Main roles and responsibilities of the portfolio
- To govern the delivery of the Progress with Unity missions and council plan
- To drive forward the Community Wealth Building approach, including providing opportunities for residents to seek employment, education, and skills opportunities locally
- To be responsible for planning, transportation, delivery of future housing, infrastructure, economic development and skills, and green infrastructure needs
- To make the borough a more prosperous and attractive place to live by taking advantage of Wigan’s key strategic location between the M6 and the M61, and on the west coast mainline
- To engage with local businesses at the heart of the Wigan economy to ensure they are supported as we regenerate our town and district centres
- To work with key partners in the private and public sectors to secure inward investment making Wigan a more diverse economy and allowing us to market Wigan as a key partner in Greater Manchester and the wider region
- To support our residents so they can meet any future economic challenges that prevent them from living happy healthy lives
- Provide strategic oversight of the Council's approach to complaints and feedback, ensuring we listen to residents, learn from their experiences and use insight to continuously improve how we work with and for communities.
Priorities for 2026/2027
Implementation of the council’s delivery of our ‘Progress with Unity’ borough missions. As residents, businesses, public services and community organisations of this borough we have come together to deliver two key missions:
Mission 1: Create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses
“Together, we will break down the barriers that create financial, health, education and environmental inequalities in our borough.”
Mission 2: Make all our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them
“Together, in genuine partnership with our residents and businesses, who know our community best, we will help each town and neighbourhood in the borough celebrate and maintain their identity whilst understanding and helping to achieve what is needed to thrive.”
Functions covered by the portfolio
The portfolio’s role cuts across all functions of the Council:
- Investing in Wigan
- Economic Development
- Place Regeneration
- Transport Plan and Strategy
- Youth Unemployment
- Skills Strategy/Apprenticeships
- Business Retention/Creation
- Business Rates generation/retention
- Job retention/creation
- Major projects
- Visitor Economy
- Town Centre Events
- Digital Infrastructure.
Council Appointments
- Chair of the Adult Learning Board
- Lead Member for Corporate Complaints
- Bee Network Committee (Sub)
- Greater Manchester Work and Skills Forum
- Halle Board
- Leigh Town Board
- Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.