A councillor has declared he will not resign from Peterborough City Council after being convicted of a drinking and driving offence that saw him banned from the road for more than four years.

Councillor Peter Reeve, who represents the Stanground South ward, says the local authority has clear rules about when a sitting councillor must resign and that he would follow those rules.

Under council regulations, a sitting councillor can only be removed from their role if they receive a prison sentence of three or more months (either suspended or immediate).

Cllr Reeve was given a 12-month community order during which he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work by Peterborough magistrates on September 22 as well being disqualified from driving for 50 months after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The court was told that Cllr Reeve had provided a breath test to police of 116 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The incident for which he was charged took place in Ramsey on July 26.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, Cllr Reeve, who was elected as a Reform Party councillor but was suspended and now sits as an independent, said: “While there is no excuse for breaking the law, the council has very clear rules about when a councillor should resign and I will be following those rules.

"I will remain as a councillor and I will be seeking to understand how I can use my role more to help people for whom grief can be a trigger for certain actions.”

Magistrates were told by Mr Reeve’s solicitor that “poor decision making on his part” followed the passing of his mother.

And passing sentence, magistrate Dr David Wilkinson said: "We understand that it is difficult with grief and for that you have our sympathies but this was a very dangerous thing to do.”

Peterborough city councillor banned from roads for drink driving 'was barely abl...

Mr Reeve told the PT: “I intend to use my role as a councilor to understand more how grief can affect people.”

Following the conclusion of the court hearing, city council leader Shabina Qayyum publicly called on Cllr Reeve to resign his seat.

"But Cllr Reeve said: “I am surprised Cllr Qayyum, who is a medical doctor, is playing politics with what is a grief issue.

"I would have thought she would show more compassion.”

In her statement, Cllr Qayyum said: “I am deeply disappointed by the circumstances that have come to light regarding Cllr Reeve's conviction for drink-driving.

As councillors, we are entrusted with positions of public responsibility.

"That responsibility extends beyond the council chamber.

"The public rightly expects elected representatives to demonstrate good judgement, integrity and respect for the law.

While the courts have now dealt with the criminal matter, there remains a fundamental question of public confidence.

"Residents must be able to trust those who represent them and act on their behalf.

“In light of the seriousness of this conviction, I believe Councillor Reeve should reflect carefully on his position and do the honourable thing by resigning his seat on Peterborough City Council.”