Debate on £1 billion Devolution Deal supported by East Cambridgeshire District Council

East Cambridgeshire District Council is in support of the East Anglia Devolution Deal announced today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his budget speech. The Deal will now be put to a debate.

Some 22 authorities and The New Anglia LEP for Norfolk and Suffolk have signed to put the Deal in front of their members to debate whether to agree or turn down the proposals, as well as the chance to go back to the Government with new proposals in the Autumn.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has signed up to an agreement to inform and engage with the public and relevant stakeholders to help councillors debate the proposed Devolution Deal for East Anglia.

The acceptance of the Deal would result in a single mayor being elected for Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as an East Anglia Combined Authority being established.

The Combined Authority would run in addition to – not replacing – East Cambridgeshire District Council and the other individual councils involved, which would continue to operate and deliver local services in exactly the same way as before.

As part of the Deal, the Government is offering over £1 billion of new money to support economic growth over the next 30 years.

The region would also take control of millions of pounds of multi-year, consolidated and devolved transport budget.

A board of leaders would be established to run the Combined Authority and, along with the Elected Mayor, would be accountable for the new responsibilities and budgets that devolution brings. 

Cllr James Palmer, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, stated: “I’m absolutely in favour of this deal. It’s a huge opportunity for the East, and being as we are – neighbours with Norfolk and Suffolk – it will be highly beneficial to the people of East Cambridgeshire.

“The new government structure will be a distinctly positive move forward. I’m in favour of devolution from Government, but also of devolved power the whole way down the government structure, to make sure decision making is as close to the people as possible.

“I don’t think people have been well-served by the three-tier system, so the Deal would be a great move forward.”

A Combined Authority would also mean the transfer of significant resources and powers from Central Government to the region – at this stage specifically for infrastructure, housing, economic development, developing skills for employment and job creation.

Cllr Palmer added: “The improved infrastructure that will come from a devolved East will be great for growth, and will present further opportunities for businesses.

“There are infrastructure improvements that different areas of the East all want, and the Deal would speed up the process, because there would be a single, unified voice through the Combined Authority. For example, the A14/A142 junction at Newmarket is not adequate for the amount of people using it.  Devolution would make it much easier for leaders to sort out this problem, which would benefit all the different economies around it, including East Cambs.

“Likewise, the duelling of the railway line between Ely and Soham would benefit Soham and Kennet because it would enable hourly services for both, while also benefitting Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds by increasing services on their line.”

Currently, this railway improvement has been shelved until 2019 at the earliest due to a lack of funding and having to wait for the next National Rail development cycle to begin. However, Councillor Palmer insists he would be working hard to bring this development forward by securing money from the Devolution Deal pot in order to benefit the people of East Cambridgeshire.

Cllr Palmer said: “We are in a strong geographical location to take advantage of money aimed at infrastructure, and the duelling of the Ely-Soham line is something I would be lobbying hard for.”

Everyone involved in this process agree they want what is best for the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that they serve.

Cllr Palmer added: “The East of England is a wonderful place to live, but we want to make it even better, and the Deal brings this plan one step closer.”