A team tasked with pushing the devolution deal forward will meet for the first time next week.

The shadow combined authority meeting is open to the public and is in Peterborough on Wednesday 14.

On the agenda is the election of a mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to lead the official combined authority which is due to launch in February 2017.

Also on the agenda is approving Fenland council’s chief executive Paul Medd as interim head of paid services until May 2017.

Cambridgeshire county councillor Steve Count, chairman of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Partnership, said: “We have been given a clear mandate from both local people, the Local Enterprise Partnership (GCGP LEP) and the seven local authorities that they were supportive of the devolution deal.

“We need to get the wheels in motion and start delivering on what has been laid on the table.”

Councillor James Palmer, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “I’m pleased to get underway with proceedings and start making positive steps towards obtaining decision making powers in the region, for the region.

“There are a number of developments for the East Cambridgeshire district as part of the devolution deal and I look forward to championing these forward.”

The shadow combined authority has been set up to drive forward the creation of the official Combined Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

It will include the leader from each of the local councils and the chairman from the GCGP LEP.

The seven councils involved are Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

• The meeting is on Wednesday December 14 at Allia Future Business Centre, Hawksbill Way, Peterborough from 11am. The agenda and papers are available on the Cambridgeshire County Council website b