Latest news with #PeterboroughFirst
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council opposition plans motion to oust Labour
A no-confidence motion to remove Peterborough's Labour administration from power would be put forward on 18 June, a city councillor said. The leader of the Peterborough First group, Chris Harper, said he intended to do it at the next full council meeting, adding a coalition with the Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups was nearly agreed. Mr Harper said discussions were also taking place with independent councillors, whose votes could make all the difference. "Things are going extremely well," he said. The Labour Party called the move "disappointing" and a "politically motivated back-room plot". Dennis Jones has been leader of the council since last May when Labour won the most seats to form a minority administration. He has been approached for comment. The Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups have also been asked to comment on the plan. Before last year's election the council was run by Peterborough First - largely made up of Conservative defectors - after the group ousted Tory leader Wayne Fitzgerald. The move was backed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. Mr Harper, who took over as Peterborough First's leader in May, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the takeover plans could not be put forward at the last full council meeting on 19 May due to constitutional reasons. "We're discussing our joint coalition agreement at the moment which is going through the groups to make sure everyone is happy to sign off on it, but it's very positive and most people seem very happy on that," Mr Harper said. "Things are going extremely well. We are confident that we are nearly there now and we'll go for it. It will be up to the vote on the night." The current make-up of the council includes 17 Labour councillors, 13 from Peterborough First, 11 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, six independents and five Green Party members. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: "It is disappointing that Peterborough First and other groups on Peterborough City Council have decided to create instability with this politically motivated back-room plot. "After years of mismanagement and poor public finances at Peterborough City Council, Peterborough Labour has begun the critical work of getting Peterborough back on track. "Now is the time for councillors to continue to work together for Peterborough, rather than playing politics with residents' services and taxpayers' money." Mr Fitzgerald, who leads the Conservative group, said the move was about "power" and "selfish ambition". "I personally won't be supporting any vote of no confidence, and as for my other Conservative members they will decide in due course." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. City councillor returns as group leader Labour becomes biggest party in Peterborough Peterborough City Council
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Long-serving Peterborough councillor chosen to be city mayor
A councillor who has served Peterborough for more than 20 years has been elected as the city's next First's Judy Fox was chosen to be mayor for 2025-26 at Monday's full council meeting, taking over from Conservative councillor Marco Fox has been a member of the local authority for decades alongside her husband John, and both represent Werrington ward. Mr Fox will be her Peter Hiller, Peterborough First, was selected to become deputy mayor and his wife Debbie becomes the deputy mayoress. Every May, a long-serving city councillor is appointed mayor for the upcoming act as an ambassador for the city and chair full council and citizenship ceremonies, and frequently visit events within the Fox has previously held the titles of mayoress and deputy will support Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice and Peterborough Area Down's Syndrome Group as her chosen Fox said: "The reason I chose Peterborough Area Down's Syndrome Group is because they are very close to our hearts."When I was part of a charity with John called the Rudolf Fund some time ago, we took quite a few children with Down's Syndrome on our trips to Disneyland Paris. We have been in touch with them and their parents since then, by doing Mr and Mrs Claus at their Christmas party each year."They are a very successful group but are not funded, so have to rely on donations and fundraising events."She added: "I have chosen Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice as one of my charities because it is close to the hearts of my daughter Rachel and myself."Many residents in Peterborough will have had some connections with them and will know just how much they mean to the families of their loved ones in their time of need." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Councillor for 21-years to become new mayor of Peterborough
A councillor who has represented a ward for 21 years has been appointed as mayor of a Fox, a Peterborough First independent councillor at Peterborough City Council, will be the first female to become mayor of Peterborough since told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It means a lot to me really because I'm representing the city of which I was born and bred in."She will take over the position from Marco Cereste, a Conservative councillor at the authority, during a meeting on Monday. Fox, who represents Werrington, will become the 138th mayor of Peterborough, and will follow in the footsteps of her husband, John Fox, who served as mayor from Fox said he was "really chuffed" for his said she felt "very honoured" to become the new mayor. "I'm looking forward to it because I'm Peterborian through and through."I feel really excited about the year and I've got a few invites already," she to the Local Democracy Reporting Service she said she was keen to work with all the communities in Peterborough. What does the mayor of Peterborough do? The mayor of Peterborough is a very different role to the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined mayor of the combined authority, which is currently Paul Bristow, receives a salary and is responsible for areas such as transport, skills, business support and May of each year, a long-serving Peterborough councillor is appointed as the mayor of Peterborough, with their term of office lasting for one role acts as a politically impartial chair of the authority, making sure that proper conduct takes place during full-council are also invited to attend community and fundraising events held for the mayor's charities, which they choose at the start of the civic year. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Peterborough city councillor returns as group leader
A councillor who stood down as group leader of Peterborough First earlier this year has returned to the role. Mohammed Farooq took over leadership from Chris Harper in October 2024 after Harper spent two years in Farooq has now decided to step down, with Harper reselected by his colleagues to become their leader after the group's AGM, he said he was "delighted and truly honoured" to reassume the position. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I take over from Cllr Farooq who did a great job and will stay within the group to support us."What I would say to people is watch this space, as there are big things coming for Peterborough First."We've established ourselves as opposition but we don't just want to remain as opposition. "We are willing to stand up and be counted, but to do that we need new people."One of our major goals is to start the recruitment process for, if it happens, the 2026 elections. We will be looking to recruit the right type of people to push our numbers up."Our goal is to run this council. It's as simple as that."City council elections are scheduled for May 2026, however there is uncertainty about whether they will go ahead due to the re-organisation of local is a possibility Peterborough City Council may have to combine with other neighbouring authorities. Farooq, a former leader of the city council, took over as group leader last October due to Harper's other said it was "absolutely great news" he was back in charge of the group."Chris has always been our leader," he said."He came off because his work commitments were very busy last year so I came in and covered for him. We are all very great friends in the group."Now his work commitments have reduced a bit so I asked him to come and take over."Farooq said it was a "privilege" to lead the group and wished Harper the best for the future. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds of jobs promised as part of gas upgrade
The industry minister said plans to build state-of-the art gas equipment in a city would create hundreds of jobs for local people. On a visit to Peterborough, Sarah Jones said the city would be "at the heart" of multimillion-pound plans to build new gas turbine compressor sets, which provide gas to power stations and businesses. National Gas, a listed company that transports gas, plans to install new equipment at its facility north-west of the city by 2030. Jon Butterworth, chief executive at the firm, said: "This investment will allow our world-class gas national transmission system to maintain Great Britain's energy security." It also plans to install new equipment at sites in St Fergus, Aberdeenshire and Wormington, Gloucestershire, at a total cost of £350m. Gas turbine compressor sets work by pressurising gas, which is then provided to power stations, industries and businesses using a network of 5,000 miles (8,000km) of pipes. The new compressors can mix natural gas with hydrogen, which is cleaner, and are meant to emit less carbon than older equipment. On a tour of Peterborough's compressor station, Jones said the current compressors being used were very old and needed replacing by skilled workers. "We're talking hundreds of jobs that will be secured here in Peterborough," she said. "I very much hope that people in Peterborough will be able to take advantage of this investment, these jobs, and the training and apprenticeships that will be delivered." Jones insisted that the facility on Lincoln Road, between Glinton and Werrington, would be a positive thing for residents. "I don't think there will be any increased traffic or any concerns with safety whatsoever," she said. "I can reassure people on that - National Gas absolutely know what they are doing." National Gas has confirmed 1,000 roles would be created across the three sites being given new equipment. Neil Boyce, a Peterborough First councillor for Glinton and Castor, said: "We have yet to see details of the local element of this proposed scheme, so we need to have a better idea of what effect it might have on the infrastructure of nearby villages." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. US-based Posh fan prepares to watch Wembley final Doctors honoured for pregnancy and baby loss care Closing vulnerable adults' hub 'will destroy them' National Gas
