Statement in response to Best Value Notice update

Statement in response to Best Value Notice update

Today (30th January 2024) the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have issued the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority with a revised Best Value Notice for a six-month period.  

The revised Best Value Notice replaces the notice issued by DLUHC on 24th January 2023 and can be found here.  

In the revised Best Value Notice, DLUHC state: “we recognise the Authority’s progress in delivering its agreed improvement plan.”  

The Combined Authority are pleased to see DLUHC acknowledge the demonstrable progress we have made over the past 12 months.  

In the revised Best Value Notice, DLUHC highlight five specific areas for further improvement, these are: 

• “Continue with the independent Improvement Board, making full use of its support and engaging with its recommendations over the next six months. 
• “Continue to implement and embed the changes agreed by the Combined Authority Board as part of the improvement plan. 
• “Continue to implement and monitor cultural change across the organisation, for both officers and members, with a focus on measurable outcomes. 
• “Commit, through strong partnership working at both officer and member level, to develop the strategic priorities and aspirations for the area that will benefit local residents, and a credible delivery strategy for progressing these. We hope that this can be achieved through consensus but, if not all stakeholders are ready to fully engage, the opportunity should be left open for them to do so when they feel ready to. This work is also important in informing CPCA’s approach to further devolution. 
• “Continue to engage regularly with the Department at official level throughout the period of this Notice.” 

Commenting on the revised Best Value Notice, Rob Bridge, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Chief Executive, said:  

“The revised Best Value Notice acknowledges the progress the Combined Authority has made and continues to make since January 2023.  

“This progress includes being the first Combined Authority to adopt, following approval from DLUHC, a Single Assurance Framework, adopting a new Member Officer Protocol, the transformation of our procurement function and making permanent appointments to the senior leadership team. 

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff at the Combined Authority, whose hard work has made this progress possible.  

“There is of course still more work for us to do and I look forward to working in partnership with our Constituent Councils and the Independent Improvement Board to continue to deliver for the businesses and communities of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.”