EXCLUSIVE
TAMESIDE Council has a new leader after the national Labour Party made its choice.
And Cllr Eleanor Wills insists she is ready for the ‘huge’ challenge.
The Dukinfield/Stalybridge representative earned the role following a series of interviews, with more than one candidate believed to have put themselves forward.
Now she is replacing Cllr Ged Cooney, who stood down in the wake of a string of resignations from leadership roles, she will oversee delivering the ‘culture change’ Labour’s campaign improvement board wants.
She said after her interview on Wednesday, October 16 was successful: “Whilst the challenge ahead is huge, so is the opportunity.”
Cllr Wills’ appointment is set to be confirmed at an extraordinary meeting of Tameside’s full council on Thursday, October 24.
She will detail more of her aims and plans at a meeting of the ruling Labour group on Thursday, October 17.
However, The Correspondent understands the two other roles the campaign improvement board seeks to fill – deputy leader and chief whip – are being re-advertised.
Cllr John Taylor told The Correspondent of his desire to land the number two role, but he is not thought to have landed it following and interview.
Likewise, candidates for the chief whip role – believed to be Cllrs Helen Bowden and Mohammed Karim – are said to have been overlooked.
Cllr Wills enters the top job at a time of upheaval following the resignation of head of paid serve – the non-political leader – Sandra Stewart after a scathing report into Tameside’s children’s services department, including claims of a ‘toxic’ and ‘bullying’ culture.
‘Unacceptable working practices’ were also found by the Labour Party but in an email to the ruling group, she insisted working together can direct the way forward.
She added: “With the support and talents of everybody, we can and must improve and transform services for our children and residents.”
When announcing her candidacy, Cllr Wills spelled out plainly: “I believe now is the time for fresh leadership – time for a new generation to take the council forward and rebuild trust with our residents.
“There is nothing more important than the work Tameside Council does in protecting the most vulnerable children and young people in our community – and Tameside Council has failed them.
“It is time for decisive action. We really do have so much talent and enthusiasm within our group to improve our services for the better.
“This is an opportunity to draw a line and move forward for the sake of our residents – for the sake of our children.”
Neighbouring Oldham Council’s chief executive, Harry Catherall – who lives in Stalybridge – is coming in on an interim, part-time basis.
However, that has left councillors in the authority far from impressed and they will hold an extraordinary meeting at the same time.
Conservative Cllr Lewis Quigg fumed: “It is apparent that the collapse of a neighbouring Labour council is now impacting on Oldham.
“Mr Catherall is the most senior officer in the council and we need to know, given his already reduced role, that he is able to fully commit to the people of Oldham or not.
“There is no escaping the fact Oldham is in a mess and is not in a good place and we need a full-time chief executive who can deal with this reality.
“Mr Catherall needs to decide whether he is staying or going so we can begin to plan for the future.
“The halfway house situation we have now and going forward is not good enough.”
What are Eleanor Wills qualifications and experience for this very important position please inform the Tameside residents of her standard of education and her previous involvement concerning children we need to know, we have the candidate, who as proof of putting into practice a proven record of creating a high standard of service in this area of children’s safety and able to satisfy government officers in the future.
I think resident have a rite to ask and be informed that the new officer appointed as some of these above basic qualifications and council management have asked the questions.so this time we have good chance of some improvement.
#voteroy
Tameside Council has been in Labour control of Tameside for 46 years since1979 and it is devastating to say that it’s reputation has never been in the gutter as these last few weeks.Never in its proud history have we ever had a unelected Leader that will clearly find it impossible to get the respect and backing of her fellow councillors never mind the other Greater Manchester Leaders and Mayor.
Another sad day for Tameside as we regrettably continue to race for the bottom, its proud population deserves so much better.
Great news, its about time that they were replaced by people who know what they are doing. Get rid of the nepotism.
A Labour insider has categorically denied that Cllr Wills has not had these or any other glasses donated from the Prime Ministers ,or any Lord Alli donations and she was not at Taylor Swifts concert due to her time commitment with the 3 MPs to oust her union colleagues and past associates.
Presumably she felt she had no option other than to resign which had been further exasperated in that as a committed Labour member it was apparent that she has been regularly overlooked for any freebie’s, clothes allowance ,flats in London or entry in the Ibiza DJ booth etc which others had been allegedly forced to take.
It appears clear that Cllr Taylor,Bowen and Kirim are unfortunately not supported by Cllr Wills and our 3 MP,s even though they had the courage to put their names forward.
My heart goes out to the loyal staff and children services etc that are having to deal with this chaos and run the service why other with no responsibility are playing Politics.