Council Fenland District Council
Sarah ConboyLeader of the Council Huntingdonshire District Council
Bridget SmithLeader of the Council South Cambridgeshire District Council
Al KingsleyChairmanBusiness Board

Bodies that hold observer status currently include the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority and the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridgeshire</span> County of England

Cambridgeshire is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, Northamptonshire to the west and Bedfordshire to the south-west. The largest settlement is the city of Peterborough, and the city of Cambridge is the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Anglia</span> Region of England

East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in what is now Northern Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Peterborough</span> City and Unitary Authority in Cambridgeshire, England

Peterborough, or the City of Peterborough, is a unitary authority area with city status in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The district is named after its largest settlement, Peterborough, but also covers a wider area of outlying villages and hamlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Cambridgeshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

East Cambridgeshire is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in the city of Ely. The district also contains the towns of Littleport and Soham and surrounding rural areas, including parts of the Fens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridgeshire Constabulary</span> English territorial police force

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the local territorial police force that covers the county of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough unitary authority. It provides law enforcement and security for an area of 1,311 square miles (3,400 km2) and population of 856,000 people, in a predominantly rural county. The force of Cambridgeshire includes the cities of Cambridge, Ely and Peterborough, the market towns of Chatteris, Huntingdon, March, Ramsey, St Ives, St Neots, Whittlesey, and town and Port of Wisbech. Its emblem is a crowned Brunswick star containing the heraldic badge of Cambridgeshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Directly elected mayors in England</span> Executive leaders of local government

Local authority areas in England typically have an executive leader and a cabinet selected from the local council, similar to how the national prime minister and cabinet are selected from Parliament. In contrast, residents of some areas, or groups of areas known as combined authorities or combined county authorities, directly elect the executive mayors of their local government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterborough City Council</span> Local authority in England

Peterborough City Council is the local authority for Peterborough, a local government district with city status in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. Peterborough has had a council since 1874, which has been reformed several times. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2017 the council has been a member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC East</span>

BBC East is one of BBC's English Regions covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and parts of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It is headquartered in The Forum, Norwich since 2003. It was also separated into two areas, one with the East area covering mostly in Norfolk, Suffolk & Essex, and another from the West area which covers from Cambridge, serving mostly Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and the three counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soham railway station</span> Railway station in Cambridgeshire, England

Soham railway station is a station on the Ipswich–Ely line, serving the town of Soham in Cambridgeshire. The original station operated between 1879 and 1965. It was reopened in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combined authorities and combined county authorities</span> Type of local government institution in England

A combined authority (CA) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. CAs are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority.

The East of England Local Government Association (EELGA) is an association of the 52 local authorities in the East of England. It is a regional grouping of the Local Government Association and the regional employers organisation. It was established in April 2010 following the abolition of the East of England Regional Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in East Anglia</span>

Transport in East Anglia consists of extensive road and rail networks as well as one of England's key regional airports and the country's busiest container port. Despite having very little motorway within their borders, the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire have modern transport links with the rest of the country.

Healthcare in Cambridgeshire was the responsibility of NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group until July 2022. This was one of the largest in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that allows for the introduction of directly elected mayors to combined authorities in England and Wales and the devolution of housing, transport, planning and policing powers to them. The bill was introduced to the House of Lords by Baroness Williams of Trafford, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on 28 May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 United Kingdom local elections</span>

The 2017 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 4 May 2017. Local elections were held across Great Britain, with elections to 35 English local authorities and all councils in Scotland and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election</span>

The inaugural Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The supplementary vote system was used to elect the mayor for a four-year term of office. Subsequent elections will be held in May 2021 and every four years after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough</span> Mayoral post in England

The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is a combined authority mayor, first elected in May 2017. The mayor is leader of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

James Palmer is a former politician who was the first Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough between 2017 and 2021. As a councillor, he was previously leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council between May 2013 and May 2017. He was also a county councillor for the Soham and Fordham Villages electoral division of Cambridgeshire County Council between 2009 and 2017. Palmer was elected as the Conservative candidate on 4 May, 2017, however lost the subsequent 6 May 2021 election to Labour Party candidate Nik Johnson and announced his retirement from politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nik Johnson</span> British Labour Co-op politician, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Nik Johnson is a British Labour Co-op politician and paediatrician who has served as the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of West Yorkshire</span> Directly elected mayor in England

The Mayor of West Yorkshire is a directly elected mayor responsible for the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire in England. The Mayor chairs and leads the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and assumes the office and powers of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

References

  1. "Budget 2016: 'Eastern Powerhouse' counties 'to get elected mayor'". BBC News. 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  2. Annabelle Dickson (2015-12-09). "Call to bring Cambridgeshire alongside Suffolk and Norfolk in 'devolution revolution'". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  3. Dan Grimmer (2016-02-26). "Leader plays down speculation Essex could join Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire devolution deal". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  4. "Osborne's devolution plans hit by dissenting councils". Financial Times. 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  5. Joel Lamy (2016-04-13). "Devolution between Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to be discussed after widespread city council opposition to East Anglian authority". Peterborough Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  6. "East Anglia devolution: Proposal splits counties". BBC News. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  7. "Norfolk and Suffolk elected mayor plans scrapped". BBC News. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  8. Dan Grimmer (2016-11-18). "Recriminations start as devolution for Norfolk and Suffolk looks dead after King's Lynn councillors vote against deal". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  9. "Cambridgeshire and Peterborough back £800m devolution deal". BBC News. 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  10. Josh Thomas (2016-12-16). "New combined authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough holds its first meeting". Cambridge News . Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  11. 1 2 "The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2017/251
  12. "Devolution - A deal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough". Peterborough City Council. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  13. "Devolution for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough". Cambridgeshire County Council. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  14. "Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Devolution Deal Announced". Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership. 2016-06-17. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  15. Adrian Curtis (2016-11-22). "Cambridgeshire and Peterborough make devolution history". Cambridge Independent. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  16. "Information pack, 5 June 2024". Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. p. 21. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. "PROGRESS UPDATE ON DEVOLUTION" (PDF). Cambridge City Council . Retrieved 2017-01-19.