The sudden departure of the Chief Executive from the Combined Authority adds to the list of senior positions at the CA with no permanent post holders including the vacant Director of Infrastructure and Transport and Director of Finance roles.
The leaders of South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council, Councillor Bridget Smith and Councillor Lewis Herbert, have jointly submitted a motion to the next meeting of the Combined Authority Board, asking for an Independent Review and action, given what they see as the scale of change necessary for the CA to become an effective and professionally-led organisation. The review and new approach is needed to ensure the CA makes progress in delivering schemes to benefit Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents.
The Motion from the two leaders is on the agenda of the CA Board on 26th September:
“That the Combined Authority urgently commissions an organisation with suitable expertise to conduct an independent, full organisational review to be reported to the CA Board and senior officers, and to then be published in full. The review to include: delivery objectives for 2018/2019; governance, top to bottom staffing, operations and project delivery. It is only by commissioning an outside body to conduct such a review that Board Members, partner organisations and the public gain sufficient assurance as to its impact, independence and transparency.”