Cheshire East Council elects its first Labour leader

Labour's Sam Corcoran has been elected leader of Cheshire East Council – with Independent group leader Craig Browne appointed as his deputy.

The Conservatives lost their majority on Cheshire East Council at the local elections on May 2nd for the first time since the council was formed in April 2009.

As a result the Conservatives now occupy 34 of the 82 seats, whilst Labour have 25, Independent candidates have 19 and Liberal Democrats have 4.

Cllr Corcoran, who represents Sandbach Heath and East ward, was elected the leader of the council at a meeting of full council on Thursday 22nd May. Cllr Corcoran immediately appointed Cllr Browne as deputy leader.

Cllr Corcoran will now chair the cabinet. He is also the leader of the Labour group and has been a Cheshire East councillor since 2011.

Upon his election as council leader, Cllr Corcoran said: "I am very honoured and proud to be elected to lead Cheshire East Council. I am pleased that my leadership started with consensus over a motion on the climate change emergency declared by Parliament and with a motion on changing the decision-making arrangements at Cheshire East Council.

"It is necessary to look inwards at the way the council has been operating – but we must also look outwards to provide the services that local residents need and to promote positive change.

"The change of leadership provides an opportunity for change at Cheshire East Council and I hope that all staff, councillors and residents will join with me in seeking to grasp the opportunity for change for the better."

Cllr Browne, who represents Alderley Edge ward, said: "This is a landmark day for Cheshire East and the beginning of a new era of political cooperation in the interest of all of our residents across Cheshire East.

"I am deeply honoured to be able to serve our residents as their deputy leader and I will strive to ensure that the interests of all the communities of Cheshire East are heard and put at the heart of all that this council does."

Cllr Corcoran unveiled his 10-strong cabinet team at the meeting, which will be in place until a new committee system of governance is introduced, which is expected in May 2020.

The cabinet members are:

● Cllr Sam Corcoran, council leader and chairman of the cabinet (Labour);

● Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader (Alderley Edge First);

● Cllr Dorothy Flude, responsibilities for children and family services (Labour) ;

● Cllr Laura Jeuda, responsibilities for health and adult social care (Labour);

● Cllr Jill Rhodes, responsibilities for public health and corporate services (Labour);

● Cllr Mick Warren, responsibilities for communities (Independent);

● Cllr Toni Fox, responsibilities for planning (Residents of Wilmslow);

● Cllr Brian Roberts, responsibilities for highways and waste (Labour);

● Cllr Nick Mannion, responsibilities for environment and regeneration (Labour);

● Cllr Amanda Stott, responsibilities for finance, IT and communications (Bollington First).

Photos: Cllr Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East and Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council.

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Cheshire East Council