It’s been confirmed today that Cllr Marion Williams has been replaced on the Newcastle City Council Cabinet by Blakelaw councillor Dr Juna Sathian.
Cabinet member portfolios have also been renamed with Cllr Dr Sathian now having the portfolio for Climate and Transport, a clearer and more straightforward title than Cllr William’s Connected Clean City which later changed to Sustainable City with the function of Transport then being split between two portfolios.
Cllr Dr Sathian also confirmed today that the School Streets programme is now again within the Transport portfolio.
To say Newcastle has had had an unsettled political climate over the past few years is rather an understatement. Cllr Dr Sathian is now the 5th Cabinet member with responsibility for transport in little over three years.
With the date the council have commited to reach their Net Zero target for the city barely six years away, and confirmation at the launch of the Movement Strategy that the contribution to those emissions by domestic transport has remained largely static since 1990, it is essential that the Cabinet Member for both Transport and Climate Change takes bold, swift action.
We look forward to hearing from Cllr Dr Sathian and the plans for the future of the city.
Tranport Portfolio Timeline
6th May 2021: Cllr Arlene Ainsley loses her place on the council and cabinet when she is defeated when running for council in Denton and Westerhope.
17th May 2021: Cllr Ged Bell replaces Cllr Ainsley taking over the portfolio for Neighbourhoods and Transport.
8th Feb 2022: Cllr Nick Forbes, Leader of the Council is deselected from standing in that year’s elections.
25th May 2022: Cllr Nick Kemp is sworn in as the new Leader of the Council and announces his cabinet. This includes Cllr Jane Byrne as Cabinet Member for a Connected City, a portfolio which includes transport and climate change.
11th Oct 2023: Cllr Jane Byrne resigns from her Cabinet position, stating on Twitter that “she could no longer trust council officers”.
27th Oct 2023: Cllr Marion Williams is appointed Cabinet member for a Connected Clean City.
22nd May 2024: After successfully winning a leadership challenge, Council Leader Nick Kemp announces a refreshed Cabinet. Cllr Williams is now Cabinet Member for a Sustainable City. This portfolio includes transport strategy, but implementation, including the School Streets programme is now with Cll Irim Ali who is Cabinet Member for a Resilient City.
13th Sep 2024: Council Leader Nick Kemp takes temporary leave on the grounds of ill health.
20th Sep 2024: Council Leader Nick Kemp resigns.
2nd Oct 2024: Cllr Karen Kilgour is appointed as Council Leader.
21st Oct 2024: Cllr Juna Sathian is announced as the new Cabinet Member for Climate and Transport.