Yahoo News Solihull Council leader announces top team for year ahead
The leader of Solihull Council has named his top team for the year ahead. Coun Ian Courts, who heads up the Conservative-run authority, also showed the strength of the Tories' increased majority at the first full council meeting held since May’s elections.
The leader announced there would be no new members of cabinet sitting alongside him at the top table - but there has been a rejig in roles. Coun Courts explained: “I wanted to go for a minimum change year - this year I wanted to see stability.”
Councillor Karen Grinsell continues as deputy leader of the council but will serve as lead member for children and education. The leader announced Coun Grinsell will take on the whole of the children’s services portfolio having previously done part of it.
READ MORE: Solihull Council full election results as Conservatives buck national trend
This is one of the authority’s key portfolios as work continues to improve services following an Ofsted report, in January 2023, which said children in Solihull were not getting the help they needed. “I have been involved in this improvement journey, that isn’t going to stop,” the leader said at the Civic Suite meeting on Wednesday, (May 15).
Councillor Tony Diccico is to continue as cabinet portfolio holder for adult social care and health. His work will include ongoing commitments to tackle health inequalities in Solihull and suicide preventation work.
Councillor Ken Hawkins is to continue as cabinet portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure - the leader calling it the “front line for some of the day-to-day services to the public”. Among the issues that portfolio covers is air quality monitoring, graffiti and littering.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz has the cabinet portfolio holder for climate change and planning. One of the key parts of that portfolio is work on climate change - the council having a net zero commitment before 2030 and a target for the borough to reach net zero emissions by 2041. Announcing him the leader said: “Our action on climate change will not slacken”.
Councillor Mark Parker is cabinet portfolio holder for housing. A key issue for him will be the building of more new affordable homes as Solihull is recognised as having one of the most severe housing affordability problems in the West Midlands. Other appointments saw Councillor Michael Gough named cabinet portfolio holder for the newly created role of employment, skills and inclusion; Councillor Wazma Qais as cabinet portfolio holder for communities and leisure and former leader Councillor Bob Sleigh as cabinet portfolio holder for resources.
Meanwhile at the meeting the Conservatives used their power during key votes. After gaining the seat of Shirley West the Tories came out the election with an increased majority of 30 with the Greens on 11, Liberal Democrats on 8, Labour on 1 and one independent.
During the meeting the Greens and Liberal Democrats nominated their own candidates to be appointed to outside bodies including the Schools Forum, the Shirley Centre Community Association and West Midlands Combined Authority's transport delivery overview and scrutiny committee. But the Conservatives group had nominated their own candidates leading to them being contested.
13 votes took place with the Tories using their increased majority to ensure their candidates were appointed to each one.
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