TAMESIDE Council’s executive leader has vowed to steer it clear of division after being re-elected.
Cllr Eleanor Wills was kept in position after receiving 32 votes at the meeting of full council on Tuesday, May 26.
That was the first time in 47 years the authority was not under Labour control, and the new 19-strong Reform UK group put Cllr Allan Hopwood, who received 19 with four abstentions, forward.
And after coming out on top, she promised to work towards developing the area and particularly its social housing supply – although the contentious Godley Green Garden Village scheme remains on the agenda.
Cllr Wills said: “We need to ensure that we don’t get lost as a local authority in division and gameplay.
“We need to ensure that we’re doing the right things for the right reasons, so when we talk about our housing sufficiency we need to understand the consequences of not delivering things that are being proposed.
“You need to understand things like Godley Green brings forward £29 million worth of investment into the community.
“There are many, many people waiting on social housing and that’s their everyday experience. That’s because we haven’t built enough social housing as part of previous government responsibilities.
“Social housing providers have not built enough housing in Tameside. I work with government, I work with Greater Manchester leaders and I work on every platform to ensure that we are building more opportunities for people here in Tameside.
“It matters and it’s not because somebody with a different purpose has come and taken it away, it’s because we haven’t built a future for people. We’re bringing forward 454 social houses in other areas.”
Cllr Wills also revealed more news about investment into Tameside is to come, adding: “I have brought into this authority in the last year-and-a-half £100 million worth of investment.
“There will be future news about another employment opportunity. We are creating skills and apprenticeships across this authority, better towns, better opportunities, working skills for our people.
“Under my leadership, we are transforming Tameside Council and we are seeing investment and plans translating into delivery at a pace that the spirit hasn’t seen previously, certainly not in my 12 years as an elected member.
“Under my leadership, we’re transforming and seeing investment.
“It’s an honour to use my experiences to try and create more opportunities for people here in Tameside and if you feel like that’s not happening appropriately by all means come and speak to me.
“The thing that drives me in this role is passion. This is a vocation, it’s not something that I have to do, that any of us have to do, it’s driven by life experience and a real desire to make a meaningful difference for the people of Tameside.”
Not everyone was keen to see Cllr Wills remain in her post.
Reform UK Cllr Kim Roberts said: “Here in Tameside, the people have spoken and they say we’ve had enough of this government.
“We don’t want any more of your policies thrust upon us, but we have to take note of what you want. It’s what these people here need.
“The public who sit here today, they need to be listened to. These people come here expecting to see change, so we hope to give them change by listening to what they say, acting on their behalf with what they want.
“We know what we’re doing and this council deserves better. We’re doing the same old, same old.
“Cllr Hopwood has a vision that’s not party politically driven from years and years of being sitting in the same position, thinking, ‘When I get pension next year, I don’t have to do much I’ll just sit in school and do the same old, same old.
“’I won’t bother listening to those people in Tameside. What does that even matter to me? I’ll get my pension.’
“I care about you. Reform cares about you. We’ll take note of what you’ve said. That’s why we’re here.”
However, other groups voted for Cllr Wills, including the Conservatives, who told how they had not done so lightly after claiming to have received Reform UK’s proposals at 9.43pm the night before the meeting.
They said: “We have made this decision openly, honestly and with one priority in mind – ensuring Tameside Council continues to function effectively for its residents.
“Across local government, we have already seen what political deadlock and inexperience can lead to. We want better for Tameside.
“Local government is complex, demanding and carries enormous responsibility. Residents deserve stability, competence and clear leadership from day one.
“That is why this decision is based on responsibility, stability and good governance, not political convenience.
“It is also important for residents to understand the alternative. Had we chosen to abstain, the council risked falling into exactly the kind of paralysis and instability we have seen elsewhere, with no clear leadership and uncertainty for residents, staff and services.
“Our responsibility is to act in the best interests of Tameside residents now, not to take risks with the borough’s governance or financial stability for the sake of political point scoring.
“There is no coalition, there are no formal arrangements and there are no secret deals. We remain an opposition group and our principles have not changed.
“Politics sometimes requires difficult decisions and honest conversations, particularly in councils where no single party has overall control.
“We have approached those conversations with one aim – doing what we believe is right for the residents of Tameside and ensuring stability for the borough.”