Agenda item
LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS - APPOINTMENT OF CABINET AND APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LEADER
Minutes:
Councillor Phil Davies, having been elected Leader of the Council, gave an acceptance speech and thanked the outgoing Leader, Councillor Jeff Green, for his services to Wirral during his tenure.
Councillor Davies indicated that he would take on the portfolio of Finance, with key responsibility for the Budget. He confirmed the appointment of Councillor Ann McLachlan as Deputy Leader of the Council, who would take on a new portfolio of Improvement and Governance. Councillor George Davies would take on the portfolio of Housing and Community Safety and, in the light of the heavy workload ahead, would also serve as second deputy. The full list of Cabinet appointments were as follows:
Portfolio |
Councillor |
Party |
Address |
Ward |
|
|
|
|
|
Finance |
Phil Davies Leader of the Council |
Labour |
16 Westbourne Grove West Kirby Wirral CH48 4DL |
Birkenhead and Tranmere |
Improvement and Governance |
Ann McLachlan Deputy Leader |
Labour |
6 The Pier Watersedge Apartments Tower Promenade Wallasey Wirral CH45 2PP |
Bidston and St James |
Housing and Community Safety |
George Davies |
Labour |
46 Shamrock Road Claughton Birkenhead Wirral CH41 0EQ |
Claughton |
Corporate Resources |
Adrian Jones |
Labour |
10 Elmswood Road Seacombe Wallasey Wirral CH44 8DB |
Seacombe |
Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning |
Tony Smith |
Labour |
27 South Drive Upton Wirral CH49 6LA |
Upton |
Adult Social Care and Public Health |
Anne McArdle |
Labour |
6 Bangor Road Wallasey Wirral CH45 8JD |
Leasowe and Moreton East |
Environment |
Brian Kenny |
Labour |
24 South Drive Upton Wirral CH49 6LA |
Birkenhead and Tranmere |
Culture, Leisure and Tourism |
Chris Meaden |
Labour |
19 Inglemere Road Rock Ferry Birkenhead Wirral CH42 4QL |
Rock Ferry |
Regeneration and Planning Strategy |
Pat Hackett |
Labour |
7 Wood Lane Wallasey Wirral CH45 8QP |
New Brighton |
Streetscene and Transport Services |
Harry Smith |
Labour |
25 Holmlands Drive Oxton Birkenhead Wirral CH43 OQY |
Bidston and St James |
Councillor Davies outlined his intention to review and update the detailed responsibilities of each portfolio and also to reallocate the responsibilities currently within the Community and Customer Engagement portfolio. He commented that some responsibilities may be shared between all portfolios, but there would be specific responsibilities; for example, for equalities, for consultation and for Mayoral Services, that would need to be specifically allocated to an individual portfolio. He would also ensure that each portfolio represented, where necessary, new duties as well as established ones to truly reflect the operation of the Council in the coming years. The revised portfolios and any amended titles would be circulated as soon as they were completed.
He confirmed also that the Scheme of Delegation of functions to Officers as far as it related to Executive functions would continue.
In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Davies proposed to establish a Leaders’ Board, to include all three Group Leaders, with a view to bringing much needed stability to the Council. He also set out the key priorities for his administration, which included a need to make rapid progress on the improvement agenda and to make progress on Members’ Training and Development. He confirmed his commitment to the Skills Wirral Programme and indicated his continued support for the Democracy Working Group.
Councillor Davies commented that a key priority was the creation and retention of jobs. He recognised the value of Council staff and he praised both officers and Members for their lobbying to secure the future of Vauxhalls in Ellesmere Port. He commented also that the party leaders would be visiting China in the coming days to finalise the agreement for the International Trade Centre, which would see the largest Chinese investment to date in the UK.
Resolved – That the Leader’s comments and Cabinet appointments be noted.