Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said today’s commitment in the King’s Speech to give more powers to mayors is crucial for a better future for the region.
At the State Opening of Parliament, His Majesty The King said the government believed that greater devolution of decision making was at the heart of a modern and dynamic economy.
The introduction of the English Devolution Bill, he said, would empower metro mayors to unlock growth in their regions, with local growth plans a key enabler of bringing economic benefits for people and communities. A local growth plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough would be developed in partnership with Government, local councils and other partners in support of one of the only net-contributing local economies to the Exchequer outside of London.
There was also commitment to reforms and devolution of the key levers of economic growth, including areas of Combined Authority responsibility like transport and skills. The Better Buses Bill will reform the bus system by delivering new powers for local leaders to franchise local bus services and lifting the restriction on the creation of new publicly owned bus operators. The Combined Authority is already working on a reform of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s entire bus network to make services more convenient, affordable and reliable.
The speech set out a step forward for bringing railways back under public ownership to deliver more reliable services. Creating Great British Railways aims to manage the network and public services under one body, creating a unified, simplified rail system for the benefit of passengers.
On skills the Speech set out the Skills England Bill to bring together businesses, skills providers, unions, Mayoral Combined Authorities and national government to provide the highly trained workforce that England needs.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “The King’s Speech set a clear direction of travel, empowering metro mayors to help deliver the renewal our country needs for proper long-term, sustainable growth. As a combined authority, we’re ready to work with government and will seize every opportunity to drive a better, more prosperous future.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said this week that the Government would kickstart a new ‘devolution revolution’ to transfer more powers out of Westminster. Last week Mayor Dr Johnson joined Mayors across the country for a roundtable at Number 10 to discuss a new partnership approach and how the government can scale up devolution.
The Combined Authority will explore, in partnership with Government and local councils and partners, how these new commitments can translate into the investments and initiatives needed in the region to drive growth.
The Combined Authority will make the case for a range of investments to support the region’s future including better public transport, energy and water infrastructure, advancing renewable energy and supporting carbon net zero, decarbonising homes, unlocking new housing, reducing inequality, supporting agriculture, enabling business growth, upskilling the workforce and improving public health.
