New Plymouth leader names his cabinet

Reshuffle follows ousting of Nick Kelly

Plymouth City Council’s new leader has announced his cabinet. 

Cllr Richard Bingley (Cons, Southway) was elected as leader on Monday after Cllr Nick Kelly (Cons, Compton) was ousted from his role following a vote of no confidence.  

The new cabinet includes:

• Deputy Leader and Finance and Economy: Councillor Mark Shayer
• Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and Planning: Councillor Dr John Mahony
• Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport: Councillor Pat Patel
• Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Children and Young People:  Councillor Charlotte Carlyle
• Cabinet Member for Governance, HR, IT & Community Safety: Councillor John Riley
• Cabinet Member for Climate Change: Councillor James Stoneman
• Cabinet Member for Transport: Councillor Jonathan Drean
• Cabinet Member for Home & Communities: Councillor Rebecca Smith
• Cabinet Member for Environment & Street Scene: Councillor Bill Wakeham

Cllr Bingley said: "Sandwiched between Dartmoor and the ocean, I lost my heart to Plymouth when I first moved here as a teenager. 

“We are so rich in heritage and natural environmental beauty here.

“We have recruited into cabinet a dynamic and diverse new team whose sole focus is one, united, Plymouth.

“Priorities will be to secure jobs and government investment into Plymouth. Whilst making Plymouth a safer and cleaner city to live in.

“In the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic, and with international conflict threatening stability everywhere, we do not have the luxury of division. 

“We will, of course, continue to deliver priorities that matter to local people. And we very much welcome and embrace cross-party working for the good of our city.”

The appointment of the new cabinet comes just six weeks ahead of elections in Plymouth. 

Voters go to the polls on Thursday 5 May to choose 19 councillors.