Labour leader of council ready to announce his Cabinet today

THE new leader of Hull Council has chosen his Cabinet as the ruling Labour group prepares to officially take office and steer the authority through one of the most testing financial climates in its history.

Labour swept into power last week with a decisive victory in the local elections, ending four years of Liberal Democrat control.

The party will not take executive power until the council’s annual meeting next Thursday, but is paving the way for a change of direction at the Guildhall.

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Council leader Steve Brady is due to announce his Cabinet today after holding face-to-face meetings with two as yet unnamed portfolio holders, but the rest of the leadership team will be: Steve Brady, leader (industrial relations, corporate buildings, stadiums); Daren Hale, deputy leader (strategic finance, capital revenue budget); Helen O’Mullane (children’s services); Rilba Jones (health and adult services); Martin Mancey (transport, highways and waste); Phil Webster (Building Schools for the Future, deputy finance); and John Black (housing and regeneration).

The councillors assigned to the outstanding portfolios – customer services, and sport and leisure – will be confirmed today.

Coun Hale has held meetings with finance officers at the council as Labour considers what alterations it can make to the Lib Dems’ recent budget, which was two months into its implementation at the time of the election and planned to deliver £65m of savings because of Government funding cuts, axing up to 1,400 jobs.

Coun Brady said Labour had already suspended compulsory redundancies and estimated that about 1,000 staff had already left the council.

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He could not give clear commitments on spending until the financial position was certain.

He said: “Daren had his first meeting with the finance officer last night but one meeting doesn’t tell you anything. I’m confident the chief finance officer will give us an absolutely honest assessment of how much money has gone.

“The Supporting People Fund had £15.9m in it and we don’t know if all that has been distributed or not.

“We don’t know how many people have left at this time and the redundancies were going to cost £30m.

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“All those sorts of details, it would be stupid to comment when you don’t know, but as the days go by they will unravel.”

Coun Brady spent yesterday visiting care homes and day centres to talk to users and staff after some were earmarked for closure by the Lib Dems.

He said those that were offering a good service in good quality buildings would remain open. He said: “My priority at the moment is care homes and day centres.

“I want to know what the quality of the building is, whether people are happy and if they are not happy then what is it they are not happy about.

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“If the facilities are good, it’s run well and people are happy we are not going to shut it.”

Unions are meanwhile hoping for improved relations with the new administration.

Steve Torrance, Unison regional organiser, said: “We call for a new era of industrial relations and expect council officers to change their current approach and work in genuine partnership.”