Issue - meetings

To seek Members endorsement of the Combined Authority Local Economic Recovery Strategy (LERS).

Members considered the Local Economic Recovery Strategy report presented by Councillor Benney.

·         Councillor Boden said that given the amount of work that has been put into the report and strategy, and the urgency of action that is being taken, it is essential that the report is accepted and that it is supported when it comes before the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). However he stated that he has a number of concerns, which he would like relayed to the CPCA at their next board meeting.

·         Councillor Boden said that his first concern is over the calculations that have formed part of the report and the assumptions that the effects of COVID-19 have had on the local economy. He added that the report is not internally and sufficiently consistent and the disparity in the figures is far too great and needs to be looked at further.

·         Councillor Boden added that it states than Fenland, which has one eighth of the population of the CPCA area, is said to have a gross value added cumulative effect of COVID-19 of only one eightieth of the total amount which is said to be seen in the CPCA area.

·         Councillor Boden stated that the report has 35 interventions and his concern is that the CPCA may not focus on the limited areas where they can make a significant difference to outcomes and he would like to see that the CPCA gives consideration to a smaller number of the objectives, once the strategy has been adopted.

Cabinet AGREED to note the Combined Authority Local Economic Recovery Strategy and endorsed it in its current form, subject to additional comments raised by Councillor Boden as follows.

Councillor Boden stated that he would like his concerns to be relayed to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), when the matter is considered at their next meeting.

Councillor Boden stated that he has concern over the calculations that have formed part of the report and the assumptions that the effects of Covid 19 have had on the local economy. He added that the disparity in the figures is far too great and needs to be looked at further.

Councillor Boden stated that report has 35 interventions and his concern is that the CPCA may not focus on the limited areas where they can make a significant difference to outcomes and he would like to see that the CPCA gives consideration to a smaller number of the objectives, once the strategy has been adopted.

Councillor Boden stressed that it is essential that the CPCA are encouraged to start work on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local economy.