On Thursday 6 May 2021, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough will elect a Mayor.
If you are registered to vote in local elections for any of the councils of Cambridgeshire or Peterborough, you will be eligible to vote in this election.
In 2016 the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority was established, led by the seven council leaders. The seven leaders form the Mayor’s cabinet, whilst continuing to lead their own councils.
The Mayor and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority works with the seven constituent councils, local services, central government and other organisations in pursuing shared goals.
The Mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
The Mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is a major figure in the political life of the region and has various powers and responsibilities.
The Mayor is a member, and chair, of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and acts as an ambassador for the region.
Transport
The Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is responsible for preparing the Local Transport Plan (with agreement of the Plan being subject to two thirds majority approval of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority). The Mayor is also responsible for the transport budget devolved from central government and (subject to future legislation) regulated bus services and smart ticketing.
Planning and Housing
The Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has powers relating to housing and planning within the region. This includes control of the Housing Investment Fund. The Mayor also has the power to create a spatial development strategy for the whole of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
The Mayor’s planning powers do not override those of local councils and the spatial development strategy cannot be adopted unless it has the unanimous approval of the Members of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.
Decision Making
The Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is a member, and chair, of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. The seven council leaders form the Mayor’s cabinet. The Mayor is able to make some decisions independently but some of the Mayor’s decisions also require consultation with and the approval of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. Furthermore, certain decisions of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority are non-mayoral decisions, which are made by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority itself (although the Mayor is involved as one of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority members).
The decisions of the Mayor, along with decisions made by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority itself, are subject to scrutiny by an overview and scrutiny committee made up of members of the seven constituent councils.
