Nik Johnson: Devolution works and we’re ready for more

Opinion | Mayor Nik Johnson says the English Devolution White Paper announced this week gives cause for genuine optimism.

Devolution has proved a winning formula for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with the Combined Authority alone worth a massive £600m to the region. That’s money to invest in local transport, local skills, and local energy efficiency, all geared towards turbo charging the local economy.

But, almost eight years down the line, it’s starting to feel like we’ve gone about as far and as fast as we can on our original deal. So, news of more to come from government in the English Devolution White Paper announced this week gives cause for genuine optimism.

I’m optimistic because this is about making sure local decisions are shaped by those who know their areas best. Rather than having to rely on Whitehall alone to get things done, these new proposals promise to make genuine and comprehensive devolution the ‘default setting’ of government. And for us, for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, that will be transformational.

Now, it’s no secret that the many innovations and endeavours of Greater Cambridge have for years generated billions of pounds for the UK – indeed, the city and surrounding region is without doubt a highly-prized economic dynamo fueled by world-class research and academia, the passion, curiosity, and determination of those involved, and cutting-edge industries and ideas they create.

But with such massive success comes substantial strain. Housing cost, whether buying or renting, has soared, transport is creaking, water and energy infrastructure is stretched, and worse, lots of people feel like there’s nothing in it for them. The solution? Greater local control.

Take transport. Right now, buses and train services aren’t aligned so don’t work as one seamless system. We’ve already introduced new and improved bus routes, a Tiger pass offering £1 fares for under-25s, and early next year I’ll be deciding on whether to go for bus franchising – all great examples of proper local leadership in action. Building on that, were we to be giving much more of a say in how our local rail network operates, we could then get on with delivering the type of fully integrated public transport network we know will be game-changing for the region. It would mean we could deliver reliable, affordable, and convenient services connecting villages to city jobs and market towns to hospitals. Other regions like Greater Manchester can. We deserve the same.

Housing is also key. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have delivered more homes than almost anywhere else in the country over the last 20 years, but the mix isn’t right. Cambridge struggles with affordability, while areas like the Fens need infrastructure before they can grow. Devolution can empower Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to strike the right balance.

Then there’s skills. Business demand for talent is outstripping our region’s ability to train people. We’ve invested tens of millions into our skills system, with real impact, but there’s more to do. More responsibility would enable us to better connect learners, employers and our education sector, working as one, opening up opportunities for bigger and better careers.

Funding is of course a big enabler, and when the time is right, the Combined Authority will be ready for an ‘integrated settlement’ from government – in other words, a single funding agreement that gives us the confidence and certainty to plan and invest in the region’s priorities for the long term.

And while devolving things like transport, housing, and skills might not sound all that exciting, they’re actually about improving real peoples’ lives. It’s a nurse at Addenbrooke’s affording a decent home closer to work. It’s a teenager in Fenland having a reliable bus service for college, or a parent in Peterborough skilling up to land a better job. It’s enabling success and prosperity to spread to more people and places throughout the region. And it’s about people feeling like their public services and infrastructure aren’t at breaking point.

These proposals are a huge opportunity for all of us. My message to government is simple: devolution works and we’re ready for more.