The new leader of Liverpool City Council has been confirmed along with the cabinet line-up that will lead the city.
Local elections earlier this month saw Labour retain control of the city council as comfortably the largest party. With the council now moving away from the elected mayor model and back to the leader and cabinet system, this means the largest group pick who will lead the council.
As Labour group leader, Cllr Liam Robinson is now the leader of the city council and this was formally confirmed at last night's Annual General Meeting at Liverpool Town Hall.
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The Kensington and Fairfield councillor, well known for his previous leadership of the city region transport authority, will formally begin his role today.
Also confirmed last night was the cabinet team that will support him over the next four years. The cabinet members were voted for by the Labour group at a previous meeting but had their positions ratified at last night's meeting.
This is how the new leadership team shapes up.
Liam Robinson
As leader of the group and the council, Cllr Robinson will work with the cabinet across various issues. However he will also directly take on responsibility for the council's climate change policy as the lead for Net Zero.
Announcing his new top team, Cllr Robinson said: “I want us to hit the ground running and not to waste a single day as we set to work implementing our manifesto promises and delivering for the people of Liverpool.
“This is a strong team of proven councillors who bring experience, ideas and dedication to the task. This is a reset moment. We are going to put the difficulties of the past few years behind us as we begin a new chapter.”
Ruth Bennett
A former Labour group chief whip, Cllr Bennett was comfortably elected to the Belle Vale ward last week. She will now become one of Cllr Robinson's two deputy leaders with a portfolio of Finances, Resources and Transformation.
Cllr Bennett's key role will be to ensure the financial sustainability of the council and oversee the modernisation of the organisation. She will be the official deputy leader of the council.
Dan Barrington
Part of Mayor Joanne Anderson's cabinet over the past two years, Cllr Dan Barrington will become another deputy leader but with a focus on Labour group affairs. The Yew Tree councillor will continue to focus on the portfolio of Transport and Connectivity.
This role will include overseeing the city’s highway network, delivering 50 school streets pledged by the party, working with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram on bus re-regulation and tackling problem parking issues across the city and potholes.
Lila Bennett
Cllr Bennett was comfortably re-elected to the council last week and now represents the new Croxteth Country Park ward. She will join the cabinet as the member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills. The role will focus on lifelong learning across the city and maximising employment outcomes.
Liz Parsons
A former cabinet member, Cllr Parsons will return to hold the Children's Social Services brief. She now represents the Kensington and Fairfield ward alongside leader Liam Robinson.
Frazer Lake
Cllr Lake was one of many new faces in Mayor Anderson's cabinet last time around and held a number of positions including health lead and deputy mayor. Under Cllr Robinson the Fazakerley East Councillor will stay in the cabinet and hold the Adult Social Services brief.
Nick Small
Cllr Small will return to cabinet for the first time since he was sacked by former Mayor Joe Anderson. A previous assistant mayor, he will now focus on Growth and Economy, working closely with the city's business community with the aim of growing the local economy and delivering major regeneration projects. He was re-elected last week as a councillor for the new City Centre North ward.
Harry Doyle
A prominent member of Mayor Anderson's previous cabinet, Cllr Doyle had been leading on the city's successful Eurovision Song Contest bid.. Under Cllr Robinson his portfolio will be Health and Vibrant City. The brief will focus on the health and well being of Liverpool residents and Cllr Doyle will work closely with public health and the NHS.
This cabinet role will also include the culture work that Cllr Doyle has already been doing.
Sarah Doyle
Another of Mayor Anderson's cabinet picks to remain in the top team under Cllr Robinson, Cllr Doyle, elected safely in the Dingle ward will be given the Housing portfolio, continuing with work she has been doing in the previous administration. Her key focus will be on delivering the 8,000 new homes that Labour have pledged to build over the next four years.
She will work closely with housing associations and on the regulation of the private sector and tackling bad landlords.
Laura Robertson-Collins
Cllr Robertson-Collins was previously in the cabinet before she resigned over issues with the Lime Street regeneration project. Safely elected to the new Arundel ward last week, she will return to cabinet as the member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene.
This brief will focus on improving frontline street services such as street cleaning as well as tackling grot spots and anti-social behaviour.
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