Cabinet changes to be introduced at Annual Council

Changes to Chelmsford City Council’s Cabinet team will be introduced at this week’s Annual Council. The refresh will reflect the administration’s priorities and structural changes within the council, as Chelmsford prepares to join Maldon, Brentwood and part of Essex to form a new Mid Essex unitary authority from April 2028.

‘Fairer’, ‘connected’ and ‘greener’ Chelmsford remain the cornerstones of the council’s strategic objectives, but some policy areas are given a new emphasis. As authorities prepare to run all local services, including health and social care, a new Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing has been created to help ensure a joined-up transition in these areas. A Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities will also focus on keeping the district clean and tidy, following more investment in this area in the council’s budget. A new Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping will help to guide Chelmsford’s growth and identity as it gets ready to become part of a bigger area.

Leader and Deputy Leader

Councillor Stephen Robinson will continue as Leader of the Council, with Councillor Jennie Lardge taking on the role of Deputy Leader from Councillor Lynne Foster. Councillor Lardge, whose previous position covered culture, will also oversee an expanded portfolio as Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, adding the council’s four leisure centres and Hylands Estate to her current responsibilities for Chelmsford Theatre and the Museum of Chelmsford.

Cabinet Member for Finance

Councillor Chris Davidson will remain Cabinet Member for Finance, a portfolio that includes the presentation of the council’s annual budget. Councillor Davidson, who worked for HMRC and then KPMG for many years before becoming a city councillor, will continue his oversight of the council’s finances as it prepares for its merger with other councils.

Cllr Stephen Robinson, Cllr Jennie Lardge and Cllr Chris Davidson

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

Councillor Natacha Dudley has been the Cabinet Member for an Active Chelmsford since May 2023, and her new role as Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing reflects work the council will be doing to prepare for more joined up public health services of the future. The position is intended to help create more connections both between council services and with external organisations, like the NHS Essex Integrated Care Board and Essex Police, so that more early interventions are possible.

Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities

A new Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities, Councillor Simon Goldman, will work alongside Councillor Dudley to make sure that a cleaner and healthier city remains a priority over the next two years. Extra funding has already been allocated in the council’s revenue budget for extra street bins and street cleaning.

Councillor Natasha Dudley and Councillor Simon Goldman

Cabinet Member for a Fairer Chelmsford

The Cabinet Member for a Fairer Chelmsford, covering housing and property, will be Councillor Kieron Franks who has served as Chair of the Governance Committee and the Treasury Management and Investment Sub-Committee. Councillor Franks’ portfolio includes supporting Chelmsford households who find themselves homeless, building more affordable homes and looking at opportunities to use the council’s estate to help residents live fairer lives.

Cabinet Deputy for Economy and Sustainable Transport

Councillor Terry Sherlock will work alongside Councillor Franks as Cabinet Deputy for Economy and Sustainable Transport. Councillor Sherlock will work with local firms to ensure the city remains a vibrant place to run a business, along with oversight of car parking provision, improving connections with bus and train operators and ensuring a joined-up approach to travel.

Councillor Kieron Franks and Councillor Terry Sherlock

Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping

Planning and place-shaping has been part of the wider Greener Chelmsford portfolio, but will now become a Cabinet role in its own right. Councillor Richard Lee, the Chair of the council’s Planning Committee, will step down from that role to take on this new Cabinet position. Councillor Lee’s responsibilities will include ensuring that government targets for development in Chelmsford remain sustainable with an infrastructure-first focus.

Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford

Councillor Rose Moore remains the Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford, taking the lead on creating and maintaining thriving landscapes and green spaces. Councillor Moore’s areas of responsibility include Chelmsford’s parks, habitat management across the district and protecting vital natural infrastructure. Councillor Moore will add the previously separate role of Climate Ambassador to her portfolio, improving the council’s outreach to communities.

Cabinet Member for Connected Chelmsford

Councillor Joanne Hawkins moves from Cabinet Deputy for Support Services to a full Cabinet Member for Connected Chelmsford. This portfolio includes areas that help make council service delivery possible, including the council’s development of information technology and central services such as legal and democratic services.

Councillor Richard Lee, Councillor Rose Moore and Councillor Joanne Hawkins

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“Changes to our Cabinet ensure the services we control are always firmly focused on the things that matter to Chelmsford residents. Residents have told us that they prioritise cleaner streets and ensuring our city centre continues to thrive. These changes reflect that.

"As we prepare to merge with neighbouring councils to form a new Mid Essex unitary authority, we must strike a balance between continuing to deliver for Chelmsford and shaping a larger future authority. This Cabinet refresh will help us to remain ambitious for the people and businesses we serve in the Chelmsford district against this backdrop of change.”

Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader, Chelmsford City Council

Shadow Cabinet

The largest opposition group on the council appoints spokespeople to shadow the Cabinet members and ask questions at Cabinet meetings. The Conservative Party has the second largest number of council members, and their appointments are as follows:

• Leader’s responsibilities: Councillor Roy Whitehead
• Deputy Leader’s responsibilities: Councillor Andrew Thorpe-Apps
• Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure: Councillor Julia Jeapes
• Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor Roy Whitehead
• Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing: Councillor Philip Wilson
• Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities: Councillor Gillian Bonnett
• Cabinet Member for a Fairer Chelmsford: Councillor Andrew Thorpe-Apps
• Cabinet Deputy for Economy and Sustainable Transport: Councillor Mike Steel
• Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping: Councillor Sue Dobson
• Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford: Councillor Susan Sullivan
• Cabinet Member for Connected Chelmsford: Councillor James Raven

You can see all of the appointments made at Annual Council on the Chelmsford City Council website and search for the councillor representing your area.