Two Cardiff councillors have stepped up from the backbenches to join Cardiff Council’s Cabinet as part of a reshuffle announced by council leader, Cllr Huw Thomas.
Cllr Thomas announced the reshuffle today,
Thursday May 2, after he was re-elected leader of the Labour Group at its AGM
earlier this week. The changes to Cabinet, which include bringing some
portfolios together, and creating more job-sharing Cabinet posts, will be
brought to Cardiff Council’s AGM on May 23 for ratification.
In April, Cllr Caro Wild announced he was
standing down as Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change to pursue
new projects.
As part of an extended portfolio Cllr Dan
De’Ath will take over responsibility for Climate Change and One Planet Cardiff
alongside his current Strategic Planning and Transport brief.
Cllr Norma Mackie will stand down as Cabinet
Member for Adult Services to focus on Waste Management, Highways Maintenance,
and Shared Regulatory Services.
Cllr Leonora Thomson and Cllr Lee Bridgeman
will step up to join the Cabinet for the first time. Cllr Thomson, who
represents Riverside, will be given the Adult Social Services brief, in a new
shared Cabinet Portfolio which will include Public Health and Equalities, which
will continue to be led by Cllr Julie Sangani.
Cllr Lee Bridgeman, who represents Llanrumney,
will be given part of the Housing and Communities Portfolio job sharing with
Cllr Lynda Thorne. Cllr Thorne will continue to lead the Housing Programme,
while Cllr Bridgeman will focus on Community Hubs and Regeneration.
The Children’s Social Services, and the
Tackling Poverty and Youth Services portfolio, will be brought together and job
shared by Cllr Ash Lister and Cllr Peter Bradbury, who have been managing these
areas.
Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas,
said: “Firstly, I want to put on record my thanks to Caro for his sterling work
over the past seven years. He has played a key role driving forward the One
Planet agenda and I know we all wish him the very best in his new venture.
“I would also like to thank the Labour Group
for the honour of appointing me to continue in my role as Leader of Cardiff
Council. I am proud of all the work that the administration has delivered in
the past seven years, and although there are many challenges to come, we will
continue to serve the communities that elected us with our ambitious plans for
the city.
“I’m also grateful to Lynda who, by mutual
agreement, will transfer into a job-share role, so that she can pass on her
experience and knowledge whilst retaining a focus on delivering the Housing
Programme.
“I’m delighted to welcome Lee and Leo into
Cabinet for the first time. Lee will job share with Lynda, taking the lead on
the Community Hubs and Regeneration side of that portfolio. Leo will hold
responsibility for Adult Social Services, in a shared portfolio with Public
Health and Equalities, which is still held by Julie.
“The remaining job-shared elements –
Children’s Services, and Tackling Poverty and Youth Services – will be paired
together, with responsibility remaining with Ash and Pete respectively.
“A reconfigured portfolio, combining waste and
enforcement with highway maintenance and Shared Regulatory Services, will be
held by Norma, on a fulltime basis. Responsibility for Climate Change and One
Planet will transfer to Dan, who also retains responsibility for Strategic
Transport and Planning.
“The remaining portfolio responsibilities will
remain the same at a high level, albeit a few refining tweaks may be carried
out on where specific services sit. Once this has been completed, I will share
a detailed breakdown of where services sit within each portfolio.”
The reshuffled Cabinet which will go to
Cardiff Council’s AGM on May 23 for ratification is as follows:
Cllr Huw Thomas – Leader of the Council
Cllr Sarah Merry – Deputy Leader and Education
Cllr Russell Goodway – Investment and Development
Cllr Chris Weaver – Finance, Modernisation and Performance
Cllr Thomson & Cllr Julie Sangani – Adult’s Children Services, Public Health,and Equalities
Cllr Ash Lister & Cllr Peter Bradbury – Children’s Social Services, Tackling Poverty, and Youth Services
Cllr Lynda Thorne & Cllr Lee Bridgeman – Housing and Communities
Cllr Jennifer Burke – Culture Parks, Events and Venues
Cllr Dan De’Ath - Strategic Transport and Planning, Climate Change and One Planet
Cardiff
Cllr Norma Mackie – Waste Management, Highway Maintenance, and Shared Regulatory
Services.