A formal notice issued by the government that raised concerns about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been lifted, the authority has said.

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he was “delighted” to have heard from the government that the Best Value Notice would not be extended.

The notice was first issued in January 2023, with the government highlighting the “significant concerns” about the Combined Authority raised by an external auditor the year before.

The government issued a revised best value notice in January this year, again raising formal concerns about the authority, but recognising that steps had been taken to “address the serious issues at the authority”.

In a message shared on September 9, the Combined Authority said it was “extremely pleased” to announce that the Best Value Notice had been lifted.

In a letter to the Combined Authority, the government said it recognised the progress that had been made and said it was “reassured” about the authority’s capacity to “comply with its Best Value Duty”.

Responding to the news, the Mayor said: “Just over two years ago I spoke to the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and talked about the Combined Authority being on life support.

“I am absolutely delighted to announce that after a long journey we have received correspondence from the Minister of Local Government Jim McMahon to say that we will not need to have an extension of the Best Value Notice.

“This is a real pivotal moment for the area. It has only happened by the ability for all the Combined Authority constituent members to work together, the members and the officers of all the organisations come together for the greater good of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and all our communities.

“I’m delighted to have had this news and am really looking forward to going forward with all the constituent members and continuing to deliver the good work and all of the kind of ambitions that we have for our area.”