Chief executive Rob Bridge has set out spending commitments and growth plans for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Ironically, his upbeat assessment – presented to board members last week – came only days before the Government confirmed the authority had comfortably passed its improvement plan.
And, of today, the Combined Authority no longer has a Best Value Notice hanging over its head.
Confirming the notice had been lifted came in a letter from Max Soule Deputy Director, Local Government Stewardship and Intervention at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
We are extremely pleased to announce that the Combined Authority's Best Value Notice has been lifted thanks to the hard work and dedication of all staff and constituent members. pic.twitter.com/3xV8f7a6Ja
— Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (@CambsPboroCA) September 9, 2024
He said the government recognised the improvements that had been made, including a strong leadership team and “embedding positive changes relating to culture and governance across the organisation and starting to monitor the longer-term impacts of those changes”.
Mr Soule also welcomed comments from the independent Improvement Board that it is “encouraged by the increasing engagement of the constituent authorities and partners” in ongoing work to develop a set of strategic ambitions for the region and a plan to deliver them.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said: “The expiry of the Best Value Notice is a fantastic endorsement of all the hard work of everyone who has contributed to the transformation of the Combined Authority.
“With the new Government committed to the role Mayors and devolution will play in powering growth, this Combined Authority is now even better placed to work in partnership with them and our local partners to deliver the investment our region needs for a better future.”
And some of those changes and improvements were put in the public domain last week by Mr Bridge.
He said funds allocated recently by the CPCA included:
£1.2m approved for Active Travel projects to improve active travel facilities between Duxford & Whittlesford, Brampton & Hinchingbrooke, and Alconbury & Huntingdon Station.
£7m approved to progress works in March on Twenty Foot Road and St Peter’s Road.
Mr Bridge also enthused about the setting up of a “cross-constituent council working group to develop the Local Growth Plan for the region, one of the asks from the new Government to the Mayors and Combined Authorities.
“The plan is being developed with stakeholders as well as constituent councils, using evidence, data and documents already produced and published for the region.
“Over the coming weeks and months, the 10- year plan will be developed and, in turn feed into the National Industrial Strategy.”
On economy and growth, Mr Bridge highlighted:
Completion of ARU Peterborough’s new £32 million Lab building, which incorporates a Living Lab to be used by the community as well as students,
He said the lab will support students and apprentices studying primarily STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) fields.
“The on-time delivery has been thanks to partnership working between project partners and funders Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council and represents another milestone in the development of the campus,” he said.
On adult education Mr Bridge said the Combined Authority’s Learning & Skills Fund, managed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, has awarded over £280,000 in grants to support the lifelong learning and skills offer for adults in Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough.
“The fund hopes to reduce inequalities in access to adult education,” he said.
“The Learning & Skills Fund has awarded 14 grants to local community and charitable organisations and will re-open for applications later in the year.”
He also praised an innovative Skills Bootcamp for new employees to quickly gain the skills they need for their roles.
“When Anglian Water’s @one Alliance recently recruited 17 employees, it wanted to provide them with an initial 12-week programme of tailored training which would allow them to hit the ground running in their new roles,” he said.
“Working with the Combined Authority and ARU Peterborough, a Skills Bootcamp focused on project delivery was established, offering the opportunity to learn about project planning, project management, CAD, commercial awareness, and the different roles available within project delivery.”
Your input can shape our bus service's future.
Help us make informed decisions by sharing your thoughts today: https://t.co/gT6QRXHHgC pic.twitter.com/zLwXDeaEfD
— Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (@CambsPboroCA) August 14, 2024
Mr Bridge also touched on a national infrastructure commission roundtable in Cambridge which “covered a range of topics linked to infrastructure challenges for Cambridge and the surrounding area to 2050”.
And on community transport, Mr Bridge revealed how the Combined Authority and Cambridge City Council stepped in with funding to help a Cambridge community transport service keep running £and develop a plan for future sustainability.
“The not-for-profit Cambridge Dial-a-Ride provides accessible minibus services in Cambridge and some surrounding villages via a membership scheme for people and community groups who have difficulty in accessing regular public transport.
“But an increase in costs and a dip in passenger numbers meant the service found itself with a funding gap for the 2024/25 financial year.
“The Combined Authority and City Council have each contributed £22,000, totalling £44,000, to ensure Cambridge Dial-a-Ride continues operating while working with the service on a long-term viability plan”.
On bus franchising he said the 14 week consultation “will inform a decision by the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on how to reform buses across the area”.
Of the Tiger £1 Bus Pass campaign he said it had made “significant strides since its launch on 28th May 2024.
“We have exceeded our application target with 20,195 applications received as of Thursday 22nd August, achieving over 200% of our goal”.
In a statement today following the removal of the Best Value Notice, he said that since arriving at the Combined Authority in June last year “I have been so impressed by everyone’s determination to ensure we can succeed together for our residents and businesses and the lifting of the notice is testament to everyone.
“While work to deliver for the region has never stopped, we are now in much better shape to work collaboratively and effectively to bring sustainable growth and opportunity to the region.”
Mayor Johnson and Mr Bridge will, of course, delight in the news today of the removal of the Best Value Notice but the ministry says it will still be watching Cambridgeshire closely.
In his letter Mr Soule add: “A failure to demonstrate continuous improvement may be judged to contribute to best value failure and the Secretary of State will consider using these powers as appropriate.
“It is important to ensure transparency in relation to the challenges faced by local authorities and the department’s engagement on these.”
