Una O’Halloran and Jason Jackson

A NEW top team is taking control of the council, after several of Leader Una O’Halloran’s cabinet lost their seats at the election.

The leader had told the Tribune that she had always expected to enact a post-election reshuffle, and the loss of four members of the executive team meant there was little other choice. At a meeting of the Labour group last week, Cllr O’Halloran was re-elected as leader unopposed, and appointed her new team on Friday.

Ruth Hayes and Paul Convery

Ruth Hayes is now deputy leader, and Health and Social Care chief, and long-serving Caledonian councillor Paul Convery has taken over the finance brief. Meanwhile, Mayor Jason Jackson will become the Town Hall’s housing supremo, and Laycock councillor Heather Staff has been charged with leading on community safety.

Cllr Rowena Champion will stay in her climate post, Junction’s Cllr James Potts takes over as Executive Member for Inclusive Economy and Planning, Cllr Saiqa Pandor has been charged with the communities and partnerships brief, and Cllr Sheila Chapman has been moved to lead on Children and Young People.

Cllr O’Halloran set out her priorities to increase CCTV across the borough, start building new affordable homes, and address the cost of living crisis.