THE new-look cabinet of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been announced.

Councillor Mary Lanigan was elected as the new leader following the resignation of Councillor George Dunning at a meeting of the full council on Thursday (February 12).

Members of the Independent group have joined forces with the Liberal Democrats to create a new power structure in the wake of Labour losing control of the local authority.

The restructure came after Cllr Dunning and several other leading Labour members of the council were not selected by the party to stand for re-election in May and tore up their party membership in response to decision.

Announcing her new cabinet, Cllr Lanigan, who is the first female elected leader of the council, said: “My first priority is to bring the council together and start to really move forward on doing what we were elected to do – the best for the people of Redcar and Cleveland.

“There are some important decisions to make over the coming weeks and months, particularly in respect of the budget and the Combined Authority, and we need to turn our attention back to council business.”

The Cabinet is made up of: leader – Councillor Mary Lanigan; deputy leader and children’s services and education – Councillor Josh Mason; culture, leisure and tourism – Councillor Chris Abbott; community safety – Councillor Stuart Smith; highways, planning and transport – Councillor Steve Kay; housing and neighbourhood renewal – Councillor Tristan Learoyd; health and social wellbeing – Councillor Mary Ovens; economic development – Councillor Ron Harrison; environment and rural affairs – Councillor Barry Hunt, and corporate resources – Councillor Glyn Nightingale.