Have your say on the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s planned activities and spending plans

December 8, 2023

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority are encouraging members of the public, business leaders and stakeholders to have their say on our planned activities and spending plans. 

The Combined Authority Board agreed to go out for consultation on the organisation’s 2023-2025 Corporate Plan Refresh, 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Plan and Mayoral Precept Proposals when it met on Wednesday 29th November.  

The Combined Authority is determined to build a prosperous and sustainable Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and seek inclusive good growth for an equitable, resilient, healthier, and connected region.   

Our refreshed 2023-25 Corporate Plan sets out how we are working towards the delivery of this vision and the positive impact we can make on residents, businesses and communities. 

How we fund this vision is set out in the draft Medium Term Financial Plan, which includes the Mayoral Precept. 

The Mayoral Precept was introduced last year to support buses across the region, including saving some services that were under threat, and for 2023/24 the precept was set at £12 per year for a Band D property.  

For 2024/25 the Mayor is proposing to increase the precept to £36 a year on a Band D property (£3 a month per household).    

If implemented the additional money will be invested in the Mayor’s bold vision for bus services across the area including introducing new routes and improving existing routes. This will keep our communities better connected with each other, with their work and with education.  

You can read more about our Road to Better Buses plan here Better Buses – Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk).  

The Combined Authority is also proposing to invest £20m into its Strategic Growth Fund to fund infrastructure including £5m for the University of Peterborough. The Levelling Up Fund will provide public realm improvements while £3m has been earmarked for a creative industries hub. 

A further £22m has been set aside for road and rail improvements including £6.5m for the A16. 

Meanwhile, £9m is being made available to manage, and reduce the impact of, climate changes and £3.85m into reduced fares for under 25s. More information about our plans can be found by clicking here.  

The consultation, which launched today (Thursday 30th November) will run for six weeks until 13.00 on Thursday 11th January.  

To complete the consultation please visit https://www.cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/have-your-say or please email your views to comms@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk.  

Findings from the consultation will be shared with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of the Combined Authority Board as part of the evidence they will use to help them come to a decision about the Corporate Plan, Medium Term Financial Plan and Mayoral Precept.   

A final decision will be taken when the Combined Authority Board meets on Wednesday 31st January. 

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “My argument is that for less than 10p a day per average household the Combined Authority can invest £11m per year in our bus network, enabling more routes and more frequent services, serving far more people more conveniently than is currently the case.   

“I think that’s a price worth paying, and in the weeks ahead, as part of our extended consultation process, I’d like to hear from you, so do please have a look at what we’re proposing and let us know what YOU think.”