Devon County Council’s new Cabinet team announced
The new Cabinet team for Devon County Council has been unveiled today.
The Conservatives took power again at County Hall this month with 38 seats of the 62 on the authority.
These are the Cabinet nominations for next week’s annual meeting of the authority (23 May).
Party leader John Hart, who represents Bickleigh and Wembury, will be leader of the Council and will chair the nine-member Cabinet and be responsible for policy and corporate affairs.
His deputy John Clatworthy, from Dawlish, will be deputy leader of the Council and will be responsible for finance, property and asset management.
Yealmpton councillor Will Mumford will be the Cabinet member for children, schools and skills. He switches from economy, enterprise and employment, which will be taken over by Exeter councillor Andrew Leadbetter, who represents St Loyes and Topsham. Mr Leadbetter will continue to be the Cabinet member with special responsibility for Exeter.
His former portfolio of performance and community engagement will be held by Holsworthy Rural councillor, Barry Parsons, who has been promoted to the Cabinet for the first time.
Four councillors will continue with the same key responsibilities they had in the last administration.
Andrea Davis, who represents Combe Martin Rural, will be responsible for improving health and well-being, which the county council took over in April from the NHS.
Ashburton and Buckfastleigh councillor Stuart Barker will have responsibility for adult social care and health services while Stuart Hughes, who represents Sidmouth and Sidford, will be the Cabinet member for highways and flood prevention and Roger Croad, who represents Ivybridge will have responsibility for community services, libraries, Green issues, trading standards, emergency planning and travellers.
Today John Hart said: “This is a Cabinet with experience and skills which have been forged over the last four years of austerity.
“Eight of the nine members served in the last Cabinet and Barry Parsons is leader of Torridge District Council.
“We are well aware that our first priority must be to ensure the continuing economic vitality of Devon, to help create the climate for business to grow and attract more companies here to provide well-paid jobs.
“We are determined to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents, maintain the quality of our schools and continue to look after the young, the elderly and the most vulnerable in our county.
“I am confident that this new team – some continuing with their existing responsibilities and some taking on new challenges – will provide the right blend to lead the County Council in doing the best we can for every resident of our county.”
