Labour's team of overview and scrutiny committee chairs will be:

As announced yesterday Councillor Carl Rice (Ladywood) will chair the Resources, Governance and Member Development committee - the replacement for the co-ordinating overview and scrutiny committee.

Chairing each committee are:
Health and Social Care committee Councillor Susan Barnett (Billesley)

Birmingham Economy and Jobs committee Councillor Ian Cruise (Longbridge)

Partnership, Contract Performance and the Third Sector committee: Councillor Majid Mahmood (Hodge Hill)

Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability committee: Councillor Victoria Quinn (Sparkbrook)

Districts and Public Engagement committee: Councillor Lisa Trickett (Moseley and Kings Heath)

Education and Vulnerable Children committee: Councillor Anita Ward (Hodge Hill)

Social Cohesion and Community Safety Committee: Councillor Waseem Zaffar (Lozells and East Handsworth)

Further to the Cabinet, other key positions have been appointed:

Chairman of planning committee: Mike Sharpe (Tyburn)

Chairwoman of licensing and public protection: Barbara Dring (Oscott)

Chairman of employment matters committee: Mohammed Afzal (Aston)

Chairwoman of trusts and charities committee: Narinder Kooner (Handsworth Wood)

Chairman of Audit Committee: Shafique Shah (Bordesley Green)

Chairman of governance committee (formerely coordinating scrutiny) Carl Rice (Ladywood)

Scrutiny committee chairmen and women; Susan Barnett (Billesley), Ian Cruise (Longbridge), Majid Mahmood (Hodge Hill), Victoria Quinn (Sparkbrook), Lisa Trickett (Moseley and Kings Heath), Anita Ward (Hodge Hill) and Waseem Zaffar (East Handsworth and Lozells).
The committees are yet to be assigned.

Update: Regional lead member appointments:
Centro ITA: Kath Hartley (Ladywood)

Police Authority: Yvonne Mosquito (Nechells)

Fire Authority: Mohammed Idrees (Washwood Heath)

Here is a quick copy of the Labour group press release announcing the new council cabinet.

Birmingham Council Leader Elect Sir Albert Bore has announced his Cabinet to colleagues in the City Council Labour Group this evening. The nominations will be put before the City Council AGM on Tuesday 22 May when Labour formally takes office from the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition that has held power in the city for the last eight years.

"This has been a difficult choice," said Sir Albert. "The new Labour Group contains many talented people.

"I've focussed on those experienced councillors who will be able to push forward our manifesto commitments to make Birmingham Britain's Enterprise Capital as a smart, green, safe and fair city. I know that they will have the support of every Labour City Councillor and those who voted for radical Labour change at this month's council elections."

The mayoral vote may have stunned many but what was perhaps most shocking was the pathetic voter turnout in both the council election and referendum.

Just 16 per cent in some wards made the effort to put an X in a box at polling station close to home at some point between 7am and 10pm.

It was only in the inner city wards where the Sikh and Muslim communities vote in large numbers and where the role of councillor commands greater respect that higher turnouts were achieved. High levels of postal voting may also have played a part here.

Many Mail readers may not realise this, but we rarely use full job titles or descriptiions in stories - some are pompus, some are meandering and some are simply incomprehensible to the man in the street.

So a Cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, or are often refered to as city parks chiefs, or the councillor in charge of libraries.

Thankfully for those of us covering Birmingham there have been a few widely recognised roles like council leader, housing, planning and finance.

But all that is set to change with the new set of six Cabinet positions.

Labour leader Sir Albert Bore will not be challenged by fellow councillors at the annual group meeting following the party's emphatic win in the local elections.

Sir Albert Bore (Ladywood) will be ushered in unopposed when the 77 strong group meets on Saturday, May 12 after leading them back into control of Birmingham City Council.

He is set to be officially appointed council leader at the Council's annual meeting on May 22.

City Council leader elect Sir Albert Bore has promised a fundamental overhaul of the way the authority is run after seizing control last night.

His intention to devolve powers over many community and local services to the ten constituencies has been well trailed.

A plan to change the way Cabinet operates, with members responsible for policies like the green and smart agenda, contracts and procurement policy and social cohesion working across the traditional departments like housing and communities, environment and culture, children, young people and families and so on.

One of the characteristics of this mayoral referendum debate has been an absence of campaign activity or leadership from the main political parties.

This is easily explained - they are divided over the issue and do not have a policy. If I had a pound every time I heard a national politician fail to say whether Birmingham would be better off with a mayor, I would be writing this from my Caribbean island paradise.

The only national politician to noticably make a stand has been Prime Minister David Cameron who has consistently said, over many years and again in Monday's Mail, that elected mayors would be good for major cities.

Lord Heseltine, another cheerleader for mayors, made the point that Government is divided on this and some ministers are not as keen. We are given to believe that Eric Pickles is reluctant which is why his junior Greg Clark has been despatched to the regions to make the case.

A few days ago we asked readers if they have any questions over the elected mayor referendum.

There were five broad areas of question which have been summarised for brevity -with the vast majority over the pay or cost of an elected mayor.

The answers appear in brief in tomorrows Birmingham Mail. But here is a more full set of responses.

While Labour has produced its most comprehensive local election manifesto for many a year, there has been, conversely, a complete absence of a citywide policy document from either the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties in the run-up to next Thursday's poll.

This can in some measure be explained by the expectation levels among the relative parties and their current showing in national opinion polls.

With Labour almost certain to regain control of Birmingham City Council after eight years in opposition it is perhaps best they have a plan in place. And group leader Sir Albert Bore tells me he does indeed have a plan and it is radical and very detailed.