Shropshire Council leader Malcolm Pate announces cabinet reshuffle

Councillor Malcolm Pate, announced wide ranging changes to the responsibilities for cabinet members in his first re-shuffle since taking over leadership of the council from Keith Barrow in December.

The changes have seen the number of councillors with cabinet responsibilities increase from 17 to 18.

Councillor Pate said the Conservative cabinet had been composed to allow the council to prepare its financial strategy for the next three years. The authority has previously revealed that it needs to cut £77 million from its budget in the next five years.

He said: "The next iteration of our financial strategy for the next three years is currently being prepared, taking into consideration all of the feedback we've had so far from our Big Conversation consultation which closed earlier this week. Our financial strategy will show, for the first time, how the cuts will impact service by service.

"There's a lot to take on board, especially for those with new responsibilities. However I'm confident that these changes will enable us to be fully prepared for the exciting opportunities we have ahead, as well as enable us to be ready to make the difficult decisions needed so that we can best meet the tough financial challenges we face."

• Councillor Malcolm Pate - Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan.

• Councillor Tim Barker - Deputy Portfolio Holder for ip&e.

• Councillor Peter Nutting - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Income Generation and Efficiency Savings.

• Councillor Michael Wood - Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support.

• Councillor Robert Tindall - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Estates and Built Assets.

• Councillor Lee Chapman - Portfolio Holder for Adults.

• Councillor David Minnery - Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People.

• Councillor Nick Bardsley - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Education.

• Councillor Karen Calder - Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing.

• Councillor Steve Charmley - Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Economy.

• Councillor Dean Carroll - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Members Information and Members Communications.

• Councillor Malcolm Price - Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

• Councillor Robert Macey - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Housing.

• Councillor Simon Jones - Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation.

• Councillor Peter Adams - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Travel, Transportation and Parking.

• Councillor Cecilia Motley - Portfolio Holder for Rural Services and Communities.

• Councillor Gwilym Butler - Deputy Portfolio Holder for Town and Parish Councils.

• Councillor Stuart West - Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture.[/breakout]

The re-shuffle has seen a dedicated post created to look after council company ip&e, set to be taken on by Burnell Councillor Tim Barker, who will have the immediate task of assessing the findings of a review launched in December.

Another new post will see Worfield Councillor, Michael Wood, taking up a position as portfolio holder for corporate support, and Copthorne Councillor Peter Nutting as deputy portfolio holder for income generation and efficiency savings.

Councillor Pate said the changes were based on a set of four priorities, one - finance, strategy and resource, two - meeting the needs of vulnerable people, three - growing the economy, and four -creating resilient communities.

Education will be solely the responsibility of Ruyton and Baschurch Councillor, Nicholas Bardsley.

Deputy Leader, Whittington Councillor Steve Charmley retains his post as portfolio holder for business and the economy, while Church Stretton and Craven Arms Councillor Lee Chapman's portfolio changes from adult services to 'adults'.

Ludlow North Liberal Democrat Councillor Andy Boddington said he welcomed the changes but remained concerned that the new cabinet members would only have weeks to find their feet before having to agree concrete plans to cut £30 million from the council's 2016/17 budget.

He said: "Shropshire Council's cabinet has been almost totally rebuilt. It is more moderate and more focused on getting the job done. But it has only weeks to prove itself as the next waves of cuts sweep our county."

In a reference to former leader Keith Barrow Councillor Boddington also said the new cabinet "looks to me more about getting the job done than supporting the politics of the leader."

He added: "We are now well into preparing the budget for 2015/16 and subsequent years. This means this new cabinet has only a few weeks to show us what the future of this council and county will look like."