In May of each year, a long serving councillor is appointed as the Mayor of Peterborough. Their term of office lasts for one year and runs from May to May.
The Mayor is the first citizen of the city. This means that only HM King Charles III, members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant take precedence over the Mayor at events in the city.
The role of Mayor
Although the powers of the Mayor have reduced over the years, the role retains its importance.
The Mayor is seen as a symbol of continuity, a recognisable and ever-present factor in people’s experiences, effectively connecting the present with the past. It is also a symbol of an open society as the choice of Mayor is no longer restricted. The first citizen can, and does, come from any class, gender or ethnic background.
The Mayor also has a key democratic role to play. After being chosen and appointed by councillors, they act as a politically impartial chairman of Peterborough City Council, making sure that proper conduct takes place in the Council Chamber during meetings.
Another key role of the Mayor is to act as an ambassador for the city, locally, nationally and internationally. As Peterborough’s first citizen, the Mayor is expected to speak and act for all the diverse communities in the city. The Mayor also takes the lead in highlighting causes and helping members of the community receive the recognition they deserve.
It is probably the Mayor’s civic role that residents are the most familiar with. The Mayor is frequently invited to attend events in the community, such as openings and fundraising events organised by voluntary organisations. Fundraising events are also held for the Mayor’s charities, which the Mayor chooses as the start of the civic year.
The Mayor and Consort
Councillor Chris Harper was elected as Mayor of Peterborough at the Annual Council meeting on 18 May 2026.
Rita Harper is Mayoress for the 2026/27 term of office.
“I am really looking forward to my time as Mayor, it’s a great honour and would like to thank my fellow councillors for electing me to this prestigious role. I’ve always enjoyed meeting the many wonderful people who help make our historic city tick and being Mayor will give me a further chance to do this, which I'm relishing.”
- Councillor Chris Harper, Mayor of Peterborough
The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress
The Deputy Mayor is Councillor Andrew Bond and Councillor Jade Seager will be Deputy Mayoress.
Invite the Mayor to an event
The Mayor frequently visits a wide variety of different events within the community, from school visits and coffee mornings to formal dinners and ceremonies.
If you would like to invite the Mayor to an event you’re hosting, please visit our invite the Mayor to an event page. You can also find guidance notes for organisers on the same page.
The Mayor's charities
Councillor Harper will support the following charities during his 12 months as Mayor:
- Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- Peterborough Women's Aid
- Little Miracles
Protocol on selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor
In May of each year, we compile a list of serving councillors and order them according to their seniority - i.e. the actual number of years served by each councillor. This is regardless of any breaks in their service.
The councillor at the top of the list of seniority will be eligible for the role of Mayor. This is provided that they have not previously served as Mayor.
A councillor may opt to decline the offer of the position of Mayor. If a councillor does accept the role, a proposer will be sought to nominate the councillor at the Annual Council Mayor Making Meeting.
Neither the Leader of the Council nor any Cabinet Member can be elected as Mayor or Deputy Mayor.
The selection of the Deputy Mayor will be undertaken in accordance with the order of seniority list, following the same procedure for the selection of Mayor.
View the protocol on selecting a Mayor in Part 5 Section 8 of our Constitution on the Democracy Peterborough website.
Selection of Mayoress or Mayor's Consort
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor can both choose a Mayoress or a Consort for the year. This is normally their spouse or partner, but can be any person aged 18+. It's not compulsory to have a Mayoress or Consort. The person who becomes Mayor or Deputy Mayor may choose not to appoint anyone to assist them.