Deadline looms for a major decision on axing this May's local elections in Peterborough
The deadline is looming for a major decision on whether this year’s local elections, in which 18 key seats are up for grabs, should be axed.
Although the final decision on whether the May ballot goes ahead lies with the Government, the views of leading councillors are expected to play a big part in the final conclusion.
And members of Peterborough City Council’s ruling cabinet will meet next Monday (January 12) to decide whether or not to recommend that the local elections should go ahead or not..
The meeting, which starts at 4pm, will be held just three days before the deadline for opinions – January 15 – which was set by Government officials.
A council spokesperson said that officers would not be recommending a particular course of action to the Cabinet members.
He said: “The purpose of the meeting is for Cabinet, and specifically the Leader, Labour Councillor Shabina Qayyum, to seek views on requesting postponing elections as invited to do by the Ministry of Housing,Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).
"The council does not have the power itself to postpone its elections.
The agenda for the Cabinet meeting was published on Friday but without any background report from officers.
The spokesperson said that report is expected to be published later this week.
Why is the Government seeking views on the possible postponement of local elections?
Late last year, the MHCLG sent a letter to Peterborough City asking for its views on postponing the upcoming local elections in May 2026 so that the local authority could focus more on the forthcoming reorganisation of local government.
The council was one of 63 local authorities to receive such a letter as local government changes take place across the country.
MHCLG officials have said they expect the elections to the new authorities to take place on May 2027 and to replace the scheduled elections.
Council leader Cllr Shabina Qayyum said: “As previously stated, we welcome the opportunity to set out our views to Government on the postponement of local elections this year, to free up essential capacity to get on with the job of local government reorganisation (LGR).
“I am attending an all members briefing on Tuesday, in which officers will present us with the advantages and challenges of postponing elections.
"As leader, I currently have an open mind on this subject and will await further discussions before making my position clear.”
The balance of power at Peterborough City Council:
The Labour group is the largest with 17 seats and it administers the local authority with support from members of some of the other political groups.
The other parties have a total of 43 seats.
They are Peterborough First (13 seats) Conservative (11) Liberal Democrats (8) Greens (5) Independent (6)
Membership of the council’s ruling cabinet includes:
Labour Cllr Shabina Qayyum, leader of the council.
Labour Councillor Zameer Ali.
Labour Cllr Katy Cole.
Labour Cllr Angus Ellis.
Labour Cllr Mohammed Jamil.
Peterborough First Cllr Mohammed Farooq, deputy leader.
Peterborough First Cllr Neil Boyce.
Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Christian Hogg.
Councillors due to stand for election in 2026?
Here is a list of Peterborough councillors who face election in 2026:
Scott Warren (Cons) – Bretton
Alison Jones (Lab) – Central
Dennis Jones (Ind) – Dogsthorpe
Samantha Hemraj (Lab) – East
Rylan Ray (Not specified) – Eye, Thorney and Newborough
Christian Hogg (Lib Dem) – Fletton and Stanground
Alan Dowson (Lab) – Fletton and Woodston
Andrew Bond (Lib Dem) – Gunthorpe
Marco Cereste (Cons) – Hampton Vale
Mohammed Farooq (PFirst) – Hargate and Hempsted
Noreen Bi (Lab) – North
Michael Perkins (Cons) – Orton Longueville
Julie Stevenson (Ind) – Orton Waterville
Muhammad Sabir (Lab) – Park
Asif Shaheed (Lib Dem) – Paston and Walton
Mohammed Rangzeb (Green) – Ravensthorpe
Ray Bisby (PFirst) – Stanground South
Sarah Hillier (PFirst) – Werrington