Peterborough local elections
Encyclopedia
The City of Peterborough
in the East of England
was incorporated as a municipal borough
in 1874; from 1888 it fell within the jurisdiction of the Soke of Peterborough
county council
and from 1965 Huntingdon and Peterborough
county council. In 1974 it was replaced by a wholly new non-metropolitan district
, broadly corresponding to the Soke, in the new enlarged Cambridgeshire
. In 1998 Peterborough became independent of Cambridgeshire county council as a unitary authority
, but it continues to form part of that county for ceremonial
purposes as defined by the Lieutenancies Act 1997
.
The leader and cabinet
model of decision-making was adopted by the city council
in 2001. The Conservative Party
has held control of the council since 2002. The next election will take place in May 2011.
dated 17 March 1874, under the government of a mayor
, six aldermen and 18 councillors. Something of an anomaly, the Parliamentary Boundary Commission of 1868 had decided that the urban parts of Fletton and Woodston were so involved in Peterborough that they ought to be in the borough and added the newly built-up portions of these parishes to the parliamentary constituency
. In local matters they were still in Huntingdonshire
and, as the City of Peterborough did not extend south of the River Nene
, the full title of the new municipality was the City and Borough of Peterborough and its inhabitants, citizens and burgesses.
The new corporation was required to appoint a Watch Committee and constabulary under the provisions of the County and Borough Police Act 1856
. In 1946, it amalgamated with the Liberty of Peterborough Constabulary, which had shared its chief constable
with Northamptonshire, to form the Peterborough Combined Police Force. This, in turn, merged into Mid-Anglia Constabulary in 1965 and was renamed Cambridgeshire Constabulary
in 1974. The Fire Brigades Act 1938
made it a requirement for the corporation to maintain a fire brigade; under the Fire Services Act 1947
this function passed to the councils of counties.
In 1927 the city council submitted a memorial to the Minister of Health for permission to extend the borough boundary to include Gunthorpe
, Longthorpe, Paston
, Walton
, Werrington and the area north-east of Fengate
; this became effective from 1929. Until this point the council were using the Guildhall and a large number of subsidiary offices, but the need to widen Narrow Bridge Street and the need for a new Town Hall came together in a combined scheme, resulting in the building of the present Town Hall. It was opened in 1933 and accommodated both Peterborough city council and the former Soke of Peterborough county council.
Under the Local Government Act 1888
, the ancient Soke of Peterborough
formed an administrative county
in its own right, with boundaries similar, although not identical, to the current unitary authority. Nonetheless, it remained geographically
part of Northamptonshire
until 1965, when the Soke of Peterborough was merged with Huntingdonshire to form the county of Huntingdon and Peterborough. The municipal borough covered the urban area only; under the Local Government Act 1972
, Huntingdon and Peterborough was abolished and the current district created, including the outlying rural areas. However, as a result of intervening development and a new town
project, this has a much larger population than the Soke had. Having petitioned for borough status under Section 245 of the Act, letters patent
were granted continuing the style of the city
over the wider area, which became part of the non-metropolitan county
of Cambridgeshire.
In 1998 the Peterborough became autonomous of Cambridgeshire county council as a unitary authority; but it continues to form part of that county for ceremonial purposes. Policing
in the city remains the responsibility of Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The police authority
comprises 17 members, including nine councillors, of which seven are nominated by Cambridgeshire county council and two are nominated by Peterborough city council. Firefighting
remains the responsibility of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
. The joint fire authority
comprises 17 elected councillors, 13 from Cambridgeshire county council and four from Peterborough city council. Nowadays the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade
, one of few of its kind, effectively functions as a retained fire station, responding to calls as directed by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
, is similar to national government. The council appoints the Leader (usually a member of the group with the political majority) and he or she appoints up to nine other councillors to serve on the cabinet. The cabinet members, one of whom is appointed Deputy Leader, assume responsibility for different key areas of local governance. The full council meets around ten times a year. There are decisions that only full council can make, these include setting budgets and spending programmes, setting council tax
levels and approving major policies and priorities. In addition to the Leader of the Council, the council also appoints the Mayor of Peterborough
, the Deputy Mayor, committee chairmen and the Chief Executive. The cabinet and committees report to, and are accountable to, council.
The council's budget for the financial year 2010/11 is £257,122,000 (a 3.7% increase on 2009/10). The main source of non-school funding is the formula grant, which is paid by government to local authorities based on the services they provide. The remainder, to which the police and fire authorities (and parish council where this exists) set a precept, is raised from council tax
and business rates. Following the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review, the council announced that 11.1% could be cut from departmental budgets to save £65m over a five year period and up to 181 posts could be lost.
The city council elects a Mayor to serve for a term of one year. The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Peterborough, Cllr. Paula Thacker MBE
(Con. Werrington South) was elected 125th Mayor of Peterborough on 16 May 2011 and will remain in post until 15 May 2012. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Lucia Serluca (Con. Fletton and Woodston). Although the powers of the Mayor have diminished over time, the role has retained its importance. The Mayor has social and legal precedence in all places within the city unless HM the Queen
or her personal representative, a close member of the Royal Family
or the Lord Lieutenant
is present. The Mayor also has a key democratic role to play, acting as a politically impartial chairman of the council and making sure that proper conduct takes place in the chamber during its meetings. Mayoralty of the unitary authority has been held by the following councillors:
The East of England Regional Assembly
was based at Flempton
, near Bury St. Edmunds
in Suffolk
. The assembly was created as a voluntary regional chamber by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 and the first meeting was held in March 1999. Following criticism of the regional assemblies
, it was proposed in 2007 that they would be axed, losing their role by 2010. It has since been replaced by the East of England Local Government Association
who have established a Regional Strategy Board to act as Local Authority Leaders' Board under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
.
The council comprises 57 councillors who represent the city and surrounding villages. Each councillor typically serves for a four year term, representing an electoral ward
. Wards are divided so that each councillor serves an average of around 2,000 electors.
These are (in alphabetical order): Barnack, Bretton North, Bretton South, Dogsthorpe, Fletton, Glinton
and Wittering
, Newborough
, Northborough
, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Orton with Hampton
, Park, Paston
, Peterborough Central, Peterborough East, Peterborough North, Peterborough West, Ravensthorpe
, Stanground Central, Stanground East, Eye
and Thorney
, Walton
, Werrington North, and Werrington South. 15 wards comprise the Peterborough
constituency for elections to the House of Commons
, while the remaining nine fall within the North West Cambridgeshire constituency.
Each ward elects up to three councillors by the first past the post system of election. Barnack, Bretton South, Newborough, Northborough, and Stanground East each elect one councillor; Eye and Thorney, Glinton and Wittering, North ward, Ravensthorpe, and Walton each elect two. The current composition of the city council, following the 2010 election, is:
The Green Party of England and Wales
and United Kingdom Independence Party
also put forward candidates for election, however, these were unsuccessful. In 2010, Peterborough Independents was registered with the Electoral Commission
for the “single purpose” of creating, protecting and using a mark or logo.
Gr.Uff. Cllr. Marco Cereste OMRI
(Stanground Central) was appointed Leader of the Council in 2009, replacing Cllr. John Peach (Park), former Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources, who served in the role from 2006. The Deputy Leader is currently Cllr. Matthew Lee (Fletton), Cabinet Member for Environment Capital and Culture, who replaced Cllr. Stephen Goldspink (East, now English Democrat
), former Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Business Improvement.
s ranged from 26% in Orton Longueville to 55% in Central ward. At the previous election, voters were required to provide a signature before being issued with a ballot paper. This pilot scheme trialled new procedures which are now included in the Electoral Administration Act 2006
.
In April 2008 a former Mayor, Mohammed Choudhary, was convicted for making a false instrument, namely a poll card
, in connection with vote-rigging allegations during the 2004 election. In May 2008 Chief Executive, Gillian Beasley, said "People can have confidence in this result because measures that have been put in place have ensured that the vote was carried out within the law." Mrs. Beasley also revealed the city council is to write a report on tackling election fraud, after the Electoral Commission said it could be adopted as best practice. As part of the drive to reduce election fraud, the council sent out blank registration forms, resulting in more than 8,000 people falling off the electoral roll.
Civil parishes do not cover the whole of England and mostly exist in rural areas. They are usually administered by parish councils which have various local responsibilities. Parish councillors, like city councillors, are elected to represent the views of local people. Ailsworth, Bainton
, Barnack, Borough Fen, Bretton, Castor
, Deeping Gate, Etton
, Eye, Glinton, Helpston
, Marholm
, Maxey, Newborough, Northborough, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Peakirk
, St. Martin's Without, Southorpe
, Sutton
, Thorney, Thornhaugh
, Ufford
, Upton
, Wansford, Wittering, and Wothorpe each have a parish council. The city council also works closely with Werrington neighbourhood association which operates on a similar basis to a parish council. Parish elections are held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors for the district.
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
was incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
in 1874; from 1888 it fell within the jurisdiction of the Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough
The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the City and Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire...
county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
and from 1965 Huntingdon and Peterborough
Huntingdon and Peterborough
Huntingdon and Peterborough was a short-lived administrative county in East Anglia in the United Kingdom. It existed from 1965 to 1974, when it became part of Cambridgeshire.-Formation:...
county council. In 1974 it was replaced by a wholly new non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
, broadly corresponding to the Soke, in the new enlarged Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. In 1998 Peterborough became independent of Cambridgeshire county council as a unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
, but it continues to form part of that county for ceremonial
Ceremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
purposes as defined by the Lieutenancies Act 1997
Lieutenancies Act 1997
The Lieutenancies Act 1997 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, that defines areas that Lord-Lieutenants are appointed to in Great Britain. It came into force on July 1, 1997.-Creation of modern local government:...
.
The leader and cabinet
Cabinet-style council
A Cabinet-style Council is a type of local government which has been introduced in the United Kingdom for Local Councils following the introduction of the Local Government Act 2000....
model of decision-making was adopted by the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 2001. The Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
has held control of the council since 2002. The next election will take place in May 2011.
Incorporation
A public enquiry was held in 1873 to determine whether it would be advantageous for the city to be administered by a municipal corporation. The result being in the affirmative, the city council, sometimes archaically called the corporation, was founded by a Charter of IncorporationBoroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1835 - 1882
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 reformed 178 existing boroughs. It also allowed for further towns to submit petitions for the grant of a charter of incorporation as a municipal borough...
dated 17 March 1874, under the government of a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, six aldermen and 18 councillors. Something of an anomaly, the Parliamentary Boundary Commission of 1868 had decided that the urban parts of Fletton and Woodston were so involved in Peterborough that they ought to be in the borough and added the newly built-up portions of these parishes to the parliamentary constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
. In local matters they were still in Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
and, as the City of Peterborough did not extend south of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
, the full title of the new municipality was the City and Borough of Peterborough and its inhabitants, citizens and burgesses.
County and Borough Police Act 1856
The County and Borough Police Act 1856 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act made it compulsory for a police force to be established in any county which had not previously formed a constabulary....
. In 1946, it amalgamated with the Liberty of Peterborough Constabulary, which had shared its chief constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
with Northamptonshire, to form the Peterborough Combined Police Force. This, in turn, merged into Mid-Anglia Constabulary in 1965 and was renamed Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. In addition to the non-metropolitan county, the Police area includes the city of Peterborough, which became a unitary authority area in...
in 1974. The Fire Brigades Act 1938
Fire Brigades Act 1938
The Fire Brigades Act 1938 was the primary legislation for Great Britain, excluding London, that placed responsibility for the provision of a fire brigade onto the local authority, and away from the insurance companies....
made it a requirement for the corporation to maintain a fire brigade; under the Fire Services Act 1947
Fire Services Act 1947
-General Arrangement of the Act:-Scotland:The FRSA 2004 extended only to England and Wales, thus leaving the FSA 1947 in force in Scotland. Most of the 1947 Act was later repealed by the FSA 2005, which left ss...
this function passed to the councils of counties.
In 1927 the city council submitted a memorial to the Minister of Health for permission to extend the borough boundary to include Gunthorpe
Gunthorpe, Peterborough
Gunthorpe is a residential area of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Paston and South Werrington wards...
, Longthorpe, Paston
Paston, Peterborough
Paston is a residential area and electoral ward of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. The area was mainly built and developed in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Walton
Walton, Peterborough
Walton is a residential area and electoral ward of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. Manufacturers of industrial machinery, Peter Brotherhood Limited, relocated here from London in 1906....
, Werrington and the area north-east of Fengate
Fengate, Peterborough
Fengate is a predominantly industrial area of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Peterborough East ward. The industrial estate is known as Eastern Industry. Peterborough Power Station is located here.Flag Fen, the Bronze Age...
; this became effective from 1929. Until this point the council were using the Guildhall and a large number of subsidiary offices, but the need to widen Narrow Bridge Street and the need for a new Town Hall came together in a combined scheme, resulting in the building of the present Town Hall. It was opened in 1933 and accommodated both Peterborough city council and the former Soke of Peterborough county council.
Under the Local Government Act 1888
Local Government Act 1888
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales...
, the ancient Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough
The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the City and Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire...
formed an administrative county
Administrative counties of England
Administrative counties were a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government from 1889 to 1974. They were created by the Local Government Act 1888 as the areas for which county councils were elected. Some large counties were divided into several administrative...
in its own right, with boundaries similar, although not identical, to the current unitary authority. Nonetheless, it remained geographically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
part of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
until 1965, when the Soke of Peterborough was merged with Huntingdonshire to form the county of Huntingdon and Peterborough. The municipal borough covered the urban area only; under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, Huntingdon and Peterborough was abolished and the current district created, including the outlying rural areas. However, as a result of intervening development and a new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
project, this has a much larger population than the Soke had. Having petitioned for borough status under Section 245 of the Act, letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
were granted continuing the style of the city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
over the wider area, which became part of the non-metropolitan county
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of subdivisions of England used for the purposes of local government outside Greater London. As originally constituted, the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties each consisted of multiple districts, had a county council and...
of Cambridgeshire.
In 1998 the Peterborough became autonomous of Cambridgeshire county council as a unitary authority; but it continues to form part of that county for ceremonial purposes. Policing
Policing in the United Kingdom
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
in the city remains the responsibility of Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The police authority
Police authority
A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
comprises 17 members, including nine councillors, of which seven are nominated by Cambridgeshire county council and two are nominated by Peterborough city council. Firefighting
Fire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
remains the responsibility of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority of Peterborough....
. The joint fire authority
Fire Authority
In England and Wales a fire authority or fire and rescue authority is a statutory body made up of a committee of local councillors which oversees the policy and service delivery of a fire and rescue service...
comprises 17 elected councillors, 13 from Cambridgeshire county council and four from Peterborough city council. Nowadays the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade
Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade
In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the use of retained firefighters rather than volunteers is standard. The Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade, formed in 1884, is the only one of its kind remaining...
, one of few of its kind, effectively functions as a retained fire station, responding to calls as directed by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Governance
The leader and cabinet model of decision-making, adopted by the city council under the Local Government Act 2000Local Government Act 2000
The Local Government Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales. Its principal purposes are:...
, is similar to national government. The council appoints the Leader (usually a member of the group with the political majority) and he or she appoints up to nine other councillors to serve on the cabinet. The cabinet members, one of whom is appointed Deputy Leader, assume responsibility for different key areas of local governance. The full council meets around ten times a year. There are decisions that only full council can make, these include setting budgets and spending programmes, setting council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
levels and approving major policies and priorities. In addition to the Leader of the Council, the council also appoints the Mayor of Peterborough
Mayors in the United Kingdom
In England, the office of mayor or lord mayor had long been ceremonial posts, with few or no duties attached to it. A mayor's term of office denotes the municipal year. The most famous example is that of the Lord Mayor of the City of London....
, the Deputy Mayor, committee chairmen and the Chief Executive. The cabinet and committees report to, and are accountable to, council.
The council's budget for the financial year 2010/11 is £257,122,000 (a 3.7% increase on 2009/10). The main source of non-school funding is the formula grant, which is paid by government to local authorities based on the services they provide. The remainder, to which the police and fire authorities (and parish council where this exists) set a precept, is raised from council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
and business rates. Following the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review, the council announced that 11.1% could be cut from departmental budgets to save £65m over a five year period and up to 181 posts could be lost.
The city council elects a Mayor to serve for a term of one year. The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Peterborough, Cllr. Paula Thacker MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Con. Werrington South) was elected 125th Mayor of Peterborough on 16 May 2011 and will remain in post until 15 May 2012. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Lucia Serluca (Con. Fletton and Woodston). Although the powers of the Mayor have diminished over time, the role has retained its importance. The Mayor has social and legal precedence in all places within the city unless HM the Queen
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
or her personal representative, a close member of the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
or the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
is present. The Mayor also has a key democratic role to play, acting as a politically impartial chairman of the council and making sure that proper conduct takes place in the chamber during its meetings. Mayoralty of the unitary authority has been held by the following councillors:
| Tenure | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1998–1999 | Mary Beatrice Rainey BEd (Hons) Bachelor of Education A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:... |
| 1999–2000 | John Ernest Graham Bartlett |
| 2000–2002 | Raymond Arthur Pobgee MBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... , DL Deputy Lieutenant In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county.... |
| 2002–2003 | Clifford Stanley Horace Sneesby |
| 2003–2004 | David Raines |
| 2004–2005 | Raja Akhtar |
| 2005 died | John Ray Horrell CBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
| 2006 | David Thorpe |
| 2006–2007 | Michael Burton OBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... , FRIN Royal Institute of Navigation The Royal Institute of Navigation is a British institution devoted to the art and science of navigation established in 1947.Its aims are to bring navigators together, to develop navigational techniques and to increase public awareness of navigation. It is based in Kensington, London. It was... |
| 2007–2008 | Marion Yvonne Todd |
| 2008–2009 | Patricia Nash MBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
| 2009–2010 | Irene Walsh |
| 2010–2011 | Keith Sharp |
The East of England Regional Assembly
East of England Regional Assembly
The East of England Regional Assembly was the regional assembly for the East of England region of the United Kingdom. It was based at Flempton, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The assembly was created as a voluntary regional chamber in 1998 by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. The first...
was based at Flempton
Flempton
Flempton is a village in the St Edmundsbury district of Suffolk, England. It is on the A1101 road from Bury St Edmunds.The East of England Regional Assembly is based in Flempton House. The village pub is The Greyhound on The Green...
, near Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. The assembly was created as a voluntary regional chamber by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 and the first meeting was held in March 1999. Following criticism of the regional assemblies
Regional Assemblies in England
The Regional Assemblies of England were a group of indirectly elected regional bodies established originally under the name Regional Chambers by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. They were abolished on 31 March 2010 and replaced by Local Authority Leaders’ Boards...
, it was proposed in 2007 that they would be axed, losing their role by 2010. It has since been replaced by the East of England Local Government Association
East of England Local Government Association
The East of England Local Government Association is an association of council leaders form the East of England Region of England. It was established in April 2010 following the abolition of the East of England Regional Assembly...
who have established a Regional Strategy Board to act as Local Authority Leaders' Board under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The legislation places a duty on local authorities to promote understanding of the functions and democratic arrangements of the authority among local people...
.
Political control
Political control of the unitary authority has been held by the following groups:| Election | Party | Seats | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 United Kingdom local elections, 1997 The United Kingdom local elections took place on the 1 May, 1997. Elections took place for all of the English shire counties, some English unitary authorities and all of the Northern Ireland districts... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
25 | ||
| 1999 United Kingdom local elections, 1999 Local elections took place in much of the United Kingdom on 6 May 1999. All Scottish and Welsh unitary authorities had all their seats elected. In England a third of the seats on each of the Metropolitan Boroughs were elected along with elections in many of the unitary authorities and district... |
No overall control No overall control Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament... Lab Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... largest single party |
(25) | 0 | |
| 2000 United Kingdom local elections, 2000 Local elections took place in some parts of England on 4 May 2000. A third of the seats on each of the Metropolitan Boroughs were elected along with elections in many of the unitary authorities and district councils... |
No overall control No overall control Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament... Con Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... largest single party |
(27) | +3 | |
| 2001 United Kingdom local elections, 2001 Local elections took place in some parts of the UK on the 7 June 2001. Elections took place for all of the English shire counties, some English unitary authorities and all of the Northern Ireland districts... |
No overall control No overall control Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament... Con Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... largest single party |
(26) | -1 | |
| 2002 United Kingdom local elections, 2002 Local elections took place in many parts of England on 2 May 2002. All London borough council seats were elected as well a third of the seats on each of the Metropolitan Boroughs. Many unitary Authorities and District councils also had elections... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
29 | +2 | |
| 2004 United Kingdom local elections, 2004 The United Kingdom local elections of 2004 were held on 10 June, as part of the 2004 set of elections along with the European elections and the London mayoral and Assembly elections.-About the elections:... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
33 | +9 | |
| 2006 United Kingdom local elections, 2006 Local government elections took place in England on Thursday 4 May 2006. Polling stations were open between 7:00 and 22:00.All London borough council seats were up for election, as well as a third of the seats on each of the metropolitan borough councils, and a third of some unitary authorities... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
35 | +3 | |
| 2007 United Kingdom local elections, 2007 The 2007 UK local government elections were held on 3 May 2007. These elections took place in most of England and all of Scotland. There were no local government elections in Wales though the Welsh Assembly had a general election on the same day. There were no local government elections in Northern... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
40 | +5 | |
| 2008 United Kingdom local elections, 2008 The 2008 United Kingdom local elections were held on 1 May 2008. These elections took place in 137 English Local Authorities and all Welsh Councils.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
43 | +3 | |
The council comprises 57 councillors who represent the city and surrounding villages. Each councillor typically serves for a four year term, representing an electoral ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
. Wards are divided so that each councillor serves an average of around 2,000 electors.
These are (in alphabetical order): Barnack, Bretton North, Bretton South, Dogsthorpe, Fletton, Glinton
Glinton, Cambridgeshire
Glinton is a village to the north of the City of Peterborough, England, United Kingdom.It has a population of 3130 and consists of about 1200 dwellings....
and Wittering
Wittering
Wittering may refer to,* Wittering, Cambridgeshire, formerly in Northamptonshire** RAF Wittering, near the above* Wittering, Sussex, which is divided into:** East Wittering** West Wittering...
, Newborough
Newborough, Cambridgeshire
Newborough is a ward and civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom.The village lies within the Peterborough constituency represented by the Conservative Member of Parliament, Stewart "Tito" Jackson....
, Northborough
Northborough, Cambridgeshire
Northborough is a small village near the city of Peterborough in the East of England.It has a pub, a shop, a school and a small castle.Northborough is around seven or eight miles practically due north of Peterborough....
, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Orton with Hampton
Hampton, Peterborough
Hampton is a newly developing township in Peterborough, England. There are currently two neighbourhoods within Hampton - Hampton Hargate and Hampton Vale, still growing...
, Park, Paston
Paston, Peterborough
Paston is a residential area and electoral ward of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. The area was mainly built and developed in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Peterborough Central, Peterborough East, Peterborough North, Peterborough West, Ravensthorpe
Ravensthorpe, Peterborough
Ravensthorpe is a residential area and electoral ward of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom.Ravensthorpe County Primary School is located in the area; secondary pupils attend nearby Jack Hunt School in Netherton....
, Stanground Central, Stanground East, Eye
Eye, Cambridgeshire
Eye is a village in the unitary authority area of Peterborough in England, south of Crowland and Eye Green. It was formerly in the Soke of Peterborough in Northamptonshire....
and Thorney
Thorney, Cambridgeshire
Thorney is a village about 8 miles east of Peterborough in the City of Peterborough unitary authority, England, on the A47. Historically it was part of the Isle of Ely, which was considered part of Cambridgeshire but was transferred into the former county of Huntingdon and Peterborough and...
, Walton
Walton, Peterborough
Walton is a residential area and electoral ward of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. Manufacturers of industrial machinery, Peter Brotherhood Limited, relocated here from London in 1906....
, Werrington North, and Werrington South. 15 wards comprise the Peterborough
Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past...
constituency for elections to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, while the remaining nine fall within the North West Cambridgeshire constituency.
Each ward elects up to three councillors by the first past the post system of election. Barnack, Bretton South, Newborough, Northborough, and Stanground East each elect one councillor; Eye and Thorney, Glinton and Wittering, North ward, Ravensthorpe, and Walton each elect two. The current composition of the city council, following the 2010 election, is:
| Party | Seats | +/- | Group | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
40 | -3 | ||
| Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
3 | +1 | ||
| Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the... |
3 | 0 | ||
| Liberal Liberal Party (UK, 1989) The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that... |
3 | 0 | Peterborough Independent Forum |
|
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
6 | 0 | ||
| English Democrat English Democrats Party The English Democrats are an English federalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament. Whilst not supporting English Independence, the English Democrats consider themselves the English... |
2 | +2 | ||
| Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... hold |
||||
The Green Party of England and Wales
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
and United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
also put forward candidates for election, however, these were unsuccessful. In 2010, Peterborough Independents was registered with the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
for the “single purpose” of creating, protecting and using a mark or logo.
Gr.Uff. Cllr. Marco Cereste OMRI
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
(Stanground Central) was appointed Leader of the Council in 2009, replacing Cllr. John Peach (Park), former Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources, who served in the role from 2006. The Deputy Leader is currently Cllr. Matthew Lee (Fletton), Cabinet Member for Environment Capital and Culture, who replaced Cllr. Stephen Goldspink (East, now English Democrat
English Democrats Party
The English Democrats are an English federalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament. Whilst not supporting English Independence, the English Democrats consider themselves the English...
), former Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Business Improvement.
District elections
One third of the council is elected each year, followed by one year without elections. At the 2008 election there were 70 candidates contesting 20 seats. In 2007, turnout at the polling stationPolling station
A polling place or polling station is where voters cast their ballots in elections.Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports...
s ranged from 26% in Orton Longueville to 55% in Central ward. At the previous election, voters were required to provide a signature before being issued with a ballot paper. This pilot scheme trialled new procedures which are now included in the Electoral Administration Act 2006
Electoral Administration Act 2006
The Electoral Administration Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed on 11 July 2006. The Bill was amended during its passage through the House of Lords to require political parties to declare large loans; this followed the "Cash for Peerages" scandal...
.
In April 2008 a former Mayor, Mohammed Choudhary, was convicted for making a false instrument, namely a poll card
Poll card
A poll card or polling card is a document which is sent to all registered voters shortly before an election. The poll card gives information about the election and the voter such as the date of the election, the location of the polling station, the poll's opening and closing times and the name,...
, in connection with vote-rigging allegations during the 2004 election. In May 2008 Chief Executive, Gillian Beasley, said "People can have confidence in this result because measures that have been put in place have ensured that the vote was carried out within the law." Mrs. Beasley also revealed the city council is to write a report on tackling election fraud, after the Electoral Commission said it could be adopted as best practice. As part of the drive to reduce election fraud, the council sent out blank registration forms, resulting in more than 8,000 people falling off the electoral roll.
Civil parishes do not cover the whole of England and mostly exist in rural areas. They are usually administered by parish councils which have various local responsibilities. Parish councillors, like city councillors, are elected to represent the views of local people. Ailsworth, Bainton
Bainton, Cambridgeshire
Bainton is a village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough unitary authority in Cambridgeshire, England. It lies between Peterborough and Stamford. Ashton is a neighbouring hamlet included in the civil parish. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 305 people.-External...
, Barnack, Borough Fen, Bretton, Castor
Castor, Cambridgeshire
Castor is a village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough unitary authority, about west of the city centre. The parish is part of the former Soke of Peterborough, which was considered part of Northamptonshire but was more recently part of Cambridgeshire.-History:Castor's toponym is derived...
, Deeping Gate, Etton
Etton, Cambridgeshire
Etton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority area of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in England. For electoral purposes it forms part of Northborough ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency...
, Eye, Glinton, Helpston
Helpston, Cambridgeshire
Helpston is an English village formerly in the Soke of Peterborough, geographically in Northamptonshire — subsequently in Huntingdon and Peterborough, then in Cambridgeshire — and administered by the City of Peterborough unitary authority.The civil parish of Helpston covers an area of and had an...
, Marholm
Marholm, Cambridgeshire
Marholm is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Northborough ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Maxey, Newborough, Northborough, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Peakirk
Peakirk, Cambridgeshire
Peakirk is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For local government purposes it forms part of Newborough ward; for parliamentary purposes it falls within North West Cambridgeshire constituency. In 2001, the parish had a population of 321 persons and 139...
, St. Martin's Without, Southorpe
Southorpe, Cambridgeshire
Southorpe is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Barnack ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Sutton
Sutton, Cambridgeshire
Sutton is a civil parish in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. For electoral purposes it forms part of Glinton and Wittering ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Thorney, Thornhaugh
Thornhaugh, Cambridgeshire
Thornhaugh is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Glinton and Wittering ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency.-External links:*...
, Ufford
Ufford, Cambridgeshire
Ufford is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Barnack ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Upton
Upton, Cambridgeshire
Upton is a civil parish in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. For electoral purposes it forms part of Glinton and Wittering ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Wansford, Wittering, and Wothorpe each have a parish council. The city council also works closely with Werrington neighbourhood association which operates on a similar basis to a parish council. Parish elections are held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors for the district.
By-election results
See also
- Cambridgeshire local electionsCambridgeshire local electionsCambridgeshire County Council is elected every four years by the first past the post system of election. The council currently consists of 69 councillors, representing 60 electoral divisions. The Conservative Party has a majority on the council, having gained control in the 1997 local elections...
- Lord Lieutenant of CambridgeshireLord Lieutenant of CambridgeshireThis is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representative in the counties of the United Kingdom. The Lord Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants which he or...
- High Sheriff of CambridgeshireHigh Sheriff of CambridgeshireThis is a list of people who have served as High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.-Before 1154:*Tempore Regis Eduardi: Aluric Godricson, Orgar, Blacuin*1066: Elfric* 1128: Fulk*1070–c.1090: Picot of Cambridge *Michaelmas 1129: Richard Basset with Aubrey de Vere...