The new leader of Newcastle City Council has unveiled her cabinet.
The reshuffle at the troubled local authority includes a return to cabinet for Cllr Alex Hay, who will become deputy leader subject to approval from full Council.
Cllr Hay, who represents the Kingston Park South and Newbiggin Hall ward, stepped down from his economic development and planning portfolio in September following a complaint about bullying directed at former leader Nick Kemp. Cllr Kemp stepped down later that month, saying he “strenuously refutes” any allegations of bullying.
Elsewhere, his successor Cllr Karen Kilgour has announced that Blakelaw Councillor Juna Sathian and Denton and Westerhope’s Dan Greenhough will take up cabinet positions on the city Council. Cllr Sathian will oversee climate and transport, while Cllr Greenhough will have responsibility for economy and skills.
As a result of these changes, Cllr Marion Williams will leave her portfolio overseeing transport and climate change.
In a statement, Cllr Kilgour said: “I’m really pleased to have my cabinet in place and I look forward to us all getting on with the job at hand to deliver the best possible services and outcomes for residents across Newcastle.
“Together, we will work closely with residents and Council officers, as well as partners and other stakeholders across the city and the wider region, to deliver on our priorities of tackling inequalities, reaching net zero, and delivering good-quality homes, while ensuring we are providing the level of services that our communities expect and deserve from us.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to Marion Williams for all her hard work and achievements during her time on the Cabinet.
“Every member of cabinet brings their own unique experience and an incredible level of passion that unites us in our desire to put residents at the heart of everything we do, and I look forward to getting to work with them for the good of Newcastle.”
Cllr Greenhough mounted a leadership challenge against Cllr Kemp in May of this year – part of an ongoing internal struggle that has gripped the city’s ruling Labour group in recent years. Cllr Forbes narrowly defeated the challenge by a wafer-thin margin of 23 votes to 21.
It marked the second year in succession that Cllr Kemp has faced such a battle, though previous challenger Ged Bell ultimately withdrew before a vote could be held in 2023. Warring factions within Newcastle Labour have battled for dominance in the party for several years.
Cllr Kemp originally sought to depose former Council leader Nick Forbes in 2021, before the more centrist Mr Forbes was then dramatically deselected in his Arthur’s Hill ward the following year. Cllr Kemp then took over Newcastle City Council’s Labour administration in 2022 after emerging victorious in a tight leadership race against Forbes ally Clare Penny-Evans by 27 votes to 24.
Cllr Greenhough is also considered to come from the group of former Forbes allies, and is viewed as a strong backer of both Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell and the new North East mayor, Kim McGuinness.
The Council’s new cabinet is as follows:
- Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of the Council
- Cllr Alex Hay, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services
- Cllr Paul Frew, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance
- Cllr Paula Maines, Cabinet Member for Housing
- Cllr Adam Walker, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Prevention
- Cllr Lesley Storey, Cabinet Member for Children and Families
- Cllr Abdul Samad, Cabinet Member for Culture, Music and Arts
- Cllr Irim Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities
- Cllr Dan Greenhough, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills
- Cllr Juna Sathian, Climate and Transport
Cabinet members are selected by the Council leader, barring Cllr Hay’s position of deputy leader which is governed by the local Labour group. The appointment will also need to be approved by full Council, which next meets on Wednesday 6 November.
