Executive shake up at West Berkshire Council

Planning and highways councillors step down

It's all change at the top of West Berkshire Council.

The council's executive member for planning, Alan Law (Con, Basildon), and Garth Simpson (Con, Cold Ash), who was responsible for highways and transport, have resigned from the executive.

And while parliament holds its summer recess council leader Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham south and Crookham) has decided to reshuffle his council cabinet.

Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley) steps from adult social care and culture into planning, while vice chairwoman of the council Jeanette Clifford (Con, Northcroft) will take the highways and transport role.

Mrs Cole holds on to the housing portfolio.

However, the council will need to appoint a new vice chair as the position cannot be held by a member of the executive.

Also reshuffled is the education portfolio held by Dominic Boeck (Con, Aldermaston).

Lynne Doherty (Con, Northcroft) will assume the education portfolio alongside her children's services portfolio.

Mr Boeck will take culture from Mrs Cole as well as the environment portfolio, which was held by Marcus Franks (Con, Speen), while keeping his ICT and property brief.

Mr Franks retains his community resilience and partnerships role.

Rick Jones (Con, Purley-on-Thames) will become the executive member for adult social care.

When asked whether the reshuffle was planned or triggered by the resignations of Mr Law and Mr Simpson, Mr Croft said: "You have to consider what is your best executive you can have. Sometimes it's opportunity led and sometimes it's not opportunity led."