Councillors appointed as committee conveners

Five representatives from Monklands selected

Five councillors from Airdrie and Coatbridge have been appointed as committee conveners as the new SNP administration at North Lanarkshire Council takes shape.

Coatbridge North representative Kirsten Larson will chair the renamed education, children and families committee; while ward colleague Allan Stubbs is in charge of the housing portfolio.

Airdrie South councillor Paul Di Mascio is the new convener for enterprise, growth and fair work; while the authority’s licensing board will be chaired by Sophia Coyle of Airdrie South.

Councillor Larson also takes charge of the joint negotiating committee for teaching staff; while newly-elected Airdrie Central councillor Lesley Jarvie will lead an employee sub-committee and joint consultative group.

They join Coatbridge South member Tracy Carragher, who was elected as the council’s depute leader at its inaugural post-election meeting last month.

North Lanarkshire leader Jordan Linden described the total of 20 new senior appointments as “an outstanding team who will focus relentlessly on people and communities”, adding: “I’m confident we can work with people across North Lanarkshire to put in place a policy agenda which represents positive change for all.”

Further key roles include Jim Hume becoming finance convener, Alan Masterton taking charge of the environment and place brief, Danish Ashraf leading the people and communities grop and David Robb chairing the planning committee.

The new administration has renamed a number of council committees, such as education including children in its title as “a reminder as to the crucial people at the centre of the decisions [it] will take”, with young people described as “a key priority for this administration”.

Green councillor Claire Williams is to be North Lanarkshire’s champion for both carbon management and for trees, while provost Agnes Magowan will be the new armed forces champion and council leader Linden will champion care-experienced young people.

The administration group is to appoint members to serve as respective champions for young people and for early years and older people; while a Labour member will be the authority’s equalities champion.

SNP councillor Denis Johnston is to chair the audit and scrutiny panel, in a change from the previous council position of having the oversight committee led by an opposition member; with the administration saying that will be reviewed midway through the five-year council term.

An SNP paper for the meeting earlier this month noted that the role will be “initially undertaken by an SNP councillor, which whilst not fully compliant with best practice, is underpinned by a commitment to work to ensure that the panel operates effectively and will seek to formally review of [its] effectiveness.

“Expressly, the administration shall appoint a chair of the audit and scrutiny panel after the midterm of administration following a period of review in line with the largescale strategic challenges facing local government... of a nominated elected member from the principal opposition party.”

Councillor Linden told elected members: “On the day I became leader I said I will seek to build consensus about the big decisions which lie ahead as we seek to work with others where possible for the betterment of North Lanarkshire and its residents.

“We’ve reached out a hand of collaboration to other political groups in the chamber, recognising that any issues transcend traditional party politics.”

We’ve reached out a hand of collaboration to other political groups in the chamber

Representing change for all Councillor Linden (front) with some of the new committee conveners