DUDLEY Council is back in business after local elections following the announcement of a new Mayor and cabinet reshuffle.

At a meeting last night (Thursday) Cllr Steve Waltho officially began his year in office as the borough’s first citizen.

Cllr Waltho’s wife Jayne was named Mayoress while Cllr Mohammed Hanif will be Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Waltho said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to be the Mayor of Dudley and the Mayoress and I are really looking forward to being ambassadors for the borough.”

His chosen charities for the year are The Hope Centre, Halesowen, The What Centre, Stourbridge, More Mascots Please, Brierley Hill, The Georgina Unit at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, and the West Midlands branch of Lupus UK, based in Coseley.

Meanwhile council leader, Cllr Pete Lowe, has completed a post-election reshuffle of the council’s cabinet.

Cllr Judy Foster will be deputy leader while former Dudley leader Cllr David Sparks will be in charge of finance.

Cllr Ian Cooper is a new face on the cabinet, taking on children’s services, he replaces Cllr Tim Crumpton, who becomes member without portfolio and community council.

Cllr Lowe said: “I’m pleased to welcome Ian onto the cabinet and delighted to be in a position to form such an experienced decision making team.”

The full cabinet is:

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of the council and cabinet member for policy

Councillor Judy Foster, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for Corporate & Customer Services

Councillor Dave Branwood, cabinet member for adult social care

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children’s services

Councillor David Sparks, cabinet member for finance and legal services

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member for health & wellbeing

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development

Councillor Tim Crumpton, cabinet member without portfolio and Community Council

The Conservative opposition shadow cabinet in full is:

Councillor Patrick Harley, group leader and policy

Councillor Peter Miller - Corporate & Customer Services

Councillor Nicolas Barlow - adult social care Councillor

David Vickers, deputy group leader and children’s services

Councillor Karen Shakespeare - environmental services

Councillor David Blood - cabinet member for finance and legal services

Councillor Natalie Neale - health & wellbeing

Councillor Jeff Hill – housing

Councillor Ian Kettle - planning and economic development

Councillor Les Jones - without portfolio and Community Council