0:00:04 > 0:00:07On May 4th, the first elected mayor for Cambridgeshire
0:00:07 > 0:00:09and Peterborough will be chosen.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12They will have wide ranging powers over transport and schools
0:00:12 > 0:00:17and they will have a multi-million pound budget.
0:00:30 > 0:00:37APPLAUSE
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Hello, and welcome to the Kingsgate Conference
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Centre in Peterborough.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Tonight, our audience gets to put their questions
0:00:43 > 0:00:45to these mayoral candidates.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48If you want to join in the conversation at home,
0:00:48 > 0:00:52the hashtag to use is #cpmayor.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55But the big question is what will be the biggest challenges facing
0:00:55 > 0:00:58the winner as they take charge of the first combined
0:00:58 > 0:00:59authority in the region?
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Cambridge, a technology giant.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Napp Pharmaceuticals is at the centre of the country's
0:01:04 > 0:01:08oldest science park.
0:01:08 > 0:01:105,000 people work here in computer companies and in health care.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15So can devolution provide an opening to help this whole region prosper?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18The city is internationally renowned and will dominate the landscape
0:01:18 > 0:01:22of the new combined authority, which is unique.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25This is the only devolution deal in the country which is not a city
0:01:25 > 0:01:27only region, so connecting the surrounding
0:01:27 > 0:01:30communities is crucial.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34The real challenge is looking at how we can utilise the new money
0:01:34 > 0:01:39and make sure it is used on the priority projects.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41The gap between the highest and lowest earners here is greater
0:01:41 > 0:01:44than in any other devolved area.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Bridging that gap will be the greatest challenge
0:01:46 > 0:01:48for the new elected mayor.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Skills are the key.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53We hear frequently from companies who simply cannot find
0:01:53 > 0:01:56staff for key posts.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00On the surface, this region looks very attractive.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01Employment here is high.
0:02:01 > 0:02:0478% of people are in work.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Life expectancy is high.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Productivity is high.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12But house prices in Cambridge are sky-high.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15A flat in Cambridge is more expensive than a whole
0:02:15 > 0:02:18house in The Fens.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20It is just 12 miles up the road but the economy
0:02:20 > 0:02:22in Fenland is very different.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25The average weekly wage there is ?456.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Here it is ?633.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31I should be able to afford a flat of my own with
0:02:31 > 0:02:36being on a decent salary.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37You just can't.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39So the big challenge for this new combined authority
0:02:39 > 0:02:43with an elected mayor at its head, is to make sure the opportunities,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46the development and the cash cascade right from the top to the bottom,
0:02:46 > 0:02:47refreshing this entire region.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52But who can we count on to deliver that devolution promise?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Well, it is one of these seven people.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Let's meet the candidates.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Here with me tonight, Independent Peter Dawe.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Stephen Goldspink for the English Democrats.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03James Palmer for the Conservatives.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Paul Bullen for Ukip.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11Julie Howell for the Green Party.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Kevin Price for Labour and Rod Cantrill the Lib Dems.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Ladies and gentlemen, our panel.
0:03:19 > 0:03:26And so let's take our first question for the evening.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28My question is, Peterborough and Cambridge have very
0:03:28 > 0:03:33different needs.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36How are you going to make sure that the needs of this
0:03:36 > 0:03:39area are met?
0:03:39 > 0:03:41What are you going to do to make sure there is consistency
0:03:41 > 0:03:45and fairness?
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Consistency and fairness across the board.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Let's start than with Kevin Price.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Yes, you are quite right.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55They are very different and the idea is what the
0:03:55 > 0:03:58mayor needs to do is ensure the growth and the wealth that is
0:03:58 > 0:04:03created in Cambridge is spread out and is shared out.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06One of the things I will want to be doing is looking
0:04:06 > 0:04:09at a fairness commission to ensure that everybody gets a really, really
0:04:10 > 0:04:16good share of this wealth.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Housing, for instance, is going to be
0:04:17 > 0:04:19a vital, vital part.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23You heard on that film today the disparity in house prices
0:04:23 > 0:04:28and there is a distinct lack of affordable housing for rent across
0:04:28 > 0:04:33the whole area, particularly Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and spreading out.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37It is that.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39We really, really need to be ensuring
0:04:39 > 0:04:42that the cake is sliced fairly.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44James Palmer, let's come to you on this one.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46You need a mayor who cares equally for Cambridge
0:04:46 > 0:04:48and Peterborough.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Someone who cares about the two.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I live in the middle of the two of them.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I am committed to bringing wealth from Cambridge to
0:04:57 > 0:04:59the north of Cambridgeshire and I will be committed
0:04:59 > 0:05:01to bringing fairness to Peterborough
0:05:01 > 0:05:02and the rest of the county.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05This was your question.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Can I ask, are you from Peterborough?
0:05:07 > 0:05:11I am inbetween Peterborough and Huntingdon.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14What do you think they need is for that region
0:05:14 > 0:05:16that you are missing out on?
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I am just looking at some different area
0:05:20 > 0:05:22and sometimes people make complaints and say,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26we do not have enough services in our area.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30If you look at some other area in Cambridge or Peterborough,
0:05:30 > 0:05:35you cannot tell - there is a big difference in between these areas.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36Julie Howell, you are nodding.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37Let's come to you.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Absolutely right.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42There has never been such a big divide as I have seen here
0:05:42 > 0:05:44between people who have it all and people who seem
0:05:44 > 0:05:46to have very little.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52Firstly, I would like to say that in the Green
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Party we are against the establishment of this mayor.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56What a chronic waste of public money.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59What is the obsession of having an election every time
0:05:59 > 0:06:01there is something the Tories cannot cope with?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Let me just put that out there for you.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Let me just say, migrant workers, EU nationals and
0:06:05 > 0:06:07refugees, what a wonderful contribution they make
0:06:07 > 0:06:09to Cambridgeshire.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Let's answer some of those questions with them.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12We need their workforce.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15We should embrace them as part of our community.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20Let's get back to the question that was posed.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21There are different needs in different places.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25How do we change that?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28It is all right saying we need to spread the wealth.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34How do we do that?
0:06:34 > 0:06:36We build communities where people want to live there and
0:06:36 > 0:06:38have workplaces near where people are.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41We need to stop building dormitory towns, which we seem to be doing
0:06:41 > 0:06:42very effectively.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44I live in one myself and it is horrid.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Build communities where people are near where they work.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Lovely houses where they feel safe and know their neighbours.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51It is not about transport and housing as separate things.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52It is about communities.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55I want to move on for now and then we will
0:06:55 > 0:06:56come back to this.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00I want to take the next question.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Given how much county councils are having their funding cut,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06which is affecting front line services, how will you make your
0:07:06 > 0:07:08role and your budget worth it?
0:07:08 > 0:07:10How do you make the budget worth it?
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Rod Cantrill, let's start with you.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Firstly, I want to be the mayor for everyone.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19I believe that we need to do politics differently.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23I think local politicians have failed you over a number of years
0:07:23 > 0:07:28and you see that in terms of some of the steps that the county
0:07:28 > 0:07:30council have made.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34I think, as mayor, what I want to do is I want to deliver
0:07:34 > 0:07:36for the people of the region.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40I think to do that one needs to do in terms of spending the money
0:07:40 > 0:07:43on an efficient basis.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44I have a background in business.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46I know how to run things efficiently.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I want to use the social capital that the mayor has to hands,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52so that you can ensure people have the right skills
0:07:52 > 0:07:56in business to succeed.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58So we can drive through the delivery of all social
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and affordable housing.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Homes that are part of communities, not just bricks and mortar.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06More importantly, to set out an integrated transport plan
0:08:06 > 0:08:11for the whole region.
0:08:11 > 0:08:19So that people feel collected and not isolated.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I believe that sustainable communities are based
0:08:21 > 0:08:22on all of those things.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25We should not be of them prioritised.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27A round of applause for that.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Housing will be something that we return to.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Going back to the question about how you make your role
0:08:31 > 0:08:32and your budget worth it.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Stephen Goldspink, let's continue.
0:08:35 > 0:08:41I have seen local authority money cut on a regular basis since 2010.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44I work closely with local authorities.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49I have seen how that affects them.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51The beauty of this role is that it brings in additional funding
0:08:51 > 0:08:54that was previously handed out by central government and puts it
0:08:54 > 0:08:56in the hands of local politicians.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00I note Rod said that politicians had failed.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04For the last generation we have had Liberal Democrats,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Labour and Conservatives running all of the districts and major
0:09:08 > 0:09:13authorities in this county and they have failed to integrate.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15How is putting another one about all of those
0:09:15 > 0:09:16going to make any difference?
0:09:16 > 0:09:20We need a change in the way that we work and we need to bring
0:09:20 > 0:09:21people together through this mayorship and bring
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the authorities working together.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Ladies and gentlemen, any points to raise on this?
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Yes, sir?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I believe the questioner came from the village of Sawtry,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36that has an hourly bus in the daytime only.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I believe I am right in saying you do not
0:09:39 > 0:09:42have a bus service on Sundays, or an evening bus service.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46I know that because I use the bus between Cambridge and Huntingdon.
0:09:46 > 0:09:53Really what is needed is for this mayor to stand up to the likes
0:09:53 > 0:09:55of Stagecoach and say we are democratically elected,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57you run the service that we want.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I know it is going to be difficult because I know they threaten
0:10:00 > 0:10:02to withdraw all services in the north east.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Somebody has to take them on.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07You have got to be clear that the guys in charge,
0:10:07 > 0:10:13the big shareholders, making millions out of it.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16To run it as public monopoly, and economic theory says you run
0:10:16 > 0:10:17more public services.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Your point has been heard.
0:10:19 > 0:10:26Transport is a subject that we will come back to.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27He raises a valid point.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30One in five households do not have access to a car.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Against that backdrop, there have been major cuts
0:10:33 > 0:10:37in terms of bus subsidies by the county council.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40We are in a crisis, both in times in the ability for people to get
0:10:40 > 0:10:44around on public transport and their sense of isolation.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Over 10,000 people feel isolated and that was
0:10:47 > 0:10:50a survey done by Age UK.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54One of the great roles that the mayor has is bus franchising.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57We can change that in a material way as part as an integrated
0:10:57 > 0:10:59strategic transport plan...
0:10:59 > 0:11:00That delivers to the people of the region.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02I must stop you there.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Transport is something we will get back to in more detail,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06providing we have the time.
0:11:06 > 0:11:13I want to go to the third question.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Why should I be bothered to vote for a mayor?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20What difference will an elected mayor make for Peterborough people?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Paul Bullen, let's bring you in on this one.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The one thing that the mayor will have is the ears
0:11:25 > 0:11:27of whoever is in government.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29We have a general election coming up as well
0:11:29 > 0:11:32so we do not know who that will be.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34The mayor will have those ears and will
0:11:34 > 0:11:38be able to represent.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42I do not think that the directly elected mayor is needed.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I do not believe this devolution deal is the right one
0:11:45 > 0:11:46for Cambridgeshire.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49It is a start towards a unitary authority.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I want a yes or no answer from you.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54You do not believe in this but you are standing for mayor.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Much the same as Julie is.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Yes or no, are you here to sabotage the system?
0:12:00 > 0:12:03No, I am here to change the system.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06The priority I will have if I'm elected mayor is to get
0:12:06 > 0:12:09rid of at least one, and if not two tiers
0:12:09 > 0:12:10of local government.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12At the moment we have three tiers.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15In my opinion, too many.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18We have added the combined authority and the mayoral office on
0:12:18 > 0:12:19to that from the 4th of May.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I think we do not need five tiers.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I think two would be enough.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26I would concentrate on getting rid of those
0:12:26 > 0:12:32extra tiers of local government and the extra expense.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Peter Dawe.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38The local government has failed and several of the councillors
0:12:38 > 0:12:42here are agreeing with that.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45It needs to change.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48My experience of change is that it is only done by someone from
0:12:48 > 0:12:51the outside.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Asking councillors to change how the behave when they have
0:12:54 > 0:12:56always worked in council is incredibly difficult.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59It needs someone from the outside to make
0:12:59 > 0:13:04those changes and that is why I am standing.
0:13:04 > 0:13:04as
0:13:04 > 0:13:04as a
0:13:04 > 0:13:06If I as a can ask you, because you
0:13:06 > 0:13:08posed this question.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Would you rather there was not an elected mayor?
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Will you voting at all?
0:13:15 > 0:13:17I usually vote in all elections.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Good.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20On this occasion, I am not sure what it
0:13:20 > 0:13:23does for Peterborough.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25If you do not vote, you let the Tories in.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Forgive me.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30Unless she votes Conservative.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Please, vote.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I would rather that than not voting.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Can I just come in?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38If I could reply to your question, I think this is an
0:13:38 > 0:13:40opportunity for the whole of the region.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45We need somebody in charge who can take the reins of what we have
0:13:45 > 0:13:51got, speak to government, work on behalf the people and connect the
0:13:51 > 0:13:54county north to south and east to west and deliver for the people
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and spread the wealth from the south
0:13:56 > 0:13:57to the north.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00That is what is in it for Peterborough and in it for you.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02I hope you do vote and I hope you vote Conservative.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05I ensure you with the right person in charge, the mayor
0:14:05 > 0:14:08can be a real success, not just for one part of the county
0:14:08 > 0:14:11but for the entire county.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14I am so sorry, but we will not get through all of the
0:14:14 > 0:14:17issues that I know people want to raise unless we do move on.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20One of the key issues in this area is housing.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24We have acknowledged that, particularly in Cambridge where the
0:14:24 > 0:14:26average house price are some of the highest in the country.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27There is a housing shortage.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29135,000 new homes are needed in the Cambridgeshire
0:14:30 > 0:14:31and Peterborough area.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34That is over the next 20 years.
0:14:34 > 0:14:42On average, that is over 6,500 a year.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Last year, fewer than 3500 were built and that
0:14:44 > 0:14:45shortfall is growing.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48It is frustrating knowing that you've spent so much money on rent.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51I have spent tens of thousands of pounds on rent.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54And knowing that some of that money could have been paying off
0:14:54 > 0:14:58a mortage on your own place.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01As well, not knowing how long you can stay somewhere.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03The landlord could evict you with two months notice.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06So not having that stability that you have when you own your own
0:15:07 > 0:15:11home is frustrating as well.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Those are the two things you want to get
0:15:13 > 0:15:17when you become a first-time buyer.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20When it is so unaffordable, it is difficult, really.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Let's pick up on some of those points.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Our next question comes from John Knowles.
0:15:25 > 0:15:33How will you supply urgently needed, affordable
0:15:33 > 0:15:35rented homes with security of tenure for families and individuals already
0:15:35 > 0:15:37living in Peterborough?
0:15:37 > 0:15:39This is not about future demand.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44This is about the people who are already here.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46Julie, let's start with you.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48We have a huge problem here that is not being
0:15:48 > 0:15:58acknowledged and that is how our lives change as we get older and
0:15:58 > 0:16:01have families and our families grow up and move out and we get older
0:16:01 > 0:16:02and different housing needs.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04This needs to be addressed here.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05I worry when other candidates talk and we
0:16:05 > 0:16:08are thinking about chucking new houses down and not thinking about
0:16:08 > 0:16:10the problems we already have with people on waiting lists.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12With respect, we have seen that there is
0:16:12 > 0:16:13an issue here.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15How do you solve it.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16What is the solution?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18We need to look carefully at what we have now
0:16:18 > 0:16:21and how we can address it and talk to people about what their housing
0:16:21 > 0:16:24needs are.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27As a parish councillor, I am contacted by people who are in
0:16:27 > 0:16:28housing and it is unsuitable for them.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32We need a proper audit to know what people need and what not they
0:16:32 > 0:16:33want.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36It is not just about the roof over your head, it is about feeling
0:16:36 > 0:16:37safe and secure.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39There are so many disabled people stuck in houses as
0:16:39 > 0:16:42if they are prisons and they have done nothing wrong.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43We are not meeting their needs.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48We do know this area has some of the best secure
0:16:48 > 0:16:49tenancies in the country.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52A lifetime or minimum of five years.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58We face a housing crisis.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01I do not think my children or their friends will be
0:17:01 > 0:17:04able to afford a house anywhere in the Cambridgeshire area.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05I am a trustee of a homeless charity.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I see what it is like for people who do
0:17:08 > 0:17:14not have a home.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18One of the mayor's top priorities is to address that issue.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I believe that in Peterborough there is amazing
0:17:20 > 0:17:21growth that is taking place.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23We need to address that issue by looking at
0:17:23 > 0:17:25the level of affordable housing provided.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28I am keen to support a 50% ratio of affordable housing on key
0:17:28 > 0:17:31sites.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36I am keen to explore what is known as the local living rent.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40That is something where, instead of charging
0:17:40 > 0:17:42the market rate minus the
0:17:42 > 0:17:47discount, you actually charge one third of someone's income.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49That is what Shelter, the UK charity, says
0:17:49 > 0:17:51the amount of money anybody should pay for their rent.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Even in Peterborough, we talk about Cambridge,
0:17:53 > 0:17:54but in Peterborough the
0:17:54 > 0:17:56average house price is 8.8 times the average income.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57We need to address that.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59It is a fundamental issue for the whole region.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03If I can, very quickly.
0:18:03 > 0:18:03You are clapping.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08Tell us why?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Mainly, throughout the whole distribution
0:18:11 > 0:18:16of Cambridgeshire, there
0:18:16 > 0:18:26is slow growth in housing.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32In Peterborough there is a amazing development.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34There are plans to build more houses as well.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36The main issue, as many candidates have
0:18:36 > 0:18:38addressed within their manifestos, is that housing is a major
0:18:38 > 0:18:39issue within this region.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43My other discontent with the combined authority is that
0:18:43 > 0:18:45there is not enough money that is coming into the region.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The ?600 million that we will been getting
0:18:48 > 0:18:54for 30 years, only 30 million of that would be per year.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56So you are worried that there is not enough money to
0:18:56 > 0:18:57tackle this issue?
0:18:57 > 0:19:00It is not just this issue but it is others.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Like, if you need to build the dual carriageway, the cost would be
0:19:03 > 0:19:05?15 million per mile.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07There is not enough money and the candidates
0:19:07 > 0:19:08need to address that
0:19:08 > 0:19:10because we need to get more money for the area.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14I want to just stick with housing, if I may.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Peter, let's come to you on this issue.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19The whole thing about housing is we need more houses.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21If you've got enough supply of houses, the prices stabilise,
0:19:21 > 0:19:22the rents stabilise.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26To do that, you need two things.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29One is somewhere to put them and, over the last 20 years,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32I've been promoting the building of new towns.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35It is now starting to happen in Northstowe, Waterbeach,
0:19:35 > 0:19:42Saint Neots and the Hamptons.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The other thing you need is them being built.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50And we don't have the skills and ability to build the number
0:19:50 > 0:19:54of homes we need by traditional means, which is why I've been
0:19:54 > 0:19:58working with Consortium to start a homes factory,
0:19:58 > 0:20:07a modular homes factory in North Fenland, where they want the jobs.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Where we ship 20 homes a day out across Cambridgeshire so that we can
0:20:11 > 0:20:13actually really make a massive impact on the supply of housing
0:20:13 > 0:20:15and, when there's enough supply, all the other problems
0:20:16 > 0:20:18of housing disappear.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Peter, I must ask you to leave it there because I want to move
0:20:22 > 0:20:24on to our next question which follows very nicely from that.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27It comes tonight from John Gibson.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33In the letter outlining the proposal to Greg Clark,
0:20:33 > 0:20:35the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38he states that freedoms on planning,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41development and housing will allow us to deliver higher growth
0:20:41 > 0:20:45and speed up delivery of new housing.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Could that, in fact, lead to new, large developments
0:20:49 > 0:20:53being granted planning status without due consideration?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55OK.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56Let's put this point to Paul.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00I think you're quite right.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02I think the current policy of the Government is basically
0:21:02 > 0:21:04a developer's charter.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07It takes out the wishes of the local population.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10I firmly believe that the local people should have a say
0:21:10 > 0:21:14on what happens in their town city and their street.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19If I'm elected mayor, I will do more consultation on that.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24Talking about housing generally, I would also prioritise any housing
0:21:24 > 0:21:27under my control to be social housing, and prioritise that housing
0:21:27 > 0:21:30for local people who need it now.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Because you are quite right, our children and our children's
0:21:33 > 0:21:35children just cannot afford somewhere to live as
0:21:35 > 0:21:36it is at the moment.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Kevin Price.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42That is why there is in this devolution deal ?170 million
0:21:42 > 0:21:45for building affordable housing.
0:21:45 > 0:21:51It's part of a deal...
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Leading Cambridge City Council, I also hold
0:21:52 > 0:21:53the housing portfolio there.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58In the negotiations for setting up the combined authority,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00we dug our heels in.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03I dug my heels in and insisted that there needed to be money
0:22:03 > 0:22:05for affordable housing.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07There is ?170 million for affordable housing.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11This will be genuinely affordable housing.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15There is some ring-fenced for Cambridge but, outside
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Cambridge, built through housing associations which will be built
0:22:18 > 0:22:23for rent, housing allowance rates.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26So that, as everyone has said around here,
0:22:26 > 0:22:30our children will have somewhere that they can afford to live.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35Having the money is one thing to build them,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39but the question, just getting back to it, was if you have more freedom
0:22:39 > 0:22:40about where it goes, will you ignore the
0:22:41 > 0:22:42views of the public?
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Well, we don't ignore them.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48Planning will still be with the district authorities.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52The Mayor is not going to take over and tell all the local authorities
0:22:52 > 0:22:57how they will do their planning because it is for them to determine.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00I do want all of the panel to be able to have something to say
0:23:00 > 0:23:02on housing while we are here.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04So, Stephen, if I can come to you.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05OK.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08One of the things I think local authorities in this area have failed
0:23:08 > 0:23:11on is actually making the most of the housing stock
0:23:11 > 0:23:12that already exists.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15If you walk around your town or city, you will see a lot
0:23:15 > 0:23:17of properties that are not occupied.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20In fact, there are 600,000 of those properties in England which local
0:23:20 > 0:23:24authorities to have the power to take over and bring
0:23:24 > 0:23:27into the housing stock.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Imagine what a difference that could make it authorities
0:23:29 > 0:23:32actually did that.
0:23:32 > 0:23:38So I am in favour of bringing in additional funding
0:23:38 > 0:23:41and using what we have already got too leverage more money in,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44but I also believe that the local authorities in Cambridgeshire have
0:23:44 > 0:23:46failed to make the most of what they have got.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50As mayor, I will be trying to make sure that they do that.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51James, I just want to come to you.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54As a local authority leader, and I am the only leader
0:23:54 > 0:23:57on the panel, you would expect me to have a solution,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and we have a solution in East Cambridgeshire that
0:23:59 > 0:24:01I will spread throughout the whole of the county
0:24:01 > 0:24:02and into Peterborough as well.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It is community land trusts for housing, it can work anywhere.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08It is housing that is built in coalition and in conjunction
0:24:08 > 0:24:10with the local community, typically built outside the planning area,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and we use the uplift in the value of the land to provide
0:24:13 > 0:24:15new housing, affordable housing for people who live
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and work in the local area.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19It's working now, look it up on the Internet,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22it's in Streatham and Wilburton community land trust.
0:24:22 > 0:24:28I will bring this working model into the whole of the county
0:24:28 > 0:24:31and spread it throughout the whole of Cambridge and Peterborough.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34I will say, this is not a one size fits all problem.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36We have to use as many different options.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39So we have to use modular housing, yes, community land trusts, yes,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41social housing we already have, and yes market housing.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43We need to create housing for the entire community.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45We obviously have some hands raised here.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Sir, if I could bring you in.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Your question, your point?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52All of what you say is meaningless if we don't have proper
0:24:52 > 0:24:56regulation of landlords and reasonable, affordable rents.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58If I can come back on that?
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Briefly.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05My community land trusts scheme in East Cambridgeshire,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08the rents are affordable, they are currently at 70%
0:25:08 > 0:25:09of the market rate.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11The trusts are affiliated, and the trusts are
0:25:11 > 0:25:12they housing provider.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Mr Palmer, if I can...
0:25:16 > 0:25:18They are regulated.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21We have two gentlemen here who are both saying the same thing.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22If I can just...
0:25:22 > 0:25:25If I can come back to the gentleman's point,
0:25:25 > 0:25:26which is in terms of planning freedoms.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28The problem with amenity land trusts, I think
0:25:28 > 0:25:30they play a small role, but they actually step
0:25:31 > 0:25:35outside the local plan.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39What that means is exactly the point that the gentleman raised.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Basically, the local plan doesn't have any regulation in relation
0:25:41 > 0:25:44to community land trusts.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48The other point I would make about them, in one of the schemes
0:25:48 > 0:25:56that James Palmer references, 54 homes are being built.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Community land trusts will not address the housing
0:25:58 > 0:26:00crisis that we have in this region.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01OK.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02I must leave it there.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Just because we have more points to raise,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07and obviously I want as many members of the audience to have
0:26:07 > 0:26:08their say as possible.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09Sir?
0:26:09 > 0:26:1270% of the market rate in Cambridge, that is not affordable, is it?
0:26:12 > 0:26:1470% of the market rate in this particular scheme,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17the land is worth more, then the market rate will fall down.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18It is affordable housing.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20It is affordable for people in the village.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22It is a working scheme, it is a policy.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25I know you don't understand policies, but it is a working policy
0:26:25 > 0:26:30that I can bring forward.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And it will only provide, at best, 15% of the housing need
0:26:33 > 0:26:38in East Cambridgeshire.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41James was right, one part he said was right.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43It could be part of a housing strategy.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47But it's a very small part.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I'm afraid we don't have time for lots of facts on this issue.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56If you'd just like to address that.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58On the affordable point, the gentleman is correct.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Market discount, even at a 20% market discount is not affordable.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Basically, a local living rent, a third of your
0:27:02 > 0:27:04salary, is affordable.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09A 20% discount means the person who is at medium salary needs to be
0:27:09 > 0:27:14in excess of 30,000.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16The average salary is way below that.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19That is one of the critical issues in terms of enabling
0:27:19 > 0:27:21people like teachers, nurses to be able to afford
0:27:21 > 0:27:24to live where they work, close to where they work.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27We are now going over the same points.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30If I may, I will move on to one of the other big
0:27:30 > 0:27:32issues that we have.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Can I just say, the one elephant in the room, property developers
0:27:35 > 0:27:36and the stranglehold they have...
0:27:36 > 0:27:40AUDIENCE MEMBERS SHOUT
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Just build council housing!
0:27:41 > 0:27:46I'm going to!
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I'm afraid we must move on, because transport I know is a key
0:27:49 > 0:27:51issue for lots of people who are here tonight.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54The lack of good road and rail links across this region,
0:27:54 > 0:27:55they do impede its growth.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Now, there are plenty of plans in the pipeline.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Which ones will get the go-ahead?
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Will it be upgrades to the A10, the A47 or the infamous A14?
0:28:04 > 0:28:06When it comes to rail, should the priority be reconnecting
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Wisech or improving Ely junction?
0:28:09 > 0:28:12I think that one of the real problems is that politicians have
0:28:12 > 0:28:15generally tended to look short-term at their own particular
0:28:15 > 0:28:18slice of the cake.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Whereas I believe that the combined authority, getting a mayor in place,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23is about actually looking strategically medium and long-term
0:28:23 > 0:28:26at the whole cake and making sure that we get the priorities right
0:28:26 > 0:28:34and get them in the right order in terms of delivery.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37That is John Bridge there, in what was a particularly
0:28:37 > 0:28:39heavy April shower!
0:28:39 > 0:28:41Let's take our next question then, following on from those points,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44from Nick Dibbon, who is from Rail Future.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47Good evening.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Do the panel agree that reopening the March to Wisbech railway
0:28:49 > 0:28:51is the key to unlocking development in Fenland?
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Peter, let's start with you.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55No, I don't.
0:28:55 > 0:29:02I think it's much more important to improve the A47.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Although rail is very attractive from a passenger point of view,
0:29:06 > 0:29:13what Wisbech needs is business, and business means goods transport.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16And there is no plan for opening that line for goods.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20I think if we are going to spend money on Wisbech, it
0:29:20 > 0:29:22should be on the A47, not on the railway.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26James Palmer.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28I don't see why it is an either/or.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31I don't see why you shouldn't be ambitious and spend money on both.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34I absolutely do believe in Wisbech rail, and it is not just
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Wisbech that will benefit because if Ely North junction
0:29:36 > 0:29:39is sorted, which it surely must be to solve the Wisbech problem,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42then you get more rolling stock on the line, more
0:29:42 > 0:29:44trains going into March, more trains going into Whittlesey,
0:29:44 > 0:29:49more trains going from Peterborough, more rolling stock, including
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Wisbech rail, allowing for growth in Fenland.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57That is housing growth in Fenland, not just in Wisbech, of course.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01It will allow for housing growth in March and in Whittlesey as well.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03It is imperative, and I will be pushing for it.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06I would like to take a quick show of hands.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Just raise your hand if you think this rail line and the reopening
0:30:09 > 0:30:12of it is a good idea.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15OK, it's not scientific, but that is roughly just over half
0:30:15 > 0:30:21of the audience here tonight.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Are there any people here from Wisbech
0:30:23 > 0:30:24who don't think it's a good idea?
0:30:24 > 0:30:25Yes?
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Obviously it would be a wonderful idea if we could have it,
0:30:28 > 0:30:32but it feels really like pie in the sky.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36I do think the A47 is really important to us, and the bus service
0:30:36 > 0:30:40in Wisbech is terribly important to us.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43We have the most awful bus service that you can imagine.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46I mean, for somebody in Wisbech to get to their local hospital,
0:30:46 > 0:30:54they have to take four buses.
0:30:54 > 0:30:55It's absolutely ludicrous.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58So, yes, the rail link would be wonderful if it was achievable but,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00for goodness' sake, let's please have the A47 open,
0:31:00 > 0:31:01and a decent bus service.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02Lots of hands raised.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Let's get around as many as we can.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05Yes, sir?
0:31:05 > 0:31:08I live in Wisbech, and I've lived there for ten years now.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12I keep hearing lots of promises from our local MP and all the local
0:31:12 > 0:31:21councillors that they are going to reopen the Wisbech rail line,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24and we're still yet to see that money, and we're yet to see
0:31:24 > 0:31:26any real development moving forward with that.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29But I think one of the biggest issues with it, and I sway
0:31:29 > 0:31:32towards the A47, if there was money to be invested, is that the train
0:31:32 > 0:31:34station would be out of town.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36We heard from Rod earlier that a fifth of people
0:31:36 > 0:31:38in Fenland are without a car.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40A third of the poorest people in Wisbech without a car have
0:31:40 > 0:31:42absolutely no access to a bus service.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45So what is the point in spending millions of pounds
0:31:45 > 0:31:47on a train station that people still can't access?
0:31:47 > 0:31:48APPLAUSE
0:31:48 > 0:31:50There are lots of people clapping to this.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52Sir, why do you agree with that?
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Because can't imagine that many people would want to get on a train
0:31:55 > 0:31:57between March and Wisbech.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58Pure and simple?
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Pure and simple.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06Can I just say that in response to gentleman's question, it's not
0:32:06 > 0:32:08about one mode of transport.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10It's actually about all modes of transport.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12The mayor should be setting out an integrated transport
0:32:12 > 0:32:13plan for the region.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Similar to Transport for London.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17It will basically enable people to move around
0:32:17 > 0:32:20in all modes of transport, clearly focusing on things
0:32:20 > 0:32:24like rail, bus and cycling, but also improving areas in terms
0:32:24 > 0:32:27of people with private vehicles.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31But a lot of people I speak to don't want to drive to work.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33If they had a good, reliable, cheap public transport
0:32:33 > 0:32:36system, they would use it.
0:32:36 > 0:32:37Obviously a very popular point tonight.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39We are going to continue with this topic.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44Let's take a question now.
0:32:44 > 0:32:45On the same theme, transport links around
0:32:45 > 0:32:50Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are historically bad.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52What can the candidates promise in the wake of improved
0:32:52 > 0:32:57rail and road links.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59I'm particularly thinking of the poor links between Cambridge
0:32:59 > 0:33:01and Peterborough, the two big cities, and also down
0:33:01 > 0:33:06to Stansted airport.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08And, as mentioned, particularly important is the A47 out
0:33:08 > 0:33:14to Norwich and the East Coast.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17OK, you had a lot to say on this subject, so let's come
0:33:17 > 0:33:20to you for a couple of sentences in response to this question.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22I'm committed to setting out an integrated strategic transport
0:33:22 > 0:33:26plan, and the funding that the mayor has on the current devolved package
0:33:26 > 0:33:28is not enough to meet that integrated transport plan.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30My intention will be very simple, take that plan, take it
0:33:30 > 0:33:35to government and ask them for the money.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37This region is one of the key economic growth engines of this
0:33:37 > 0:33:41country, and we deserve good transport connections.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43You deserve good transport connections, and the Government
0:33:43 > 0:33:45needs to give us the money to deliver it properly.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Not these piecemeal, short-term fantasy projects that
0:33:48 > 0:33:51a lot of politicians are putting forward.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54It needs to be thought through on a strategic bases for 40
0:33:54 > 0:33:57years, not four years.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00I'm going to insist that we interrupt there and bring
0:34:00 > 0:34:02everyone else in on this.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Let's come to Paul next on this.
0:34:04 > 0:34:10Thank you, yes, I think some of the audience have hit
0:34:10 > 0:34:11the nail on the head.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14What you've got a member is the mayor has a budget
0:34:14 > 0:34:15of ?20 million a year.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18You are not going to be able to deliver anything.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20I will not promise you anything that I cannot deliver.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23What I will promise you is I will look at what we have,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25I will listen to local people.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27I've listened to local people in Wisbech and,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29to be perfectly honest, I haven't met one yet that
0:34:29 > 0:34:32would prioritise the rail link above improving the road links.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35We are predominantly a rural county, we do rely on our vehicles and we do
0:34:35 > 0:34:38need those vehicles.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41So my personal point that a macro choice would be first to look
0:34:41 > 0:34:43at what we have and put it right.
0:34:43 > 0:34:48There are lots of pinch points that need changing,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51there are a lot of small changes that can be made to the transport
0:34:51 > 0:34:54we currently have two make it work better and more efficiently.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56The most important thing for an elected politician
0:34:56 > 0:34:59in my point of view is to get the views of the local people.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Because it's no good...
0:35:03 > 0:35:07What politicians have done for years is to tell you what you need
0:35:07 > 0:35:08and what you're going to have.
0:35:08 > 0:35:09Politics has to change.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12The people in this county, in this country are not stupid.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14They know what they want and they know what they need.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Politicians need to listen.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Let's throw this open because...
0:35:19 > 0:35:21To deliver what they can for their needs...
0:35:21 > 0:35:24You are here, so let's listen to them.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27If you live in Wisbech, or wherever you live,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30but your hand up, tell us what you need in terms of transport,
0:35:30 > 0:35:31road and rail links.
0:35:31 > 0:35:32Yes, sir?
0:35:32 > 0:35:33Thank you.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36My point is addressed to Rod.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38I've been getting your leaflets through the door, and one
0:35:38 > 0:35:41of the things you promise is having a railway station
0:35:41 > 0:35:45south of Peterborough.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48I ask you, have you actually been to the location where the rail
0:35:49 > 0:35:50station is proposed?
0:35:50 > 0:35:52If you have been there, you will know that that place,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55the A15, is absolutely chock-a-block full of traffic and it's highly
0:35:55 > 0:35:57impractical to spend that ?60 million or whatever
0:35:57 > 0:35:59it is on that railway station when the main Peterborough train
0:35:59 > 0:36:02station is five minutes away.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04For a candidate who is criticising the other candidates and panellists
0:36:04 > 0:36:06for their crazy idea, your idea seems very
0:36:06 > 0:36:07much pie in the sky.
0:36:07 > 0:36:08One sentence.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Have you been?
0:36:11 > 0:36:14I have been and actually I went because the local plan set it out
0:36:14 > 0:36:24as a strategic space for a railway station and Peterborough City
0:36:25 > 0:36:27Council decided to remove it
0:36:27 > 0:36:28in the consultation.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30The reason why I'm keen, let me give you an illustration...
0:36:30 > 0:36:33THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE I'm so sorry, I'm afraid we can't expand
0:36:33 > 0:36:34even further on that.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Stephen, let's bring you in next on this issue.
0:36:37 > 0:36:38What would you promise?
0:36:38 > 0:36:39That's the question.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41What would you promise in terms of road and rail?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44I'm in a similar place to Paul on this in that I believe
0:36:44 > 0:36:47that our resource is the residents, you people out there.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48You know what problems you encounter everyday.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51You know that if you actually try and get a train
0:36:51 > 0:36:56from Whittlesey to Peterborough in the morning, it's easy.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59If you try and get one back at night there's nothing
0:36:59 > 0:37:00between 5:50pm and 7:50pm.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03There's all sorts of things that could be sorted out without spending
0:37:03 > 0:37:04vast amounts of money, and politicians locally
0:37:04 > 0:37:06have failed to do that.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09So, in the same way that on housing I'm saying let's make
0:37:09 > 0:37:12the most of what we've got, I'm saying the same on transport.
0:37:12 > 0:37:13Let's re-route buses slightly.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16There's a bus that does not come through my village
0:37:16 > 0:37:21and instead goes down the A15, through largely farmland.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24That could be be rerouted through the village.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27You probably know several issues yourself where there
0:37:27 > 0:37:29are car pinch points, bus pinch points, stupid things that
0:37:29 > 0:37:31trains do or don't do.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35I don't want lots more trains whizzing through Whittlesey
0:37:35 > 0:37:38to Cambridge, I want more trains stopping at the places where people
0:37:38 > 0:37:41need to get on because we can relieve congestion that way.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44OK, I'm just going to move this way and then I will come
0:37:44 > 0:37:45back to you, I promise.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48You will be next.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51I want to break up this love affair with the car, I really do.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Don't think dualling is the answer to everything.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55I don't think it's safer.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57It can be just as dangerous.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Let's remember our health, let's remember that when we dual
0:38:00 > 0:38:02places, we are encroaching into the environment.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05I want us to start having an affair on the side with public transport,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09with buses and with trains.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Let me tell you something that will blow your mind.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I have never driven, and I can't ride a bike.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18You imagine how I live my life - because I have multiple sclerosis,
0:38:19 > 0:38:20I can't do either of those things.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22They are not open to me.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25So I'm not able to get round the county in that way,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27so I be understand the importance of public transport.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29I am all about trains.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31First and foremost, all the way.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33So the Wisbech line, you would be keen on it?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35Yes.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37Let's come back to Kevin.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Once again, we are leaving buses out of here.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44I think one of the powers that the mayor will have
0:38:44 > 0:38:47is a bus franchise.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51I think that is an absolutely crucial part of what the mayor
0:38:51 > 0:38:53will be able to do.
0:38:53 > 0:38:58This devolution deal, this is the first deal.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01We keep talking about the money that there is.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04It was never intended that that would be where it would stop.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08So there is potential to negotiate, for instance, with Network Rail
0:39:08 > 0:39:12in terms of railways, to encourage them.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14And, as Rod said, to go to government and demand
0:39:14 > 0:39:18from government what we need here.
0:39:18 > 0:39:28But essentially, if we have...
0:39:29 > 0:39:32There are plenty of people speaking up for car drivers and the like.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35There are very, very few people speaking for bus users.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38I want to be a mayor that will speak for bus users and provides a decent
0:39:38 > 0:39:40public transport system for them.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42I do just want to bring in a couple of points.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Folks, I will take as many as I can.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46If you can keep your point brief, please.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Yes, sir, we'll start with you.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49I think it's pie in the sky.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52While it's nice to say that everyone can get
0:39:52 > 0:39:54on a bus and a train, we really do want
0:39:54 > 0:39:55the roads improved.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57The sparsity of the population in Cambridgeshire, you will never
0:39:57 > 0:40:00get a good bus service to serve the population.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02That's absolutely right.
0:40:02 > 0:40:03If I may come in on that.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06There is no way you can have a bus service that suitable
0:40:06 > 0:40:10across the whole of the county unless you are brave enough to sort
0:40:10 > 0:40:11out the road system.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15It needs sorting out, the A10 is appalling,
0:40:15 > 0:40:16there is no M11 extension.
0:40:16 > 0:40:26The A47 is awful.
0:40:46 > 0:40:47as well as the rail.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51I will agree with my colleague on my left that we need to sort
0:40:51 > 0:40:52the rail out as well.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54There is no point putting extra buses riding all over
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Cambridgeshire, taking hours to get from A to B unless we sort
0:40:57 > 0:40:58out the roads first.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Mr Palmer, you have made your point.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01Thank you very much.
0:41:01 > 0:41:02The lady just over here.
0:41:02 > 0:41:03Yes.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05It is great hearing about public transport.
0:41:05 > 0:41:06I am all for it but it.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10I am a driver but if I had the choice of getting a train or a
0:41:10 > 0:41:13bus from A to B, I would be really happy.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16The pie in the sky is, when these companies got the franchises
0:41:16 > 0:41:18and bought the routes they were going to do,
0:41:18 > 0:41:19you cannot change them because
0:41:19 > 0:41:21all they will say they are doing the contractual agreement
0:41:21 > 0:41:23that they have signed up for.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25I just want to take one more point.
0:41:25 > 0:41:26The gentleman there in the purple jumper.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29There have been a lot of platitudes and a lot of theories
0:41:29 > 0:41:32about what you want to do in housing, transport or what ever.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Nobody has said when they are expected to deliver something.
0:41:35 > 0:41:35There is...
0:41:35 > 0:41:37We will be delivering housing.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38There is plenty to deliver.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41From the word go.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42There is plenty to deliver.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44It doesn't just come down to this.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46We can see if we can wrap up with that
0:41:46 > 0:41:47at the end, sir.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49I do want to move on to skills.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54Although Cambridge has one of the most highly qualified
0:41:54 > 0:41:57workforces in the country, the skill shortage is still a serious one.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59This devolution deal wants to help tackle it.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03There will be investment in a university for Peterborough.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06The deal outlines ?20 million a year to help jobs in the next 30
0:42:06 > 0:42:09years and to develop Peterborough's enterprise zone.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13We see it as an opportunity to get the
0:42:13 > 0:42:14area globally known, building on the many
0:42:14 > 0:42:17strengths we already have.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21It is a wrap around and it gives us a great opportunity.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23In many ways in advance of other parts of the country.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27We have to capitalise whilst the opportunity is there.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28Let's move on with those points.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33Our next question tonight.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35How would the new mayor of Peterborough attract high skill
0:42:35 > 0:42:38businesses and jobs to the city and how would they address the low
0:42:38 > 0:42:41skill levels we have here?
0:42:41 > 0:42:43James Palmer.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46I am going to come to you on the skills agenda.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48It is imperative and so important for the mayor.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51I want to work with the local schools and I have been
0:42:51 > 0:42:52lobbying to government.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54I have spoken to the Secretary of State for Education.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56I want schools rewarded for placing children into apprenticeships.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Schools are only rewarded for GCSEs five A-Cs.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01That is great and pushes people into further education.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04I also want those people who are not hitting those targets
0:43:04 > 0:43:05to get rewarded as well.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09I want the young people who are not getting five A-Cs to be rewarded
0:43:09 > 0:43:11with apprenticeship schemes linked with local business.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14I think that is something we can do.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16I have already spoken to the Secretary of State about it.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19I'm prepared to put Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
0:43:20 > 0:43:21through as a pilot scheme.
0:43:21 > 0:43:22I will continue to lobby on that.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24If we get apprentices, we create a workforce
0:43:24 > 0:43:27for the 20th century, spreading the wealth far more evenly
0:43:27 > 0:43:30through Cambridgeshire, and I want to connect Cambridgeshire
0:43:30 > 0:43:36and Peterborough, and I want to bring the wealth south to north.
0:43:36 > 0:43:40Kevin Price, I will come to you next.
0:43:40 > 0:43:47That was something that we started out by saying, wanting to spread
0:43:47 > 0:43:50that wealth and attract business away from the hotspot that is
0:43:50 > 0:43:55Cambridge and take it further north.
0:43:55 > 0:44:01Apprenticeships will be vital in this, absolutely vital in this.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04I started my working life as an apprentice electrician.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07I didn't stay at that, I went on and moved into the print trade.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09That is what people did.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11There was a lot more ability to get jobs
0:44:11 > 0:44:16and apprenticeships in that time.
0:44:16 > 0:44:21I think it is time we reverted to that because all the infrastructure
0:44:21 > 0:44:25we are talking about, the building of the houses,
0:44:25 > 0:44:27the railway, everything that we've talked about here tonight,
0:44:27 > 0:44:30is going to require skilled workers.
0:44:30 > 0:44:36The only way we are going to get skilled workers is to train them.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39It's getting companies to take on apprentices.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43That's how it used to work, and it worked really well
0:44:43 > 0:44:45when we were building houses and doing stuff.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47We had trained people, we've stopped doing that
0:44:47 > 0:44:49to the country's detriment.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51I noticed a hand going up there.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55If you wouldn't mind just making your point quite quickly.
0:44:55 > 0:45:01It's all very well talking about apprenticeships,
0:45:01 > 0:45:04but 50% of children or young students in Peterborough do not meet
0:45:04 > 0:45:06the Government targets of A-C, or whatever it is.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09I think it needs to start earlier so that those children are not
0:45:09 > 0:45:12being failed by the education system that exists in this city right now.
0:45:12 > 0:45:13OK, thank you very much.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15We are going to continue talking about skills.
0:45:15 > 0:45:17Let's take the next question, then.
0:45:17 > 0:45:22It's from Dr Charlie Bell.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Given we are an area with a vast number of higher and further
0:45:25 > 0:45:27educational institutions, what are your plans to harness
0:45:27 > 0:45:29this invaluable resource for the developer of the area,
0:45:29 > 0:45:32and also for its population?
0:45:32 > 0:45:37OK, how do we make more of what we already have, Julie?
0:45:37 > 0:45:39Something I'd love to get rid off right away are these
0:45:39 > 0:45:41awful unpaid internships.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44That's something I would knock on the head right away.
0:45:44 > 0:45:50I'm so glad I was born at the time I was because you know what?
0:45:50 > 0:45:52I did my degree and a job and my life started.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Now young people can get to 30 and not be properly working.
0:45:55 > 0:45:56What are we doing?
0:45:56 > 0:45:57That's absolutely crazy.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59I'd be putting real pressure, actually, and local businesses
0:45:59 > 0:46:05to have internships.
0:46:05 > 0:46:10And do everything I can to make sure there's a really smooth
0:46:10 > 0:46:12path from university, or straight from school,
0:46:12 > 0:46:14we should encourage young entrepreneurs so that they go
0:46:14 > 0:46:21into something meaningful.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Also learn how to manage money and not lose
0:46:23 > 0:46:24the house, like I did twice.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27I will just say, there is a university technical college
0:46:27 > 0:46:29in Peterborough which aims to teach the skills.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31It opened a year late because there were not enough students.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34How do you encourage the students to want to learn the skills?
0:46:34 > 0:46:35That the whole thing, isn't it?
0:46:35 > 0:46:38Making people aware that this is a bailable to them,
0:46:38 > 0:46:39and what the benefits are.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42I think young people stumble into adult life with no clue
0:46:42 > 0:46:43and find themselves unstuck.
0:46:43 > 0:46:44Paul, I will come to you next.
0:46:44 > 0:46:45OK.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47I think we need more technical skills.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49I think the university system, especially in Cambridge,
0:46:49 > 0:46:51is fine, it's doing its job, it is oversubscribed.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54The worst thing we did in this country was to take our eye
0:46:54 > 0:46:55off apprenticeships.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58Those of you who are lucky enough to own houses,
0:46:58 > 0:47:00how often have you found that you can't find a plumber,
0:47:00 > 0:47:03an electrician, a bricklayer to do work that you need?
0:47:03 > 0:47:04We've lost it.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06Not everybody has the aptitude to go to university.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09But people do have the aptitude, young people, to learn skills
0:47:09 > 0:47:10that we desperately need.
0:47:10 > 0:47:15If we have the skilled trades people within the county,
0:47:15 > 0:47:18then businesses will come here because they know there
0:47:18 > 0:47:21are employees that they can employ.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24So I think we need to concentrate more on the technical side rather
0:47:24 > 0:47:25than the academic side.
0:47:25 > 0:47:33I think we need to really concentrate back on apprenticeships,
0:47:33 > 0:47:36we need more skilled people in this country who are hands-on tradesmen
0:47:36 > 0:47:38who can actually do those jobs that we need doing.
0:47:38 > 0:47:42Can I just say, the mayor has a major opportunity.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44The university for Peterborough is a fantastic opportunity
0:47:44 > 0:47:47that the mayor has that has to be delivered by 2020 to really
0:47:47 > 0:47:52reinvigorate skills and education.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55Not only that, but reinvigorate the city centre of Peterborough as well.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57It will provide important growth.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00You will have your say on this issue, I promise.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03I do want to take a few quick points from the audience if I can.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Ladies and gentlemen, if you make them brief,
0:48:05 > 0:48:07we will get around as many as we can.
0:48:07 > 0:48:08Sir?
0:48:08 > 0:48:11You make your point about children going to university,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14which these days they know at primary school now,
0:48:14 > 0:48:16if they will be led that way, towards university.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19My stepdaughter has been fortunate enough to be part of that
0:48:19 > 0:48:20extra part of school.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24I didn't go to university.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27So why do you want to train and teach these kids
0:48:27 > 0:48:29that are not academic, because they are not academic.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32Why train them?
0:48:32 > 0:48:35Why don't you have employers coming into schools, workshops,
0:48:35 > 0:48:37teach them how to lay bricks before they leave school.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40A lot of support on the panel therefore that point.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43I want to come up to the back row here, back left, please.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Yes, sir?
0:48:47 > 0:48:49The last time we had a real opportunity to open up
0:48:49 > 0:48:52the university in this area, the politicians managed to open it
0:48:52 > 0:48:55up in the one place in the world that didn't need one,
0:48:55 > 0:48:56Cambridge.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59Can we have your assurance from every one of you that,
0:48:59 > 0:49:02by the time you go for pre-election, you will finally open a door
0:49:02 > 0:49:05to a Peterborough University?
0:49:05 > 0:49:06APPLAUSE PANEL MEMBERS: Yes.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09I think there are nods across-the-board.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13That's all we have to say.
0:49:13 > 0:49:15Yes, let's come over here, please.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17We keep talking about technical skills and everything,
0:49:17 > 0:49:19but one of the professions that actually is being so
0:49:19 > 0:49:23neglected at the moment is the teaching profession.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26There is all of this, you can start on a tax-free bursary,
0:49:26 > 0:49:33get into teaching now.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36But that is only apply if you do maths, physics.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38What about primary school teaching when you are teaching children how
0:49:38 > 0:49:40to read from the age of six.
0:49:40 > 0:49:45We know that that is a problem in Peterborough because so many
0:49:45 > 0:49:47of our primary school children are not meeting the
0:49:47 > 0:49:48required standards.
0:49:48 > 0:49:49What about professions like teaching?
0:49:49 > 0:49:52I want to take another point of here if I can?
0:49:52 > 0:49:54Yes, back row.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58I agree with much of what is said regarding apprenticeships.
0:49:58 > 0:50:06It is fundamental but it will take time.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08However, as a business owner, we are reliant
0:50:08 > 0:50:16on high-quality migration and very high-quality linguist skills.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18Last year, Huntington suffered a very unpleasant attack,
0:50:18 > 0:50:25asking these people to go home.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28I am aware that there is a bleed of families returning.
0:50:28 > 0:50:29With the opportunities to lose high-quality people now,
0:50:29 > 0:50:33what with the candidates do to step forward and say, you are a vital
0:50:33 > 0:50:35to maintain what we, as employees, need.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37To lose them is a disaster.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39Ladies and gentlemen.
0:50:39 > 0:50:43We do not have time for all of you answer that this evening.
0:50:43 > 0:50:48You have time until May the 4th to make your point is known.
0:50:48 > 0:50:53I want to take another question, if I can.
0:50:53 > 0:51:02It comes from Sue Marshall.
0:51:04 > 0:51:0610% of Fenland population have no qualifications, compared
0:51:06 > 0:51:08to the national average of one and a half percent.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10What will be candidates do to improve opportunities
0:51:10 > 0:51:12and skills training, especially for young people?
0:51:12 > 0:51:13Young people is the focus.
0:51:13 > 0:51:14Peter.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17I think all this about training and skills has got to be shifted
0:51:17 > 0:51:23from the education establishment to the employers.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26In particular, not so much the employers, as the employed.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28The people with the skills are at the brick layers
0:51:28 > 0:51:32and the computer programmers.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35We have got to shift the training process into that sort
0:51:35 > 0:51:42of a mentoring place.
0:51:42 > 0:51:47Frankly, skills taught in colleges are not hard skills.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50The hard skills you get by doing the job and you do...
0:51:50 > 0:51:53The best way of doing the job is doing it next to somebody
0:51:53 > 0:51:57who knows how to do it.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59For too long now we have been putting the skills agenda
0:51:59 > 0:52:01into education establishments.
0:52:01 > 0:52:06It belongs in the businesses.
0:52:06 > 0:52:13This isn't an excuse for businesses getting cheap labour.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16This is all about businesses training the people that they need,
0:52:16 > 0:52:21rather than taking a subsidy from elsewhere.
0:52:21 > 0:52:28Just briefly, this was not a general point.
0:52:28 > 0:52:29It was about the Fens.
0:52:29 > 0:52:31It seems it is struggling.
0:52:31 > 0:52:32How would you change it?
0:52:32 > 0:52:34It is a good example.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37There are a skilled people in Fenland.
0:52:37 > 0:52:39The problem you have in Fenland is getting your
0:52:39 > 0:52:43children to the college.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45If they are working with the other skilled people within Fenland,
0:52:45 > 0:52:54they are getting their training close to home and
0:52:54 > 0:52:55with their employers.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Let's continue on this one.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01I am a resident of Fenland.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03I was amused earlier on when one of the panellists talked
0:53:03 > 0:53:06about stumbling in to work.
0:53:06 > 0:53:08That is exactly what I did.
0:53:08 > 0:53:11I had no idea what I wanted to do.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14I got bored with school and wanted to go out to work.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18I went out to work and realised I should not have bunked off
0:53:18 > 0:53:22during my A levels and I went back and got training and I have
0:53:22 > 0:53:23done reasonably well.
0:53:23 > 0:53:28There is a mix of people out there with a desire sometimes to go
0:53:28 > 0:53:30on to educational qualifications and sometimes not.
0:53:30 > 0:53:35That is why we need to provide apprenticeships so people who have
0:53:35 > 0:53:40not got the academic qualification have to go to university.
0:53:40 > 0:53:45My wife and I have a discussion, let's say, about my step son.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47She would like him to go to university.
0:53:47 > 0:53:54I say, it's not for everybody.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57If he can pick up life skills elsewhere and can find technical
0:53:57 > 0:54:00college places like I did, there is no reason why
0:54:00 > 0:54:01he shouldn't be a success.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03In the Fens, we need to get those skills.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05Peterborough university can provide some of those
0:54:05 > 0:54:07answers, but we still got the transportation problems.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09As Peter says, employers also have a role to play.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12Let's pick up a couple of points from the audience.
0:54:12 > 0:54:12Yes, sir?
0:54:12 > 0:54:15One of the major reasons for the relatively low unemployment
0:54:15 > 0:54:18at the moment is the number of people that have set
0:54:18 > 0:54:19up their own businesses.
0:54:19 > 0:54:25I don't think I've heard much from the panel about helping people
0:54:25 > 0:54:27set up their own, rather than getting a job
0:54:27 > 0:54:28working for somebody else.
0:54:28 > 0:54:29Interesting point.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32Yes, sir?
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Yes, I really think that this amounts to money.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36The Government have massively cut money to local government.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38Peterborough needs more money.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40We've got unique problems and we need money for that.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43We've got people who want to set up businesses
0:54:43 > 0:54:44that can't afford the
0:54:44 > 0:54:46premises.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49This whole thing...
0:54:49 > 0:54:52What I'm hearing here, as far as I'm concerned, is absolute
0:54:52 > 0:54:54rubbish because you as mayor, they are not
0:54:54 > 0:54:55going to have the money to do anything!
0:54:55 > 0:54:57OK.
0:54:57 > 0:54:58Let's come to you.
0:54:58 > 0:55:05You're not going to have the money to do anything.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07Just on the point of setting up a business.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10As someone who has set up and run my own
0:55:10 > 0:55:12business, I fully support the idea of people being entrepreneurs.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Just coming back to the question in relation to Fenland.
0:55:15 > 0:55:16There are three simple measures.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18Firstly, as I've knocked on doors and talk to people
0:55:18 > 0:55:21in Fenland, they don't feel the benefit of the wealth that this
0:55:21 > 0:55:22region has created.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24The critical thing for the mayor is to basically
0:55:24 > 0:55:26put jobs back in to Fenland.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30That's the first point.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33The second point is, the 170 million we have to
0:55:33 > 0:55:36spend on housing could be spent in a smart way.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38By building into contracts apprenticeships so that
0:55:38 > 0:55:43those companies that are building the homes
0:55:43 > 0:55:44have them for
0:55:44 > 0:55:46people in the region so they are being skilled up.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49The third point I would make is one of the crises we
0:55:49 > 0:55:53face is the county council have cut bus fares for people between 16 and
0:55:53 > 0:55:5418 to go to further education colleges.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57So people are taking life decisions because they cannot get to
0:55:57 > 0:55:59further educational colleges.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01As mayor, I would basically put that funding back.
0:56:01 > 0:56:08That is critical.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10I have benefited from the fact that...
0:56:10 > 0:56:16I come from a mining village in North Nottinghamshire,
0:56:16 > 0:56:18I went to a comphrehensive, and I went...
0:56:18 > 0:56:21My life chances were such that I was able to benefit from education.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24It's important for our young people that they are able to as well.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27OK, finally, and I really do mean it, in one word.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30Just coming back to that point, as mayor, will you have enough
0:56:30 > 0:56:31money to change things?
0:56:31 > 0:56:32Yes or no?
0:56:32 > 0:56:33Janine, we've seen...
0:56:33 > 0:56:35Yes or no?
0:56:35 > 0:56:38We've seen in the past that yes or no decisions are not very
0:56:38 > 0:56:40favourable, as we saw with Brexit.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42So the answer is that is we don't have enough funding.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44I would certainly ask the Government...
0:56:44 > 0:56:48Ladies and gents, this is not a free for all.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50Obviously, this is a subject that is going to continue.
0:56:50 > 0:56:54Of course, on May the 4th, it will be time to make history.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56It will be time to choose the very first
0:56:56 > 0:57:01elected mayor for Cambridge and Peterborough.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03The question is, of course, which of these candidates
0:57:03 > 0:57:04have earned your vote?
0:57:04 > 0:57:07For now, thanks to a much to all of our
0:57:07 > 0:57:10guests on the panel for joining us here in Peterborough tonight.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13Thank you to you for taking part.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15From all of us here in Peterborough, a very
0:57:15 > 0:57:16good night.
0:57:16 > 0:57:25APPLAUSE
0:57:25 > 0:57:35I thought the debate was really interesting, and the part that I
0:57:38 > 0:57:41felt most concerned about was there were people at the debate
0:57:41 > 0:57:43who did not think that the mayor would be an
0:57:43 > 0:57:44effective role.
0:57:44 > 0:57:46I came to see whether the position was worthwhile.
0:57:46 > 0:57:47Particular with regards to education.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51I have to say, what came across to me is that I'm not sure
0:57:51 > 0:57:52how much teeth they will have.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55At the end of the day, it will come down to money.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57There were lots of interesting topics raised tonight,
0:57:57 > 0:57:59but overall I think they've actually been quite bland.
0:57:59 > 0:58:01There has been no sort of strong commitments.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03There's not enough money to do what is
0:58:03 > 0:58:04really, really needed.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07I found that a lot of the talk about apprenticeships quite interesting
0:58:07 > 0:58:09because in Peterborough we've got the University, the technical
0:58:09 > 0:58:12college, so it's interesting finding out what the candidates for that
0:58:12 > 0:58:13skills and the alternatives University.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Basically, I think I've heard five candidates try to
0:58:15 > 0:58:16reinvent the wheel.
0:58:16 > 0:58:17It is still round.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19We need to be all council housing.
0:58:19 > 0:58:22I think it may just be a way of shifting responsible at it
0:58:22 > 0:58:25from the Government which is not doing its job to give someone else
0:58:25 > 0:58:26the blame.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28It was interesting to see them all speak tonight.
0:58:28 > 0:58:31I think they all had good points to make.
0:58:31 > 0:58:32Some of them also make points that were
0:58:32 > 0:58:34probably not things that I would agree with.
0:58:34 > 0:58:38So I shall review what I heard and what I saw, and I will
0:58:38 > 0:58:40make a considered decision, and I will be voting
0:58:40 > 0:58:47on the 4th of May.
0:59:04 > 0:59:06Spring is arriving - in a whirlwind of pink.
0:59:06 > 0:59:09We're in Japan to celebrate the sakura.