LOCAL ELECTIONS ‘26: Deadline approaching for anyone wishing to stand as a city councillor to apply

Peterborough City Council elections will take place on Thursday, May 7.

Anyone wishing to apply to stand in the elections needs to apply by Thursday afternoon (April 9).

How does someone apply to become a councillor?

To be a local councillor, candidates must be at least 18 years of age and a British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Citizen.

Those who meet the above criteria can fill out a (lengthy) nomination form which may be obtained at Town Hall, Bridge Street from the Returning Officer.

The form must be returned no later than 4pm on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Full details of which candidates will be standing in the election will be published on Friday, April 10 and be made available on the council’s website.

It’s worth noting that candidates do NOT need to be a member of a political party to become a councillor. However, anyone who is considering standing as a candidate for a particular political party will need to ensure they are a member of that party’s local organisation before applying.

Which wards can candidates stand in?

The following 18 wards will each be looking to elect ONE councillor in the elections taking place on Thursday, May 7:

Bretton ward

Central ward

Dogsthorpe ward

East ward

Eye, Thorney, Newborough ward

Fletton and Stanground ward

Fletton and Woodston ward

Gunthorpe ward

Hampton Vale ward

Hargate and Hempsted ward

North ward

Orton Longueville ward

Orton Waterville ward

Park ward

Paston and Walton ward

Ravensthorpe ward

Stanground South ward

Werrington ward

What do local councillors do?

Elected councillors are expected to do many things! However, the chief responsibilities are:

Speaking on behalf of their local community and helping constituents within their ward,

Pursuing individual political beliefs,

Contributing business or professional skills,

Shaping the future of the local community.

This is how Peterborough City Council defines a councillor’s role: “Councillors play a vital role in the community they serve. They work with the Police, Health and other public bodies and with the private sector in order to achieve these aims. The position of the councillor is vital in the local community as the voice of the community.”

How long do elected city councillors stay in office for?

City councillors typically serve a four-year term of office. However, it is important to note that, unlike some other authorities, Peterborough City Council holds elections for its 60 city councillors in a system known as ‘thirds’. This essentially means that around 20 councillors are elected every year over a cycle of three out of every four years.

Will Local Government Reorganisation affect how councillors operate after May 7, 2026?

Almost certainly! It is fair to say that central government’s plans to replace the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England with larger unitary authorities – known as LGR – will see almost everything to do with how Peterborough City Council operates change over the next few years. However, there are still so few concrete details known about LGR that, at the moment, it is impossible to say exactly what will change and what is likely to stay the same.