Cabinet Re-Shuffle At County (From Oxfordshire Council)

OXFORDSHIRE County Council Leader, Councillor Keith Mitchell, has re-shuffled the authority’s decision-making Cabinet.
Two new Cabinet members have been appointed. Councillor Ian Hudspeth, who represents Woodstock on the county council, has been appointed Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation. He takes on this role from Councillor David Robertson who retains his role as Deputy Leader of the County Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport Policy.

Councillor Hudspeth’s areas of responsibility include:
transport scheme implementation;
highways; traffic and parking;
road safety and public transport.

The second new Cabinet member is Councillor Judy Heathcoat, who represents Faringdon on the county council. She has been appointed Cabinet Member for Community Safety. Her areas of responsibility include:

The Fire and Rescue Service;
consumer protection;
emergency planning;
police issues;
The Coroner’s Service;
travellers
drugs and alcohol awareness.

She also takes on the post of district liaison in the Vale of White Horse.

The two departing members of the Cabinet are Councillor Ray Jelf, who was Cabinet Member for Community Safety, and Councillor Don Seale, who was Cabinet Member for Adult Learning and Cultural Services.

Councillor Seale’s role will be taken on by Councillor Jim Couchman, who is already a member of the Cabinet. He will take on responsibility for adult learning; libraries; museums and heritage; the arts; archives; leisure and recreation; the registration service and the music service in addition to his current responsibilities for adult social services; health issues and the voluntary and community sector. His new title will be Cabinet Member for Social Care and Community Services.

Other changes see Councillor John Howell take on responsibility for social inclusion and equality issues; and Councillor David Robertson take on responsibility for council policy co-ordination and council business management from Councillor Jim Couchman.

Councillor Keith Mitchell, the Leader of the County Council, has taken on responsibility for economic development from Councillor Roger Belson, the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.

Councillor Mitchell said: “None of these changes will affect the high quality services that we provide. Oxfordshire County Council is ranked as an excellent authority by the Audit Commission. It provides real choice and value for money. These changes will not alter that. I welcome the new Cabinet members and look forward to working with them in the months to come.”