Councillor who took flak over bin strikes fired Politician at heart of ‘hijabgate’ affair also reappointed in leader’s reshuffle
THE Birmingham councillor who ran the bins service during last summer’s strike has been sacked in a reshuffle.
Councillor Lisa Trickett was the cabinet member who pushed through changes to working conditions for binmen which led to the industrial action.
The Labour councillor faced a barrage of criticism last summer and, with the service still in turmoil, it appears council leader Ian Ward decided to wield the axe.
She will be replaced by Councillor Majid Mahmood, whose previous cabinet role in charge of contracts and performance has been scrapped.
Tackling the bins and delivering clean streets is a priority for the Labour administration and will place Cllr Mahmood firmly in the spotlight.
He is also likely to be unveiling the council’s plan to improve air quality in the city centre, including the likelihood of pollution charges on vehicles.
Returning to the Labour cabinet after an absence of 15 months is Cllr Waseem Zaffar, who takes over at transport.
He resigned amid the furore over the “hijabgate” affair last year in which he had appeared to instruct a primary school to allow a four-year-old relative to wear the hijab in conflict with its uniform policy.
Despite a national media storm, he was later cleared by the council standards board – although the report of its investigation was not published.
The details were reported to the Birmingham Post by sources attending the private meeting of Labour’s 67 councillors where Cllr Ward unveiled his new cabinet.
With himself and deputy leader Brigid Jones confirmed last week, he had eight appointments to make.
Cllr Sharon Thompson (Edgbaston North) will replace Peter Griffiths in charge of housing.
Other new arrivals are Cllrs Kate Booth (Quinton) and Jayne Francis (Harborne), who take over children’s services and education respectively.
Former jobs and skills supremo Coun Brett O’Reilly (Longbridge and West Heath) will now head up a resources portfolio – monitoring council finances after a series of budget overspends in recent years.
The jobs and skills role has been downgraded, as much of the responsibility for local policy now lies with the West Midlands Mayor. The cabinet members are: Ian Ward: Leader Brigid Jones: Deputy Leader Brett O’Reilly: Resources Majid Mahmood: Clean Streets
Paulette Hamilton: Health and Adult Social Care Jayne Francis: Education Kate Booth: Children’s Services Waseem Zaffar: Transport Tristan Chatifeld: Social Inclusion
Sharon Thompson: Homes and Neighbourhoods
Also confirmed was the appointment of veteran councillor and former Deputy Police Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito (Bordesley and Highgate) as Lord Mayor for the next year.
It was an urgent appointment after the Lord Mayor elect, Lynda Clinton, lost her seat in the local election on May 3.
Cllr Mosquito was the Labour member to put name forward.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have elected Cllr Debbie Clancy (Longbridge and West Heath) as their new deputy leader. The previous deputy Randal Brew lost his seat during the election. only her