Decision details

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report provided an update on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority since the 19 March Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

i.             Noted the update provided on issues considered at the meetings of the Combined Authority held on the 28 March and 30 May and 27 June.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Chief Executive.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Sought clarification on the Combined Authority Mayor’s decision to put a stop on some Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership (GCP) projects and questioned the Mayor’s powers to do so.

    ii.        Expressed concern regarding affordable housing.

   iii.        Requested that a report was brought to this Committee to consider the Combined Authority’s Strategic Spatial Framework.

  iv.        Asked for the Executive Councillor to comment on the number of Combined Authority Staff, and also the budget for the Combined Authority. Originally a staff budget of £1 million was proposed; currently it is costed at £2.5 million.

The Executive Councillor said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        He was unsure of the Mayor’s reasons for pausing some GCP projects. He expected the Mayor to publish a transport strategy next year. He had asked to see the original brief for the Cam Metro study and was waiting for a response. He was going to attend a GCP board meeting so would seek further information then.

    ii.        The Combined Authority’s Affordable Housing Strategy was adopted in March 2017 which provided gap funding to enable affordable housing to be brought forward. He noted that East Cambridgeshire District Council was committed to delivering affordable housing through Community Land Trusts (CLTs).

   iii.        Commented that the Combined Authority’s Strategic Spatial Framework did not replace the Council’s Local Plan. The Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee would be the appropriate committee for any report on the Combined Authority’s Strategic Spatial Framework.

  iv.        There had been a commitment during the election period of staff expenditure for the Combined Authority to be £1 million. However the functions of the Combined Authority had grown for example they had recently taken on the work of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). He would not comment on staff numbers but thought that there needed to be a refocus and clarity of roles at the Combined Authority.

The Committee noted the update.

The Executive Councillor noted the update.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.