The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
City to vote for a mayor
An historic decision sees Peterborough set to get elected mayor
Peterborough voters will next year vote for an elected mayor after councils across Cambridgeshire agreed to join forces in a move which supporters say will unlock hundredsof millions of pounds of extra funding.
Peterborough is on the “cusp of something exciting” after voting for devolution and an elected mayor, according to the city council leader.
Councillor John Holdich said a deal now agreed by all seven Cambridgeshire councils will bring big benefits to the city for years to come.
The county will now create a combined authority, led by an elected mayor from May 2017, which will have hundreds of millions of pounds of government funding to spend on housing and economic growth, while Peterborough has also been promised its own fully-fledged university.
Devolution has drawn strong opposition in Peterborough, in particular over the power of the elected mayor and the potential loss of sovereignty of the city council.
But Cllr Holdich disclosed that discussions have already begun with the Government on future devolution deals.
He said: “It’s not all about the first deal, it’s about future deals which bring benefits to Peterborough.
“We believe we can get more money for infrastructure and housing and can do more in community development and the reduction of poverty.
“Whoever believes local government will be the same in 10 years’ time is deluding themselves. There’s not enough money in the system without working with others .”
Cllr Holdich also claimed that, despite the combined authority deciding on local transport, the city council will not lose any sovereignty as it can veto the plan.
The council voted for devolution last Thursday thanks to the votes of the ruling Conservatives. UKIP abstained.