Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) since the 11 February meeting of Strategy & Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

i.      Noted the update on issues considered at the meetings of the Combined Authority held on 27 February 2019.

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.

Councillor Herbert made the following comments:

     i.        Expressed some scepticism about the proposed dualling of the A10.

    ii.        There were proposals for a new Combined Authority Housing Company, but it was not clear what this new company could do.

   iii.        Expressed disappointment with the lack of progress in delivering 2000 affordable houses.

  iv.        He was on the interview panel for the new Chief Executive for the Combined Authority.

   v.        Expressed concerns regarding the increase in the Mayor’s personal staff from 4-7.

  vi.        He did not agree with certain roles at the Combined Authority being subsidiary to other Directors (for example the Head of Finance).

 vii.        He thought that there should be a nationally recognised local government expert as one of the members of the Local Government Review Board and that the review should engage with communities and councils in the Combined Authority area.   

Councillor Sargeant commented that:

                   i.             He was the Chair of the task and finish group for the Cambridge Autonomous Metro project and he had hoped to have early access to the business case but was frustrated that he only had 3 working days to review the papers and had raised this issue with the Mayor.

                  ii.             He commented that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had a lack of access to information generally and could attend other committees and not be able to have access to papers that they were discussing.

                 iii.             The Interim Chief Executive had agreed to meet with him and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to discuss access to confidential papers.

The Committee noted the report.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.