Mayor hopeful Labour's devolution plans brings growth to Cambridgeshire
The new Government's set out its proposed laws in the King's Speech
The mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough believes plans to transfer more powers to elected mayors on certain decisions is key.
It comes as Labour's programme of laws for the upcoming parliamentary year was set out in the King's Speech on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “fix the foundations of this nation for the long-term” with a programme containing 40 proposed pieces of legislation.
They include an English Devolution Bill, which would give more powers to mayors in city regions on decisions such as transport, housing and planning.
Devolution plans is example of 'grown-up, stable Government'
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson is hopeful about the plans.
"When I hear phrases like 'a decade of devolution', there's a phrase that goes around which is 'grown-up, stable government' and there's an opportunity to embrace what's already been achieved," he said.
"By being bigger and thinking bigger, we can deliver strategic and transformative change."
"We have to unlock that opportunity"
In the Speech, there was an emphasis on improving transport, creating jobs and accelerating the building of houses and infrastructure.
It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted to speed up the development of specific housing sites, including Northstowe.
"It's not about affordable housing, we have insufficient social housing; whatever the areas (in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough), we have to look at what they've already got planned and unlock that opportunity," Mr Johnson said.
Hopes for 'better buses'
Labour are also putting forward a Better Buses Bill, which would give elected mayors more responsibility when running bus services in their area.
Mr Johnson hopes the proposal will help develop his plans for a better bus network.
"We need to land the transition process to make sure at a local level where we're already ahead of the game in bus franchising, we're working with operators and local communities to develop a bus network which is comprehensive, affordable and reliable," he said.
"In the past, we've had bus service improvement (BSIP) funds; we already had a plan in place from the last Government, so it would be great if an equivalent of BSIP funding was coming forward with what we want to do in terms of improving the bus infrastructure."