Council’s new leader
BOLTON council has a new political leader.
Linda Thomas replaces Cliff Morris, who announced he would stand down after 11 years in the post late last year.
Councillor Thomas, who served as the council’s deputy leader, represents the Halliwell ward for the Labour Party and was first elected to the council in 1995.
She is one of three female council leaders in Greater Manchester, with Brenda Warrington in Tameside and Jean Stretton in Oldham.
The appointment was confirmed at an extraordinary meeting of the council. Coun Thomas said everyone should have a ‘stake’ in Bolton to help make the town more vibrant. She said: “One hundred years since women’s suffrage, it’s a huge privilege to take on this role and lead Bolton council. We’re three female leaders in Greater Manchester now – it’s completely changed – and I think three females might just change the direction of discussion. “A lot of my focus, in particularly, is on services that we deliver, and the big services we deliver are about vulnerable children and adults. I’m quite an inclusive person, so I hope to being on board a lot of talent in the borough – everyone should have stake in Bolton.” Coun Morris, 75, was elected to the town hall in 1983 and became the council’s leader in 2006. Coun Thomas takes the reins as Bolton attempts to realise a £1bn masterplan designed to breathe new life into the heart of the town. The regeneration project – the biggest into Bolton’s history – aims to see Coun Linda Thomas 1,800 new homes built in the town centre and 7,400 jobs created.
Five strategic sites – Trinity Quarter, Cheadle Square, Crompton Place, Church Wharf and the Croal Valley – are identified as part of the blueprint, with a hotel, multi-storey car park and a new-look shopping precinct planned.