Labour Group Leader, Councillor Shabina Qayyum, has been elected Leader of Peterborough City Council following today’s Extraordinary Council meeting.
Councillor Qayyum and Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, both received nominations for Leader, at the meeting at Sand Martin House. The meeting was called following the resignation of Councillor Dennis Jones as Leader last week.
Cllr Qayyum received 37 votes, Councillor Fitzgerald 12 votes and four councillors abstained from the vote.
Councillor Quayyum is the first woman to hold the post since 1999.
Her deputy will be Councillor Mohammed Farooq of Peterborough First.
Councillor Qayyum announced details of her Cabinet, a Labour-led coalition, which includes five Labour members, three Peterborough First members and two Liberal Democrats.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Qayyum, said: “I’m delighted to have been elected as Peterborough City Council’s New Leader after the vote at the Extraordinary Meeting that was held today.
“We have been elected as a Labour-Led coalition formed with the Peterborough First Group of Independents and the Liberal Democrat Group on the council.
“Our objectives are clear, we are going to hit the ground running to continue the business of the council in a new, collaborative and inclusive administration that will bring with it the stability our city so needs.
“I am delighted to welcome Councillor Mohammed Farooq as the new Deputy Leader of the council and after much discussion over the last few days, we have come to an agreement on how to run our city.
“I am proud of the cabinet we have formed, which will bring experience in all areas. Our focus will be on driving the city’s economy and development and submitting our case for Local Government Reform. Our city is one of the fastest growing in the country, we will keep its unique characteristics and residents at the heart of all the decisions we undertake.
“We will drive our ambitions for the city forward with a renewed culture; exercising good examples in public life of behaviour to restore your faith in politicians once again.
“As the first female leader of the council after 26 years, I’m proud of the increasing number of women across the chamber who have been elected to serve.”
Councillor Qayyum also announced her Cabinet portfolios, which are as follows:
Councillor Mohammed Farooq (Peterborough First) – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration
Councillor Mohammed Jamil (Labour) - Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Governance
Councillor Katy Cole (Labour) – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
Councillor Angus Ellis (Labour) - Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
Councillor Neil Boyce (Labour) - Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Councillor Christian Hogg (Lib Dem) - Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services
Councillor Zameer Ali (Labour) - Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health
Councillor Ray Bisby (Peterborough First), Cabinet Advisor to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Governance.
Councillor Chris Wiggin (Liberal Democrat), Cabinet Advisor to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services.
The first public meeting of the new Cabinet will take place on Tuesday 30 September. The agenda for the meeting will be published on Monday 22 September.