Mayor of Leicester unveils cabinet of council decision makers
Mayor of Leicester Sir Peter Soulsby has unveiled his new cabinet of councillors.
The new leader of the city yesterday announced he had re-appointed three current cabinet members – Mohammed Dawood, Vi Dempster and Sarah Russell.
Two appointees, Piara Singh Clair and Manjula Sood, are former lord mayors, while Ted Cassidy is the only newly-elected councillor to make the cabinet cut.
The six, who will be referred to as assistant mayors rather than cabinet members, were called on Sunday night and invited to join the powerful decision-making panel, alongside Sir Peter and deputy Rory Palmer.
Sir Peter said: "These are very experienced and capable people. But they're not here to do my bidding, these are people who will challenge me on issues and make sure that scrutiny stems right from the top.
"This will be a well-focused cabinet working as a team. Top of the agenda is bringing jobs to the city in difficult economic times.
"There are significant financial problems that the council is facing – those must be dealt with so that we can continue to provide good services and improve the city."
The assistant mayors will not have specific portfolios – such as health and education – for the first few weeks in the job.
Instead, they will be examining issues across the city as a team before individual responsibilities are delegated.
Sir Peter said the fact that the size of the cabinet had been reduced by two members meant their pay would need to be looked at again by an independent panel. It is likely to rise.
Sir Peter also revealed that he is to overhaul the way big decisions are made and announced by the cabinet, as well as increasing scrutiny of major council decisions.
He said: "The fortnightly cabinet meetings are a sham. There's a pretence that decisions are being taken there but usually the decisions have been taken well in advance. I want to find a better way to announce decisions and explain the thinking behind them to the public."
Ms Sood, a former cabinet member and lord mayor, said: "I am very surprised and pleased to be in the cabinet. It's a new chapter of Leicester's history and I want to help make Peter's bold vision for the city a reality."
Members of the public will also have the chance to meet the mayor this weekend and at regular "meet the mayor" events.
Deputy mayor Rory Palmer said: "These aren't going to be like councillor surgeries. Peter will be out there on the street, in places like the Clocktower, allowing anyone passing by to give their views or ask questions.
"It's pretty brave politically, and anything could happen, but we think it's only right that people have direct access to the leader of the city."
Details on the event to be held this weekend will be released later in the week.
16 Comments
View all
by Kulgan, Crydee
Wednesday, May 11 2011, 8:03AM
“@Ginger Tom,
Vinny may have checked their election biographies..... just a thought ;o)
By the way, my two Border Terriers, Cromwell & Churchill say pop round anytime. :)”
by Ginger Tom, Roundabout
Wednesday, May 11 2011, 12:06AM
“Dear Mr Vinny, Leicester. I don't profess to be a mathematics expert but I can count 3 women and 5 men (including the Mayor). Perhaps your abacus is missing a bead ? And I'm intrigued to know how you can tell, just by looking at someone, what their religion is. Can you enlighten me so that I too can tell what someone's religion is by looking at them.
>'o'<”
by Teresa green, blaby
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 7:56PM
“Vi Dempster (education) a decision maker? Give us a break Peter!”
by David, Leicester
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 7:55PM
“maybe when ms russell commented on narborough road area being vibrant she wasnt commenting on just one aspect ie crime but the area in general. I live here and its my favourite road in leicester. I think it is vibrant, the sheer range of cultures, foods, shops, bars.
Frankly if on narborough road, with everything it offers, all you see is graffiti, then that's more your problem than the area. and if the councillor sees its vibrancy while being aware of its problems then she has more vision than you do.
Just to avoid being accused of politics i do not know who the councillor is and dont support a specific party, but I have lived on narborough road for a couple of years and i think its amazing.”
by Lee Ingram, Leicester, England.
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 6:28PM
“To add to my last post below.
316 of said crimes were committed directly on Narborough Rd or within an immediate street or two away the rest spread out slightly further.”
by Lee Ingram, Leicester, England.
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 5:56PM
“I see that Westcotes Ward Councillor Sarah Russell has been reappointed onto the Labour Council Cabinet which is shocking as her judgement is extremely concerning, as it is her who deemed the now multi-ethnic area of Narborough Rd which is partly in her Westcotes area, as ¿vibrant¿ in a recent Mercury article.
Local crime facts show a completely different story.
On searching the Leicester police Websites crime mapping page for the most up to date crime figures for the Narborough Rd area of Leicester, I find that in March this year alone, there were 667 crimes committed in the area. That¿s an approx average of a hugely concerning 21 crimes a day! A breakdown of the crimes reads: Robbery 11. Burglary 57. Vehicle crime 65. Violent crime 79. Anti Social Behaviour 214. Other crime 241.
When I visit the Narborough Rd it doesn¿t only feel concerning it looks concerning, it is usually quite littered with graffiti grot spots, boarded up businesses, fly posting a plenty, it looks generally dank and has no identity other than making you feel like a tourist in your own land in a place with an identity crises and crime crises. But don¿t worry folks, it is a vibrant area, because Sarah Russell says so.”
by Vinny, Leicester
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 4:58PM
“No trick missed 3 women 3 men 2 members fro south 2 from west 2 from east 1 hindu 1 sikh 1 muslim nice one SPS!!!”
by William, Leicester
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 4:24PM
“What a motley crew ????
Vinny
why bring God Into it.”
by Victor Meldrew, Leicester
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 3:52PM
“Why are the three women and two Asians standing whilst the three white, middle-class men sitting down? Is this a sign of the new Mayor's approach to diversity?”
by Jane, Another Planet
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 3:05PM
“I don't think he did miss a trick Kulgan. The Lib-Dem is a former Tory so I would imagine having two Torys on the Cabinet would cause significant problems. They are far too ideologically apart.
But I agree, it is important that he tries to work *with* the two opposition members rather than against them. But of course, they have to be willing to work *with* him and I'm not so sure they can.”