The leader of the Liverpool Labour group has revealed his new cabinet line-up after his party secured a large majority at the local elections.
Labour won 61 of the council's 85 seats in last week's elections, meaning they will lead the council for the next four years. The council is moving from a mayoral system to a leader and cabinet model and as the leader of the largest group Cllr Liam Robinson will assume the role of leader of the council later this month.
Cllr Robinson has now revealed his new cabinet line-up to lead the city over the next four years. The ECHO can exclusively reveal which councillors will head up the different portfolios of the council.
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The line-up will need to be ratified with a vote at the council's Annual General Meeting on May 17. This is how the new cabinet is set to look.
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 parety, 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 Easy 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 has been leading on the city's successful Eurovision Song Contest bid, with the event now well underway. 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.
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.”
He added: “I want to see Liverpool City Council deliver the best services in the country and to work with partners and local communities to make big and exciting things happen.”
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