THE leader of St Helens Borough Council has unveiled his new-look cabinet, with Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron coming into the fold as expected.

Council leader David Baines has not made any wholesale changes to his team, although there has been a redesign of the portfolios.

Cllr Gomez-Aspron, who is expected to be named deputy council leader at the annual council meeting later this month, will take on the new reset and recovery portfolio.

He comes in for Cllr Sue Murphy, who is stepping down from her position as cabinet member for developing young people.

Her portfolio will be split between Cllr Nova Charlton’s children and young people portfolio and the new education, skills and business portfolio.

Cllr Kate Groucutt, cabinet member for corporate services, estates and communication, will oversee this new portfolio.

St Helens Borough Council said the redesign of the portfolios has seen a new focus on the development of its development as a modern, forward-thinking organisation, particularly in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The council said creating a workforce that meets the needs of businesses in the borough in the future will help improve opportunities for young people, and this will be the focus of the new education, skills and business portfolio.

St Helens Star: Cllr Gomez-Aspron will take on the new reset and recovery portfolio.Cllr Gomez-Aspron will take on the new reset and recovery portfolio.

Cllr Baines said: “These are unprecedented times for all of us, and we need to be prepared for whatever challenges may come.

“In the last year the council has made terrific progress under new leadership and a new team of executive officers, and this cabinet will continue that journey.

“It’s vital that we respond to the impact of Covid and do all we can to help the recovery of our local economy. It’s also more important than ever that we do things differently as a council and become more modern, more efficient, and more effective.

“We’ve made some changes to cabinet to help us respond to these challenges.

“Our new deputy leader, Cllr Sev Gomez-Aspron, will be focusing on reset and recovery, leading the modernisation and transformation of council services, and Cllr Kate Groucutt will be leading on education, skills and business, working to make sure children and young people have access to the best opportunities in school and post-16, and supporting the local business community.

“Myself and the entire cabinet will be working with council officers, residents, businesses, public and third sector partners to build back better after Covid and fulfil our borough’s potential.”

Here is the new-look cabinet in full:

  • Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, cabinet member for reset and recovery:
  • Cllr Nova Charlton, children and young people
  • Cllr Marlene Quinn, adult social care
  • Cllr Jeanie Bell, safer, stronger communities
  • Cllr Kate Groucutt, education, skills and business
  • Cllr Anthony Burns, public health, leisure, libraries and heritage
  • Cllr Richard McCauley, regeneration and planning
  • Cllr Andy Bowden, environment and transport
  • Cllr Martin Bond, finance and governance