Peterborough First plans motion to oust Labour administration
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.
'We are confident'
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."
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