Telford & Wrekin Council makes cabinet roles changes
A number of cabinet roles on Telford & Wrekin Council are set to change this week to reflect the council’s drive for jobs and growth and its new public health responsibilities.
The cabinet is being refocused to promote economic growth and public health and tackle unemployment.
Council Leader Kuldip Sahota said: “This cabinet has achieved a huge amount in our first two years, has done some excellent work and through our co-operative approach has laid some very strong foundations to achieve our vision for the borough.
“As a co-operative council, we are absolutely focused on our key priorities - attracting new jobs, investment and growth to this borough. Our business supporting and business winning drive give us great opportunities, which we must now exploit to the full.
“At the same time we must also address the long-standing challenges we face around reducing unemployment, particularly for young people, and improving skills; tackling health inequalities, including the new key public health role we have just taken on, and narrowing the gap between the most affluent and most deprived parts of the borough; while ensuring the Council is customer-focused and makes every contact count.
“These changes will ensure we are best placed to deliver on our vision.”
The new cabinet responsibilities are:
Cllr Kuldip Sahota, Council leader
- Leads on lobbying Government, long term vision for the borough and partnership working, tackling youth unemployment, Communications, Democratic Services and People Services
Cllr Richard Overton, Deputy leader and Cabinet member for Public Health and Public Protection.
- Leads on Public Protection, Health & wellbeing, public health and wider health services, performance management and Ironbridge Gorge instability issues.
Cllr Liz Clare, Cabinet member Leisure Services & Culture
- Leads on sports and leisure, sport development, arts and culture including Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, parks and play areas
Cllr Shaun Davies, Cabinet member Neighbourhood Services, Employment & Skills
- Leads on environmental and highway maintenance, social regeneration in targeted intervention areas, co-operative council development, parish and town council, voluntary sector and AFC Telford United links. This is the main Cabinet role responsible for job creation, working with the Leader to reduce youth and long-term unemployment.
Cllr Arnold England, Cabinet member Adult Social Care
- Leads on older people’s services, service for adults with learning disabilities, safeguarding adults, supporting carers and Home Improvement Agency
Cllr Bill McClements, Cabinet member Finance & Enterprise
- Leads on the Council’s commercial drive, economic development, Telford town centre development, tourism and Destination Telford, finance, property management, finance and financial strategy
Cllr Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member Customer Service, Libraries and Transport
- Leads on customer services, libraries, ICT, benefits and welfare reforms, public transport and car parking, community cohesion and crime reduction
Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet member Housing, Development and Borough Towns Development
- Leads on borough town development, housing growth and strategy, housing needs, planning and conservation and rural policy
Cllr Paul Watling, Cabinet member Children, Young People & Families
- Education attainment, BSF, Early years and Childcare, family Connect, Safeguarding Children, Youth Services and Youth Offending
The cabinet posts will be confirmed at the Council’s annual meeting on May 23.
