New Forest and BCP councils announced new cabinets and elect new chairs and vice-chairs

THE new chair and vice-chair of New Forest District Council and BCP Council have officially taken up their posts following the first meetings since the elections.

Taking the helm at NFDC is Cllr Neville Penman, who replaces former chairman Cllr Alan O’Sullivan.

Cllr David Hawkins was promoted to vice-chair at the annual meeting.

At BCP Council, Mudeford Cllr Lesley Dedman, of the Christchurch Independents, was elected as chair, and Cllr Simon Bull as vice-chair.

Cllr Penman represents the Totton north ward on the district council and has been a member of NFDC since 2011.

He was previously chair at Totton and Eling Town Council for four years.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr O’Sullivan said: “Handing over the baton to Neville gives me great pleasure as I am sure he will be a strong representative of this council and the New Forest.

“He already does great community work and will be an excellent advocate during his year in office.

“Thank you for allowing me to represent you over the last year, which I will always remember with fond memories.”

Cllr Penman added: “I am very much looking forward to representing the district at civic and community events over the coming year.”

He has chosen the Minstead Trust and the Rainbow Trust as his two charities for the year.

Leader of NFDC, Cllr Jill Cleary, also announced her new cabinet line-up, which comprises six Conservative councillors.

The cabinet is responsible for making executive decisions and each cabinet member has a portfolio of responsibilities.

Cllr Steve Davies has been promoted to deputy leader and the cabinet member for housing and homelessness.

Cllr Jeremy Heron will remain as the cabinet member for finance and corporate and Cllr Geoffrey Blunden is now the portfolio holder for environment and sustainability.

Cllr Dan Poole will join the cabinet as the portfolio holder for community, safety, and wellbeing and Cllr Derek Tipp will join the cabinet as the portfolio holder for planning and economy.

Cllr Cleary said: “This cabinet will be dedicated to working to achieve the priorities we have set for the district - our communities staying safe and feeling safe; affordable homes; the creation of more jobs; revitalising our village and town centres; caring for the environment; improving vital frontline services; and helping the most vulnerable.

“Between us we have a broad range of skills and life experiences and will represent residents to get the best outcomes for the district.

“I am excited for us to build on the good work of the previous cabinet and to see our plans come to life.”

BCP Council has formed a new administration, the Three Towns Alliance, which has been formed from the Liberal Democrats (28 councillors), Christchurch Independents (eight councillors), Poole People Party (five councillors) and the Bournemouth Independent Group (three councillors).

It will be led by Cllr Vikki Slade in her second term in the BCP Council role. She was the first leader of BCP Council from May 2019 to October 2020.

Cllr Slade said she was “delighted and honoured” to have been chosen.

She added: “The council needs to get the basics right and earn the trust and confidence of all our residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole before we can go on to deliver those more exciting projects that we all want to see.

“We must work to rebuild the reputation of the council. This administration will be based on the solid foundations of openness, transparency, accountability, honesty and integrity.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that the council is experiencing huge financial constraints and there will be some difficult decisions ahead.”

The new cabinet and its responsibilities will be made up of Cllr Millie Earl as deputy leader and cabinet member for connected communities, Cllr David Brown as member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Richard Burton as member for children and young people and Cllr Mike Cox as member for finance.

Cllr Andy Hadley will be cabinet member for climate response, environment and energy, Cllr Jeff Hanna for transformation and resource, Cllr Andy Martin for customer, communications and culture, and Cllr Kieron Wilson for housing, planning and regulation.