It’s been quite a busy week meeting people and thanking people for their kind words.
Meanwhile the vast schedule of meetings on the horizon gradually draws nearer and nearer.
The first major meeting will of course be the annual meeting of the full council on Thursday 17 May when the mayor for the new civic year will be elected as well as the new council leadership as Councillor Morgan hands over the baton.
So as the new leader of the largest group on the city council, I have been working hard this week to confirm the senior Labour colleagues who will take on the most challenging roles, ensuring that the city’s services are fit for purpose.
Many of these will be familiar names who have been successfully leading city council services since 2015.
And over this next year we will maintain our focus on planning, the private rented sector and mental health services in the city.
However, I want to flag up some of the new faces and roles for this final year of this current Labour and Co-operative administration.
Councillor Karen Barford will be moving up from lead member for adult social care, where she has successfully ensured that despite government grant cuts we have protected our services and outcomes for the most vulnerable adults in the city.
I will be proposing that she takes on the leadership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, helping bring together health and social care systems over the next 12 months.
Councillor Clare Moonan will replace Karen as lead member for adult social care and will retain her vital role as lead member for rough sleeping.
Newly elected Councillor Nancy Platts will take on a new role as lead member for economic development and social value.
This role will focus on making the council’s spending deliver more for the local economy and ensuring that we fully grasp the social value and the benefits community-minded businesses and organisations offer to us in this very special city.
Finally Councillor Marsh, as deputy chair of the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee, will focus particularly on community safety.
And Councillor Horan, as deputy chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, will lead on sustainability.
These are both areas where we want to listen to residents and make as much impact as funding allows.
Daniel Yates is the newly elected leader of the Labour group on Brighton and Hove City Council.
