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Lib Dem and Green Councillors fill vacant County posts after coalition split
02/10/2023
The cabinet member for finance has also stood down ahead of a general election campaign
The new look cabinet which will oversee business at Oxfordshire County Council has been announced. Liberal Democrat and Green party councillors are now covering all the cabinet posts following last week’s collapse of a coalition which included Labour party councillors.
A newly created role solely focusing on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) improvement has been filled by Councillor Kate Gregory (Lib Dem Thame & Chinnor). Councillor John Howson (Lib Dem St Margaret’s) is the new cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, replacing Labour Councillor Liz Brighouse.
Other new cabinet members are Councillor Neil Fawcett (Lib Dem Abingdon South) who will oversee community and corporate services, Councillor Nathan Ley (Lib Dem Abingdon North) who will look after public health, inequalities and community safety and Councillor Judy Roberts (Lib Dem North Hinksey) who will manage infrastructure and development strategy.
Councillor Calum Miller (Lib Dem Otmoor) has decided to step down from the role of cabinet member for finance and will be replaced by Councillor Dan Levy (Lib Dem Eynsham). Councillor Miller recently announced that he plans to stand at the next General Election for the Liberal Democrats in the new Bicester and Woodstock ward.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have quickly filled vacant cabinet positions and we are now rapidly focusing on the issues that matter to Oxfordshire people.
“At the top of our list of priorities is the subject of special educational needs and disabilities following the recent Ofsted and CQC local area partnership SEND inspection judgement. Councillor Kate Gregory will be focused solely on the urgent action needed to tackle the matters raised by inspectors.
“The creation of a new cabinet role dedicated to SEND will ensure that the whole council has a constant and permanent focus on turning the situation around at pace.
“Our priorities will be on rebuilding trust with parents and children, communicating better with them, listening to them and delivering better outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the county.
“Meanwhile the other new cabinet members will each bring fresh ideas and energy to their roles as we look to the future in terms of our overarching aim of creating a greener, healthier and fairer Oxfordshire.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam