And taking on one of the toughest roles is Coun Sue Loudon, who has only just been elected to the ruling cabinet.

Coun Loudon, who has been a councillor for Atherton for 14 years, becomes the new Cabinet member for Children and Young People (Education).

She takes over from Brian Wilson, schools chief for 14 years.
Former Coun Wilson was the controversial figurehead for steering the Local Education Authority through difficult decisions, including the re-organisation of special needs education and the closure of Mere Oaks Special School in Standish.

With classroom rolls continuing to fall across the borough, prompting further evaluation of possible school closures in the near future, Coun Loudon will certainly face similar challenges.

Veteran councillor and former Mayor Coun John Hilton (Aspull New Springs Whelley) has a busy remit under the new Cabinet, which will be formally confirmed at tomorrow's full council meeting.

The long-standing development committee councillor becomes chairman of development, taking over from the now retired Coun John O'Neill.
As Cabinet member for Lifestyle, he will also retain his brief as chairman of the licensing committee.

The retired train driver remains chairman of the Labour Group.
Elsewhere, Pemberton Coun Paul Prescott enters the re-shuffled executive as Cabinet member for Organisational Change.

Wigan's cabinet 2008 / 09:

• Leader (strategy including budgets, partnership working and external relations): Lord Smith.


• Children and Young People (education): Coun Susan Loudon.


• Healthier Communities and Older People (services to older people and relations with health partners and leisure commissioning): Coun Keith Cunliffe.


• Neighbourhood (building up safer communities with police and other partners and stronger communities based on sustainable and affordable housing): Coun Kevin Anderson.


• Improvement (customer focus in service delivery and communication): Coun Chris Ready.


• Environment and Regeneration (working for a more sustainable future with the public and within the council/physical and economic regeneration): Coun Dave Molyneux.


• Culture (improving the participation in leisure and cultural activity/Wigan Pier Quarter Regeneration and Leisure Trust Board): Coun Brian Baldwin.


• Lifestyle (improving quality of life, licensing/planning): Coun John Hilton.


• Equality (equality in localities/individuals/ALMO board): Coun Terry Halliwell.


• Organisational change (resources and commissioning in collaboration with other authorities): Coun Paul Prescott.