A Hillingdon councillor has ‘left’ the Cabinet in a reshuffle after an incredible 22 years as one of the local authority’s portfolio holders. Councillor Douglas Mills left the cabinet on Thursday (October 24) and at the time of writing, no indication has been given to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) whether or not this was a voluntary departure.
The now ex-Cabinet Member for Corporate Services first joined the Cabinet in 2002 as Member for Performance and Regeneration. He has taken up a variety of different roles over the last two decades. Despite having left the cabinet, Douglas Mills will remain a Ruislip Manor ward councillor.
Cllr Steve Tuckewell for South Ruislip ward has now joined the Cabinet in a newly created position. He will be the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Growth.
Other changes have been subsequently made to balance the Cabinet portfolios:
Cllr Martin Goddard is now the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation having previously been the Member for Finance.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco is now Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Property, a change from Member for Corporate Services & Property.
Cllr Eddie Lavery is now Cabinet Member for Community and Environment. Prior to the changes he was the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport.
The portfolios of Cllr Susan O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, and Cllr Jane Palmer, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care have not changed.
Hillingdon Council told the LDRS: “Councillor Mills is among the longest serving councillors in London with 42 years on the council, including 22 as a Cabinet Member. The changes, including the rebalancing of several Cabinet Member portfolios, reflect a need to prepare for the future.”
Philip is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with a focus on council decisions, housing, planning, licensing and community stories across west London.
