Articles

New Council Cabinet role created to support refugees, women and the disabled

Date Posted: 2:42 PM on Fri, 5 August 2022

Gedling Borough Councillors have approved plans to create a new Portfolio Holder to support the borough’s diverse community and improve life chances. Councillor Kathryn Fox has been appointed into the new cabinet role, which will focus on supporting refugees and the resettlement programme, championing women and the disabled as well as raising awareness of support for victims of domestic violence, abuse and hate crime.

Councillor Fox has been a Gedling Borough Councillor for 11 years and previously held the cabinet position of Portfolio Holder for Communities but stepped down from her role following the death of her husband. The mother of two has used her personal experience of loss to highlight the importance of providing support, especially to women and young children, who have had similar tragedies.

Councillor Fox will be working with local organisations including We R Here, a support group for women who are fleeing domestic abuse or have suffered bereavement. One of her first tasks as the new Portfolio will be to raise the profile of this important service and help them get much needed funding.

As well as the creation of this new role, there have also been changes to the Portfolio for Environment. Cllr Ron McCrossen will join his wife, Cllr Viv McCrossen on the cabinet as he replaces Cllr Peter Barnes who has been appointed the Mayor of Gedling for 2022/23.

Councillor Kathryn Fox, Portfolio Holder for Diverse Communities and Life Chances said:

“I am really pleased to be working with this very important portfolio. Our Leadership have recognised that we need to focus on supporting refugees and doing everything we can to champion the great women and people with disabilities in our diverse community. I know from personal experience what incredible support is out there for people, especially women, who have suffered loss or need help and I want to do everything I can to raise awareness of the great organisations, like We R Here who are doing so much for our residents.”

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said:

“It’s always useful to have a refresh of the way our Cabinet members are working and we could see that, whilst we have been doing some tremendous work to support refugees and help resettle families who have fled Ukraine, by creating this new role, we can do even more. I know that Councillor Fox will do a tremendous job and help support some of our most vulnerable citizens and I am very pleased that she is back on the front bench alongside our other excellent Cabinet members who are working tirelessly to support people and improve lives.” 

The full list of Cabinet members and their responsibilities can be viewed at www.gedling.gov.uk