Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence; and to receive notification of substitutions.

Apologies received from Cllr Vellacott substituted by Cllr Horgan, Cllr Inskip substituted by Cllr Shepherd and Cllr Jones.

Apologies received from Cllr Vellacott substituted by Cllr Horgan, Cllr Inskip substituted by Cllr Shepherd and Cllr Jones.

At this point Members must declare whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest, or other interest, in any of the items on the agenda, unless it is already entered in the register of members’ interests.

There were no declaration of interests made.

There were no declaration of interests made.

Arrangements for asking a public question can be viewed here: Public Questions - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

No public questions were received.

No public questions were received.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th November 2024 and to note the action log.

The minutes of the meeting on 7^th November 2024 were approved as an accurate record.

The Action Log was noted by the Committee.

The minutes of the meeting on 7^th November 2025 were approved as an accurate record.

The Action Log was noted by the Committee.

Committee to review the changes proposed to the CPCA Corporate Strategy.

The Committee received the report which provided the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to note and comment on the draft Corporate Strategy.

The Committee discussed and noted the report.

The Committee received the report which provided the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to note and comment on the draft Corporate Strategy.

The following points were raised during the discussion:-

• In response to a question about whether the CPCA offered any apprenticeships the officers advised that they would compile the information and provide it back to the member. The Mayor advised that the authority was developing opportunities for work placements and that he received requests from college students with an interest in politics and local government. The Mayor proposed that it might be an idea to find out what constituent councils offer as apprenticeships and work placements to see if a co-ordinated approach could be developed.

• In response to a question about Further Education Cold Spots the Mayor advised that the authority had been awarded an additional budget to be used under the Trailblazer for Youth Scheme, however recognised that more clarity on the measures in this area was needed.

The Committee discussed and noted the report.

Committee to review and note the O&S Budget Working Group feedback and discussions at the informal O&S meeting on 17^th December.

The Committee received and noted the report which outlined the O&S Budget Working Group’s feedback from the budget sessions and the informal committees discussions in December.

The Committee received the report which outlined the O&S Budget Working Group’s feedback from the budget sessions and the informal committees discussions in December.

Cllr Antunes informed the Committee that the working group had received wonderful engagement from officers and the budget work had been facilitated well. There was a wealth of information and during the discussions the members had focused on critical aspects such as change management; risk management and the profiling of expenditure including the use of contingency. They had been through current projects and delivery against forecast plans in relation to the outcomes and linking those outcomes to expenditure in real time.

The Committee noted the report.

Committee to receive the report which provides a summary of the updates since the draft budget and MTFP was issued for consultation

The Committee received and noted the report which provided a summary of the updates since the draft budget and MTFP was issued for consultation.

The Committee received the report which provided a summary of the updates since the draft budget and MTFP was issued for consultation.

The following points were raised during the discussion:-

• In response to a question about the support for the national insurance increase officers advised that the allocations for Mayoral Combined Authorities would come from the pot for Local Government. The officers confirmed the cost within the budget was £118k and that this was for the year 25/26 as the CA only received single year settlements currently.

• In response to a question about the money available for road improvements officers advised that the Local Highways Maintenance Funding had been discussed with Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council and the proposed allocations for that funding would be recommended to CA Board in January.

• In response to a question about the CA extending the bus fare cap and whether this funding from within the BSIP grant would have been used elsewhere officers advised that the money was approved by government off the back of the BSIP Plan that had been submitted. The allocation of this funding had not yet been agreed. The revenue for the bus fare cap could be used for something else that had been outlined within the BSIP Plan submitted.

• In response to a question about whether it was the CA intention to continue the funding for the bus fare cap past 2025 the officers advised that the situation would be kept under review but it was difficult to know until the government position was clear. The Mayor advised he was mindful that the national fare cap would end. 

• In response to a question about whether there would be bus routes that cannot be paid for due to the bus fare cap being taken from this funding – the officers advised that bus routes were being funded from a separate pot.

• The report being provided to the CA Board would advise the Board of what the other options for this funding could be but these would not be costed.

• In response to a question about the modal shift for younger people and their behaviours towards transport usage the officers advised that there were a number of KPI’s within the State of the Region dashboards which would help to provide data on this type of area going forward.

• In response to a question about whether there would be further shifts that would not be buses the Mayor answered that there was a need to fix the foundations first – looking forward transport that delivers for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough could involve Tiger trains, buses, trams, demand transport; get the bus network sorted then be in a position to move onto to other modes of transport.

• In response to a question about what the wider economic benefits of keeping the cap were; officers advised that the benefits that had been recognised by interim valuation reports into the national fare cap – both the number of journeys made and people had also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chair for the Environment & Sustainable Communties Committee in attendance to answer questions from the Committee.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Chair for Environment & Sustainable Communities Committee.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Chair for Environment & Sustainable Communities Committee.

The Committee had been asked to submit questions ahead of the meeting; the first question was from Cllr Hunt: Please could an update be given on the current uptake of the Net Zero Villages scheme (both total, and by district/unitary)? Please could you also give a brief explanation of the Environment Committee's hopes for the scheme and how success will be measured for the scheme?

Cllr Smith responded that the scheme was for villages not cities – it was clear that things were going slowly and that the CPCA was struggling with capacity – other councils were very experienced so keen this money was passported to councils to be managed by existing teams. Some councils are doing it more quickly than others. ECDC have 17 applications received. Down to each council to get the money out and spent by Spring 2026. Voluntary groups, public sector, charities can put bids in that can demonstrate a positive impact on climate and help to reduce carbon emissions of our villages. Aim of this was a demonstrator to show what can be achieved.

Importance of evaluating and monitoring ;we have commitment to measure what they have done and bring updates back to ESC.

In response to a question about collaboration Cllr Smith advised that there was collaborative work with the Nature Recovery Strategy and across all the committee’s work. Use of same models and surveys and work being done to co-design so that all could benefit from the same evidence.

The second question came from Cllr Horgan: Could we have an update on the decarbonisation fund to help businesses and residents make changes. How big is this fund (in £sterling total), how many businesses have been helped and what examples of changes have those businesses made?

Cllr Smith responded that this was a piece of work going through Business Board; there was now a centre advisor leading on that agenda. This was also a growing piece of work for the Net Zero team who had mainly a strategic role but also some delivery on decarbonization projects. The team had struggled with grant schemes from government – poorly designed grants which had made it very challenging to get money out. There were serious issues with the supply chain and who was able to do the retro fit work. The CPCA was continuing to feedback to government that if want to progress retrofit they would need to redesign the terms of the scheme to make it easier.

Third question from Cllr Horgan: How large is the CPCA carbon footprint currently, how does this break down (scope 1, 2 and 3), what target does the CPCA set itself to reduce this, how (headlines will suffice) and by when?

Cllr Smith responded that there had been a reduction of 214 from 2021. Climate action plan has a 2050 plan to reach net zero. The CPCA had a set of targets – we don’t have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee to review the dashboards for the State of the Region.

The Committee reviewed and noted the dashboards for the State of the Region.

The Committee reviewed and noted the dashboard for the State of the Region. SOTR to be brought back to Committee in six months' time for updates, including SOTR 2025 report publication.

Committee to agree any recommendations or questions they would like to put forward to the CA Board meeting on the 22^nd January 2025.

The Committee did not make any recommendations for the CA Board.

The Committee did not make any recommendations for the CA Board.

To review and discuss any item on the CPCA Forward Plan that the committee may wish to add to their work programme.

It was resolved to note the Forward Plan.

It was resolved to note the CPCA Forward Plan.

Committee to receive verbal updates from the rapporteurs appointed to monitor the activities of the thematic committees.

The Committee received verbal updates from the rapporteurs for the Thematic Committees.

The Committee received verbal updates from the rapporteurs for the Thematic Committees.

To note the Committee agenda plan.

It was resolved to note the Committee work programme.

The Committee received the draft work programme and discussed items they wished to add.

The Vice Chair proposed to the Committee that they set up a working group to conduct a review of the bus procurement processes following the withdrawal of Stagecoach from the bus tendering. The review would also look into the bus procurement process, what happened with the Stagecoach situation, what had happened well and h less well using the scenario as a base. Why were tenderers chosen; does the procurement process limit the choice of tenders - review the procurement methodology used. Also, the communications strategy for the Tiger services. Review these and provide suggestions for officers for how to move forward.

The Committee requested that the Terms of Reference be brought back to the March meeting.

It was resolved to note the committee work programme.

Date of the next meeting:

10am - 27^th January 2025 – CPCA Meeting Room, Pathfinder House, Huntingdonshire DC

The next meeting is scheduled for 10am on 27^th January 2025. The meeting venue is Huntingdonshire District Council

The next meeting is scheduled for 10am on the 27^th January 2025. The meeting venue is Huntingdonshire DC.