Peterborough city councillors have indicated a preference to merge with parts of western Huntingdonshire if local government is reorganised into larger unitary authorities. The government has directed councils in England to consolidate, aiming for new authorities with at least 500,000 residents each.
A majority of councillors in Peterborough voted in favour of “Option D”, which would combine the city with western Huntingdonshire, while creating two other councils covering Greater Cambridge and Mid Cambridgeshire. The council’s ruling cabinet is expected to make a final decision in the coming days before submitting their preferred option to central government, which will have the ultimate authority on which structure is implemented.
Five options are under consideration by the seven councils that make up Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Option A would merge Peterborough with Huntingdonshire and Fenland, leaving Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, and South Cambridgeshire in a second unitary authority.
Option B would pair Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, and Huntingdonshire, with Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire forming another.
Option C combines Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, and Fenland, while Cambridge, Huntingdonshire, and South Cambridgeshire would form the second.
Option D places Peterborough with parts of western Huntingdonshire, leaving eastern Huntingdonshire, Fenland, and East Cambridgeshire together, and Cambridge with South Cambridgeshire as the third authority.
Option E keeps Huntingdonshire as one council, Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire in another, and Peterborough, Fenland, and East Cambridgeshire in a third.
At a meeting on 12 November, councillors from Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party groups, as well as some Peterborough First members and independents, backed Option D, emphasising its ability to preserve Peterborough’s identity. Conservative councillors and some Peterborough First members argued for Option A, highlighting financial advantages.
Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of the Conservative group, described the local government reorganisation process as a “farce” and claimed Option D, promoted by Labour MPs Andrew Pakes and Sam Carling, was being pursued for “political purposes”. Peterborough First councillor Gavin Elsey added: “It’s really disappointing that when we have this opportunity to restructure.. we’ve only looked inside Cambridgeshire.”
Labour council leader Shabina Qayyum dismissed the accusations, calling them “insulting”. The final submission from the local authority must be made to the government by 28 November, setting the stage for the next phase of the reorganisation process.
