The councillors who will run Luton Council under its new coalition administration have been confirmed, with Independent Alliance Group councillor Rob Roche appointed deputy leader of the executive.
The Northwell councillor will also take responsibility for housing under Liberal Democrat leader Amjid Ali, who has divided the executive’s portfolios between the three groups that came together to end almost 20 years of Labour control of the authority.
The new administration follows last week’s election of Councillor Ali as council leader after a vote of no confidence removed former Labour leader Tahmina Saleem from the post.
Cllr Ali said when he was elected leader that his immediate priority was to bring “stability and a renewed sense of purpose” to the authority, with a focus on the issues affecting residents.
Liberal Democrats, Independent Alliance Group councillors and Conservatives now make up the administration, with Labour becoming the official opposition.
Cllr Roche, who was one of six members that left the Labour Party in the summer leaving them in minority control of the council until being ousted last week, will deputise for Cllr Ali at executive meetings when the council leader is absent.
Liberal Democrat South councillor Steve Stephens, the party’s deputy group leader, will be Councillor Ali’s number two in the council chamber and has been handed responsibility for waste, climate change and neighbourhood services.
His fellow Liberal Democrat Adrees Latif, who represents Wigmore, takes on sustainable development and highways.
The new executive also includes several other councillors who have crossed the political divide since the collapse of Labour’s administration.
Independent Alliance Group’s (Challney) Cllr Khtija Malik returns to the executive as portfolio holder for public health, having previously held the same position as a Labour councillor.
Independent Alliance Group Cllr Rumi Chowdhury (Beech Hill) will be responsible for women, equalities and community safety. She previously served as executive as portfolio holder for adult social care and public health.
The final portfolio was confirmed as former Labour deputy leader Aslam Khan, now a Conservative councillor for Poets, taking responsibility for regeneration and inclusive growth.
The rest of the executive is made up of Liberal Democrat councillors.
Vauxhall councillor Lee Bridgen, who previously chaired the scrutiny children’s services review group, becomes portfolio holder for children’s services.
Round Green councillor Gillian Fry takes responsibility for skills and education.
Stopsley councillor Matt Fry becomes portfolio holder for finance, while fellow Stopsley councillor Richard Underwood takes over adult social care after previously chairing the scrutiny health and social care review group.
Councillor David Franks, the former Liberal Democrat (Barnfield) Leader, who recently left the party to sit as a non-aligned independent, has not been given a position on the new executive.
The reshuffle also sets out who will lead the council’s scrutiny functions as Labour moves into opposition.
Cllr Tahmina Saleem, whose four-month leadership came to an end after last week’s no-confidence vote, has been elected chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board.
Liberal Democrat councillor Zahoor Ahmed (Round Green) and Conservative councllor Aziz Ambia (Bramingham) will serve as her deputies.
Labour councillors will chair three of the council’s scrutiny review groups.
Central councillor Mohammed Hanif becomes chair of the finance review group, while High Town councillor Umme Ali will lead the children’s services review group.
Leagrave councillor Maria Lovell takes the chair of the health and social care review group.
The new executive marks a significant change in the political make-up of Luton Council after Labour’s near two-decade administration came to an end earlier this month.
The new executive will now take responsibility for delivering that agenda, with the coalition bringing together Liberal Democrat, Independent Alliance Group and Conservative councillors across the council’s main services.
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