Decision on future of Peterborough City Council delayed by Government

An announcement on Local Government Reorganisation – which will see the way councils are organised changed dramatically – had been expected this week. But on Thursday (July 16), it was announced that the decision will now be made later this year.

In April 2028, the current seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (including Peterborough City Council), will be replaced by larger unitary authorities.

When this happens, Peterborough City Council as it is known today will cease to exist.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, updated Parliament on decisions in relation to 41 areas.

In relation to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough he said that Government was not announcing the decision as further time is required to get the decision right.

Cambridgeshire County Council said ‘By delaying their decision, Government prolongs the current period of uncertainty, and this creates increased risk about the achievability of the Government’s self-imposed timescale and, in doing so, potentially forces that same risk of failure upon the seven Councils by expecting them to still deliver reorganisation by April 2028.’

Peterborough City Council Leader, Councillor Shabina Qayyum, said in response: “It is disappointing to learn that the Government requires more time to make a decision on Local Government Reorganisation for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

"However, it is important that the Government has all the information it needs to be able to decide on what is the biggest shake-up of local government for a generation and will impact residents of our city.

“Option D remains our preferred option as it will ensure that our identity and significance as a rapidly growing city is protected and preserved, giving us a stronger, clearer, local voice.

“Our seven councils have worked side by side to prepare for this significant change - and that collaboration will continue.”

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes added: “My first priority is securing the best deal for Peterborough in any changes to local government. I’d rather we got this right than rushed into answers that risks undermining the city, our communities or business.

“I welcome the government’s focus on sustainable growth and will work with them over the summer to see what the next stage of this process looks like. My focus now is on ensuring the best outcome for Peterborough, whether that is expanding the city or sticking with our existing boundaries.”

North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling said: “The decision to delay the announcement on Local Government Reorganisation until September provides more time to make sure we get this right.

“These changes will shape local government for decades to come, so the final arrangements must work well for communities in both southern Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.

“I'll continue working constructively with councils, community leaders and Government over the summer to make the case for the approach I believe will best serve our region in the long term.

“My priority hasn't changed - I'll be making sure North West Cambridgeshire has a strong voice throughout this process and that we secure the best possible outcome for our local communities.”

Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, said: “I am deeply disappointed that a decision for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been delayed, rather than selecting one of the locally developed LGR options that clearly met the Government’s own criteria.

"I also have major concerns that this delay will create a prolonged period of wholly unnecessary level of risk and complexity at a time when our residents and council workers deserve clarity about the future.

"We will want to reflect carefully on this and consider our options”

She added: “Whilst I am deeply disappointed, I am not particularly surprised by this news. This Government has once again demonstrated an inability to make decisions or deliver on time and has, instead, been mired in the chaos of replacing the Prime Minister, all of which have serious impacts upon decision making by Government.

"Shunting this decision to an as yet undetermined point in the future leaves all seven councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in limbo and will leave less time for the existing councils to deliver a safe transition.

"Although we are extremely frustrated by this wholly unnecessary delay, we will continue to work closely with the other six councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and will retain our focus upon ensuring high quality services for our residents and communities.”

Described as a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul, LGR is a move by central government to replace the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England with larger unitary authorities.

The belief is that this new model will achieve the twin goals of transferring more powers and funding away from national governance to local authorities, and improve services across the region by making them simpler and more efficient for residents and businesses.

Those who back LGR say that having fewer layers of councils will also save money, enable faster decision-making and reduce duplication of work.

There are a number of options open as to how Cambridgeshire will be split up.

Peterborough City Council – and MPs Andrew Pakes and Sam Carling – have been pushing for the ‘Greater Peterborough’ option.

This would see one council made up of Peterborough and West Huntingdonshire, a second council made up of Fenland, East Huntingdonshire and, East Cambridgeshire, and a third council made up of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City.

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty has said on social media he believed this is the option that has been chosen – although the final decision has not been announced.

Other councils in the county have been pushing for other options – with Mr Obese-Jecty saying the ‘Greater Peterborough’ option would be ‘the worst possible outcome for Huntingdonshire.’