Political View: The Elections are over - now where?

In gaining new Councillors the chamber has lost several well-known faces, either at the ballot box or by certain members standing down. Our Conservative group are disappointed to lose Marco Cereste, whose civic contribution stretches back several years; including his six-year term as Council Leader between 2009 and 2015. Additionally, another former Council Leader, John Peach, was unsuccessful with his bid for election in the Eye, Thorney and Newborough Ward, and a word of thanks to long standing Councillor Scott Warren who lost his seat in Bretton, despite his commitment and hard work for the ward.

 The newly elected members had their first taste of Council procedures at the Annual Council meeting, in effect the first Full Council of the new Civic Year which took place on Monday; this is where structures for the year ahead were formally agreed, and Councillors were allocated committee Roles and Responsibilities, and respective Chair positions are agreed.

 In addition, the Ward commitments and case work on behalf of residents, the business end of a Councillors responsibilities does involve serving on scrutiny and statutory committees, as well as attending regular meetings of Full Council.

 The dynamic period of campaigning and engaging with voters is supplanted by the important duties of committee work, and for some this can appear somewhat hum drum.

 However, it is important for elected members to hold The Administration to account and that is the function of the Scrutiny Committees which are made up of a proportional cross section of elected members across all parties.

 Interestingly the makeup of the Council in the current political climate sees many Councils operating with no Overall Control by any political party, and that is again the case with Peterborough.

 Despite the public clearly rejecting Labour in this city they will cling on to power and continue to run the council on just 11 members out of 60 in a minority administration propped up by the Liberal Democrats and Peterborough First.

 No matter, we as the largest Political Group, currently with 13 members following election successes in several wards, and welcoming Cllr Kirsty Knight who has joined us from sitting previously as an independent, will continue to work hard for residents and do what we think is best for our voters; and of course challenge anything we don’t think is right for the success of our city and its residents. 

The Leader for the forthcoming term, will be the last to hold that position. Indeed, this will be an historical period for Peterborough City Council, as along with all local authorities in Cambridgeshire we will see the council merged with other neighbouring councils to form either 2 or 3 unitary Authorities, with the county council and all district councils absorbed into the new administrative bodies. 

The Government are due to confirm the final arrangements in July with the current timetable scheduling the changes to be completed by April 2028. 

A brave new future or change with enormous disruption for the sake of it. That remains to be seen.