WITH echoes of Tony Blair and his “Babes” Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has named an all-women team to sit at his top table in Dale Street.
Whether the trio, Roz Gladden, Ann O’Byrne and Wendy Simon, will earn the label Anderson's Angels, or somesuch, remains to be seen.
'I can’t do everything, so I need assistance'
Mayor Joe has promoted his assistant mayor Roz Gladden to deputy mayor, filling the vacancy left by the sudden departure from politics of Cllr Paul Brant last week.
As well as replacing Cllr Gladden’s assistant role, the mayor has added an extra assistant mayor.
Roz GladdenCllr Gladden will continue to work in areas of adult social care as well as undertaking deputising work for Mayor Anderson.
Cllr Simon will also continue in as cabinet member for culture, while Cllr O’Byrne will also continue in her role as cabinet member for housing.
Asked if he expected a barrage of complaints from his male colleagues, Mayor Anderson said: “I have always believed in diversity and giving opportunities to those who work hard. Roz has been an excellent assistant mayor for me, Wendy has done a superb job in culture and Anne has been brilliant looking after housing issues.
Wendy Simon“I am fortunate to have a cabinet filled with so many talented people and we all work together for Liverpool. I am also delighted to have been able to give opportunities to some of the younger and new councillors in various roles. It is all about work ethic and commitment.
“The reality is there is so much call on me as Mayor and even when I am doing a 12 to 14 hour working day I can’t do everything, so I need assistance.”
Prior to become Liverpool’s first ever directly elected mayor, Mayor Anderson was, as leader of the Labour Group, also the leader of the city council, heading a 10-strong cabinet.
Ann O'ByrneAlthough in law he is only required to have a deputy mayor, he has opted to continue with a full-cabinet model of local governance in Liverpool.
Cllr O’Byrne is a Labour councillor in Warbreck, first elected to the city council in 2007.
Cllr Simon represents Kensington and Fairfield and joined the council in 2006.
Cllr Gladden represents Clubmoor and has also been a councillor since 2006. Her husband Roy Gladden was one of the 47 councillors barred from office for five years in the 1980s in the wrangle over the setting of the budget. He returned to the civic scene in 2011 when he was elected as councillor for County ward.
He is an assistant cabinet member for adult social care and health, which effectively means his wife, Roz, is his boss.
