Back in October 2024 Tameside Council made some major changes which included Harry Catherall replacing Sandra Stewart as the Interim Chief Executive. The other major change was the appointment of Dukinfield and Stalybridge Councillor Eleanor Wills as the new Executive Leader.

For those unfamiliar with Councillor Wills we caught up with her to discover more about Tameside’s new Executive Leader.
“Well, my mum and dad were councillors when I grew up and to be honest, I wasn’t very connected to that world. They worked as well as doing their council roles, but I wasn’t really conscious of the work they did with the council. It was having children of my own when I was 30 that I took a step back from employment and looked at the community which got my involved in how to improve things, what facilities were available for children and the next thing your social conscience is there to be more active.
So, it was 2014 when I became a Dukinfield and Stalybridge Councillor but prior to that I stood for election in Stalybridge South in 2007 where I wasn’t successful.”
What do you enjoy about being a Councillor?
“Making a difference to people’s lives and I do have vivid memories of my dad helping people when I was a child with houses or employment when the council had more control of those things than they do now. Making a difference in people’s lives, being big or small, and having that one-on-one conversation with somebody when they say thank you so much.”
Did you have any thoughts in the past that you could hold the role of Executive Leader?
“Absolutely not but to be honest it’s my passion to help people who live and work in Tameside and we shouldn’t pigeon hole ourselves into thinking we can’t achieve things or aspire. For me I think a very young version of myself would never have thought I could be Leader of the council but role forward and here I am. It’s taking opportunities and seeing yourself making that difference, hearing those things reflected back that put me where I am to a degree. I still feel very privileged to be in this position that I am in.”

What kind of challenges have you had to embrace since becoming the Leader?
“My work life history is one of leadership anyway aside from the council and I am accustomed to people struggling with change and that is one thing people are getting their heads around the changes happening within the leadership of the council. But equally there is a feeling of fresh opportunity and enthusiasm to see things change. We have suffered 10 years of austerity in a local authority where our demographic is underprivileged so everybody is feeling the pinch of that and they want to feel hope. They want someone there, fighting their corner and recognizing their struggles.”
Part of the changes included the appointment of the new interim Chief Executive, how is that partnership working?
“I think Harry is very similar to me in his ethos in terms of wanting to listen, wanting to learn and wanting to understand. We are one of the biggest employers in the authority and we have to nurture our workforce and he’s a great advocate of that. It’s equally the same with our residents, what are the things you would like to see within your community, what can we help you with, how can we be better, how can learn and how can we implement those changes. So yes, I think Harry mirrors me with that empathic ear, being open, transparent and approachable.”
So, what are your own ideas and thoughts you are bringing to the role?
“I think I would be very dictatorial to just say my ideas are A, B and C! At this moment in time, I think we have got lots of opportunities across Tameside but my ideas start with understanding what people want to see across their local communities. I’m not there yet, I can tell you what Dukinfield and Stalybridge residents will want because I’ve been a councillor there for ten years. However, understanding 9 different towns, their communities and what is driving people is the opportunity for me right now to get underneath some of that, to get out there and see what they want to see/want. We have already started some of that with the town regeneration work, understanding connectivity which includes the next phase of the BEE Network giving Tameside better transport. As a disabled woman and public transport user I’m really looking forward to having better access to public transport, it can be really limiting. Equally there is great opportunities to link our towns through better bus connections, better trains etc.”

Ashton is one of the areas currently seeing major investment with the Market Square regeneration, have you followed the progress?
“I think it’s very obvious to see we have those works underway but it’s not to say things don’t get in the way like the statutory electricity cable provider slowing some of the works down. We are pushing forward and Ashton is our central town where people want to see some change, some regeneration and those works are underway to achieve it.”
So apart from Ashton you’ll be busy with other projects this year?
“Myself and Harry are really keen to see those town centres like Stalybridge, Droylsden and Hyde to have great opportunities in terms of the regeneration work. You have Droylsden close to Manchester and the new Co-op Live having great transport links through the tram. At the minute we are underway with the masterplan which will lay all that out and once that is in place the potential is there on paper leading to broader conversations to start. Similarly with Hyde we are at the point with the plan with Godley Green, the MADE partnership underway and in terms of the town centre the Market Square have had works. We listened to the market traders about what they wanted for flexibility within the market ground so we heard that and are doing that. The jewel of Hyde is the town hall, a beautiful building and very central so we have lots of potential as we move forward with works in the towns.”
How do you relax away from the pressure of council work?
“I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family to spend my downtime with. I don’t have a huge amount of downtime so I generally spend it with my kids but outside from that I have studied to do a psychotherapy counselling which is an interest of mine.”

Now you have been in post for three months what is your message to the constituents in Tameside?
“I suppose the message would be that I’ve obviously conveyed the changes I would like to see and part of that enables a listening period for me to understand what people would like to see. The opportunity to see who I am and what I stand for should unfold throughout the course of time. I think I don’t shy away from things so if I say I’m going to do something I will but if there are limitations to that I will explain those and hopefully bring people on the journey with me. This isn’t my local authority it’s for all of us and everyone needs to feel they have a voice.”
Thank you, Councillor Wills, for taking time to speak to About Tameside.