The new Labour administration in Brighton and Hove have today announced their lead councillors. The eight lead councillors bring a vast range of experience to serve the residents of Brighton and Hove.
Councillor Warren Morgan, the Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group, said:
I am proud and delighted to put forward the team of people who will lead the city council through the next four years.
My council administration will include a very strong mix of experience and knowledge, fresh ideas and new talent to meet the challenges that we face on housing and schools, refuse services and the city economy, neighbourhoods and equalities.
We were elected to deliver a council that works for you, and we will deliver for every neighbourhood in every part of Brighton and Hove. We will as a group talk and listen to residents, businesses, partner organisations and neighbouring councils, and we will deliver on our clear vision and purpose to return the council and the city to the right track.”
Biographies of lead councillors
Councillor Warren Morgan: Policy and Resources / Economic Development and Culture
Having been closely involved over several years with the proposals to build a new King Alfred, new Churchill Square extension and new conference and concert arena at Black Rock, Council Leader Councillor Warren Morgan will chair the Economic Development and Culture Committee with the goal of delivering these new developments, homes and jobs, on time and in budget. As Leader, he will take forward the city’s economic and employment agenda at the Greater Brighton Economic Board and Local Enterprise Partnership, using his dozen years’ experience as a city councillor to pursue better paid and more secure jobs for all city residents.
Councillor Gill Mitchell: Environment and Transport
Gill has served as a councillor for 22 years, representing an East Brighton Ward and served as Chair of the Environment Committee and Deputy Leader of the Council from 2003 during the previous Labour Administration of the Council. Having lived in Brighton for nearly 50 years, she has two children who live locally. She works part time in the NHS.
Councillor Tom Bewick: Children, Young People and Skills
Tom has a professional background in education, skills and enterprise policy spanning two decades.
He was an adviser to the Labour Government from 1997 to 2004, on youth and adult education. He was Chief Executive of the creative and cultural industries skills council between 2004 and 2010 (www.ccskills.org.uk). Currently, Tom is Chief Executive of the International Skills Standards Organisation (INSSO) Ltd., where he is an adviser to several overseas governments. (www.insso.org).
Tom is passionate about education, skills, entrepreneurship and apprenticeships. He grew up in foster care and left school initially with no qualifications. From the Midlands, Tom first came to the city in 1991, where he commenced a degree in social policy at the University of Brighton, completed at the University of Bath (BSc & MSc.).
Tom lives in Hove, with his partner and three young children.
Councillor Dan Yates: Health and Wellbeing Board
Dan has lived in Brighton for nine years. He works as an NHS manager and Lead Physiotherapist. Dan has broad experience of modernising NHS services and working alongside and within jointly commissioned NHS / Social Care services. He has also previously worked at the University of Brighton and still lectures there occasionally on the NHS, rehabilitation and new ways of working.
Dan was previously a Councillor on Adur District Council where he was Leader of the Labour Group and Chaired the Direct Services Board, responsible for Waste Collection, Housing Maintenance and Leisure services.
Councillor Emma Daniel: Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities
Emma has over 15 years of experience as a CEO, trustee and volunteer in the voluntary sector. Most recently, Emma has developed a national training programme for councillors to use social technology to collaborate with communities and is currently working in a school for the deaf and is learning BSL. Emma is passionate about tackling poverty and has run projects to enhance communities sharing with projects such as food banks. Last Christmas, she led her ward in a giving effort that provided Christmas presents to over 50 families in financial crisis.
Councillor Anne Meadows: Housing and New Homes
Anne represents a ward which is evenly split between social housing and private sector housing. She has been involved in housing-related issues for over 21 years, having previously been Deputy Chair of the Housing Committee. In addition, she chaired the successful scrutiny on studentification. She has also chaired the Adult Social Care Committee for a number of years.
Councillor Karen Barford: Health and Wellbeing Board
Karen has extensive experience at strategic and operational level within local community organisations, social enterprises and national charities.
She has been responsible for the creation, bidding, implementation and effective delivery of small to multi-million pound services, focussing on disadvantaged groups, such as older people and adults with mental health support needs, learning disabilities and life limiting conditions.
Her main focus has been to support and empower local people to live full and active lives whilst maximising positive social, environmental and economic impact. This includes emotional and practical support, meaningful occupation, service user commissioning, social enterprise start-ups and welfare to work.
Councillor Les Hamilton: Deputy Leader, Finance
Les was first elected as Councillor in Portslade Urban District in 1971, and has proceeded to be a Councillor on Hove Borough Council and then on Brighton and Hove City Council. Altogether he has been a Councillor for 43 years. Les has been the Labour lead on finance since 2007.
Les worked as a secondary school mathematics teacher in the city for over 40 years. In addition, he is a trustee of two charities, a school governor and the Chairman of the Mile Oak Football Club.
