A NEW cabinet support member at Staffordshire County Council says his role “reflects the scale of the challenge” posed by local government reorganisation.
Cllr Rhys Machin will focus on finance and devolution alongside the cabinet member for finance and resources Cllr Sean Bagguley.
It comes as the Government gave the green light to replace the county council and Lichfield District Council as part of a bid to end two-tier local government in 2028.
It will see Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent split into north and south with two new unitary authorities serving each area.
The appointment of Cllr Machin was questioned by the Conservative opposition group who questioned “what he will do that the other ten paid cabinet members and three cabinet support members can’t do”.
But Cllr Machin said support roles were nothing new – and said previous Conservative administrations had also used them.
He added:
“Local government reorganisation is one of the biggest changes Staffordshire has faced in a generation. It will affect how councils are structured, how services are delivered and how public money is managed.
“This role is about supporting the cabinet, working with experienced colleagues and officers, and helping to ensure residents remain at the heart of the process.
“There is a huge amount of work ahead. Finance, devolution and local government reorganisation will all be central to the future of Staffordshire, and I am committed to making a serious and positive contribution.
“This is not an extra cabinet role – it is a cabinet support member role, replacing a previous support role, and it is focused on an area where support is clearly needed.”
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