This webinar will address the current challenges of buses in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough including the performance of local bus services.

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), led by Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, recognise just how important buses are, which is why CPCA believe the way the region’s buses are run needs to change. CPCA wants to address the current challenges including the performance of local bus services. Now is the time for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to review how its buses are operated, to improve services for all.

CPCA has recently published the results of our formal consultation on bus franchising. This will inform a decision by the Mayor on how to reform buses across the area. Other improvements include the introduction in 2024 of the Tiger card, offering £1 bus fares for under-25s, an all-day concessionary pass being introduced from April, and retaining a £2 cap on bus fares until the end of March.

Speakers:

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson
Originally from the North East of England, Dr Nik Johnson trained at St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London and qualified in 1993. He was appointed as a Consultant Paediatrician at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in 2006. A passionate believer in the idea of public service, as a children’s doctor, Nik has been privileged to work at the heart of the community, doing a job which allows him to meet, help and support people from all walks of life. Outside of work, he is proud to be the Patron of Eddies – a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities in Cambridgeshire. Nik also enjoys watching his children take part in sport and drama activities. He stood for Labour in two general elections.

Nik was elected as district councillor for St Neots East in 2018 – the first Labour councillor in the town for two decades – and sat on Huntingdonshire District council’s planning committee. He was elected mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority on May 10th 2021 and lives near St Neots with his wife, who is a fellow doctor, and three children.

Judith Barker
Judith Barker joined CPCA as the Executive Director of Place and Connectivity in January 2023. She has considerable senior experience in partnership working, strategic and operational economic development and place shaping and has worked widely in the east of England. She joined us from Central Bedfordshire Council, having previously been the Director of Programmes and Governance at the Southeast Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership where she was responsible for the funding delivery to implement the Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy as well as working with the private and public sector partnership Board. Previously she undertook numerous commissions, whilst self-employed, was a Head of Service at the East of England Development Agency and began her career in social housing and community regeneration. She is a Trustee and Vice Chair of the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation.

Ed Colman
Ed Colman joined CPCA as Deputy Head of Policy & Public Affairs in February 2023 before being taking on the role as Head of Communications, Engagement and Public Affairs in October 2023. Ed leads the CPCA’s Communications, Engagement & Public Affairs team, including the development and delivery of strategies and plans to promote the impact of the Combined Authority with government, stakeholders, and the public. He was responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the CPCA’s recent bus franchising consultation. He joined the Combined Authority from Gateley Global, a new market entry and economic development consultancy, where he led several large-scale strategic engagement programmes for international and domestic public sector clients. Before joining Gateley Global, Ed was the Business & Market Engagement Manager for the CPCA’s Business Board where he was responsible for business engagement and communications during the COVID-19 and Britian’s departure from the European Union. He started his career in regional journalism and political campaigning. Outside of work, he is a qualified football referee and a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.