Newcastle’s new council leader has officially taken office and announced a major shake-up of the city’s decision-makers.
Nick Kemp was sworn in to the Labour -run local authority’s top post on Wednesday afternoon and has named the members of his new cabinet, with a number of stalwarts of the previous Nick Forbes administration now out of the top team Coun Forbes’ 11-year run as council leader was brought to an end following his dramatic deselection by party members in his Arthur’s Hill ward in February, after which he decided to step away from city politics rather than seek election to another seat at this month’s local elections.
The episode once again laid bare deep divides within Newcastle Labour, with Coun Kemp narrowly claiming the group’s leadership at a vote in March. The Byker councillor, who has promised a “reset” at the civic centre, was formally named as leader of the council at its annual meeting, at which the membership of his seven-strong cabinet was also confirmed.
Read More: Labour chief Nick Kemp pledges Newcastle Council 'reset' to shift focus away from city centre
Deputy council leader Karen Kilgour, a close friend and major ally of the new leader, is one of only two of the previous cabinet members to keep their spot, retaining the health and social care portfolio alongside her other responsibilities as second in command. The other is Irim Ali, who had also sought the leadership in March and has now been put in charge of issues including housing, planning, and licensing.
Exiting the cabinet are Coun Kemp's main leadership rival Clare Penny-Evans, Ged Bell, Linda Hobson, Stella Postlethwaite, and John-Paul Stephenson. Joyce McCarty, currently suspended by Labour amid a controversy surrounding claims of a "Muslim plot" against Coun Forbes, is also out, while former education chief Paula Holland lost her Ouseburn seat at the recent local elections.
Responsibility for tackling the climate emergency and transport issues such as the proposed Clean Air Zone goes to Monument councillor Jane Byrne, whose portfolio also includes bin collections and fly-tipping. Walkergate’s Paul Frew takes the finance brief, West Fenham’s Sylvia Copley is put in charge of children and education, South Jesmond’s Lesley Storey has the culture, leisure, and communities portfolio, and Kingston Park South & Newbiggin Hall councillor Alex Hay steps into the jobs, skills, and economic development post.
The cabinet positions’ official titles have also all been rebranded with titles such as “A Dynamic City” and “A Resilient City”, which the city’s Lib Dem opposition have labelled “meaningless portfolio names from a management textbook”.
Coun Kemp said: “It is a true honour and privilege to have been elected leader of Newcastle City Council. I have appointed a cabinet who are committed to serving the needs of the people of our great city.
"I know they will work with dedication across the whole city for our residents, communities, and businesses. We will work with and within our communities to help shape our decision making to develop an ambitious vision for our city, built upon the essence of all things that make Newcastle so great and build on the incredible pride we all feel for our city.”
Lib Dem leader Nick Cott claimed that there was a “hiatus across the council in determining the future political direction” and accused Labour of “fiddling while Rome burns”. He added: “At a time when the cost of living crisis is biting and the Council has much work to do to improve services and rebuild trust with residents, it seems the new cabinet is showing itself to be very short of the mark.”
