Mayor Paul Bristow’s salary confirmed as he appoints committee chairs
Mr Bristow is responsible for a £20 million annual budget, as well as having devolved powers to spend up to £800 million on local housing, infrastructure and jobs
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Mayor Paul Bristow will have a salary of £93,000, subject to future indexation.
The former Conservative Peterborough MP was elected as the new CPCA mayor in May, taking over from Labour’s Dr Nik Johnson.
The mayor makes important decisions for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, particularly around transport, and provides a single, clear point of accountability.
Mr Bristow is responsible for a £20 million annual budget, as well as having devolved powers to spend up to £800 million on local housing, infrastructure and jobs.
He also chairs a combined authority board, which includes representatives of the region’s seven constituent councils, as well as a funding committee and staffing committee.
During his first CPCA board meeting on Wednesday, June 4, members agreed to the recommendations of an Independent Remuneration Panel which determined Mr Bristow’s salary and members’ allowances.
These included:
CPCA Mayor – salary of £93,000 (up from £91,699 last year)
Constituent council appointees to the CPCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee – allowances of £2,176
Chair of the CPCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee – allowance of £5,900
Vice Chair of the CPCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee – allowance of £2,950
Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Working Groups – no allowance
Three rapporteurs appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – allowances of £2,611
Constituent Council appointees to the CPCA Audit and Governance Committee – allowances of £2,176
Independent Member appointed to the Audit and Governance Committee – allowance of £3,068
Independent Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee – allowance of £5,900
Vice Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee – allowance of £2,950
The report of the Independent Remuneration Panel noted that an MPs salary was £91,346 in 2024/25, but deemed it was no longer appropriate to utilise an MPs salary as a reference point.
It instead decided that a more relevant reference point was the median average paid to all combined authority mayors (£93,000).
At the board meeting on Wednesday, Mr Bristow appointed his deputy mayor and committee chairs.
The appointments were:
Deputy Mayor – Cllr Anna Bailey (Conservative), leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council
Chair of the Transport Committee – Cllr Chris Boden (Conservative), leader of Fenland District Council
Chair of the Skills Committee – Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Liberal Democrat), leader of Cambridgeshire County Council
Chair of the Growth Committee – Cllr Sarah Conboy (Liberal Democrat), leader of Huntingdonshire District Council
Mr Bristow said his appointments reflected a united focus on getting things done across the region.
He added: “When I was elected, I pledged to get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving and to do that, we need to pull together.
“I may chair the Combined Authority Board, but we are all partners in delivery, and all passionate about delivering for our communities.
“The joint letter calling on the government to finally upgrade Ely Junction is a perfect example of speaking with one voice, which will be critical to getting things done.
“So, when we secure investment and when we get spades in the ground and deliver for our residents, it won’t just be a win for the mayor, it will be a win for all of us.”
Cllr Nethsingha said: “Strong partnership working is essential to our efforts to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a better place to live and work.
“I welcome the Mayor’s commitment to collaboration, and I’m looking forward to working closely with colleagues across the region to drive real results.”
Other highlights from the meeting included board members agreeing to step in and save the number 33 bus route from March to Whittlesey, and discussions around the future of the Tiger bus pass.