A former ‘meals on wheels’ lady has been elected as Durham County Council’s new chairman.
Cllr Jan Blakey who represents the Coxhoe ward became the seventh chairman of the Council since unitary reorganisation in 2009 and the 56th chairman since the county council was first established in 1889.
Born and bred in Bowburn, Jan worked for the former Durham City Council’s meals on wheels service. She was first elected to Durham County Council in 2008 representing Bowburn which subsequently became the Coxhoe electoral division when ward boundaries were changed in 2013. Married to husband Alan, she has two children, Claire and Adam, and five grandchildren.
Cllr Blakey’s appointment was confirmed at the (Annual Meeting of Durham County Council on Wednesday, 20th May .She thanked councillors for electing her as their new chair and told them that her chosen charity for the year would be the North East Autism Society, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
The society was founded in 1980 by a group of parents whose children were diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Condition. Since then it has grown to provide a wide range of support services to people and families affected by autism throughout the region, including the society’s new Sir Peter Vardy Enterprise Centre @ Thornbeck College in Newton Aycliffe, which opened earlier this year.
At the annual meeting, Cllr Robin Todd was appointed vice-chair of the council. Robin has represented the South Hetton area for over 50 years and received an MBE in 2006 for services to local government.
It was announced that Cllr Morris Nicholls the council’s longest serving member. would be stepping down from his role as Cabinet member for adult services, having held the portfolio since the formation of the unitary authority in 2009.
His responsibilities have passed to Cllr Lucy Hovvels, who becomes Cabinet member for adult and health services. Her new portfolio covers adult and social care services and commissioning, carers, adult safeguarding and personalisation.
Cllr Joy Allen becomes Cabinet member for safer communities, taking over from Cllr Hovvels and taking on responsibility for community safety, links with Durham Constabulary, the Travellers’ Liaison Service and emergency planning. Cllr Allen, who attended Tudhoe Comprehensive School and Durham University Business School before studying at Leicester University, was elected to the council in 2013.
Cllr Eddie Tomlinson takes on additional responsibility for land and property assets and fuel poverty and energy efficiency, with the new title of Cabinet member for assets, strategic housing and rural issues. Responsibility for welfare rights passes to Cllr Jane Brown.
