Latest news with #PeterboroughCouncil
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Peterborough's Labour administration survives no confidence vote
A Labour-run city council has held onto its leadership after surviving a motion of no confidence First leader Chris Harper put forward the motion after forming an alliance with the Liberal Democrat and Green Party a meeting on Wednesday, 26 councillors voted for the motion while 32 councillors voted against, and one abstained. Speaking after the vote, Labour leader Dennis Jones told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was "humbled" by the support he received. "Yes, there's an element of relief but I was always hoping that common sense would prevail."I just feel we're on the right track and I want to take all 60 councillors with this administration for the thing we're all elected to do: for the people of Peterborough." 'Common ground' The motion argued that a reduction in Labour group members since last year's election by two had "led opposition members to doubting the capacity of the administration to effectively deliver".Before the vote, Conservative group leader Wayne Fitzgerald said the motion was "bizarre" and that Jones had done a "pretty good job" as said Peterborough First had found "much common ground" with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party, and urged members to vote for the Peterborough First councillor, Mark Ormston, resigned from the group before the full meeting and abstained from voting, meaning he is now an independent will continue to hold its minority administration since taking charge in May council is made up of 17 Labour councillors, 12 Peterborough First councillors, 11 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, seven independents and five Green Party councillors. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Peterborough Conservatives given choice over no confidence vote
Conservatives on a Labour-led city council have been told they are free to vote either way on a motion of no confidence in its leadership.A minority Labour administration leads Peterborough City Council, but an alliance of three parties – Peterborough First, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party – wants to take current Labour leader, Dennis Jones, called the move a "politically-motivated back room plot".Wayne Fitzgerald, the leader of the Conservative group on the city council, said the council's 11 Tory members would be free to "vote as they will" when the motion goes out to a vote on Wednesday. He said: "We don't whip people per se, we reach consensus."The council is made up of 17 Labour councillors, 13 Peterborough First councillors, 11 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, six independent councillors and five Green Party the motion was voted through, a Peterborough First councillor would be put forward to become the new leader. Jones has been leader of the council since May 2024, when Labour won the most seats to form a minority said he was "incredibly proud" of the work Peterborough Labour had done so far. Christian Hogg, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said Labour controlled just a "small percentage of the council".He said the coalition with Peterborough First and the Greens included a broad range of opinions, adding: "We are a spectrum of political views and that makes for better decision-making."Heather Skibsted, leader of the Green Party group, said she was "reasonably confident" ahead of Wednesday's vote."We've got more numbers and therefore represent more of the city's residents." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'No confidence' motion published ahead of Peterborough meeting
A motion of no confidence in a city council's minority Labour administration has been published ahead of a meeting next week. An alliance of three parties on Peterborough City Council - Peterborough First, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party - wants to takeover the motion, to be voted on at a full council meeting on 18 June, states a reduction in Labour group members has left opponents "doubting the capacity of the administration to effectively deliver".Dennis Jones, the council's Labour leader, dubbed it a "politically motivated back-room plot", adding: "Their actions do nothing but risk throwing Peterborough back into instability and chaos." Jones became the leader in May 2024 - the first time in more than 25 years a Labour councillor had headed the city council. Deciding vote Peterborough City Council is made up of 17 Labour ,13 Peterborough First, 11 Conservative, eight Liberal Democrat, six independent and five Green Party the Conservative group deciding not to join the alliance, next week's vote is expected to be close, according to the Local Democracy Reporting leader of the Peterborough First group is expected to takeover if the motion is passed. If it is a draw, a deciding vote will be cast by Mayor Judy Fox or Deputy Mayor Peter Hiller, both Peterborough First councillors. It would not be the first time that Peterborough First have taken control of the authority.A vote of no confidence saw former Conservative councillor and leader Wayne Fitzgerald ousted in November 2023. The latest motion states: "This council has lost confidence in the current administration."It adds: "Members of the Peterborough First, Liberal Democrat and Green groups have decided to form an alliance to provide an administration that works across party lines to take advantage of the skills and experience in each group and to increase transparency and collaborative working [with] all parties represented on the council to help meet the challenges and opportunities that the council faces."In order to achieve this [the] council is now calling for the removal of the current leader, so that it can consider an alternative leader." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
