Lib Dems choose executive line-up

May 15 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

LIBERAL Democrats have chosen the eight councillors who will take up the key executive posts in the new minority administration which will run Northumberland County Council.

The Journal revealed yesterday how the Lib Dems – now the biggest single party on the authority with 26 seats – have reached a working understanding with Labour which allows them to form an administration to give the hung council political leadership.

The agreement involves Labour supporting the Lib Dem nominations for the posts of council leader, deputy leader and the other six portfolio posts in the eight-strong executive.

These should be confirmed at next week’s annual meeting of the county council in Morpeth, the first since the May 1 elections which saw Labour’s 19-year political control of the authority ended and left no party in overall control. Coun Jeff Reid, leader of the Lib Dem group in Blyth Valley, and Coun Roger Styring, Lib Dem leader of Alnwick District Council, have already been nominated as the new leader and deputy leader.

Yesterday the 26-strong group announced the names of the six councillors who will also be members of the key decision-making executive.

They are Wansbeck Bothal councillor Simon Reed, who will be executive member for children’s services, Berwick East councillor Jim Smith, who will have responsibility for environment and regeneration, and Newbiggin councillor Alan Thompson, who will be portfolio holder for highways and operations.

Berwick Borough Council leader Isabel Hunter will be executive member for health and well-being, former county council Lib Dem group leader Lesley Rickerby, of Blyth, will be portfolio holder for community services, and Morpeth councillor Andrew Tebbutt will be executive member for corporate services.

The Lib Dem group is considering further nominations for assistant portfolio holders, committee places and appointments to outside bodies. Chair and vice-chair posts on the three main scrutiny committees will be offered to the opposition Labour, Conservative and Independent groups.

Yesterday Coun Reid said: “There is one driving priority over the next 12 months, and that is to get transition from the existing county council and six district councils into one new unitary authority in place so that services are maintained from April 1, 2009.”