New cabinet post created to tackle ‘climate emergency.’

Richard Wyatt,

A new dedicated cabinet role to tackle ‘climate emergency’ has been created in the list -released today – of the new leader and nine cabinet members, who will steer the first majority-led Liberal Democrat council for Bath & North East Somerset.

The cabinet will also include, for the first time in the council’s history, two job-share roles – one to look after climate concerns and the other on transport.

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The announcements were made at the Council’s annual meeting at the Guildhall.

The new cabinet along with their portfolios are:

  • Councillor Dine Romero, (Southdown ward)  – Council Leader
  • Councillor Richard Samuel (Walcot ward) –  Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources
  • Councillor Kevin Guy (Bathavon North) – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
  • Councillor Rob Appleyard (Lambridge) – Cabinet Member for Adult Services
  • Councillor Sarah Warren (Bathavon North) and Councillor Dave Wood (Mendip) (Job Share) – Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services
  • Councillor Neil Butters (Bathavon South) and Councillor Joanna Wright (Lambridge) Cabinet Member for Transport Services (Job Share)
  • Councillor Tim Ball (Twerton) Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning, and Economic Development
  • Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown) Cabinet Member for Community Services

In addition to the cabinet roles the AGM appointed a new Chairman of the Council, Councillor Eleanor Jackson (Labour, Westfield).  The Vice-Chairman of Council is Councillor Andrew Furse (Liberal Democrat, Kingsmead).

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Cllr Paul Crossley who has been appointed to the Community Services role.

At the meeting Councillor Romero set out how the new cabinet roles would serve the residents of Bath and North East Somerset.

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Council Leader, Cllr Dine Romero.

She said: “Our new cabinet team sets a clear direction for the council. We are ambitious for our area and have some big tasks ahead particularly addressing the climate emergency and have already created a dedicated cabinet role to champion this vital concern. All our cabinet members are committed to opening up the council and making sure people’s voices are heard about issues that really matter locally.

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Cllr Rob Appleyard becomes Cabinet member for Adult Services.

“Our new cabinet members will focus on working with local people on issues like making it easier to travel around, building more affordable homes and ensuring more prevention in health and social care. We are also committed to cleaner and safer streets as well as protecting our local facilities for the benefit of the community.”

Cabinet meetings and full council meetings are always webcast and the calendar of meetings will be published on the council website.

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

1 Comment

  1. The good news here is that at least and at last Bath has the major voice in the council’s cabinet. It’s disappointing, though, that the Lib Dems are to continue the cabinet structure, which apes Westminster, inflates egos, and undermines the influence of ward councillors.

    It’ll be interesting to see if and how the new council tackles the West of England Combined Authority problem.

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