Devolution to be debated

City councillors will meet on Wednesday, April 13, to discuss the ‘Eastern Powerhouse’ which would see an elected mayor for the entire region.

However, if the proposals are accepted, the government has promised that it will not block a fully-fledged university for Peterborough.

And the deal would see £30 million a year for the next 30 years spread across 22 authorities, with a further £175 million to boost housing.

But opposition to the combined authority has already formed with Cambridgeshire County Councillors rejecting the terms as they stand.

The motion to be debated is: “Council notes the announcement by the Chancellor of a devolution deal for the East in his Budget on 16 March; but regrets that the deal, in its current form, is not acceptable to this council.

“Council requests that the chief executive write to the Secretary of State for Local Government to bring this resolution to his attention.”