A fresh start for Kirklees as Council Leader appoints new team
Kirklees Council’s interim Leader, Cllr Cathy Scott, has unveiled her top team of councillors to take the organisation forward.
Today (Monday 21 August 2023), Cllr Scott has appointed a Deputy Leader and eight other Cabinet Members to take key decisions on local services and lead the council’s ambitions for Kirklees.
Cllr Paul Davies becomes Deputy Leader of the Council, leading on supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis, with eight further Cabinet Members taking on portfolios to lead key services.
The Cabinet is the council’s main decision-making body and will decide its priorities, how services to residents are delivered and how the authority’s resources are spent.
Cllr Scott said:
“There’s no time to waste. I’m cracking on with the job and getting to grips with the things that really matter to people across Kirklees.
“My Cabinet has the right blend of experience and fresh ideas to overcome the challenges we face and improve lives for people across Kirklees. This is a highly motivated team with the interests of residents at their heart. They are every bit as keen as I am to get to work and start delivering for Kirklees.”
Pledging a “fresh start” for Kirklees, Cllr Scott has also outlined her vision for the council and the key priorities that will guide her leadership:
- Setting a fair and balanced budget and pressuring the Government for a fairer funding deal for Kirklees during the cost-of-living crisis.
- Regenerating our towns and villages.
- Being ambitious for our young people and improving Children’s Services.
- Delivering a greener Kirklees and leading on the climate emergency.
The Cabinet meets for the first time today (Monday) to discuss their plans, with further announcements expected in the coming days.
Talking about her approach to leading the council, Cllr Scott said:
“Anyone who knows me, knows I’m my own person. I will bring my own style and personality to the job. That means being open with people and telling it like it is. But it also means listening and understanding people’s hopes, ideas and frustrations.
“Above all, I’m passionate about our communities and doing my best for them. I’m driven by my values of fairness and pride in our people and our places. That’s what gets me up in the morning and motivates me in the good times and the bad.
“I’m under no illusions. This is a tough job but I’m a grafter and it’s a huge privilege to work hard on behalf of Kirklees people. With a refreshed and motivated team around me, I’m looking forward to taking on this challenge.”
Kirklees Council’s full Cabinet line-up, portfolios and responsibilities will be as follows:
| Name | Description of Portfolio or other responsibility |
| Cathy Scott | Acting Leader |
| Paul Davies | Deputy Leader and Corporate |
| Elizabeth Reynolds | Learning and Aspiration |
| Graham Turner | Finance and Regeneration |
| Viv Kendrick | Children’ Services (Statutory responsibility for Children) |
| Masood Ahmed | Housing |
| Gwen Lowe | Environment |
| Jackie Ramsey | Health & Social Care (Statutory responsibility for Adults) |
| Mussarat Pervaiz | Communities |
| Yusra Hussain | Culture and Greener |