Town Hall View: LGR review is wholly understandable

There has been much talk following the government’s decision to review plans for the biggest shake-up of local democracy for decades, writes city council leader Shabina Qayyum. 

It’s understandable, given that we’re all curious to learn what the future holds for our council as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). 

Let me be clear - this decision is a pausing to allow for review and not a scrapping of LGR. I also want to assure everyone that this government is more determined than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent. 

I wanted a decision for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to be made quickly, but the review is justifiable given the scale and complexity of what Whitehall is trying to achieve. The Secretary of State must ensure that the process is robust and aligns with the new government's plans to rewire the state. 

This is a huge undertaking and therefore it is only right that decisions are properly considered and not rushed, so that the best outcome can be achieved. As a unitary authority which looks after Adult Social Care and Children's Services, this gives me reassurance that our decision will not be without the robust decision making it deserves. 

We will continue to plan for LGR and await further instruction and information from the Secretary of State. 

Whilst our proactive administration gets on with the job, the Conservatives want to political point score over everything. Their decision to submit a Full Council motion calling on the government to reimburse the authority for all costs related to LGR is highly questionable. Given that LGR is not being scrapped, I find this move petty and pointless and the money that has been spent has been in the way of grant funding from Government. I am more than happy to share the costs for the sake of transparency, something the Conservatives were not good at. 

One of many great things about living in Peterborough is having so many fantastic visitor attractions close by. 

I never take this for granted and am delighted that one of our jewels in the crown, Flag Fen, has received a significant funding for an archaeological excavation there. 

Visitors will soon be able to engage more deeply with one of Britain’s most important Bronze Age sites, with the excavation getting underway soon to uncover and record more of its detailed history. 

The project is grant funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (funding of around £700,000) and supported by the Countryside Stewardship Heritage Service and Historic England. 

To launch this exciting project, Stephen Morgan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA paid Flag Fen a special visit last week with our MP, Andrew Pakes. 

This funding demonstrates our government’s commitment to preserving and enhancing valuable attractions such as Flag Fen, helping to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by families for years to come. 

It only seems like yesterday that our city’s University ARU Peterborough opened its doors to students. 

Seeing the university establish itself as a civic anchor institution has been fantastic and last week I was honoured to attend a celebratory event there. HRH The Duke of Gloucester was special guest at the event held to mark five years of ARU Peterborough’s impact. It was a real privilege to attend and speak to the Duke about the university’s success. 

Since 2021, ARU Peterborough has worked closely with over 200 businesses and public sector organisations to shape its course provision, ensuring graduates develop the knowledge and skills most valued by local employers. 

More than half of its undergraduate students live within the Peterborough postcode area, demonstrating its success in serving local people and widening access to higher education. The fact that the university is still developing and expanding bodes well for our city and region – keep up the great work everyone!