Following the resignation of a stalwart councillor, Cheshire East Council's leadership has taken the opportunity to reshuffle the Cabinet.
Hilda Gaddum decided to step down from her position as Cabinet member in charge of children and family services for family reasons. However, she will remain ward councillor for Sutton, where she has lived for more than 30 years.
Council leader Michael Jones and deputy leader David Brown see it as the perfect opportunity to bring in new faces and also introduce policy development groups as the authority moves towards being a policy-led council.
The six new groups are: corporate and performance, finance, health and adult social care, children and families, environment and prosperity and sustainable communities. These cross party groups will have some meetings in private but will also meet regularly in public.
Cllr Frank Keegan, ward councillor for Alderley Edge, has been appointed Chairman of the finance policy development group.
These groups will be complemented by three scrutiny committees: external, internal/corporate and health and wellbeing. Further details on these will be announced shortly.
Councillor Paul Findlow has now joined the Cabinet and will take the corporate policy portfolio. A former leader of Cheshire County Council, Councillor Findlow brings with him much experience in local Government.
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to Councillor Hilda Gaddum, who has served on this Cabinet since 2010 and given a high standard of committed service and enthusiasm.
"Whilst it is a loss to the Cabinet, it has provided us with a way to reorganise the Cabinet structure and I am delighted to welcome Councillor Findlow to his post, who I am certain will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.
"When I first became leader, I pledged to make this a more inclusive Council that listened to a wider range of voices. We are a Council that seeks to work in partnership – across the political divide – for the benefit of all the people of Cheshire East.
"The new arrangements will enable far more members to influence policy, which strengthens the democratic process."
Councillor Findlow is a ward councillor for Prestbury and currently sits on outside organisations such as the Cheshire Police Appointments Joint Committee and the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).
He is also a governor at King's School, Macclesfield, and previously held the children and family services portfolio in Cheshire East Council's first year (2009-10).
On her resignation, Councillor Gaddum said: "It is with great sadness that I have decided to step down from the Cabinet. I have had some wonderful times and have faced some great challenges but I believe I have taken these on in the best way that I could.
"It has been such a privilege to work with the many officers from children and family services and I would just like to say a huge thank you to all these incredibly hard-working people.
"Now, I would like to spend more time with my family but I am still a councillor and will continue to help the people of Sutton and Cheshire East with the issues that matter to them most."
Councillor Rachel Bailey will now take on Councillor Gaddum's vacant Cabinet position as part of the reshuffle. However, she will still be responsible for planning matters.
Councillor Peter Groves is now the chief whip.
The full Cabinet membership and support members are now as follows:
Leader: Michael Jones.
Deputy Leader and Strategic Communities: David Brown. Support member: Lesley Smetham.
Environment: Rod Menlove. Support member: Don Stockton/Gail Wait.
Health and Adult Social Care: Janet Clowes. Support member: Stewart Gardiner.
Finance: Peter Raynes. Support member: Peter Mason.
Corporate Policy: Paul Findlow. Support member: David Marren.
Prosperity and Economic Regeneration: Jamie Macrae. Support member: Peter Groves.
Children and Family Services: Rachel Bailey. Support member: Rhoda Bailey.
Performance: Barry Moran. Support member: David Marren.
Communities and Regulatory Services: Les Gilbert. Support member: Steve Wilkinson.
Policy development groups are as follows:
Corporate and performance: Chairman Andrew Kolker, vice chairman Peter Hayes.
Finance: Chairman Frank Keegan, vice chairman Brendan Murphy.
Health and Adult Social Care: Chairman Margaret Simon, vice chairman Jos Saunders.
Children and Families: Chairman Phil Hoyland, vice chairman Ken Edwards.
Environment and Prosperity: Chairman Bill Livesley, vice chairman Wesley Fitzgerald.
Sustainable Communities: Chairman Olivia Hunter, vice chairman Stan Davies.
Photo: Cllr Paul Findlow.
