A 25-year-old councillor has become one of the youngest cabinet members in the country just 18 months after being elected to Wealden District Council.
Daniel Manvell is one of two new Labour members of the Alliance for Wealden cabinet, along with Ben Cox. The pair joined the Alliance for Wealden last month, giving the group 24 out of the 45 seats on the council.
Councillor Manvell, who represents Uckfield North, becomes the lead member for housing, benefits and revenues. He had been chair of the Audit, Finance and Governance Committee.
Last month, Councillor Gareth Owen Williams (Liberal Democrat, Crowborough Jarvis Brook) resigned from the cabinet for work reasons. He had been the lead member for waste and customer services, including digital.
The new-look cabinet was announced by the leader and deputy leader of the council – Councillor Rachel Millward (Green, Hartfield), and Councillor James Partridge (Liberal Democrat, Crowborough North) on Wednesday (11 December).
Councillor Millward becomes the lead member for a new portfolio – culture, community and communications.
Councillor Partridge retains the portfolio for governance and takes on responsibility for waste and the local economy.
In a joint statement, Councillors Millward and Partridge said: “We are pleased to confirm the new cabinet portfolios which have been refocused on the aims of our council strategy.
“Our priorities as an Alliance for Wealden are protecting our environment, strengthening community resilience and wellbeing and a growing local economy.
“The last 18 months have been marked by a number of successes including a new draft local plan, breaking ground on new health and leisure facilities across the district and driving forward a new climate change strategy.
“The new portfolio of community, culture and communications which Rachel will lead is reflective of our intention to develop our priority of community resilience and wellbeing, enhancing quality of life for residents where they live and continuing to work on the ways in which the council interacts with residents.”
Councillor Manvell said: “It is a huge privilege to become one of the youngest cabinet members in the country.
“As the portfolio holder for housing, benefits and revenues, I will be making the case to the government to help us deliver more genuinely affordable and social homes for Wealden residents, especially for our young people and families.
“I look forward to working with the rest of the Alliance to deliver better public services for Wealden residents.”
Councillor Greg Collins (Green, Horam and Punnets Town) retains finance and human resources and takes on customer services, including digital.
Councillor Kelvin Williams (Liberal Democrat, Uckfield East) retains public health and asset management.
Councillor Paul Coleshill (Liberal Democrat, Herstmonceux and Pevensey Levels) is now the portfolio holder for climate change.
Councillor Ian Tysh (Green, Maresfield) will continue in his role as portfolio holder for planning and environment.
