Issue - meetings

Report requesting approval for creating a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) with Homes England to enable closer working to support delivery of the new housing and growth all of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

It was resolved to:

A    Approve the entering of a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England to agree a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) and all the outlined governance arrangements associated with the SPP.

B    Approve the formation of the Strategic Place Partnership Board and the development of a five-year Partnership Business Plan and annual Delivery Plans.

C    Delegate to the Mayor and Chief Executive to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England.

D    Note the governance arrangements for the Combined Authority to engage constituent councils to inform and contribute to the business and delivery plans.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and highlighted key points to members.

The discussion emphasised that this initiative would not interfere with existing local planning efforts. There was general support for improving the relationship between regional authorities and Homes England (HE), with hopes for increased influence on HE’s investments in local projects and infrastructure. Members expressed a desire to ensure that housing developments are part of sustainable communities with local employment and connectivity.

Concerns were raised about the impact of this collaboration on existing local plans, with some members wary of the potential overlap or conflict with local planning authorities' established objectives. They stressed the need for this partnership to support, rather than undermine, local plans and priorities, and for the local voice, including business interests, to be represented in decision-making.

The potential benefits of the collaboration were also highlighted, with members noting that other regions have used similar partnerships to advocate effectively for local needs. Members requested reassurances on how specific types of housing projects, such as social housing and rent-to-buy schemes, might be prioritised, and how the arrangement could support regional ambitions without compromising local authority autonomy.

Officers agreed to feed back to Homes England to include in the MoU the recognition of the sovereignty of constituent authority local plans.

Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Bridget Smith, it was resolved unanimously to:

A    Approve the entering of a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England to agree a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) and all the outlined governance arrangements associated with the SPP.

B    Approve the formation of the Strategic Place Partnership Board and the development of a five-year Partnership Business Plan and annual Delivery Plans.

C    Delegate to the Mayor and Chief Executive to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England.

D    Note the governance arrangements for the Combined Authority to engage constituent councils to inform and contribute to the business and delivery plans.