People in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being asked for their views on the creation of a Combined Authority and directly elected mayor for the area as part of a new devolution deal.

Launched on Friday, the public consultation will run until Tuesday, 23 August 2016.

Seven councils and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership have joined together to ask Government for some powers, responsibilities and funding to be transferred from Central Government to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

This means a greater number of decisions on public services would be made locally, rather than nationally.

In the past few weeks councils have voted to put a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal out to public consultation. Councillors want to hear what the public thinks about putting powers and funding, normally decided by Government, into the hands of local people.

In the new deal local people could have control over a new £600 million fund (£20million annual fund) to improve transport and infrastructure as well as £170 million for housing.

It is proposed to form a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority chaired by a directly elected mayor. The deal could bring about the following benefits for the area, including:

• A new £20million annual fund for the next 30 years (£600million) to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs.

• Build on the case to develop the Wisbech Garden Town and the Wisbech-Cambridge rail connection.

• Transport infrastructure improvements such as the A14/A142 junction and upgrades to the A10 and the A47 as well as Ely North junction.

• Rail improvements, including a new station at Soham, (new rolling stock, improved King’s Lynn, Cambridge, London rail).

• Integrating local health and social care resources to provide better outcomes for residents.

• A local integrated job service working alongside the Department for Work and Pensions.

A Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority would include a councillor from each of the local councils and the local enterprise partnership.

In order to receive the funding the Government requires there to be an elected mayor. Voters will vote for the mayor, who would chair and lead the combined authority.

Representatives of partner organisations will ensure decisions are made democratically. No powers will be taken away from councils without their consent.

For Cambridgeshire residents to have a say visit www.fenland.gov.uk or www.Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/devolutionsurvey

Frequently asked questions, along with other useful information, are available online.

The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership will be consulting with businesses. Councils will also be carrying out a telephone survey over the course of the consultation to make sure our feedback is representative of residents across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Once the public consultation concludes, responses will be reviewed and each council will then have to formally agree the deal later this year. This means the Government could give final approval to a deal before the end of the year.