She will be responsible for the response to the climate emergency, air quality and renewable energies.

Meanwhile, Cllr Hitesh Patel will remain a cabinet member for environment, housing and public safety – with responsibility for waste, environment and maintenance operations, planning policy and strategy, housing and regulatory/protective services.

Cllr Bowden said: “We are truly delighted to welcome Janet to the firm as we reaffirm our collective commitment to addressing the climate emergency.

“Janet is passionate about Warrington and our communities and is the right person to locally lead the charge on sustainability and clean air.

“While the climate emergency is something that all cabinet members – and beyond – will factor into their plans, having a distinct role in place to coordinate and oversee this work is particularly important, at a time when the councils across the country are leading from at the forefront of the sustainability agenda.

The cabinet of the council is responsible for certain functions carried out by the officers of the council.

It must function in accordance with the constitution of the board and has the power to create sub-committees, if necessary.