Support for Cambridge devolution

A public consultation has shown support for proposals to devolve power and hundreds of millions of pounds of funding from Westminster to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The consultation, which included 2,280 residents via a phone poll and 1,500 people on an online survey, showed that the majority of people support devolving powers from government, which would see control over transport, jobs, housing and skills put into the hands of local people.

The Ipsos MORI phone poll in particular highlighted strong support for the proposed devolution deal and an elected Mayor.

The proposal includes forming a Combined Authority, including: Peterborough City Council; Cambridgeshire County Council; Fenland District Council; Huntingdonshire District Council; East Cambridgeshire District Council; South Cambridgeshire District Council; Cambridge City Council; and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership.

Among the benefits, the proposal would see a £20 million annual fund for the next 30 years to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs, as well as £170 million for affordable housing, including £100 million for affordable, rent and shared ownership.

Councillor Steve Count, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are very pleased to see so many people taking the time to give us their views and the clear support they have shown for the concept of more decisions being made by local and not national government.”

Councillor James Palmer, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We support the views made by residents, businesses and other organisations to provide powers and funding currently held with Central Government to the local areas. We believe that the combined authority will allow us to progress further with our objective for East Cambridgeshire to be the place where people want to live, work, invest and visit.”