COVENTRY City Council has shuffled its pack as it has revealed changes to its cabinet and chairs of its scrutiny committees.
Council leader Coun George Duggins has announced one alteration to his cabinet, with Coun Linda Bigham replacing Coun Mal Mutton as the Cabinet Member for Adult Services.
Coun Mutton will officially become the city’s Deputy Lord Mayor at the Council’s AGM on May 18, meaning she is unable to hold a cabinet role due to the non-political nature of her new position.
Scrutiny chairs, which play an important role in keeping a check on all decisions and how they are made, are decided by the wider ruling group and not the council’s political leadership.
Coun Naeem Akhtar remains Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, which oversees the work of all five of the council’s Scrutiny Boards, with Coun Robert Thay acting as the new deputy.
Coun Ed Ruane is the new Chair of Scrutiny Board One which covers Finance and Corporate Services, while Coun Christine Thomas will enter the same role on Scrutiny Board Two, which deals with Education and Children’s Services.
Scrutiny Board Four also has a new chair, with Coun Maya Ali now responsible for the committee covering Communities and Neighbourhoods.
And Coun Catherine Miks will now be chair of Scrutiny Board Five, which covers Health and Social Care.
Coun Duggins said: “The year ahead will be one of challenges but opportunities as well.
“Despite funding cuts, we are committed to doing all we can to help and support residents struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“We are required by law to set a balanced budget, but we do not want to cut services to achieve that.
“There are also projects we want to pursue to boost the economy, tackle inequalities and tackle the causes and consequences of climate change – the three key priorities of the One Coventry Plan.”
These roles will be formally appointed at the city council’s AGM on May 18.
Visit www.coventry.gov.uk/meetings-1 for more information.
