Huntingdonshire District Council to hold elections 'as normal' in May - after Peterborough City Council requests postponement
Huntingdonshire District Council will hold elections in May, the council has announced.
Peterborough City Council has said they have requested to postpone this year’s elections in the city because of the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
LGR will see councils merged into one, meaning the end of Peterborough City Council. It is likely that at least part of Huntingdonshire District Council will merge with Peterborough City Council as part of LGR.
The Huntingdonshire decision was made at a Special Meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 14 January, following a request from the Government for councils involved in local government reorganisation proposals to provide their views on whether elections should be postponed.
“Elections are a vital part of local democracy"
Councillor Sarah Conboy, Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “Elections are a vital part of local democracy. While we recognise the challenges associated with local government reorganisation, the council believes it is important that residents retain the opportunity to elect their representatives in 2026, ensuring strong democratic oversight during a period of change.
“The council continues its work on LGR following the submission of its proposal, known locally as Option E, which seeks to replace the current two-tier system with three new unitary authorities, including a standalone Huntingdonshire authority.”
The Huntingdonshire council informed the Government of its position by 15 January 2026, in line with the timetable set out by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness. The Government will make a final decision after considering submissions from affected councils across the country.
“Local government reform is not just a boundary tweak. It’s a complete rebuild of the electoral system"
Peterborough City Council’s cabinet met on Monday (January 12), where they recommended that this year’s local elections be postponed.
City Council leader cllr Shabina Qayyum said: “When we have a look at ourselves in terms of the whole scheme of LGR around the Cambridgeshire region, we are one of the anchor authorities that oversee services for frail and vulnerable residents such as children’s services and adult social care. Whatever options gets picked out of the bag by the government, we are scheduled to that timeline where we are going to have to go to consultation in early February.
“Local government reform is not just a boundary tweak. It’s a complete rebuild of the electoral system, while maintaining by-elections and parish council elections, whilst maintaining voter confidence throughout and building a platform for a new authority as Peterborough City Council will cease to exist.
“We are not taking democracy away, we are simply postponing elections. To do away with a temporary cohort of councillors to make way for a more stable and better administration. We had elections every year in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, with five elections in 2019. We haven’t taken democracy away, we are postponing elections while a better, stronger foundation is built.”
Huntingdonshire Town and parish council elections in 2026 are not impacted and will go ahead as planned.
What are the LGR options?
There are five options being considered for LGR in Cambridgeshire, with a consultation set to start in February.
LGR is designed to do away with wo-tier system of district and county councils in England, leaving just unitary authorities. Peterborough City Council is a unitary authority.
The five options three two-unitary authority options and two three-unitary authority options.
The ‘two unitary authority’ options are:
Option A – Unitary 1 (Peterborough, Fenland and Huntingdonshire), Unitary 2 (East Cambs, South Cambs and Cambridge City)
Option B – Unitary 1 (Peterborough, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and East Cambs), Unitary 2 (South Cambs and Cambridge City)
Option C – Unitary 1 (Peterborough, Fenland and East Cambs), Unitary 2 (Huntingdonshire, South Cambs and Cambridge City)
The ‘three unitary authority’ options are:
Option D – Unitary 1 (Peterborough and West Hunts), Unitary 2 (Fenland, East Hunts and East Cambs), Unitary 3 (South Cambs and Cambridge City)
Option E – Unitary 1 (Peterborough, Fenland and East Cambs), Unitary 2 (Huntingdonshire), Unitary 3 (South Cambs and Cambridge City)
Which councils have back which options
Cambridgeshire County Council have said they prefer Option A
Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire and East Cambridgeshire District councils have said they prefer Option B
Peterborough City and Fenland District Councils have said they prefer Option D
Huntingdonshire District Council have said they prefer Option E.
No councils have said they prefer Option C.