Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
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Name	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Formation	2017
Type	Combined authority
Region served	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	James Palmer (politician)
Headquarters	Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is a local government body established to coordinate regional planning, transport, housing and investment across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It was created under legislation following devolution negotiations involving Theresa May's administration and stakeholders such as Cambridge City Council, Peterborough City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. The authority works with national institutions including Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, HM Treasury, and regional organisations like the Greater Cambridge Partnership and East of England Local Government Association.

History

The authority was formed after the 2016 devolution discussions involving the Cambridge science and technology cluster, Peterborough civic leaders, and national ministers. Initial proposals drew on models used by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority, following the Local Government Act 2000 and subsequent devolution frameworks promoted by George Osborne and Sajid Javid. The first elected mayor, James Palmer (politician), took office in 2017 after a mayoral election influenced by campaigns from Labour Party (UK), Conservative Party (UK), and Liberal Democrats (UK). The authority’s early years involved negotiating growth deals with UK Government ministers and establishing joint working with bodies such as Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Governance and Membership

Governance comprises the directly elected mayor and council leaders from constituent councils: Cambridge City Council, Peterborough City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Fenland District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. Voting arrangements reference frameworks used by the Local Government Association and mirror practices seen in the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Sheffield City Region. The mayor liaises with national figures such as Michael Gove and coordinates with agencies including Homes England, Network Rail, National Highways, and the Office for Rail and Road. The authority appoints non-executive advisers drawn from organisations like University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Assessment, and the Cambridge Network.

Powers and Responsibilities

Statutory powers derive from devolution agreements similar to those secured by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and include transport planning with agencies such as Transport for London (as comparator), housing investment alongside Homes England, skills funding connected to Department for Education initiatives, and adult education budgets historically managed with input from Skills Funding Agency. It negotiates growth deals akin to the Greater Manchester Devolution Deal, administers funding streams from European Regional Development Fund legacy projects, and oversees local transport infrastructure including bus franchising models debated in Parliament alongside measures championed by Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.

Budget and Finance

The authority’s budget combines a mayoral precept, grant funding from HM Treasury, devolved capital allocations negotiated with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and project-specific contributions from bodies such as Homes England, University of Cambridge, and private investors including Arm Holdings spin-outs and Abcam. Financial oversight follows standards set by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and audit arrangements comparable to those for Local Enterprise Partnerships like New Anglia LEP and Greater Cambridge Partnership. Capital programmes reflect borrowing powers discussed in the context of the Public Works Loan Board and Treasury controls applied since the 2010s austerity period.

Policies and Strategic Plans

Strategic documents reference priorities seen in regional plans such as the Cambridge and Peterborough Independent Economic Review, the Oxford–Cambridge Arc proposals, and local plans from South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council. Policy areas include transport strategies influenced by East West Rail proposals, housing delivery linked to Homes England targets, skills development aligned with Cambridge Regional College and Peterborough College, and innovation-led growth supporting institutions like Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust, and AstraZeneca collaborations on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Projects and Infrastructure

Major projects include transport initiatives linked to East West Rail, road schemes interfacing with A14 road upgrades and A1(M) corridor improvements, and urban regeneration programmes around Peterborough Cathedral and Cambridge Science Park. The authority partners with infrastructure bodies including Network Rail, National Highways, and local utilities such as Anglian Water. Economic development projects draw in research institutions like Wellcome Sanger Institute and companies including ARM Holdings alumni and Marshall Aerospace, while housing and spatial development intersect with national initiatives such as Garden Cities debates and projects referencing Eddington (Cambridge).

Criticism and Controversies

The authority has faced scrutiny similar to controversies surrounding other combined authorities, including debates over mayoral powers critiqued by Local Government Association members, concerns raised by opposition parties like Green Party of England and Wales and Labour Party (UK), and legal challenge precedents drawn from cases involving Judicial review. Financial transparency and procurement have been questioned by local campaigners and think tanks analogous to Public Interest Research Centre critiques, while transport policy choices echo disputes in regions such as the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. Disputes over the authority’s role in the Oxford–Cambridge Arc and tensions with institutions like University of Cambridge have also attracted media coverage from outlets including BBC News, The Guardian, and Financial Times.

Category:Local government in Cambridgeshire