REFORM UK councillor Ray Nock has been formally confirmed as the new Leader of the Council at Sandwell’s annual meeting.
Reform took control of Sandwell Council in an historic win which saw Labour lose grip of an authority it had held for nearly 50 years.
Reform won 41 seats on Sandwell Council after voters went to the polls on Thursday May 7 surpassing the 37 needed for a majority with Labour more than halving the number of seats it held.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Nock, who was elected in the Charlemont and Grove Vale ward said: “I was born in Sandwell and have lived and worked here all my life, so it is an honour and a privilege to be elected as the new Leader of Sandwell Council.
“There is a lot to be proud of in Sandwell, and alongside my new Cabinet, we are totally committed to making our borough an even better place to live and work.
“We are going to work hard for all our residents and to bring our community together.
“We will be focused on the issues that matter to people in Sandwell: creating jobs, boosting our town centres and high streets, and helping with the cost of living.”
The meeting, which was held yesterday (26 May), also saw Councillor Gary Dale appointed as the council’s Deputy Leader.
Councillor Nock has also selected the council’s new Cabinet, which is responsible for setting the strategic and policy direction of the council.
Labour, which has run Sandwell Council consecutively since 1979, was left with 28 seats having started the day on 60.
Sandwell's new cabinet is:
Councillor Ray Nock – Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth
Councillor Gary Dale – Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services
Councillor Ken Parsons – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing
Councillor Bob Jones – Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement
Councillor Mona Khurana – Cabinet Member for Children and Families
Councillor Jack Sabharwal – Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Councillor Ritchie Massey – Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing
Councillor Mike Cooper – Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Neighbourhoods
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