Telford & Wrekin Council elects new leader and cabinet appointed
Telford & Wrekin Council has formally elected a new Council leader, while a new deputy leader and seven strong cabinet have been appointed.
Cllr Kuldip Sahota, ward member for Malinslee, was elected the new Council leader following the Labour Party becoming the controlling group of the Council after the local elections on May 5.
At last night’s Annual Council Meeting, Cllr Sahota then appointed a new deputy leader Cllr Richard Overton and seven councillors to the following cabinet responsibilities:
Deputy Leader - Cllr Richard Overton
Adult and Social Care - Cllr Liz Clare
Children, Young People and Families - Cllr Paul Watling
Co-operative Council and Partnership - Cllr Shaun Davies
Environment, Transport and Community Protection - Cllr Hilda Rhodes
Health, Wellbeing and Leisure - Cllr Arnold England
Housing, Regeneration & Economic Development - Cllr Charles Smith
Resources & Service Delivery - Cllr Bill McClements
There are also two unpaid support roles:
Communications, Public Relations & Marketing - Cllr Clive Elliott
Cabinet Liaison Officer - Cllr Angela McClements
Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “The people of Telford and Wrekin have given us a very clear mandate to deliver on their behalf and I give my commitment that we will strive to do that.
“We are committed to working even more closely with our communities to listen to their views and needs at every stage and to together make Telford and Wrekin the best place it can possibly be.
“There are many challenges ahead. Yes, we face unprecedented cuts in Government grants for councils over the next three years.
“But we have a great opportunity to make a very real difference and approach this in a fresh way as a co-operative council. This will begin with an emergency budget this summer which will start to highlight the very different approach we will take.
“I am very excited for the future and the chance that we have been given by the people of the borough to make a difference to the way this Council and public services here operate and in the cabinet appointed tonight, we have a right mix of fresh ideas and experience to help us achieve this.”
The political make up of Telford & Wrekin Council following elections earlier this month is Labour 33, Conservative 17, Liberal Democrat 3, Independent 1.
