Councillor Dean Crofts joins Mayor Dave’s Executive as Portfolio Holder for Adult Services

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that Councillor Dean Crofts will join his Executive and fill the position of Adult Services Portfolio Holder following Councillor Wendy Rider's decision to step down.

Councillor Crofts has been one of the councillors for Kingsbrook since 2019. Since being elected, he has sat on Housing Committee and has been the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health. Councillor Crofts has had many successes, including working with Councillor Rider on the ground-breaking changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policy and improving the Borough's mental health service provision and accessibility.

Councillor Dean Crofts said "I would firstly like to thank Wendy for all her hard work in helping to manage Adult Services in an incredibly difficult period. Whilst we seem to be moving into a more manageable stage of the pandemic, many of the challenges it has brought remain. I am looking forward to the responsibility of dealing with these challenges and carrying on Wendy's good work.

"Looking ahead, there are some major government policy changes on the horizon that will bring new challenges. There will be further social care charging reform and integration of social care services. This will mean working with lots of partners, including Public Health, housing officers, NHS partners and the newly formed Integrated Care Service for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. I'm looking forward to working with Director of Adult Services Kate Walker and the team to tackle all of these problems and ensure that vulnerable people continue to be treated fairly and with dignity."

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "Dean's experience, hard work and dedication makes him ideal to follow Wendy in this important role for the Council. Dean helped to set up regular East London Foundation Trust mental health meetings at the Council between the service provider and councillors. and was also involved in the changes to the Council's Adult Social Care Charging Policy. These changes mean that residents claiming Universal Credit are now recognised in the policy, ensuring that the most vulnerable on the lowest incomes are treated fairly and supported with the cost of their adult social care. I look forward to working with Dean on Bedford Borough's Executive."