The new leader of Peterborough City Council has unveiled her Cabinet team and pledged to tackle financial pressures, rising demand for services and regeneration challenges facing the city. At the authority’s Annual Council meeting tonight (Monday) Councillor Shabina Qayyum announced the senior councillors who will oversee key services during the 2026/27 municipal year.
Councillor Qayyum confirmed that Councillor Neil Boyce will remain Deputy Leader while retaining responsibility for adult services. Councillor Mohammed Jamil also stays in post as Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Governance, while Councillor Katy Cole continues overseeing children and young people’s services.
Several new appointments and reshaped portfolios were also announced, including the creation of new roles covering the environment and public health.
The updated Cabinet includes Councillor Angus Ellis as Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Christian Hogg as Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and Enforcement, and Councillor Zameer Ali as Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety.
New additions to the Cabinet are Councillor Chris Wiggin as Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Numan Ali Iqbal as Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration, and Councillor Ann Shaheed as Cabinet Member for Public Health, Homelessness and Poverty.
Two cabinet advisers were also appointed, with Councillor Kevin Tighe taking on a growth and regeneration advisory role and Councillor Jade Seagar appointed adviser for environment matters.
Addressing councillors during the meeting, Cllr Qayyum said the authority faced “significant challenges” but also had the opportunity to “lead with purpose” and deliver for communities across Peterborough.
She said: “We face significant challenges — financial pressures, rising demand for services, and the need to continue regenerating our city while protecting what matters most to our residents.
“But we also have a real opportunity: to lead with purpose, to be ambitious, and to deliver for every community across Peterborough.”
The Labour leader said her Cabinet had been built around “strong leadership and accountability”, “collaboration and shared responsibility” and “a clear focus on delivery for residents”.
She added: “We are not here to manage decline. We are here to make a difference.”
Cllr Qayyum said the administration would focus on protecting frontline services, boosting economic growth, improving neighbourhoods and supporting vulnerable residents.
Among the new Cabinet structures is a dedicated environment brief led by Cllr Wiggin, covering climate change, recycling, parks, flood risk management and the council’s wider environmental strategy.
Meanwhile, Cllr Shaheed’s newly created public health and poverty portfolio will oversee health improvement, homelessness prevention, leisure services and work aimed at reducing inequalities across the city.
The growth and regeneration brief handed to Cllr Iqbal includes responsibility for economic development, planning, housing strategy, the city centre, visitor economy and university and adult skills provision.
Transport responsibilities under Cllr Ellis include highways maintenance, drainage, active travel, public transport and parking strategy.
The communities and public safety role led by Cllr Zameer Ali will include community cohesion, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, refugee and asylum issues, libraries and heritage services.
Cllr Hogg’s regulatory services and enforcement brief includes trading standards, environmental health, licensing, housing standards and council-wide enforcement functions such as parking, environmental crime and planning enforcement.
In her speech, Cllr Qayyum stressed that the administration would work “as one team — not in silos”, saying issues such as housing, health, education and community safety required joined-up solutions across departments.
She also said leadership extended beyond the Cabinet table to all councillors, council officers and partner organisations across the city.
“We will only succeed if we work together, listen to each other, and stay focused on what really matters — the people we serve,” she said.
A recording of the Annual Council meeting is available to view on the council’s YouTube channel.
Peterborough City Council Cabinet 2026/27
Councillor Shabina Qayyum – Leader of the Council
Cllr Qayyum leads the Labour administration and is responsible for the council’s overall political leadership and strategic direction. Her portfolio also includes communications and emergency planning.
Councillor Neil Boyce – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Services
A longstanding senior figure within the authority, Cllr Boyce retains responsibility for adult social care, safeguarding adults, mental health partnerships, care commissioning and support services for vulnerable adults and carers.
Councillor Mohammed Jamil – Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Governance
Cllr Jamil continues overseeing the council’s finances at a time of continuing pressure on local authority budgets. His role includes budget strategy, treasury management, audit, procurement and governance.
Councillor Katy Cole – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
Cllr Cole remains responsible for children’s services and education, including safeguarding, SEND provision, school admissions, fostering and adoption, youth services and school attendance.
Councillor Angus Ellis – Cabinet Member for Transport
Cllr Ellis takes on an expanded transport brief, overseeing highways maintenance, drainage, public transport, active travel and parking strategy.
Councillor Christian Hogg – Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and Enforcement
Cllr Hogg’s portfolio covers trading standards, environmental health, licensing, housing standards and enforcement issues ranging from parking to environmental crime.
Councillor Zameer Ali – Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety
Cllr Ali will oversee community cohesion, anti-social behaviour initiatives, domestic abuse services, refugee and asylum support, as well as libraries and heritage services.
Councillor Chris Wiggin – Cabinet Member for Environment
One of the new faces in Cabinet, Cllr Wiggin will lead on climate change policy, recycling and waste, parks and open spaces, flood risk and the council’s wider environmental strategy.
Councillor Numan Ali Iqbal – Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration
Also newly appointed to Cabinet, Cllr Iqbal takes responsibility for economic growth, planning, housing strategy, regeneration projects, the city centre and adult skills and university provision.
Councillor Ann Shaheed – Cabinet Member for Public Health, Homelessness and Poverty
Cllr Shaheed’s newly-created portfolio focuses on reducing inequalities, public health improvement, homelessness prevention and leisure services.
