Express & Star

Cabinet role cut in shake-up of Sandwell Council

The number of councillors in Sandwell's ruling cabinet has been cut by one and a deputy leadership post has been scrapped in a post-election re-shuffle.

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Labour leader of Sandwell Council, Darren Cooper, also revealed he interviewed the six other post holders for the positions which will last for one year.

The re-shuffle also deals with the holes left by long-serving councillors Mahboob Hussain and Ian Jones, who both resigned from the cabinet earlier this year amid allegations concerning the sell-off of council land.

Both men are on voluntary 'administrative suspension' from Labour while an independent investigation into the allegations takes place. They both strenuously deny any wrong-doing.

A police investigation into alleged fraud concerning the sell off of land has been taking place since last September.

Councillor Cooper has taken on former deputy leader Councillor Hussain's neighbourhoods brief himself, but has left open the possibility of giving it to someone else if it becomes difficult to juggle with his duties as leader as well as the work on creating a West Midlands Combined Authority.

Councillor Paul Moore moves from health to take on regeneration, jobs and the economy.

The brief was previously held by Councillor Jones. He stepped down from the role in February after allegations were made that normal processes and procedures were not followed in relation to the sale of some redundant public toilets.

Steve Eling remains deputy leader and in charge of finance. The other deputy leadership role held by Councillor Hussain before his resignation has been scrapped.

Councillor Syeda Khatun becomes the first Asian woman in the council's history to serve in the cabinet. She will oversee leisure and the voluntary sector.

Simon Hackett stays in charge of children's services.

The council is preparing to receive the results of a month-long inspection of services by the education watchdog Ofsted after they were rated inadequate in 2013.

Councillor Yvonne Davies will take on adult care, social care and health while Maria Crompton stays in her role overseeing highways and environment.

Labour holds 71 out of the 72 seats on Sandwell Council. There is one UKIP councillor representing Princes End. Councillors Hussain and Jones are recorded as 'independent Labour' while on suspension although they remain serving council members.

Councillor Cooper said: "This means the number of cabinet members has dropped from eight to seven. It also means we have only one deputy leader now.

"I'll take on the neighbourhoods brief myself but with the work I am doing on combined authorities it may be too much for one person and I may have to look at it again. Everyone who applied was interview for the posts."

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