Shake-up as Shropshire Council leader appoints her new cabinet

Councillor Picton, who was formally sworn in this morning has wasted no time in stamping her mark on the plans for the future.

Earlier this week, after winning the backing of her fellow Conservatives to lead the authority, she pledged that sorting the county's roads out would be the "number one priority".

It comes after an election campaign which saw voters repeatedly vocalising their frustration at the state of the county's highways.

Councillor Steve Charmley, who lost out to Councillor Picton in the leadership contest, has been handed the challenge of fixing Shropshire's roads – a task he said needs to be "done quickly".

Councillor Charmley, who is also deputy leader, will also take on responsibility for physical infrastructure and built housing.

Fresh faces on the cabinet are Bridgnorth Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, who will be in charge of the children and education brief, and Market Drayton Councillor Ian Nellins, who becomes portfolio holder for climate change, natural assets and the green economy.

Both were only elected for the first time in the May 6 vote.

Councillor Gwilym Butler moves to take on the role as cabinet member for resources, while Ed Potter moves from children's services to the economic growth, regeneration and planning portfolio.

Casualties

Cecilia Motley is another new face on the cabinet, with responsibility for communities, place, tourism and transport, as is Rob Gittins, who becomes cabinet member for digital, technology, data and insight.

Councillor Dean Carroll retains his public health portfolio, and will be cabinet member for adult social care, public health and assets.

The main casualties of the new cabinet are Councillor Rob Macey, formerly strategic planning portfolio holder, who has lost his place, and Councillor Steve Davenport, previous highways chief, who also finds himself without a place.

Councillor Picton said she believed the new team would bring a fresh approach to the challenges ahead.

“There is much to do and, together with my cabinet, we will be working very hard to continue building a healthy population and a healthy economy for Shropshire," she said.

“My cabinet are a new team of people from different backgrounds, with very varied skills and experience. I am sure we will also bring new ideas, fresh approaches and enthusiasm and a desire to work very closely with our residents, our businesses, our communities and partners and our staff to achieve our goals.”

Councillor Charmley also welcomed the chance to tackle the issue of the county's roads, saying: "The state of the roads is the number one priority.

"We all drive the same roads, we know the state of them, it has to improve and I will be quite firm with officers that the way we have been doing things is not acceptable.

"At the polling station everyone was talking about the state of the roads and it needs to be fixed, simple as that. I am up for the challenge of sorting that out and it has to be done quickly."