Two community leaders have been appointed to chair new boards which are being set up to deliver lasting change in two areas of Peterborough.
Back in January, the city MPs and council appealed for applicants to to chair new Neighbourhood Boards covering Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland and Orton Malborne and Orton Goldhay.
The boards will give residents the chance to spearhead regeneration in their local area after £40 million was pledged for community enhancement in Peterborough as part of the government’s Pride in Place initiative, following a campaign by the city’s MPs, Sam Carling and Andrew Pakes.
The council and local MPs have appointed Jonathan Jelley MBE JP to chair the Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland Board, and Ejaz Moghul to chair the Orton Malborne and Goldhay Board.
Officers are currently working with the new chairs to agree a process for recruiting Neighbourhood Board members and wider engagement with communities which will be announced shortly.
Paston, Gunthorpe and Dogsthorpe Board appointment
Jonathan Jelley MBE JP said: "I am honoured to chair the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland. This role is about far more than overseeing investment — it is about putting local people at the heart of decisions that shape their lives. These communities have proud histories, strong identities and real potential, and their future must be guided by the voices of those who live and work here.
"My commitment as Chair is to bring people together — residents, community groups, partners and public services — to listen, work collaboratively, and ensure decisions reflect what matters most locally.
"This programme gives us the chance to invest not only in places, but in people, opportunity and pride, leaving a lasting legacy the community can see, feel and be proud of."
Andrew Pakes MP said: “This £20 million fund is transformative for Paston, Gunthorpe and parts of Dogsthorpe with the opportunity not just to invest in the area but also to involve the community in deciding how it is spent.
“I’d like to welcome Jonathan as our new independent chair, and I am looking forward to working with him as we recruit for community members of the board over the coming months.
“Pride in Place is about giving power to local people who know best what needs to change in their area.”
Orton Board appointment
Ejaz Moghul said: “I would like to thank the Pride in Peterborough selection panel for giving me the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Neighbourhood Board. I am deeply honoured to take on this role and to support the Orton community as we work together to ensure the £20 million PIP investment delivers meaningful, lasting benefits.
"My priority is to understand the real concerns, aspirations, and everyday experiences of people across the Ortons. By listening closely and grounding our decisions in what matters most to residents, the board can focus its discussions on the issues that will make the greatest difference.
"I look forward to working with local partners and the community to help the Ortons grow into a vibrant place where opportunities are accessible, and futures can be built from within.”
Sam Carling MP said: “This £20 million Pride in Place funding from the Government will provide a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and make Orton Malborne and Goldhay the best possible places to live, work and grow up in.
“I am confident that Ejaz will be a brilliant advocate for everyone in Orton and look forward to working with him to deliver real lasting benefits from this investment.”
Councillor Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “I am delighted that we have appointed two well respected community leaders as our new Neighbourhood Board Chairs. Both Jonathan and Ejaz have the knowledge, skills, passion and commitment to ensure this huge investment in our city is well spent and leads to lasting change for our communities.
“I am now looking forward to seeing the boards set up and make a positive difference. Pride in Place is another sign that our progressive government is fully committed to making lasting improvements to communities, enhancing people’s everyday lives for years to come.”
Pride in Place is aimed at putting power into the hands of local people in some of the most in-need neighbourhoods across the UK, so that they can decide how to regenerate their local area. It gives communities control of £2m every year for the next 10 years, to be spent on projects that will make a real difference to the areas they live.
The chairs will bring together residents, community organisations, businesses and public partners to co-create a long-term Pride in Place Plan for the area. The boards will also have members made up of people who live and work in the neighbourhood or local community.