Political View: Heading for more change in 2026 towards a Greater Peterborough
It is fair to say last year hasn't been the best reputationally for Peterborough City Council. We have had a number of arrests associated with the council. These issues look to continue into the new year, writes LibDem Group leader Christian Hogg.
On a more positive note, having helped form a multiparty administration in September, which puts the needs of Peterborough before those of one political party, we are receiving positive feedback on how the new administration, under the impressive leadership of Dr Councillor Shabina Qayyum, is conducting business.
We are however finding an increasing number of issues from previous administrations, such as decisions made with questionable governance or where crucial issues simply haven't been dealt with, and because they have been outstanding for years, a complex history of promises and U-turns.
These things need sorting, and whilst by their nature of difficulty, the decisions now being made can leave some disappointed. The council constitution allows for further scrutiny of decisions, and we welcome this wider oversight and stand ready to make any necessary changes. The main point is that we are not shying away from taking necessary decisions and actions.
It is widely known that a number of financial decisions by previous administrations have left the council with debts that could and should have been avoided. We are now in a position where decisions being made by this current administration have to stand up to financial scrutiny, in particular.
Which brings me on to the thorny issue of the postponement of elections currently under consideration. With elections in 2027 for all council seats due to the local government reorganisation, having a third of councillors seeking reelection only to have to run again a year later seems a cost this council cannot afford. The cost of our current system of election in thirds costs somewhere between £250,000 and £300,000, and for a whole council election is around twice that cost. This has to be a major factor in making the decision to defer elections for a year.
Only last year did we save the Lido from mothballing because of budgetary pressures; I wouldn't want to see that measure return to pay for elections for a term significantly shorter than usual.
We will see this year what the plan for the new local government structure for Cambridgeshire will look like. What is reasonably certain, though, is that local elections will take the much more common cycle of four-yearly elections for all council seats and not return to yearly elections in thirds (with a fourth year of no council election).
So the new year does present a number of uncertainties and unknowns, but we will face them together and fight for better outcomes for Peterborough. Moving away from single-party administration and decision-making should provide those outcomes, and your local Liberal Democrat councillors will do their best to play their part in making sure that happens.
From our family to yours, we hope you all have a safer, more prosperous New Year and beyond.
Your local Peterborough Liberal Democrats