New councillors appointed to council Cabinet in Watford

Peter Taylor had spaces to fill following the recent departures of councillors Iain Sharpe and Karen Collett, who have both stepped down from the council.

Councillor Aga Dychton replaces Ms Collett as deputy mayor and will also have town-wide community responsibilities, alongside her role as a ward councillor in Central Watford.

Callowland ward councillor Ian Stotesbury, who has stood twice as Watford's Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, joins the Cabinet taking on responsibilities for transport and sustainability, while Meriden councillor Jennifer Pattinson has been given the portfolio of wellbeing.

The trio join sitting Cabinet members Mark Watkin, Tim Williams, and Stephen Johnson - the latter of whom has added planning to his property and housing portfolio.

Mr Sharpe, who served eight full terms as a councillor in Watford after first being elected in 1991, and is married to the former mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill, had been the portfolio holder for planning and regeneration.

left to right: Watford mayor Peter Taylor and existing serving Cabinet members Cllr Stephen Johnson, Cllr Mark Watkin, and Cllr Tim Williams

Commenting on the changes in the Cabinet, Mr Taylor said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to Iain and Karen for all the hard work they put in whilst members of my Cabinet and as part of Watford Borough Council. They did so much, over many years, to serve local residents and the town.

"I am really looking forward to having Jenny, Ian and Aga join the Cabinet team. They have all worked tirelessly for their local areas since becoming councillors and I know they are up to this new challenge.

"Our primary focus over the next 12 months is helping the town recover from the effects of the pandemic and we have lots of exciting things planned across Watford that our new Cabinet will be able to get stuck into. The new cabinet will be working hard to improve local transport, making our town greener and focussing on the wellbeing of every local resident."

Watford town hall. Credit: Watford Council/Simon Jacobs

The Cabinet is made up of the mayor and serving Liberal Democrat councillors - the party which currently rules the council in Watford - and they are involved in making some of the biggest and most key decisions affecting the town.

Other members of the council, including officers and members of the opposition Labour group can sit in on meetings and make comments, but they cannot be involved in any decision-making.