Conservative Group Leader Cllr Tim Harris has announced a limited reshuffle of Shadow Cabinet positions following the decision of Cllr Tom Stanway to temporarily take a back seat in frontline local politics due to personal reasons.
· Cllr Isobel Ballsdon will take overall strategic responsibility for Community Care, Health, Housing, Children Services and Education. Isobel will be mirroring the role of the directorate, working alongside Cllr Sandra Vickers (Childrens Services and Education) and Cllr Jane Stanford Beale (Community Care, Health and Housing), to agree and promote Conservative policy within these areas.
· Thames Ward Councillor Ed Hopper will take on Cllr Tom Stanway’s role of Transformation, Policy Coordination & Scrutiny (Personnel).
· Cllr Tim Harris will take responsibility for the Environment portfolio.
Leader Cllr Tim Harris said:
“Cllr Tom Stanway is a very well respected member of our team, and for personal reasons has had to take some time out. I have made it clear to him that he is welcome to return to the front bench when he is ready. I’m sure Cllr Ed Hopper will be very effective in this new role.
I am delighted that Cllr Isobel Ballsdon will take on this strategic role focusing upon Children’s Services, Adult care, Health, Housing and Education, mirroring the newly merged Council directorate.
Cllr Sandra Vickers has done a sterling job over the last year and by increasing the resource in this area I have given her more time to do what she does excellently – holding Labour to account.
Labour put a single Director in strategic control of Community Care, Housing, Health, Education and Children’s Services, but felt the job was too big for a single stategic Cabinet Member to handle. I don’t believe this to be correct and in the current economic climate I felt it important that our group take a lead in reflecting the new structure that the council has implemented.”