The first Labour Cabinet to run Milton Keynes City Council as a majority in almost three decades has been revealed, after the party's victory in the local elections earlier this month.
Labour now has 30 councillors out of 57, after voters cast their ballots. Labour last won a majority in Milton Keynes in 1996, the year before the present unitary council was created and before local councils even had a Cabinet system.
The council had previously been no overall control and run by an alliance of Labour and Liberal Democrats since 2021, and before that a Labour minority administration since 2014.
The Liberal Democrats are now the main opposition on the council, with the Conservatives reduced to just 9 out of 57 councillors.
Cllr Peter Marland will remain as Leader of the Council, with Cllr Emily Darlington becoming the new Deputy Leader of the city with a Community Safety remit.
Cllr Lauren Townsend continues in the vital role of managing the city's finances, Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew retains the Public Realm brief and Cllr Shanika Mahendran takes on an expanded role of Economy, Sustainability and Innovation.
Experienced familiar face, and current Mayor, Cllr Mick Legg will return to the executive as Cabinet for Regulatory Services when he hands over the Chains of Office later this week.
Three newly re-elected councillors are joining the Cabinet.
Cllr Donna Fuller will become Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health & Communities, Cllr Joe Hearnshaw will take on the Children & Young People brief, while Cllr Ed Hume will become responsible for the Housing portfolio.
Cllr Peter Marland, Labour Leader of Milton Keynes City Council said: "I am delighted to be able to announce the first Labour Cabinet of a Labour Council in almost three decades. The people of Milton Keynes have placed their faith in us, and our new Cabinet has a duty to deliver what we promised.
“I'd like to say a personal thank you to Cllr Robin Bradburn, Cllr Jane Carr and Cllr Paul Trendall who have served as Cabinet Members for the past three years, and to the Liberal Democrat Group for their part in the Progressive Alliance. I'm proud of the things we did together for Milton Keynes. While our relationship will now change, I have no doubt we will continue to all want the best for our city.
“However, our aim now is to deliver for the people and businesses of this city, as they so clearly wanted to send a message to the Conservatives that after 14 years of them in government enough is enough, so our next target is ensuring that by the end of this year we have a national Labour government and three Labour MPs in this city alongside our Labour council."
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