All change on Walsall Council’s Conservative Group

The Council’s thirty-four Conservative councillors met on Friday evening to elect a new leader, deputy leader, treasurer and secretary for the group. Cllr John O’Hare was stepping down as leader to take up position as the Borough’s Mayor.

The group elected Cllr Mike Bird as Leader, Cllr Adrian Andrew as deputy leader, Cllr Rose Martin as treasurer and Cllr Barbara McCracken as secretary.

As the Conservatives have thirty-four seats out of sixty the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group will also become Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council (subject to a vote at Full Council).

It is also Mike Bird’s job to select the cabinet – a group of councillors who take the executive policy decisions and look after a portfolio/department. I was suprised to receive a call from Mike on Saturday morning to ask me to join the cabinet as the portfolio holder for Children’s Services and Young People. This is also subject to a vote at Council.

Some people may think I am a little young to be on the cabinet but it is only by doing a job and getting stuck in that one can gain experience. I won’t be perfect at the job (who is?!) but I will do my best.

The Conservative group meet again on Wednesday to iron out the committee places and chairmanships. There will be some changes for Aldridge North and Walsall Wood as I will no longer take a place on the Development Control committee this year – Keith or Anthony will take over. I also won’t be on Corporate Scrutiny anymore – a committee i’ve really enjoyed – but hope to still get involved with the communication and new media working group.

So all change and some interesting challenges ahead. My first question to readers then – what do you think of Children’s Services in Walsall? What works, what doesn’t work and what should I look at first?