North East Lincolnshire Council leader announces new cabinet

The new leader of North East Lincolnshire Council has announced the authority’s new cabinet.

Councillor Philip Jackson, Conservative group leader on the council, will formally confirm the new look executive after leading the party to control on the authority at the local elections.

The cabinet will include:

• Councillor John Fenty – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Skills and Housing
• Councillor Stan Shreeve – Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources
• Councillor Stewart Swinburn – Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport
• Councillor Margaret Cracknell – Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care
• Councillor Callum Procter – Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Heritage and Culture
• Councillor Ian Lindley – Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Young People
• Councillor Ron Shepherd – Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities

Positions in the cabinet, as well as the new council leader, will be confirmed at the authority’s annual general meeting on May 21.

Councillor Jackson said: “This is a strong team with the skills and experience to bring about the changes we want to see and take forward our manifesto commitments.

“We are all passionate about making North East Lincolnshire a more prosperous, pleasant and safer place for all our residents, businesses and visitors.

“A key part of this will be making progress with the Town Deal, in partnership with central government, and I will take overall cabinet responsibility for this”

The move follows Labour’s loss of three seats and overall control at North East Lincolnshire in the May 2 local elections.

Philip Jackson, leader of the NEL Conservatives. Picture: Calvin Robinson.

The Conservatives gained five seats on the council while the Liberal Democrats took four.

It was the first time the party had taken control of the authority since 1996.

The new ruling group put an “immediate” halt to the controversial Toll Bar roundabout plans a day after taking control.

Councillor Matthew Patrick, who is set to be confirmed as Labour leader of the opposition at North East Lincolnshire Council. Picture: Calvin Robinson.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Councillor Matthew Patrick is expected to be confirmed as the leader of the opposition on the council.

Former leader of the party Ray Oxby stepped down as a councillor in March and his seat was swallowed by UKIP.

Speaking following the results last week, Councillor Patrick said he had been “devastated” by the result and claimed that to a certain extent the party were a victim of the Brexit debate.

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