Allowances for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire metro mayor to rise

Speaking at their meeting on Monday, members were discussing the Draft Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2020-2024 which revealed that the allowances for Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer, and the authority’s joint chief executive position, are due to rise.

Mr Alsop said that the projects, which include the University of Peterborough, King’s Dyke Level Crossing bridge, CamMetro and the A10 dualling all have sustainable funding in place.

Cllr Anne Hay had concerns, however, and asked: “Does the current level of funding you have in place allow for the loss of revenue that is bound to hit the authority when we lose European Union money?”

Mr Alsop replied: “There are already a number of proposals being looked at to replace the money that we will lose from the European Union and these will be coming from the government in the near future.

“The draft budget is based on the situation as it was when it was approved by the board back in November 2019.”

Chairman Cllr Lorna Dupre also had some concerns, and asked: “Can you explain to the committee why it is that the mayor’s allowance and that of the chief executive have been increased in the budget?”

According to the draft budget, the mayor’s allowance is rising from £456,8000 in 2020/21 to £486,900 in 2023/24, while the chief executive allowance is rising from £274,200 in 2020/21 to £318,800 in 2023/24.

Mr Alsop explained: “The draft budget reflects the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel who have concluded that because Mayor Palmer had chosen not to take an increase in remuneration over previous years he was entitled to that remuneration during the current mayoral term.

“The increase in the staffing costs of the chief executive and his support team, coupled with the assumption that there will be a permanent chief executive position from May 2021, is reflected in the increased remuneration in the draft budget.”

The members of the scrutiny committee agreed that they would ask additional questions on these elements of the draft budget at the CPCA board meeting on Wednesday (January 29).

Robert Alexander, Local Democracy Reporting Service