Resurrected council leader David Sheard has named his top team.

Five members of Clr Sheard’s previous cabinet have held on to their jobs.

He has confirmed former education portfolio holder, Clr Shabir Pandor, as his deputy while Clrs Erin Hill, Peter McBride, Graham Turner and Viv Kendrick have returned to the jobs they had in the run up to the May elections.

New faces include Dewsbury South’s Clr Masood Ahmed, Dalton’s Clr Musarrat Khan - sister of former leader Mehboob Khan, and Clr Naheed Mather, who also represents Dalton.

Musarrat Khan, Dalton councillor and former Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan's sister

Councillors who have lost their places in the cabinet are Clr Steve Hall, Clr Cathy Scott and former deputy leader, Clr Jean Calvert, who is currently suspended from the Labour party following the Ratesgate scandal.

At full council on Wednesday, Clr Sheard vowed to improve the democracy of key decision making by returning to the “committee system” that involves more councillors outside of the cabinet.

The cabinet is as follows:

  • Clr David Sheard (Leader) and Clr Pandor (Deputy Leader): Strategy and Strategic Resources, New Council and Regional issues
  • Clr Masood Ahmed: Community Cohesion and Schools
  • Clr Erin Hill: Family Support & Child Protection (Statutory Responsibility for Children)
  • Clr Viv Kendrick: Adults, Health & Activity to Improve Health (Statutory Responsibility of Adults & Public Health)
  • Clr Musarrat Khan: Highways and Neighbourhoods
  • Clr Naheed Mather: Housing and Enforcement Management
  • Clr Peter McBride: Economy, Skills, Transportation and Planning
  • Clr Graham Turner: Asset Strategy, Resources & Creative Kirklees (Arts)