Mayor Palmer's Office Move Sparks Controversy Over Misleading Savings Figures

Strategic Insights -

Mayor Palmer's plan to relocate the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CaPCA) offices from Alconbury to Ely has sparked controversy over misleading savings figures. The decision to move the offices has been met with skepticism, with concerns raised about the accuracy of the claimed savings of £922,000. Members of the CaPCA overview and scrutiny committee have questioned the validity of the figure, highlighting that the actual savings may be much lower when costs associated with the move are taken into account.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cllr Ed Murphy (Labour and Co-operative, Peterborough City Council) accused Mayor Palmer of "cooking the books" and misleading the public over the costs savings.
  • Mayor Palmer claimed that the CaPCA would save £922,000 by moving from Alconbury to Ely, but members of the committee questioned the accuracy of this figure.
  • Cllr Anne Hay (Conservative, Fenland District Council) expressed concerns that the actual savings may be much lower when the costs of lease surrender, moving, and new rent or building costs are taken into account.
  • Cllr Marcus Gehring (Lib Dem, Cambridge City Council) criticized the decision as an "absolute disgrace," highlighting the need for transparency and accurate accounting.
  • The committee unanimously voted to raise the question of the savings figures at the CaPCA Board meeting on June 3.

Statistics:

  • The CaPCA claimed to save £922,000 by moving from Alconbury to Ely.
  • The cost of the lease surrender at Alconbury amounts to £151,000.
  • The potential costs of moving from Alconbury to Ely have not been disclosed.
  • The new costs of the CaPCA office in Ely, including rent or building costs, are unknown.

Sources:

  • Byline: Rob Alexander Capitol Radio (unspecified publication date)
  • Local Democracy Reporting Service (same source as image)