The Leader of Wiltshire Council has reduced the number of cabinet members from nine to eight in a bid to save money. The council is battling to make its budget balance after taking a financial hit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Libraries, Allison Bucknell, is leaving the cabinet but will become a portfolio holder which is the next level of responsibility on the council’s leadership structure. The Communities aspect of her portfolio will be taken on by Deputy Leader Richard Clewer alongside his existing responsibilities for Corporate Services and Housing. Leisure and Libraries will fall under the remit of Ian Blair-Pilling, who is also in charge of Digitalisation and Assets.
In other changes, Laura Mayes moves from Adult Social Care to Children, Education and Skills. Simon Jacobs takes over the Adult Social Care, Public Health and Public Protection position. Pauline Church, who was in charge of Children’s Services, replaces Cllr Jacobs as Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Commercial Investment.
In the lower tier of Portfolio Holders, a number of councillors have left their roles. They are: Jonathon Seed (Flooding), David Halik (Adult Social Care Transformation), Johnny Kidney (Communications), Fleur de Rhe-Philippe (Strategic Highways), Horace Prickett (Transport) and Atiqul Hoque (Heritage, Arts and Tourism). The new team of portfolio holders is:
- Whole Life Pathway: Phil Alford (unchanged)
- Public Health and Public Protection: Ben Anderson (unchanged)
- Communities, Arts, Heritage and Tourism: Allison Bucknell (was Cabinet Member)
- Education and SEND: Jane Davies (unchanged)
- Highways and Streetscene: Sven Hocking (was Streetscene)
- Children’s Safeguarding: Peter Hutton (unchanged)
- Leisure and Sport: Jerry Kunkler (unchanged)
- Climate Change: Ashley O’Neill (unchanged)
- Communications: Chris Williams (was Communities and Area Boards)
- Waste: Robert Yuill (unchanged)
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