Crisis-hit Tameside council confirms new leader

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Tameside council's new leader has been confirmed and promised to improve the borough's children's services as her "top priority." Eleanor Wills was voted in to take charge of the crisis-hit council during a meeting on October 24, where she also appointed her new cabinet team, which sees Coun Andrew McLaren appointed deputy leader.

Ms Wills said that "change is coming" after a chaotic few weeks which saw the resignation of former leader, Coun Ged Cooney, and ex-chief executive Sandra Stewart, following a scathing report into children’s services, currently rated ‘inadequate' by Ofsted. READ MORE: Greater Manchester Bonfire Night 2024 firework displays and events The new leader addressed councillors after her appointment was confirmed, but not before the Labour Party faced scathing criticism in the council chamber from opposition members. "As I stand before you tonight I want to speak to everybody and make a promise to all of Tameside and say that we hear your frustration, we heard it tonight in the room, and change is coming," Coun Wills said.

She added: "Our first and highest priority is absolutely our children's services. Not for the sake of an Ofsted grade, but for a much more fundamental reason - to ensure that we never again fail those who most need our support. "The council is currently in the process of recruiting a permanent leadership team for children's services. "I look forward to working with them and our skills and dedicated social workers to provide the support and resources they need to drive change." The new council leader said change will not happen "overnight," but vowed to deliver "better outcomes for children, families, and young people" in the borough under her direction.