First of all, on behalf of the council, I would like to wish all of our residents a very Happy New Year.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and the new year brings you everything you have wished for and more.
It’s scary to think that another year is over and looking back 2025 had many highlights, which I’m going to look at in more detail.
One recent memory that I will treasure is seeing so many happy faces at the Christmas lights switch-on in Cathedral Square. It was a magical moment and something that reminded me of the unique privileges of my role as Leader. From the feedback and the turnout it was the best Christmas lights switch on we have ever had in our city.
Giving something back to our strong and diverse communities is one of the reasons I got into politics and something I will always strive to achieve.
The past year is one that I shall look back on with great fondness.
Becoming Council Leader in September was such a proud moment for me. Not just because of the faith that other members showed in me, but because it heralded the dawn of a new era for politics in the city with a coalition of members from Labour, Peterborough First and the Liberal Democrats. This coalition brings to the city the stability we have been crying out for, for so long.
We wanted to hit the ground running as a new collaborative and inclusive administration, and I couldn’t be prouder of the Cabinet Team around me, who have shown their strengths in the portfolios they represent.
I think our progress in the past three months speaks for itself – we've made huge strides on major projects including a new swimming pool and the Station Quarter to name just two.
I am also incredibly proud of having worked closely with our MPs Andrew Pakes and Sam Carling to attract extra funding to Peterborough. Our progressive Labour government is listening to our concerns and enabling us to make positive change.
After years of austerity and neglect under previous governments, we secured a significant funding boost thanks to Labour’s Fair Funding Review. The amount of money the city council has to spend on services will increase by £76m by 2028/29, in comparison to 2025/26 – a rise of 31 per cent and such a sharp contrast to previous Administrations because we have actually fought for our city.
Let’s not forget the £40 million Pride in Place funding, £1.3 million to continue running our successful Family Hubs programme and most recently £20 million committed for the delivery of a new pool.
I firmly believe that 2026 will be another positive year for our wonderful city, we have made some robust decisions, identified issues that came to light as being unlawful under previous administrations and will leave no stone unturned in holding people to account. Mine is an example of an Administration that will not shy away from speaking the truth on matters.
I will be sitting down with officers and members over the coming fortnight to discuss next year’s council elections. This comes after the government wrote to our council, along with several others in the country, inviting our views on proposals to postpone the spring 2026 local elections until 2027. We have until midnight on 15 January to respond.
It would be useful to note that this doesn’t take away our democracy, as nothing has been decided as yet. We would be postponing elections if decided and not cancelling them. Elections cost money and if we do go ahead, those elected in 2026 would be up again for election in 2027. It is of course my personal view that elections should be held every four years, so administrations have the opportunity to prove their worth. This is another reason why there has been so much instability, as we have had elections every year. Something for us to think about moving forward.
The offer has been made as Whitehall looks to prepare for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The government is asking councils whether they feel that a postponement would release capacity to get on with the huge job of LGR.
We welcome the opportunity to set out our views to the Government and will be clarifying our position in due course. A final decision will then be made by the Secretary of State.
On a last note, I would really like to pay tribute to Councillor Nick Thulbourn, who we sadly lost before Christmas. Entering 2026 with the loss of a colleague as wonderful as Nick will be difficult. Nick was a dedicated servant of the people and loved his family and Grandchildren. His funeral took place on Monday where I had the honour of remembering him as no doubt others will in our city. I would be grateful if you could join me in sending our deepest thoughts to his family at this time and that we will always remember him and carry on his legacy.
Council Leader Shabina Qayyum