Green Councillors delighted to form new shared administration for Burnley Borough Council with Burnley Independent Group and Liberal Democrats
We are delighted to have formed a new shared administration for Burnley District Council after a split in the Labour executive. This new co-operative alliance will allow us to come together to deliver for all the people of Burnley.
A deal was reached today after a week of cross-party discussions and negotiations. The new shared administration comprises the Burnley Independent, Liberal Democrat and Green groups taking 2:2:2 seats respectively on a new six-member cabinet. The Greens have the following Cabinet portfolios:
- Cllr Scott Cunliffe ~ Sustainable Development & Growth. This includes economic development, transport policy, local energy policy, Local Plan, Business Engagement Town Centre Masterplan, Burnley Town Centre Partnership and Climate Action Strategy.
- Cllr Jack Launer ~ Health, Culture & Wellbeing. This includes Green Spaces, Parks, Burnley Leisure and Culture, Health and Inclusion, Burnley Together, Burnley and Pendle Children’s Partnership, and climate emergency response.
* Cllr. Martyn Hurt, Champion for Inclusivity & Accessibility
Green Group Leader Cllr Scott Cunliffe, said: “I am excited to serve in the new cabinet working collaboratively with all members on an ambitious programme of priorities that address inequality, the cost of living crisis and will attract sustainable investment in the urban and rural areas of our town.
The Greens have another cabinet portfolio which will be picked up by Cllr Jack Launer.
Cllr Jack Launer said, “In Burnley we are extremely proud of our Parks and Greenspaces, and rightly so, but Covid and the Cost of Living Crisis has shown that we need to adapt to make our land and facilities accessible, affordable and productive, whilst also supporting more residents to get outside and be more active across the town. I also see leisure and culture as key to the future of Burnley Town Centre and our ability to attract visitors to exciting events and plug into our rich and diverse talent in music, art and theatre moving forwards.”
Cllr Martyn Hurt said, “I am pleased to be chosen as the Inclusivity and Accessibility Champion. Burnley has an amazing integrated and diverse community, and we need to ensure that everyone within the community is represented, listened to and catered for.”
The Green Party has been celebrating record results across the country, having achieved the largest proportional gain of any party contesting the local elections held earlier this year. One of the party’s most encouraging results was in Burnley where in 2023 the Greens became the joint 2nd biggest party in the borough with to 7 seats. Burnley Green Party candidate, Alex Hall, was also successful in the recent by-election in Trinity ward in Burnley.
Our new group of 7 Burnley councillors has a broad spectrum of people including a new mother, a young Green, and a champion of inclusion and accessibility.