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Peterborough City Council

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In 1998 the City of 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.[1]

The Arms of Peterborough City Council

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4][5]

The municipal borough covered the urban area only. Under the Local Government Act 1972 the current district was created including the outlying rural areas which formed the Soke.[6]

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.[7]

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 city council elects a Mayor to serve for a term of one year. The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Peterborough, Cllr. Marion Yvonne Todd was elected 121st Mayor of Peterborough on 22 May 2007 and will remain in post until 21 May 2008. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Patricia Nash MBE. 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.[8]

Armorial bearings

Peterborough owes it origin to the foundation in AD 655 by Paeda, King of Mercia, of a monastery (from which the present fine Cathedral has derived) dedicated to the glory of Christ and the honour of Saint Peter. The Shield shows the keys, symbolic of those to the gates of Heaven given by Christ to St. Peter (Matthew 16 v.19). They are shown enfiled by the mural crown as a differentiation to the simple crossed keys which are the arms recorded for the See of Gloucester. The gold mural crown replacing a Crest above the shield is intended as a civic symbol and this is particularly emphasized by the towers, the whole suggesting the walls of a town. The lions are the ermine lions of the Marquess of Exeter, hereditary Lord Paramount of Peterborough, differenced by the wings of the eagle supporters of Mordaunt, first Earl of Peterborough, the estoiles or stars thereon coming from his arms. The tree trunks derive from a device of Earl Fitzwilliam, whose estate forms an important part of the area. The Compartment upon which the supporters stand is composed of rock from its traditional association with Peter (and Paeda) and the motto is similarly derived.[9]

Political control

Party Tenure
style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 1997 - 1999
style="background-color: Template:No overall control/meta/color" | No overall control 1999 - 2002
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | 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.[10]

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.[11]

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 council is as follows:[12]

Party Seats
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 40
style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 2
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" | Lib Dem 4
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK, 1989)/meta/color" | Liberal 3
style="background-color: Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color" | Independent 8

The post-1988 Liberal councillors and two Independent members sit together as the Minority Parties group.

Cllr. John Peach was appointed Leader of the Council on 18 April 2006 in succession to the late Cllr. Ben Franklin, a former Mayor of Peterborough (1978/9), who had died suddenly on 04 April; the Deputy Leader is Cllr. Stephen Goldspink.[13]

District elections

One third of the city council is elected each year, followed by one year without election.

The next election will take place in 2009.

By-Election results

North Bretton By-Election 22 March 2001[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Angus Ellis 805 53.7 −7.4
Conservative Sheila Scott 591 39.5 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Rohan Wilson 102 6.8 +6.8
Majority 214 14.2
Turnout 1,498 26.8
Labour hold Swing
Walton By-Election 13 February 2003[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 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 Democrats hold Swing
West Ward By-Election 18 September 2003[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matthew Dalton 1,405 69.5 +1.6
Liberal Democrats 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
Northborough By-Election 13 July 2006[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Hiller 393 44.6 −16.5
Independent Simon Potter 388 44.0 +18.3
Liberal Democrats 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

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Incorporation of Peterborough: Report of the enquiry held at the New Hall by Major Donnelly J.S. Clarke, Peterborough, 1873
  3. ^ Mellows, W.T. Peterborough's Municipal Jubilee: a record of 50 years of Local Government 1874 - 1924 Peterborough Standard, 1924
  4. ^ The Municipal Buildings Peterborough Standard for Peterborough City Council, 26 October 1933
  5. ^ Mellows, W.T. An outline of the history of Peterborough's public buildings Peterborough Citizen and Advertiser, 1934
  6. ^ The English Non-Metropolitan Districts Order 1972 (SI 1972/2039) Part 5: County of Cambridgeshire
  7. ^ Modular constitutions for English local authorities Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, February 2001
  8. ^ Mayoralty of Peterborough Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007) includes a list of all previous Mayors
  9. ^ Granted and assigned by Letters Patent sealed by Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy & Ulster Kings of Arms dated 06 September 1960
  10. ^ Councillors by Name, Ward and Group Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007)
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ English local elections 2007 BBC News, 04 May 2007 00:34 BST
  13. ^ Cabinet Members and areas of responsibility Peterborough City Council (retrieved 06 May 2007)
  14. ^ Peterborough Election Results Peterborough City Council, 05 May 2000
  15. ^ Peterborough Election Results Peterborough City Council, 08 June 2001
  16. ^ Local Election Results 2002 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  17. ^ Local Election Results 2004 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  18. ^ Local Election Results 2005 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  19. ^ Local Election Results 2006 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  20. ^ Local Election Results 2007 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  21. ^ Following the resignation of Cllr. John Johnson, North Bretton By-Election Result Peterborough City Council, 23 March 2001
  22. ^ Following the death of the late Cllr. Phillip Sharp, Walton By-Election Result Peterborough City Council, 14 February 2003
  23. ^ Following the death of the late Cllr. Rex Perkins, By-Election Result 2003 Peterborough City Council (retrieved 04 May 2007)
  24. ^ 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

See also


Template:England ceremonial counties

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