We will protect key services, says new Walsall Council leader

An emotional and 'really proud' Sean Coughlan has spoken for the first time since being elected as the new leader of Walsall Council, as he set out his vision for the borough.

He spoke fondly of his relationship with his 'Thatcherite' father and promised to 'put people first' under the Council's new coalition regime with the Liberal Democrats.

But it was straight down to business for Councillor Coughlan who, after being formally elected last week, decided on his cabinet including a new portfolio of 'agenda for change' for his coalition partner and Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Ian Shires.

Other cabinet members include Councillor Lee Jeavons who will serve as Councillor Coughlan's deputy leader and as the portfolio holder for regeneration, the portfolio for children's services and education will be held by Councillor Rose Burley while community, leisure and culture will be looked after by Councillor Julie Fitzpatrik.

Speaking on his plans for the council, Councillor Coughlan said: "We will sit down with the Chief Executive and his team about the direction that we want to get back to which we started over 12 months ago when we took control for a short 10 months. It will be about putting people first and the places they live.

"The reality is that we know what challenges we have got, we have been there before and we know we have got difficult decisions to make but we think we can do things differently and better. I honestly believe it will be about putting people first and making sure frontline services survive.

"The cuts are always going to be a massive challenge and ensuring that we preserve the services that people want and need and that we look after our most vulnerable whether that's communities or individuals.

"That is going to be a massive challenge for us but I honestly believe that the opportunity to devolve power down to a combined authority will help us in that journey."

Interestingly, as Councillor Coughlan heads up Walsall's Labour party, his father was a die-hard Conservative voter. Despite this he insists his father would be 'very proud'.

He said: "My dad was always into politics but not the same politics as myself, but he educated us to be free thinking individuals. It started with the trade union movement, found some free time on my hands and was convinced that going into local politics would be the right thing to do and was elected for the first time in 1995 in Willenhall South and I have been there ever since.

"I think he would be really really proud. He brought us up as free thinking individuals, we had lots of clashes about politics but I am sure he is sat up there really proud as is my mother."