The Cabinet Member for Housing at Caerphilly County Borough Council has stepped down to focus on her family and ward residents.
Councillor Lisa Phipps will remain a councillor and continue to represent the Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen ward, but will no longer be in the cabinet role.
Cllr Phipps was first elected in September 2015, and has held the role of cabinet member for housing since May 2017.
In a statement, leader of the council, Philippa Marsden said: “Cllr Phipps has made this difficult decision for personal reasons as she wishes to devote more of her time to her family, community and local ward matters.”
What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?
A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.
It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.
Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:
- Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
- Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
- Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
- Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
- Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
- Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
- Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
- Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
- Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces
Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.
Last updated October 13, 2023
Cllr Marsden thanked her for her contribution to the role.
She said: “Her many achievements include being instrumental in the successful delivery of our Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme as well as being a driving force behind our ambitious new-build housing strategy.”
Cllr Shayne Cook will take over responsibility for housing, in addition to his current role as cabinet member for social services.
Cllr Cook said: “It is a privilege for me to accept the added role of cabinet member for housing at a time when the council nears the completion of our transformative WHQS programme and we embark on an ambitious new-build housing strategy.
“It will be a challenge to follow Cllr Phipps, who’s been instrumental and attentive in the role. I would like to recognise her amazing contribution and dedication to the housing portfolio over recent years. I am looking forward to getting stuck in right away and immerse myself into this role.”
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