Local Lib Dem/Conservative coalition confirmed

The worst kept ‘secret’ in town was confirmed at the annual council meeting – mirroring the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition at national level, we now have a Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition at local level.

Labour were invited to join in an all party administration but fearing a similar public backlash to the one meted out to former Labour leader Allen Brett’s coalition with the Tories, Labour leader Councillor Colin Lambert stuck to his pre-election pledge not to join any coalition.

The make up of the new council cabinet is:

• Leader of the Council: 
  Councillor Irene Davidson (LD)
• Deputy Leader of the Council: 
  Councillor Ashley Dearnley (C)
• Finance & Corporate Management: 
  Greg Couzens (LD)
• Children Schools & Families: 
  Councillor Theresa Fitzsimmons (C)
• Environment & Leisure: 
  Councillor David Clayton (LD)
• Development: 
  Councillor Dale Mulgrew (LD)
• Health & Social Care: 
  Councillor Robert Clegg (C)
• Highways & Transport: 
  Councillor Liz Thirsk (LD)
• Skills & Economic Recovery: 
  Councillor Keith Swift (LD)

Nine cabinet posts is a reduction of one on the ten posts under the previous Lib Dem administration and new Deputy Leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley will serve in the cabinet without a portfolio.

Labour had wanted to reduce the cabinet to five posts plus the leader to mirror the council departments and to save council tax payers money, however, due to a recent change in procedure they were denied the opportunity to oppose any of the Lib Dem and Conservative appointments to the Cabinet because such posts are now in the gift of the Council Leader.

Speaking on behalf of the Conservative party, Councillor Ian Duckworth said: “We wanted to work with everyone; Labour have some talented people who would have helped, but it is not to be. We Conservatives are disappointed.”

Lib Dem Councillor Greg Couzens said: “I am pleased to have retained the finance portfolio and am looking forward to working in co-operation with the Conservatives.”

Labour’s Councillor Colin Lambert said: “We declared before the recent election that we would not go into coalition with any party and we have stood by that decision.

“We will work on a common sense decision by decision basis and support proposals we consider deserve supporting and oppose those we do not consider deserve supporting.”

The Labour party ‘shadows’ are:

• Finance & Corporate Management: Farooq Ahmed
• Children Schools & Families: Councillor Donna Martin
• Environment & Leisure: Councillor Jacqui Beswick
• Development: Councillor Terry Linden
• Health & Social Care: Councillor Sultan Ali
• Highways & Transport: Councillor Alan Godson
• Skills & Economic Recovery: Councillor Malcolm Boriss