Changes to council's cabinet

Changes have been made to the make-up of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet today (Monday).

Councillor James Smith has been appointed as cabinet member for infrastructure, heritage and development management. He had served as a cabinet support member since 2020, and had been the authority’s heritage champion from 2020-2022.

Council leader Abi Brown’s responsibilities will now include regeneration. Having led the delivery of the Goods Yard development in Stoke, which in little over a year progressed from receiving Levelling Up funding from government to securing a development partner, obtaining planning approval and having work start on site, councillor Brown’s responsibilities will now include all Levelling Up programmes in the city.

The full cabinet line-up is:

Councillor Abi Brown, council leader and cabinet member for community safety, partnerships, regeneration and resources.

Councillor Lorraine Beardmore, cabinet member for culture, leisure and public health.

Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for education and economy.

Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment.

Councillor Dave Evans, cabinet member for children and young people.

Councillor Ally Simcock, cabinet member for adult social care and health.

Councillor James Smith, cabinet member for infrastructure, heritage and development management.

Councillor Jackie Barnes remains a cabinet support member for housing and environment. Councillor Melanie Baddelely remains a cabinet support member for education and economy. Councillor Dean Richardson remains the council’s heritage champion.

The changes follow the resignation of councillor Daniel Jellyman as deputy council leader and cabinet member for infrastructure, regeneration and heritage last Friday (17 February). Councillor Jellyman remains a ward councillor for Hanford and Trentham. The role of deputy leader will be shared among cabinet members.