St Helens’ Reform era up and running
Senior positions among members have now been formally allocated at a meeting of full council, following the shift in power at 7 May’s local elections.
The council will now be led by Cllr George Woodward, who was chosen as leader of the Reform group in the days before the meeting, his leadership of the council being signed off at yesterday’s meeting.
Other key cabinet roles will be filled by Cllr David Kemp, responsible for the finance & governance portfolio; Cllr Gary Egerton (business, highways & transport), and Cllr Jack Benyon, who will head up regeneration, property & planning.
The meeting was wrapped up in reasonably short order, although not without some debate over the incoming mayor, with other parties putting forward veteran Conservative Cllr Linda Musell, effectively for a year of transition – a motion rebuffed by the Reform majority in favour of Cllr Stephen Little.
There was also disquiet over Reform launching the process of hiring a political assistant, which will cost the council around £40,000 a year. Reform’s hefty majority – it now holds 34 of 46 seats in St Helens – again saw its motion carried.
