Newly elected Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett has made a series of changes to his cabinet including installing ex-council chief John Merry and Winton councillor Paula Boshell as his Deputy Mayors.
Dennett swept to victory in the Salford mayoral elections last week, beating closest competitor, Conservative councillor Robin Garrido, into second place with 28,332 to 14,484 votes in the two-round process.
He takes over from former Eccles MP Ian Stewart, who stepped down after four years at the helm.
More details and stats: Labour’s Paul Dennett wins Salford mayoral election
Now the Labour man has undergone a reshuffle, moving his support team away from Ian Stewart’s idea of multiple Deputy Mayors and back to a more cabinet-style of Lead Members.
Gone is Stewart’s much-ridiculed mouth-mangling Assistant Mayor for Humanagement and Workplace Reform, for example.
Barton councillor David Lancaster, who negotiated big business deals as Ian Stewart’s right-hand man and Deputy Mayor, is moved to Lead Member for Environment and Community Safety.
Rising star Lisa Stone, councillor for Eccles, takes up the post of Lead Member for Children and Young People’s Services.
Paul Longshaw, who has worked for Salford City Council’s housing department since 1990, and was Pendleton Together’s Programme Director, is installed as Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods.
Councillor Bill Hinds, the firm hand holding the purse-strings, stays as Lead Member for Finance and Support Services.
Councillor Derek Antrobus stays as Lead Member for Planning and Sustainable Development while Councillor Tracy Kelly is Lead Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing. John Ferguson is the new Lead Member for Workforce and Industrial Relations.
Read: New Labour Mayor admits scale of job is “frightening”
Dennett told SalfordOnline.com in the aftermath of being elected: “I think Salford is one of the biggest success stories for Labour in this election, we’ve run a fantastic campaign, and managed to fend off the Tories and UKIP in some wards and maintain a sizable majority which is excellent news for voters who are tired of austerity for political gain.”
