New leader promises partnership through tough times
News article
David Eaves
Fylde Council’s new leader is offering a team approach to help the council through what many people are saying will be tight financial times ahead for the public sector.
Councillor David Eaves, elected as the council’s new leader on Tuesday night, forecasts a tricky few years for local government due to the nation’s economic predicament.
But he says the involvement of councillors of all parties will be the key to providing value-for-money services for Fylde residents.
Councillor Eaves, former operational director for Blackpool Transport – now retired - and a councillor for Ansdell, said: “There are immense challenges ahead. Whitehall will be looking very seriously at the amount of money they give to councils.
“Local government will be desperately short of money and that will provide a whole range of challenges in terms of providing quality and value for money.
“There will be difficult decisions but I know there are enough high-calibre councillors and staff at Fylde to keep us in safe waters.”
Councillor Eaves, a married man with two grown-up children and three grandchildren, was Fylde Council’s Cabinet member for Environmental Wellbeing until this week.
He hopes to involve councillors of all parties in the council’s decision-making in the years to come.
He said: “I want to work with everyone. I know that councillors want the best for the people they represent – no matter what their political persuasion.
“I don’t hold the monopoly on wisdom. I want to listen to councillors of all parties, so that they all have the opportunity to develop good policies.
“Fylde Council is well known for its high quality of debate and that will continue under my leadership.”
Councillor Eaves was born in Manchester but left the city in his early teens. He was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and then at Blackpool Grammar School.
He started work at Blackpool Transport at age 16 and retired from the company as operations director in 2006.
Outside of politics, he has been a magistrate for 24 years.
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