Gresford’s Andrew Atkinson set to take Executive Board lead member role

Conservative Councillor Andrew Atkinson is due to take the vacant post on the Council’s Executive Board after the Conservative Group nominated him to replace Paul Rogers.

As Wrexham.com reported this afternoon, Brymbo Cllr Paul Rogers has announced he will be stepping down from his role as Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-Poverty to focus on ward issues.

Due to the political make-up of Wrexham Council and the Executive Board, the vacant lead member role has to be filled by a member of the Conservative Group.

Cllr Atkinson, who represents the Gresford ward, was elected to the council in May 2017. He will take over the role as Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-Poverty if his nomination is accepted later this month – a nomination that is as good as an appointment in terms of convention.

The move will see Cllr Atkinson have a pay rise from £13k basic councillor pay, to the £29k a year Lead Member salary.

Leader of the Conservative Group and Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Hugh Jones told Wrexham.com: “The Conservative Group expresses our sincere thanks to Paul Rogers for his excellent work on the Executive Board.

“We are nominating Andrew Atkinson to sit on the Board recognising his experience as a County Councillor in both England and Wales and the importance of having younger members in key roles.”

Cllr Atkinson said: “I’ll be delighted to take up the role and look forward to working hard and doing all I can to make a difference.

“I’d like to thank Cllr Rogers for his work and I’m keen to carry on with various projects and look forward to working with new colleagues.”