The City of Peterborough was incorporated in 1874 as a municipal borough, 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 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 next election will take place in 2008.
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Local government
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 Incorporation dated 17 March 1874, under the government of a mayor, six aldermen and 18 councillors.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3][4] 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. The area however remained geographically part of Northamptonshire until 1965, when the Soke of Peterborough was merged with Huntingdonshire to form the county of Huntingdon and Peterborough.[5] 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 which had together formed the Soke.[6] Although as a result of intervening development and a new town project, the present district has a much larger population than the Soke had.[7] Letters patent were granted continuing the style of the city over the wider area.[8] This 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] The leader and cabinet model of decision-making, adopted by the city council under the Local Government Act 2000, 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.[13] 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 2007/8 is £226.8 million.[14] 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.
Political control
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. Mrs. Marion Yvonne Todd (Con. East) was elected 121st Mayor of Peterborough on 22 May 2007 and will remain in post until 21 May 2008. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Mrs. Patricia Nash MBE (Con. Bretton North). Although the powers of the Mayor have diminished over time, the role has retained its importance. 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.[15] Political control of the unitary authority has been held by the following parties:
| Party | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1997–1999 | |
| No overall control Lab largest single party |
1999–2000 | |
| No overall control Con largest single party |
2000–2002 | |
| Conservative | 2002–date | |
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.[16] 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.[17] 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 is as follows:[18]
| Party | Seats | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 40 | +5 | |
| Labour | 2 | -2 | |
| Liberal Democrat | 4 | -1 | |
| Liberal Sitting with two Ind as Minority Parties group |
3 (5) | 0 | |
| Independent | 8 (6) | -2 | |
| Conservative hold | |||
Cllr. Abdul Razaq (Central) was suspended from the Conservative group on 30 August 2007 after he was charged with six counts of making a false instrument, namely a poll card, in connection with alleged vote rigging during the council's 2004 election; he is currently sitting as an Independent member and if convicted could lose his seat.[19] Cllr. Allan Kempsell (Orton Waterville) announced his resignation from local politics on 10 December 2007 for "very personal reasons" and to concentrate on running his business. There will be no by-election and the seat he vacated will not be filled until May 2008.[20] This brings the Conservative total down to 38 seats. Cllr. John Peach (Park), Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources, was appointed Leader of the Council on 18 April 2006; the Deputy Leader is currently Cllr. Stephen Goldspink (East), Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Business Improvement.[21]
District elections
One third of the council is elected each year, followed by one year without election. At the last election there were 64 candidates contesting 19 seats. Turnout at the polling stations ranged from 26% in Orton Longueville to 55% in Central ward.[22] At the council's 2006 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.[23]
- Peterborough City Council election 1999, held Thursday 06 May[24]
- Peterborough City Council election 2000, held Thursday 04 May[25]
- Peterborough City Council election 2001, held Thursday 07 June[26]
- Peterborough City Council election 2002, held Thursday 02 May[27]
- Peterborough City Council election 2004, held Thursday 10 June[28] All seats contested
- Peterborough City Council election 2006, held Thursday 04 May[29][30]
- Peterborough City Council election 2007, held Thursday 03 May[31]
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.[32]
By-election results
| Northborough By-Election: 13 July 2006[33] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Peter Hiller | 393 | 44.6 | -16.5 | |
| Independent | Simon Potter | 388 | 44.0 | +18.3 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Peter Stead-Davis | 64 | 7.3 | +7.3 | |
| Labour | Mark Duckworth | 36 | 4.0 | -9.2 | |
| Majority | 5 | 0.6 | |||
| Turnout | 881 | 41.0 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| West Ward By-Election: 18 September 2003[34] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Matthew Dalton | 1,405 | 69.5 | +1.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Jessica Story | 393 | 19.4 | +8.1 | |
| Labour | Michael Langford | 224 | 11.1 | -5.2 | |
| Majority | 1,012 | 50.1 | |||
| Turnout | 2,022 | 33.2 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Walton By-Election: 13 February 2003[35] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Liberal Democrat | Christopher Spencer | 640 | 52.8 | +1.1 | |
| Conservative | Brian Hutchinson | 355 | 29.3 | +4.5 | |
| Labour | Mary Rainey | 218 | 18.0 | -5.5 | |
| Majority | 285 | 23.5 | |||
| Turnout | 1,213 | 30.5 | |||
| Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
| North Bretton By-Election: 22 March 2001[36] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Labour | Angus Ellis | 805 | 53.7 | -7.4 | |
| Conservative | Sheila Scott | 591 | 39.5 | +0.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Rohan Wilson | 102 | 6.8 | +6.8 | |
| Majority | 214 | 14.2 | |||
| Turnout | 1,498 | 26.8 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ Incorporation of Peterborough: Report of the enquiry held at the New Hall by Major Donnelly J.S. Clarke, Peterborough, 1873
- ^ Mellows, William Thomas Peterborough's Municipal Jubilee: a record of 50 years of Local Government 1874–1924 Peterborough Standard, 1924. See 17 & 18 Geo. 5 c.xciv ext.(mods.) - Min. of Health Provnl.O.Confn.(Peterborough Extn.) 1928 (c.xix), art.27(1)(a), sch.2 pt.I of O. ss. 5-9,20,23,24 appl.- Soke and City of Peterborough 1929 (c.lviii), s.33
- ^ The Municipal Buildings Peterborough Standard for Peterborough City Council, 26 October 1933
- ^ Mellows, William Thomas An outline of the history of Peterborough's public buildings Peterborough Citizen and Advertiser, 1934
- ^ The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order 1964 (SI 1964/367), see Local Government Commission for England (1958–1967), Report and Proposals for the East Midlands General Review Area (Report No.3), 31 July 1961 and Report and Proposals for the Lincolnshire and East Anglia General Review Area (Report No.9), 07 May 1965
- ^ The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 (SI 1972/2039) Part 5: County of Cambridgeshire
- ^ The Peterborough New Town (Designation) Order 1967 under section 1 of the New Towns Act 1965, see the London Gazette (Issue 44377) published 01 August 1967
- ^ Issued under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 25 June 1974, see the London Gazette (Issue 46334) published 28 June 1974
- ^ The Cambridgeshire (City of Peterborough) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996 (SI 1996/1878), see Local Government Commission for England (1992), Final Recommendations for the Future Local Government of Cambridgeshire, October 1994 and Final Recommendations on the Future Local Government of Basildon & Thurrock, Blackburn & Blackpool, Broxtowe, Gedling & Rushcliffe, Dartford & Gravesham, Gillingham & Rochester upon Medway, Exeter, Gloucester, Halton & Warrington, Huntingdonshire & Peterborough, Northampton, Norwich, Spelthorne and the Wrekin, December 1995
- ^ About the Authority Cambridgeshire Police Authority (retrieved 09 December 2007)
- ^ The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (retrieved 09 December 2007)
- ^ Walton, Jemma Meet Peterborough's Volunteer Fire Brigade team Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 26 July 2007
- ^ Modular constitutions for English local authorities Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, February 2001
- ^ Council Tax Summary Peterborough City Council, 01 April 2007
- ^ Mayoralty of Peterborough Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007) includes a list of all previous Mayors
- ^ Councillors by Name, Ward and Group Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007)
- ^ The City of Peterborough (Electoral Changes) Order 2003 (SI 2003/161) and The City of Peterborough (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2004 (SI 2004/721), see Boundary Committee for England report to the Electoral Commission Final Recommendations on the Future Electoral Arrangements for Peterborough, July 2002
- ^ English local elections 2007 BBC News, 04 May 2007 00:34 BST
- ^ Former mayor is charged following vote rigging probe Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 30 August 2007
- ^ Muir, Jonny Stalwart councillor stands down Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 10 December 2007
- ^ Cabinet Members and areas of responsibility Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007)
- ^ Elections 07 Photo slideshow: Tories tighten their grip on city Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 04 May 2007
- ^ Peterborough City Council (Election Security Measures) Pilot Order 2006. See Electoral pilot scheme evaluation The Electoral Commission, 04 August 2006
- ^ Vote 99 Locals BBC News (retrieved 28 December 2007)
- ^ Peterborough Election Results Peterborough City Council, 05 May 2000
- ^ Peterborough Election Results Peterborough City Council, 08 June 2001
- ^ Local Election Results 2002 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
- ^ Local Election Results 2004 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
- ^ Local Election Results 2006 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
- ^ Mellows-Facer, Adam Local elections 2006 House of Commons Research Paper 06/26, 10 May 2006
- ^ Local Election Results 2007 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
- ^ Parish Councils and Councillors Peterborough City Council (retrieved 28 December 2007)
- ^ Following the death of the late Cllr. Benjamin Franklin, Conservative wins Northborough by-election by five vote margin Peterborough City Council, Ref. 06/07/ML, 13 July 2006
- ^ Following the death of the late Cllr. Rex Perkins, By-Election Result 2003 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
- ^ Following the death of the late Cllr. Phillip Sharp, Walton By-Election Result Peterborough City Council, 14 February 2003
- ^ Following the resignation of Cllr. John Johnson, North Bretton By-Election Result Peterborough City Council, 23 March 2001
See also
External links
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Ailsworth • Bainton • Barnack • Borough Fen • Bretton • Castor • Deeping Gate • Dogsthorpe • Eastfield • Eastgate • Etton • Eye • Fengate • Fletton • Glinton • Gunthorpe • Hampton • Helpston • Longthorpe • Marholm • Maxey • Millfield • Netherton • Newark • Newborough • New England • Northborough • The Ortons • Parnwell • Paston • Peakirk • Ravensthorpe • Southorpe • Stanground • St. Martin's Without • Sutton • Thorney • Thornhaugh • Ufford • Upton • Walton • Wansford • Werrington • West Town • Westwood • Wittering • Woodston • Wothorpe |
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