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A new Cabinet has been announced to steer Â鶹ÊÓƵ through the next municipal year.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Tracey Dixon, has confirmed nine Lead Member positions in addition to her own role, each aligned to areas that have been identified as being important to both residents and businesses.

The revised portfolios reflect the Council's Vision to enable people to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives and deliver on its ambitions of keeping people well and healthy throughout their lives, financially secure, connected to jobs, skills and learning and being part of strong communities with a commitment to target support to make things fairer.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Leader of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, said: "We have engaged with thousands of residents over the past year as well as businesses, our partners and staff. Those insights have helped us deliver a vision which is all about putting people at the heart of everything we do.

"The new refreshed Cabinet will allow us to tackle the biggest and most fundamental issues our residents are facing."

The new Deputy Leader of the Council is Councillor Audrey Huntley who takes on the portfolio of Culture, Leisure and the Visitor Economy. Joining the Leader and Deputy are:
 

Adults, Health and Independence - Councillor Ruth Berkley

Children's Families and Social Care- Councillor Adam Ellison

Economic Growth and Transport - Councillor Margaret Meling

Education and Skills - Councillor Jane Carter

Governance, Finance and Corporate Services - Councillor Joanne Bell

Housing and Community Safety - Councillor Jim Foreman

Neighbourhoods and Climate Change - Councillor Ernest Gibson

Voluntary Sector, Partnerships and Equalities - Councillor Paul Dean

Councillor Dixon added: "The recent Ofsted inspection of our Children's Services has provided recommendations which we have already prioritised and started to implement, as we continue on our journey of improvement.  Providing focussed political challenge and support is a key part of our strengthened approach.   As part of our ambition to ensure residents are connected to jobs, we have prioritised a clear focus on this area.  This is why the previous joint portfolio has been redesigned.

"I have every faith that my new Cabinet will bring their experience and passion to deliver good things for the people of South Tyneside. We will continue to work with local people in an honest, open and transparent way as we drive forward our plans to make a lasting and positive difference to people's lives."

The positions were confirmed at the annual meeting of council on 16 May. The Leader of the Opposition was confirmed as Councillor David Francis of the Green Party.