Cambridge Michelle Charlotte
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[00:00:00] Welcome to latest edition of the Concilio Better Places podcast. In this episode, managing director Nick Dines is joined by Michelle Sacks, chief Executive of Huntington Chair District Council, and Charlotte bin, CEO of the Cambridge Chambers of Commerce. They discussed the critical role that areas beyond Cambridge play, empowering the regional and national economy from the strength of Peterborough and the market towns, the global significance of sectors like Agritech. Logistics and defense.

The conversation explores how places like Huntington Share are not just supporting Cambridge's growth, but helping to shape a more balanced and resilient economic future for the whole of the uk. They also touch on planning reform education skills, and how to ensure growth delivers real community benefits.

We do hope you enjoy this insightful episode.

Nick: Welcome to the latest edition of the Concilio Better Places podcast, where I'm delighted to [00:01:00] be joined by Michelle Sacks and Charlotte Riman this afternoon. Thank you both for joining us.

Michelle: Hello. Hi, Nick. Good afternoon.

Nick: Brilliant, thank you. And I think it's the start. If you, if you could both just kind of introduce yourself from which organizations you are representing today, um, Charlotte, yourself.

Michelle: Good afternoon. Uh, Charlotte Ho. I'm the Chief Executive Officer of the Cambridge Chambers of Commerce, but like lots of people in these kinds of role roles, um, I tend to wear lots of other hats as well because of the amazing initiatives I find myself getting involved in.

Nick: Brilliant, Michelle.

Charlotte: Good afternoon everyone.

I'm Michelle Sacks and I'm Chief Executive at Huntington Shear District Council. Uh, again, that's, that's, um, that's my job. But what that encompasses a whole range of different things. As such as Charlotte said, there's so many exciting opportunities and different projects in the mix that we're in a great position to be able to facilitate and support and bring forward, uh, through that collaboration.

Uh, different, different [00:02:00] opportunities to come in on our patch.

Nick: And, and the, the theme very much for this conversation is, um, to show what is outside of Cambridge. 'cause when people talk about Cambridgeshire, there is an automatic, it, it is natural 'cause of the, the strength of the brand, if you like, of the university and everything that comes off of that, um, to talk about a broader Cambridgeshire.

But, um, I mean, Cambridge does have a significant role in the UK economy, doesn't it, Charlotte? And it's, um, a lot does flow from that. So it's probably best just to kind of give your perspective on how important Cambridge is before we move out to the wider county.

Michelle: Yeah, I, I think you are absolutely right.

It would be an own goal to turn away from what is an absolutely world beating. World leading city. Cambridge, the fastest growing city consist consistently across the country, but really important to recognize the net growth it then also provides for the wider uk. So I think that's an important message that we realize that Cambridge isn't just good at science and technology.

It's the number one for science and technology by density globally, and we should really champion that because that [00:03:00] positive, um, flow then of investment that benefits the wider UK economy. Cambridge is so important, but as you quite rightly point to when you add up the wider region, oh my goodness, that becomes so diverse and so magnificent and no doubt.

Michelle would love to unpack some of the, uh, great regional, uh, capability that we've got.

Nick: No, indeed. And, um, just, just for completeness, it's South Cams, Huntington shirt, east Cams, Penland, and Peterborough. Any other districts from an administrative perspective, which make up the county? And Michelle, you are here, um, on behalf of Huntington shirt, dis district Council, but looking at the, the hold, the, the other districts, I mean, do you see.

Being helping to facilitate Cambridge's growth or is it something bigger than that that you see the role of the districts outside of Cambridge?

Charlotte: Uh, I think there's two things there, Nick. One, absolutely it is to facilitate that continued, um, expansion of the city and, and again, not just Cambridge, but also Peterborough as well, which is a really important, uh, counterbalance in the [00:04:00] north of the county.

But equally, and, and I often have an expression, I use that. The opportunities that the market towns bring in the districts. They act like the logistics supply chain to the, to the cities to be able to sort of source good talent, be able to operate spin outs from where, you know, you get great initiatives.

And as, as Charlotte says around that, that research as well and the, the impact of the university in, in research and technology, being able to spin out from there. But also actually provide, um, the space for people to live mm-hmm. Uh, to continue to work in the great cities. So you've got that aspect alone around, I say it's one of my, my favorite phrases, the logistics supply chain to support that growth.

But equally, we see that ability to create space around the city areas. It, it provides, uh, good value space with the proximity of the fantastic opportunities that Cambridge brings. [00:05:00] But enables expansion. Uh, you know, and I can touch on some of those later, but really quickly in advanced manufacturing we see that for sure we see defense particularly, um, is, is a key topical area for the opportunities, but also agritech and logistics distribution.

And indeed, uh, one that probably isn't so obvious is our creative industries as well. Uh,

Nick: Charlotte

Charlotte: from

Nick: the Chamber of Commerce perspective, again, I think people who associate Cambridge because of Cambridge and South Cams where it, and life science, you know, gets all the headlines. But as Michelle mentioned, was a huge number of other sectors, which are absolutely fundamental parts of the county's economy.

Um, how big a contribution do they make? Because I think most people wouldn't realize just the size of the agricultural, uh, defense advanced manufacturing sector, which is in the region.

Michelle: Uh, well every, everybody should, every Sunday. 'cause we've got around about, um, 30 to 40% of the grade one agricultural, um, land in the country.

So in terms of, um, the growing and, and food [00:06:00] production, that's really, really critically important. Our manufacturing employment is twice that of the national, um, average. And I think that diversity is what's really important because as economies go through highs and lows, you've got to have that diversity so that you are resilient.

And ultimately sectors such as. Uh, foods, they are resilient through ups and downs because we all continue to eat just in different patterns, sectors like manufacturing, critical to be able to drive our exports, which brings fresh revenue into the uk, uh, as opposed to, you know, very important service sectors.

But it's really important that we're, we're bringing that additional cash and GVA into the country.

Nick: Just before we move on to Huntingdonshire in particular Charlotte, it's, I noticed when Paul Bristow became mayor, he was very keen to emphasize Peterborough, uh, because most people don't think of Peterborough, uh, as being part of Cambridgeshire and Hunt Huntingdonshire is near to Peterborough, so there is a more natural link.

But what can you, um, tell our audience really about the contribution Peterborough makes and why it should be seen as, as such a strong part of the, [00:07:00] the region's economy?

Michelle: Absolutely. So, uh, an industrial giant. Um, and that means Peter has been the home of brick manufacturing is a really good example. Again, something people may not know.

Um, and with the manufacturing stronghold we've seen a really, uh, important logistics cluster buildup. Very well connected with the A one and not too far, uh, from the A 14. Again, the train line that runs past Peterborough, incredibly important. Connecting London, uh, up to the north of England. Um, but also, let's not think, well, let's think about some of the really interesting points about Peterborough.

It's got a beautiful medieval cathedral, which houses. Uh, Catherine of Aragon and, and did also have another queen buried there. We've got one of the best country parks in the country. Peterborough has got so much potential. It's a brilliant city, but people do need to come and visit what is such a beautiful place based on a river.

Um, and there's some really green shoots for the future, hence. Mayor Paul Bristow is so excited about that opportunity that he knows, uh, better [00:08:00] than most, uh, as we look to, you know, regenerate the city with a new station quarter to make sure that we've got the sports facilities for a healthy workforce, healthy community, and then hopefully a healthy economy off the back of that.

Nick: Brilliant. Um, and now moving on to Huntington ship. Michelle, what's your 32nd elevator pitch? Uh,

Charlotte: well, I, I think the first I would say is connectivity for sure. So again, we, we nestle between both the city of Cambridge, but the city of Peterborough as well. So actually in terms of where. We're able to be that logistics supply chain and also draw talent and skills.

So definitely our connectivity. You know, a one, a 14 at 1.5 billion pounds worth of investment into the A 14. And that's made a huge difference. The, um, east, uh, east coast mainline connectivity, but also now with East West Rail. That's really important, uh, at the, um, bottom of the district and link in Cambridge and us being a really key part of the new, um.[00:09:00]

Ox camm cluster, that that should not be underestimated. But then in terms of, uh, sorry. And then in terms of our connectivity to the universities, not just Cambridge University, but a RU as well, that's really important. Again, and that's why we nestle quite, quite beautifully in that, in that part of the, the geography where we can draw.

On that, that skill and expertise from the two universities to support the college and create a real growth pipeline of talent. And I think that's something that's a really good point as well. We understand where talent is required to support businesses to grow, but also choose to come and invest and move to us.

And we work really closely with new enterprise and existing businesses to unlock talent and pipeline. But in terms of some of our, um. So I would say we are a very positive, um, planning authority. So we are currently in our local plan and we've been really thrilled that number of sites have come forward.

Really good strategic deliverable sites. And we are partway through [00:10:00] our local plan now, which just goes to show the interest our patch actually has, uh, in that wider uk. Uh, part of where, where can we continue to thrive and build? But I think touch on some of the other aspects. As, as, um, Charlotte said around Peterborough.

We also have lots of country parks. So we have that quality of life as well, which actually is what, what we want. We, we want our communities to feel that as growth happens. The growth is beneficial for us. So for me, one of the things that we use really clearly is our growth strategy, um, which is our Huntington Sheer Futures.

And there's the five journeys in there. And we use that to demonstrate to our communities and our partners and stakeholders that growth is not a bad thing because growth is going to unlock, um, inclusive economy around. Jobs for not just our young people, but those that are changing careers and jobs, um, through their adult life.

We want a cleaner, greener, um, environment. So growth can deliver that. We want good connectivity, [00:11:00] better health outcomes, and also that sense of pride in place. And we are really proud of, um, how can we will, as an example in terms of the standards that we expect our partner developers to adhere to. And actually that is a fantastic standout scheme that has 10 years, you know, and, and has gotten, you know, since planned commission and continues to, to grow and develop and to deliver significant housing.

So I think that, you know, that's a real sort of 30 seconds, but in terms just of the way that we approach you as a partner, you know, we are really open as a council because we want to talk to people, we want to hear what your ideas might be around. Growth investment, inward investment, existing growth. You know, we, we have that proper open door policy that sometimes people say we've got an open door policy, but then you go doc knocking and it's resolutely closed.

Um, ours genuinely is open and we will welcome you, um, with open arms and we think that's a really strong, [00:12:00] um, pitch for us to do, you know, for people to take a second look at us.

Nick: I think the, the, the British public is kind of unfairly characterized as NIMBYs, but if you actually look around at what's happening in the regions, um, with hunting has been a prime example.

I mean, your local plan is, I think 20,000. 20,000 new homes, 14,000 new jobs. That involves development and it does involve new homes and of, of course there will always be issues on individual sites, but I've taken as a whole, there, there does appear to be an acceptance that if we're gonna build the new homes, we need, we create the jobs for our children.

It, you know, it should be in Huntington show. Um, and it, it is accepted. It, it's a bit of a m that we're all NIMBYs, I think.

Charlotte: It's really true. It's very true. But I think for me, that's how we are able to communicate and bring our communities with us. Mm-hmm. And I think, you know, when we were at UK Reef this year, Charlotte, it was really clear, wasn't it, from, um, you know, our pavilion with the combined authority where we were all being hosted in there.

That [00:13:00] there's a strong ethos around, we don't want our communities to feel stuff is done to them. Um, we want them to be part of that evolution. And what was really great to hear from several speakers is that actually it's not a standalone, there's not a single point. In time when you consult with your public, uh, around what the, you know, significant development can look like.

I think Rebecca Britain from Urban and Civic was really good at identifying this and indeed Beth Dugdale as well. In terms of that, that engagement and communication with your communities should be an evolution because, you know, when you start your consultation, there is nothing in the ground. But actually, you know, for large developments that are phased.

Each year there are a number of houses built and the community is developing and emerging, and therefore you need to maintain that good communication and you need to be transparent. Because actually, if you don't show that through growth, you can get jobs, you know? [00:14:00] And you know. We as parents and or and carers, we, you know, we will be thinking about where are our children going to work, particularly in the current economic climate as well, and where will they continue to study if they should wish to, or where will they get their apprenticeship?

And it's really important that we demonstrate that through the growth that we are seeking to unlock that potential. So there are real tangible benefits. That our communities can say, yeah, do you know what that development gave a job for Bob, or it gave, you know, or little Johnny here was able to get an apprenticeship or, you know, my sister was made redundant after 20 years in retail, but now she's been able to retrain and she works here.

Those are really tangible benefits that strip away some of the negativity around growth and highlight actually the benefits, real tangible benefits to communities.

Nick: And, and Charlotte, obviously all the districts within your area are special, um, and all are equally brilliant. But if you were to say from a business perspective, what makes Huntington [00:15:00] Shure attractive for location, um, in terms of starting up a business or spinoffs from the university looking for bigger space.

So I know coming to the, the district, what, what would you say are hunting dish's kind of unique selling points?

Michelle: Well, I think that's where I'm really keen. We talk about always Cambridge and Peterborough, not all the, the two cities combined, uh, making a absolutely amazing duo. And in between we, we've then got this amazing space.

As you know, Michelle describes the, the supply chain that you are able to find affordable, good land that you are able to find, um, you know, the right economic space to be able to develop, but also to make sure you've got the, the right housing that you've got, those active transport and travel routes.

We've got the education that goes alongside it. You've then got this wonderful patch in between of, uh, hunting denture that is also really well connected. You know, we've got such a significant port down in Felixstowe, the A 14 going right the way past hunting denture and up into the Midlands and the north.

So again, a brilliant region, a, a brilliant part of [00:16:00] the wider region that is also supporting growth, um, in the Midlands in the north of England.

Nick: Yeah, obviously Michelle, we have a local plan going through. You can't talk about specific sites, but in terms of the sectors which you were seeing, looking to coming to hunting and show, are there any particular standouts, um, at the moment?

Uh.

Charlotte: Obviously 'cause of our, 'cause of our road networks, logistics and supply chain is, is a really key one. Uh, and and why wouldn't it be, you know, with the A one and the A 14 as an example and the links there, Charlotte says straight to the ports. I think it's worth mentioning that Huntington, she has a sweet spot where we are a single days drive there and back from the three major.

Now again, in terms of, um, importing, that's a cri that, that makes us a sweet spot. So you would expect to see that. But we also see, um, growth coming through in advanced manufacturing life sciences would not be a surprise either. And also, um, a defense. Uh, and again, we are working really closely, [00:17:00] um, with colleagues in our combined authority around the local growth plan, uh, specifically around the opportunities for defense because again, we are, we are one of those unique places.

We've got Bury, uh, RF, bury rf, Whitten, we have molehill. Which is the American Air Base, which is seeing the largest, um, investment by the American government, um, since the Second World War in a, um, in a non, uh, American, you know, like a non outside, uh, uh, uh, the USA's, um, uh, assets as such. And that, that's phenomenal in terms of, of what's actually then achievable in terms of the supply chain that comes around the investment in defense, both for.

Advanced manufacturing, but also for the technology, uh, for the opportunities around different skills that the industry and the emerging sector requires. So yes, we have, um, we are seeing, and obviously of course, um, house building as well, and I think that was something that we were, we've been really [00:18:00] clear about.

Um, we understand the need for housing, uh, on a UK national level, but it's really important that when housing, uh, is developed within hunting and shear. We understand, and our partner and developers understand that must also have jobs associated with that, not just construction for house building, but where are those people who are going to live in those houses going to work?

And that's not necessarily they're going to work in, um, Cambridge or in Milton, Keens or Bedford. We, we want them to have those opportunities for good, um, high skilled employment within the Huntington shear area as well. And we're seeing that come through.

Nick: And with, with respect to the skills, um, agenda, certainly for post 18.

Again, people naturally think Cambridge or they think the university within Cambridge. Um, Charlotte, Michelle, you've both mentioned, um, Anglia, Ruskin's, uh, university's kind of crucial role in ensuring the workforce has the skills from, you know, forward advanced manufacturing for defense, et cetera. All of these, these new industries really, [00:19:00] which are coming to the region.

I think, uh, Charlotte, from from your perspective, what does Anglia Ruskin. Offer again, which people probably aren't aware of in relation to the university space.

Michelle: Well, a again, you know, fun fact, just backtracking for a moment, we've got one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the youngest universities, uh, and therefore agile and, and innovating at pace, uh, with both the University of Cambridge and a RU with, you know, great camps in Cambridge.

Um, but a RU Peterborough opened in recent years and has just seen its first full graduation take place, which is magnificent for a city like Peterborough because actually that will offer. Cyfleoedd i gymunedau nad oedd cael mynediad ar hyn'r math hwn o ddysgu ac felly rwy credu bod fforddau gyrfaol.

Ond mae'r Ayr Unedig yn bwysig iawn ar draws y rhan, ond rwy'n credu ei bod bwysig i'w adnabod, fod gennym tapestri fawr o ddysgwyr rydyn ni'n gwthio llawer o amser fel rhan o'r cynllun gwella sgiliau lle gallwn ein [00:20:00] ddysgwyr gydweithio a sicrhau bod Whilst we've got a region that is set to grow so magnificently with Universal Studios, uh, on the horizon, the French Reservoir, east, west rail.

How do we make sure that those educators understand what skills at the right time in the right place so that we don't end up with 20,000 Scaffolders all trained, but rather we are able to develop those centers of excellence providing. The next generation with an amazing career. But as Michelle rightly pointed to earlier on, also, we've got to recognize that need for cross skilling and upskilling, particularly as we're all working longer and not having, you know, a 50 year career doing, uh, X.

Mm-hmm.

Nick: Yeah. Michelle, you, you, you've, um, been spearheading, I think quite close links with a IU to ensure that, um, you know, school leaders in Huntington, you're aware of the opportunities that there are at a IU.

Charlotte: Absolutely. We work really closely. From, again, back to the Inwood investment, um, proposition that when we do meet with, um, potential Inwood investors, we are really clear that we want a RU with us [00:21:00] at the table because they're able to demonstrate the opportunities to both those that may be looking to see where their talent's coming from.

But how do we make sure our young people know about those opportunities? And I think. Particularly degree apprenticeships that Anglia Ruskin is, um, really spearheading is fantastic actually for our young people. Um, again, it's about access to learning and, you know, we are predominantly, we have our, our towns, but we are a very large district and we have a large amount of rural, um.

Residents, you know, we've got lots of villages there. Uh, and sometimes access, as, as Charlotte said, access to, um, different opportunities in the skills. And training and learning can, can be barriers. So therefore, knowing that you can, um, access really good quality learning at that next stage in Peterborough.

Actually becomes, becomes attainable for our young people because they can, they don't need to move away from home. They can do that. And, and actually that's really important [00:22:00] when we see the amazing talent in our young people. And I think one of the things, just, just as an aside, we. We, you know, we need to be working with the schools as well.

So we've had a couple of great days in the last, uh, couple of months where we've had students, again, fantastic. One of our fantastic businesses. Mm. Flowers we worked with Mm, flowers to be able to offer to one of the secondary schools. A day where we had 60 pupils, uh, 60 year to 10 pupils spent a morning.

Uh, so we split them into two cohorts, 30 and 30. So in the morning, the 30 spent, uh, their time at m and m at Mm. Flowers rather. And then we had the 30 with us, and then we swapped. And when they were with us, we would, we had them doing, uh. Planning we got, we got 'em to plan what a town would look like, what they would expect to see.

So we actually had them from a curriculum point of view, using their built environment geography, GCSE, in practical terms, and actually to see those young people excited. [00:23:00] About what is a planning career when we know that we've got a real shortage of planning, you know, planning personnel coming through the system, and also the ability to see what being in a, a business such as.

Mm, flowers, which is one of the really high performing, um, businesses in the uk. And again, you have to, if, if you buy your flowers from m and s, you will most certainly have had flowers that were were packed and, uh, you know, um, put into their bouquet. In Huntington, shear up at Alconbury, so anywhere where you may be in the country.

So again, it's really important that we're able to showcase those opportunities to our young people. And again, just a few weeks ago we had Red Bull come into one of our schools at Hinchingbrooke and, and again, it's that. It's that aspiration for our young people, the art of the possible in terms of, and I should've said, that's Red Bull, obviously, motor.

They're, they're not the, the motor side, the

Nick: going into schools, not necessarily the drink type,

Charlotte: but the sponsorship of the Red Bull Motor Industry team. [00:24:00] Again, being able to work, using our, using our power to convene as a council and working with businesses to say, come and show our young people, because that's where we can get that.

That growth of talent retain our young people, excite and ENT infuses them, and then what fantastic adverts they're going to be as they mature and they take a part of and want to share and influence the place in which they live as well.

Nick: I think it's showcasing the range of jobs as well, isn't it?

Because Absolutely. It's about logistics. You automatically think lorries driving. As well as those, however, you know, when you go to the logistics hub, there's mezzanine levels where the accounts team are, the HR team, the marketing, absolutely everybody and anybody. And that must be, it's not just a shed. It is actually providing great career jobs for people.

Um, and that kinda gets lost that when you, when you're talking about some sectors,

Charlotte: it does. And, and I think that's what's I, I'll touch on Mm. Flowers again, because then that's a really good example because. Yes, they're, you know, it's about the stems, but they, they're great importers. [00:25:00] They grow, they grow, uh, within the UK as well, but that means they have marketing, pr, hr, they have overseas opportunities for, you know, for, for their employees to go overseas to visit the farms.

So there's a whole range of different aspects. Then particularly when we work in, as Charlotte said earlier on, about the percentage of our agricultural land, I used to use an analogy of if you drive past a field and see a cabbage, that's all you see a cabbage, but actually behind that cabbage. There is an international business, there's import export, there is exactly all those lists of of skills and jobs that are required.

And I think the other thing around logistics is what's really interesting. People might think, oh, it's just a big shed, but actually the automation and robotics that now you see in the logistics industry is phenomenal. And actually the skills that are required to support that are very, very different.

What, from what people may traditionally think is a logistics sector. It's [00:26:00] not because all those robotics and automation, they all need maintaining data and analysts, engineers. All of that, which opens up a whole different career path for young people who may not be aware, aware of that. And indeed, as, as we've alluded to, you know, those who are changing career midlife, and if we look at the pension age about to be raised again, this becomes really important that actually you can see that you may have two or three or four careers during a a, a 50, perhaps 60 year.

Um, working life now for sit, perhaps 50. If I stick with 50 years, that sounds less, that sounds less depressing then, doesn't it?

Nick: That's a long time ahead of us. Um, but Charlotte, from your perspective, I mean yeah. Hunting Cambridge, I guess is actually ideally placed to help turbocharge both sector.

Michelle: Oh yeah.

I mean even just, uh, focusing on hunting denture, uh, with, uh, having the benefit of Michelle in the room as Michelle as she's speaking. Then I thought if you've watched Formula One, had certain brands [00:27:00] of chocolate bought flowers or played golf in the last week, you have been touched by brand hunting denture.

Yeah. And that is amazing. And, and if you can't see it, you can't be it. So being able to showcase these, uh, amazing opportunities and, and you're quite right to point to, you know, mechatronic engineers, data analysts, um, these are, you know, evolving. I'm cautious to say new jobs. I think we get really excited about talking about the unknown jobs of the future.

I think for me they're more an evolution. Um, but there's some really highly skilled, highly paid careers, um, for, you know, people that are wanting to come and work in our region.

Nick: Brilliant. Um, we, we've got maybe end on just, um, a kind of local government and government agenda and reforms and there's a not talk about reforms and Yeah, they are coming, we're getting unit trees.

We've got a mayor. Um, what would be your ask of whe when, when everything's settled down, what would you like to see from, um, kind of, you know, unitary regional government? What, what could they best do to help unleash Huntingdonshire, uh, and the [00:28:00] opportunities that are available? I think Charlotte, maybe over to you to to, to start?

Yeah. What's your ask?

Michelle: Uh, for business, it's always consistency and stability. The, the more ability we're able to show a long-term, uh, strong North Star that we can all march towards, I think it makes it easier for us to, to deal with the shocks of the day. Um, I recently had a great privilege, um, through our strong, working with the British Chambers of Commerce to ask the Prime Minister directly because the big issues for, for our businesses that we're talking to, um, how did he intend to unlock the opportunity that resides within our region?

By investing in infrastructure, by making sure that planning delays are tackled and making sure that we've got the housing. So, um, for us, consistency, stability, make sure that we invest in those big projects. But also let's not overlook global trade as a chamber of commerce. It's really important to us, for us, uh, to inspire, educate, but support businesses to grow for the reasons that I stated earlier on.

If not, we [00:29:00] don't bring new money into the uk. Let's not forget those taxes that business pay. Go towards making sure that our, you know, roads are running, that we've got the NHS functioning and supporting community. I think it's so important. We reiterate that businesses are force for good and it does support, um, you know, good community growth.

So, very long-winded answer, but stability, consistency, and all of those kind of pillars that I've described would be our ask.

Nick: Michelle, what, what about yourself? When, when were justice settled, um, how can I guess, the regional authority and government best, best assist people living, um, in Huntington, Cher?

Charlotte: For me, it's around some of the freedoms and flexi flexibilities that have been, uh, you know, that come through greater, uh, devolution because with our mayor being able to make decisions around locally that doesn't perhaps get caught up on national timescales or national, um. Budget sessions, you know, you know, in terms of those checks and balances.[00:30:00]

And I think really being able to have the opportunity to work at PACE as a region so that we can, we can progress because I think however the dust settles, we will be left with that ambition that is here now. And I think that ambition will just crystallize further and become even more focused. And therefore we are gonna want to work at pace.

So how is government going to support the ability for those in the, in the system to be able to work at pace to unlock that opportunity that Charlotte has referred to and be able to support our businesses? 'cause the one thing, our business, you know. If you think about the planning, um, delays to the system, that is one of the biggest, um, bug bears in terms of the amount of investment that's required in terms of being able to get a planning permission.

And whilst we are in that, you know, that system now, I'm really proud in hunting and share that we really understand that and we seek to work at pace to unlock that. But for me, [00:31:00] it's not dissimilar to, to, just to iterate to what Charlotte said, stability. You know, having, having a stable environment is what enables people to be able to be innovative, to be able to take some additional risk in terms of landing things because the environment is, is stable.

When it's volatile, people are more risk adverse, quite rightly, because the volatility adds another layer of risk in terms of business and for our residents being able to work at pace, create a stable environment, and unlock those potentials. I go right back to our place strategy. That is the those then did.

Having that, those issues and those factors in place means we are better able to deliver what our residents want and what our communities want to enable them to continue to thrive and flourish.

Nick: Brilliant. And I think with Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, the roads, networks, the rail networks and everything, which is available in the county, I think it's clearly that the, if the future's bright or um, for Cambridgeshire,

Charlotte: it most certainly is.

I, I just, you know, I mean, I [00:32:00] jokingly say that we are the center of the universe 'cause I'm completely biased. But actually when you just, when you just list it out, we, we, you know, we are, and actually we are able to, we're able to really take the benefit of all of the. Uh, from Huntington, she's point of view.

We're able to take the benefits that having the two cities brings us, and particularly Cambridge from having that international global status. But we're able to retap into that across a whole range of sectors. That means, you know, we've got that space to be able to support and, and support our communities.

And I say it's about thriving and flourishing for our communities.

Nick: Brilliant. Well, thank you both very much for your time, uh, this afternoon. Um, and yeah, look forward to speaking to you again in the future. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[00:33:00]