New faces on party front benches

Council leader Gordon Lundie (Lambourn, pictured right) made the changes following the appointment of Keith Chopping (Sulhamstead) as chairman last Tuesday.
Graham Pask (Bucklebury) is now responsible for partnerships, equality, communities and the Hungerford and Eastern Area Vision projects, while Dominic Boeck (Thatcham South and Crookham) has taken the reins for cleaner and greener issues, waste, environmental health, trading standards and Thatcham Vision.
Mr Lundie said: “Dominic is the agent of the Conservative party locally so I thought it would be better to understand what’s going on at Richard Benyon’s [Defra] level. We need to better integrate the work that Richard is doing and what we are doing as councillors.
“We have got a lot of very capable portfolio holders, I have got an executive that works very well together.”
The remaining seven executive positions are occupied by the same councillors as last year, although some with new responsibilities.
Chieveley ward councillor Hilary Cole has seen the greatest changes, taking on responsibility for planning, transport policy and countryside, on top of her former responsibilities for culture and customer services.
Pamela Bale (Pangbourne) has taken on the portfolios for highways and transport operations, emergency planning and the Newbury Vision.
The Liberal Democrat’s opposition front bench has lost two familiar faces, with David Rendel (Thatcham Central), who has been a member of the opposition front bench since joining the council in 2007, and Julian Swift-Hook (Greenham), formerly shadow portfolio holder for ICT and equalities, both standing down.
Mr Rendel said that he could no longer balance his executive responsibilities with other political duties, following his election to the Liberal Democrat federal conference committee in January.
When asked about rumours circulating that he had put himself forward to be considered to fight for the seat in Winchester at the next general election, Mr Rendel said he would neither confirm or deny it.
Both Mr Rendel and Mr Swift-Hook remain as councillors.
The group has welcomed David Allen (Victoria) to its front bench as shadow portfolio holder for children and young people, education, youth service, culture and leisure, and Gwen Mason (Northcroft) for health and well-being, public health, partnerships. equality. customer services, strategic support and community safety.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West) said: “It was an opportunity to bring people on like Gwen and David which I was pleased to be able to do.
“I have freshened it up with some new faces.”