Kirklees Together

As the new municipal year gets under way, Leader of Kirklees Council, Councillor Shabir Pandor has refreshed his cabinet team.

Councillor Pandor’s cabinet will be responsible for taking major decisions on the council’s services with each of the nine cabinet members taking on a specific portfolio area. Following the local elections earlier in May, the Labour party retained an overall majority of councillors on Kirklees Council. This means that the Leader and nine cabinet positions will be filled by Labour councillors.

Seven of the nine existing cabinet members retain their current cabinet position and portfolio. Councillor Will Simpson has announced that he is stepping down from the cabinet and Councillor Naheed Mather, currently Cabinet Member for Environment, will therefore take on the Culture and Greener Kirklees portfolio. Councillor Masood Ahmed, Mayor of Kirklees in the last municipal year, will take on the vacant Environment portfolio.

Councillor Pandor, said:

“I’m really pleased to confirm these cabinet appointments. My team has the right blend of experience, enthusiasm and ideas to drive our work forwards. I’m looking forward to working with cabinet colleagues to build a stronger economy and improve lives and opportunities for residents in all parts of Kirklees.

“The team are already hard at work on improving our infrastructure, helping residents through the cost-of-living crisis and much more besides. There are challenges ahead but I know this is the right team to face up to them on behalf of local people.

“I want to thank Will Simpson for his contribution to the cabinet over the past two years. He is a passionate and articulate advocate for the green agenda and he’s made a major impact on reducing emissions and making Kirklees a greener place. He’s also been a champion of arts and culture across the borough and leaves a lasting legacy in communities across Kirklees. He has served on the cabinet with great distinction and I know he will continue to represent Denby Dale brilliantly.”

Councillor Will Simpson, added:

“Leading on climate and culture for the last two years has been an absolute privilege, which I have enjoyed hugely. I have worked with some of the most talented and kind staff. I want to say thank you to all of them for their support.

“I am incredibly proud of all that we’ve done together. From delivering award winning action on the climate emergency and our phase two climate action plan to supporting the Woven Festival and Year of Music – there is so much brilliant work that my team do and I am proud to have worked with them.

“Being the cabinet member for the issues I care about deeply in the place I love has been an immense privilege. I will continue to be a strong voice for them on the council.”

Kirklees Council Cabinet Portfolios 2023-24

Name	Description of Portfolio or other responsibility
Shabir Pandor	Leader
Cathy Scott	Deputy Leader and Housing and Democracy
Carole Pattison	Learning, Aspiration and Communities
Graham Turner	Regeneration
Viv Kendrick	Children (Statutory responsibility for Children)
Masood Ahmed	Environment
Naheed Mather	Culture and Greener Kirklees
Musarrat Khan	Health & Social Care
Paul Davies	Corporate
Eric Firth	Transport