ST Helens Council’s new leader is braced for a “tough” job as he sets his sights on “building for the future”.
Labour’s Cllr Anthony Burns, who serves Blackbrook, was officially appointed as leader of the cabinet at the annual council meeting on Wednesday.
It comes after Cllr David Baines, who will stand as the Labour candidate for St Helens North in the next general election, stepped down as council leader.
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During the meeting on Wednesday, May 15, Cllr Burns said: “It’s a great honour to be elected as leader of the council where you live and I’ve grown up and a great privilege to be part of this special day, an important day in the history of St Helens.
“Whilst it’s also an honour, madam mayor, for us all to be elected here to serve the residents of our borough, today is also a reminder of the history, of the people that have gone before us whose seats we now hold.
“A reminder of the burden of responsibility, the importance of doing the very best we can, and a reminder of continuity for the future generations to take up the mantle too.”
Cllr Burns also said it is “our responsibility to do our duty and play our part in history”.
He added: “So I’m very grateful and humble to be in this room today with all of you as we mark another important milestone in the history of our borough.
“I would like to thank all of those who have been in touch with kind of messages of support, it really does mean a lot to myself.
“There is a tough job to do and a tough act to follow, and with that I would like to place on record mine and my group’s sincere thanks and appreciation to my predecessor and my great friend, Cllr David Baines – who has done a tremendous job in the hardest of circumstances, with a record of delivery, growth and investment whilst ensuring our vulnerable residents and young people are at the very top of our agenda.
“All this, madam mayor, in the midst of a pandemic, and a cost of living crisis, not to mention at the tail end of 14 years of the most brutal Tory Government the country has ever known. On behalf of the Labour group, David, thank you.
“So the leader has changed, madam mayor, but the work continues and on behalf of the Labour group, we will continue to work towards delivering our priorities, starting with our children and young people, protecting the most vulnerable in the borough, supporting the growth agenda, celebrating our culture and heritage, whilst building for the future, ensuring there are opportunities for all and working hard to deliver much-needed modernisation and change of our town centres, the work continues and we look forward to getting on with the job.”
Cllr Burns has also unveiled his new cabinet.
The new cabinet line-up is:
- Leader: Cllr Anthony Burns
- Deputy Leader, Transport and Environment: Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE
- Finance and Governance: Councillor Martin Bond
- People, Performance and IT: Councillor Keith Laird
- Inclusive Growth and Regeneration: Councillor Richard McCauley
- Supporting Neighbourhoods: Councillor Trish Long
- Business, Culture and Leisure: Councillor Kate Groucutt
- Integrated Health and Social Care: Councillor Andy Bowden
- Children and Young People: Councillor Nova Charlton
- Public Health: Councillor Sue Murphy MBE
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