City councillor steps down as group leader

Chris Harper was re-elected as a councillor for Stanground South in Peterborough in May

The leader of the Peterborough First group has announced he is stepping down from the role.

Chris Harper said he had many other commitments, including working full-time, and wanted to stop spreading himself "too thinly".

The party is the second biggest at Peterborough City Council, which is currently run by a Labour minority.

Its new leader will be elected at an "imminent group meeting", he said.

Chris Harper said he had too many other commitments to carry on in the leadership role

For a period of time between last November and the local elections in May, Peterborough First was the ruling party on the council.

It currently has 14 councillors.

In a statement, Mr Harper said the role demanded "a great deal more time to ensure our group are serving the Peterborough residents as an effective opposition".

He added he would continue as chair of the planning committee - work that "has increased substantially" in the past year.

He will also be joining the corporate parenting committee, which supports the council's work for young people in care.

In his resignation speech, he said: "It has been an honour to be the group leader and to see our group grow in the last few years, from our initial four councillors to the 14 we see in the chamber today.

"The new leader will have my full support as we continue to fulfil our promise of putting the people of our city before politics."