Leader and Cabinet appointed to lead Cheshire West and Chester Council for the next four years
Council leader Cllr Louise Gittins
Cllr Louise Gittins has been elected to lead Cheshire West and Chester Council for a second term.
At the Council’s annual meeting yesterday, Thursday, Cllr Karen Shore nominated Cllr Gittins, who represents Little Neston, as Leader for a further four years.
Accepting the role, Cllr Gittins, who has been Leader of the Council since 2019, said:
It’s such a great honour for me to be able to continue with our work and to serve our communities. I am making a pledge today that I won’t let you down.
She praised the work of the Council in the past four years, with members across the political divide working together for residents, coping with the impacts of the pandemic, Brexit, the cost of living, financial challenges and the war in Ukraine.
Cllr Gittins also celebrated the Council’s record of protecting public services, investing in education, skills and employment opportunities, supporting town centres, launching regeneration projects, providing quality social care, tackling poverty and protecting the environment.
She said:
We will keep fighting for the things that matter most for our residents both locally and on the sub-regional and national stage. I’m very excited about the future for Cheshire West and I know we will rise to every challenge and opportunity that comes our way, and make decisions wisely and true to our values.
She announced her Cabinet, which includes five new members.
- Cllr Karen Shore – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways
- Cllr Carol Gahan – Cabinet Member for Finance and Legal
- Cllr Paul Donovan – Cabinet Member for Democracy, Workforce and Communities
- Cllr Matt Bryan – Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Energy and Green Spaces
- Cllr Sheila Little – Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
- Cllr Adam Langan – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
- Cllr Lisa Denson – Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health)
- Cllr Nathan Pardoe – Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation
- Cllr Christine Warner – Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities
Cllr Gittins’ own Leader’s portfolio includes culture and arts, sub-regional and national partnerships and the health economy.
Cllr Bob Bisset, Councillor for Central and Grange, was elected as Chairman of the Council for 2023-24 with Cllr Richard Beacham, Councillor for Newton and Hoole, elected as Deputy Chairman.
Cllr Margaret Parker was confirmed as Leader of the Conservative group, supported by Cllr Lynn Gibbon as Deputy Leader. Cllr Parker’s shadow Cabinet includes the following.
- Cllr Charles Hardy – Opposition Member for Culture, Leisure and the Visitor Economy
- Cllr Simon Eardley – Opposition Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport
- Cllr Rachel Williams – Opposition Member for Adult Social Care
- Cllr Lynn Stocks – Opposition Member for Children and Families
- Cllr Phil Marshall – Opposition Member for Democracy, Workforce and Communities
- Cllr Mike Jones – Opposition Member for Finance, Legal and Property
- Cllr Martin Loftus – Opposition Member for Procurement and Regulatory Services
Cllr Parker is Opposition Member for Public Health and Cllr Gibbon is Opposition Member for Housing, Regeneration and Growth.
The Leader of the independent Winsford Salt of the Earth group on the Council is Cllr Simon Boone, the Leader of the independent group is Cllr Gillian Edwards and the Leader of the Green group is Cllr John Roach.
At the Council meeting, councillors also thanked Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive, who is leaving the Council to take up the role of Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council.
Delyth Curtis, Deputy Chief Executive (Health and Wellbeing) and NHS Director for Cheshire and Merseyside, was appointed to the role of Acting Chief Executive from Monday, 22 May.