Tees Valley
Town hall reshuffle focuses on health
A MAYOR who pioneered a zero
tolerance attitude to crime in his
town is now focusing his energies
on making the community
healthier.
Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough,
says he wants to see a
healthier Middlesbrough where
people regularly live beyond the
national average.
In a reshuffle of Middlesbrough
Council's executive, Mr
Mallon has moved Councillor
Brenda Thompson from children,
families and learning to
take up the new portfolio of public
health.
Mr Mallon said Coun Thompson's
new role in charge of public
health was central to his vision
for the town.
"I want it to be part and parcel
of everything we do every day,''
he said.
"I want to see a renewed focus
on public health. It is all very well
doing all the things we are doing,
but if people are not healthy, they
cannot enjoy what is on offer.
"In Middlesbrough there are
only two areas where people live
beyond average life expectancy.
In 20 years time, I want to see a
reverse in that so no more than
two areas in the borough have a
life expectancy below the national
average."
Three new faces are joining the
council's executive, following a
reshuffle.
Councillors Julia Rostron,
Charlie Rooney and former council
leader Mike Carr join the team
with responsibility for social
care, transport and children,
families and learning respectively.
Councillor Paul Thompson
moves from economic development
- now included in Councillor
David Budd's regeneration
portfolio - to take up the
Streetscene Services role.
The mayor said the shake-up
was designed to take the council
to the next level in its delivery of
key services.
"Julia Rostron is taking on the
social care portfolio because she
knows that area very well, having
been employed by the council
before becoming a councillor," he
said.
"Paul Thompson is a very experienced
councillor and he will
take on the role of Streetscene
and drive forward that unit of responsibility.''
He added: "We have made good
progress in this area but there is
no doubt we can make further inroads
in that service."
Councillor Ron Lowes, who
was executive member for transport,
is leaving the executive but
will continue to work closely
with Mr Mallon in a number of
areas including interaction with
the business community, faith
groups, and youth organisations.
11:03am Thursday 15th May 2008
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