Political View: Focusing on the present and the future

I was quite honest, of course we tried to form an administration. Politics is more divided than ever before, and you can see that in the chamber. With 60 councillors, and 31 being a base for a working majority, the political share is so split currently it takes at least 3 groups to form this number. In the end, despite Labour losing 4 councillors in the local elections, the relationship they have with Peterborough First and the Liberal Democrats, who all lost numbers in the local elections, was a strong enough bond to continue as a coalition. We couldn’t find enough like-minded partners, and the public may feel if they voted Peterborough First or Liberal Democrats, they got Labour. That is true today, but I would say to keep in mind, politics is a moving feast and the alliances of today may not always be the alliances of tomorrow. Things do change.

The Conservative group are happier that we have roles to contribute again as chairs of committees. As a group with experience and with a vision for the city that the people of Peterborough backed in the local elections, we are glad to be able to play a part again in the chamber. In a political environment that is increasingly fragmented, we have a positive role to play. Things can still be achieved working together, and we are delighted to see our Combined Authority Mayor has agreed a deal with the council to secure free parking for Peterborough residents. A manifesto promise made and kept, and one we hope goes a long way to regenerating the city centre and boosting shopping for the hard-pressed businesses who need our support.

We seem to be a step nearer to securing a Youthzone for the city, an initiative that began under a Conservative administration, and an initiative we continue to support. We will be a constructive opposition-supporting sensible policy and decision making but equally offering the robust challenge when it’s needed.

With local elections settled, it’s very much back to work in the wards for councillors across the city. Locally, in the Hargate & Hempsted Ward myself and our newest councillor Vishal, have been hosting ward surgeries, attending local Police surgeries, meeting developers and working on the small things that matter such as securing enough bins in the ward. New councillors who stood on more national issues will learn that the biggest impact of their roles as local councillors will be local issues. Communities rely on our support as effective councillors and that is the focus of the year ahead.

I had the pleasure of attending a John Clare Countryside event recently, where we had a tour of Castor Hanglands and even got to hear nightingales sing! It captured a focus that we need: Peterborough and its surrounding areas have so much to offer, sometimes more than we may know, which is where the new tourism collective must focus.

We will focus on the priorities you elected us on: a safer city centre. Responsible economic growth and regeneration. Support for the Mayor’s development corporation. A vision for a city-centre community stadium. More bulky waste collections. A council that looks after its own housing list first and refutes any new asylum house building in the city. Your priorities are our priorities in the year ahead, and we will work hard to repay the faith you put in our group.