Residents' views sought on shaping city's future

Peterborough City Council launched the six-week Shaping Our City consultation this week

A financially-strapped council is seeking residents' views on where it should spend money over the next three years.

Peterborough City Council has launched the "Shaping Our City" consultation to review its Corporate Strategy, with topics including the Economy and Inclusive Growth, Creating a Sustainable Future and Children and Young People.

It follows challenges faced by the council including a 40% rise in homelessness in the last two years, a £1.1m increase in school transport funding, a growing demand for adult social care and a possible £24.3m budget gap.

The council said a review of the strategy was necessary to make sure it could deliver the priorities within the available budget.

'Cannot deliver everything'

Mohammed Jamil, Labour cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, said: "The council is currently facing an in-year overspend of around £10m and we are estimating that the budget gap in 2025-26 could range between £13.2m and £24.3m.

"This means that the council needs to be more precise about how it spends its limited budget, and clear with residents about where our focus will be placed over the next three years.

"In fact, we will be as bold to say that due to our funding pressures, we cannot deliver everything we used to."

Dennis Jones, leader of Peterborough City Council, said the authority was operating in a "challenging" environment

Dennis Jones, Labour leader of the council, said: "The environment in which we are operating is challenging and ever-changing. Any business must change and adapt to survive in those conditions, and we are no different.

"Please get involved - your views will then be considered by Cabinet at a meeting in December, as part of the process to agree our new Corporate Strategy and our budget for 2025-26 and beyond."

The six-week consultation runs until 27 October.