Councillor R B Howe, Executive Member for Devolution and Growth to present on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Councillors R C Carter and T Hayward to provide an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Decision summaries for recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are attached to the Agenda for information.
In accordance with the Protocol agreed at the February 2017 meeting, this item provides an opportunity for District Council Members to ask questions and comment on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority issues.
If Members wish to raise questions or issues requiring a detailed response, it would be helpful if they can provide prior notice so that the necessary information can be obtained in advance of the meeting.
(Notes: Update 10 Minutes
Questions 10 Minutes).
Minutes:
In conjunction with the decision summaries of the recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Councillor R B Howe presented an update of their activities by way of a PowerPoint presentation. Copies of which are appended in the Minute Book.
Councillor Howe reported that the Combined Authority had been in existence for six months and although there had been limited resources at its inception the documentation had been issued on time and governance issues had been resolved.
Members were reminded of the devolution commitments of the Combined Authority, including improvements to the road network and rail systems, commitment to deliver 100K homes over the next 10 years, creation of a low carbon and knowledge based economy beneficial to residents, develop a skills base to match business need and commitment to assist in the development of Public Service delivery.
Attention was drawn to what the Combined Authority had achieved in their 100 day plan, including a House Building for Cambridge Conference that commenced the new plan to build 100K new homes as well as delivering 253 affordable homes across various schemes. Councillor Howe also reported upon the commitment of over £20m investment into transport and infrastructure and a vision to improve better connectivity between the market towns and the cities in the area. He further referred to the £60m investment for an improved opportunity for local people to become educated to degree level at the proposed University of Peterborough that could be retained in the local area, as well as £7.2m new money secured from Central Government to boost the skills of health and care workers.
Councillor Howe drew Members attention to a map highlighting the Gross Value Added (GVA) per worker across the District and the disparities in wealth across the Combined Authority area and reminded the Council of the Devolution Deal commitment to bring the total GVA in the area to over £40bn through the development an integrated programme of jobs, skills housing and infrastructure to encourage people to remain living and working in the area.
Members were advised of progress with development of the St Neots Masterplan that would be published the following week designed to improve communications through provision of jobs and homes and provide further scope for development through the potential strategic corridor between Oxford and Cambridge.
Attention was drawn to a timeline looking forward from 2017/18 and the scheme of events that would be developed by the Combined Authority with eventual outcomes in 2020/21. Councillor Howe also provided Members with aspirations that Members of the Combined Authority had discussed for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in 2030, including the area being the number one place to live in the UK, eliminating the problems of commuting out of the area and attracting inward investment post-Brexit.
Arising from a question from Councillor J D Ablewhite on the disparity in the provision of infrastructure with the proposed river crossing to open up the Wyton development being overtaken by the development in Cambridge City and the North Cambridgeshire Scheme scoring higher and progress to take this further, Councillor Howe explained that the feasibility of the river crossing had not been completed and progress with the North Cambridgeshire scheme was further ahead. It was proposed that priority would be given to taking the river crossing scheme back to Central Government for large scale investment to take the project forward.
Councillor D A Giles commended the volume of work that had been undertaken by the Combined Authority and in particular the work on the future regeneration plans for St Neots, but questioned the plan to deliver 100K homes and Councillor Howe explained that the Combined Authority had committed to deliver 100K homes but was not in a position to nominate sites currently. It was further explained that the consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government referred to in Minute No. 31 ante did not relate to the plans presented by the Combined Authority.
In response to a question from Councillor T D Sanderson on the increase in staffing costs at the Combined Authority, whereby Councillor Howe referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that had called in the item on Officer and Support Structure and explained that a reserve had been allocated and as there had been a change in policy direction it had been necessary to approve a revised staffing structure to support these expansive plans.
Arising from a question from Councillor Mrs S L Taylor on provision in the budget for adult education in St Neots, Councillor Howe explained that although there was no devolved budget from the Combined Authority for education in this area, initiatives had been planned to make funds available for linkages to education establishments.
Councillor Mrs S A Conboy raised a question in relation to consultation on the third river crossing and Councillor Howe reported that there was currently no preferred route and as part of the feasibility study a full consultation would follow.
In response to a question from Councillor J A Gray on the potential for conflict between councillors on the Combined Authority voting for projects in their respective areas as opposed to diverting the funding to projects that could deliver the largest impact, Councillor Howe explained that the establishment of the Independent Economic Commission for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough would assist in informing the strategies and investments of the Combined Authority through economic forecasting to determine the potential impact of various investments and return on investment.
Arising from a question from Councillor P D Reeve regarding the potential for the Combined Authority to benefit from delivering quick wins by revisiting projects such as the Ramsey Northern Gateway Project, Councillor Howe explained that Ramsey Town Council had been engaged with the market town regeneration plans and urged the Town Council to make formal representation to the Combined Authority on investigating the potential of resurrecting the Project.
In response to a question from Councillor D B Dew on the relationship between the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Combined Authority Councillor Howe explained that the LEP should be very much part of the delivery system and the new model of governance to be developed would enable the relationships to be maintained between businesses and local democracy.
Councillors R C Carter and T Hayward provided an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Hayward provided an overview of the membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its terms of reference and drew particular attention to the recent call-in decision of the Combined Authority on the Officer and Support Structure. Members were apprised of the reasoning and background to their justification to call-in this decision, together with the procedure that followed.
Councillor Carter outlined his concern in relation to the Portfolio Holders’ responsibilities at the Combined Authority being combined with their roles as Leaders of their respective authorities and applauded Councillor Howe’s decision to step down as Leader of the Council to concentrate on his role as Deputy Leader of the Combined Authority. Members were advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings had been receiving a presentation from a Portfolio Holder and it was agreed that questions would be presented to them in advance of their attendance at these meetings to enable a more in-depth knowledge to be obtained of their Portfolios.
Arising from a question from Councillor P D Reeve regarding the extent of publicity and promotion of the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and allowing access for public to as questions, Councillor Hayward reported that the summary of decisions had been published on the website but explained that as the Committee was not a decision making body, questions from the public should be directed towards the Combined Authority.
Actions:20 Minutes.
Supporting documents: