The leader of Peterborough City Council, Dr Shabina Qayyum, announced her new cabinet for the 2026-27 year at the Annual Council meeting on 18 May 2026. This team will guide council decisions as the local authority continues to operate under no overall control, following the results of the May 2026 local elections.
Councillor Qayyum, the first female leader of the council since 1999, is heading a coalition that includes members from the Labour Party, Peterborough First, and the Liberal Democrats. The 10-member cabinet features five Labour members, three from Peterborough First, and two from the Liberal Democrats, supported by two cabinet advisors. Councillor Neil Boyce of Peterborough First has been appointed as deputy leader and will continue to lead the council’s work in adult services.
As part of the leadership team’s strategy, the council has introduced new cabinet roles focused on specific community needs. These include a dedicated member for the environment, a lead for growth and regeneration, and a role focused on public health, homelessness, and poverty. Councillor Qayyum stated that the cabinet will focus on protecting frontline services, driving economic growth, supporting vulnerable residents, and improving the environment across the city.
The cabinet’s formation follows local elections that left the council with no single party in control. The current political makeup of the council includes nine Independents, 13 Conservatives, 11 Labour, eight Liberal Democrats, eight Peterborough First, six Green Party, and five Reform UK councillors.
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