The new leader and nine cabinet members, who will steer the first majority-led Liberal Democrat council for Bath & North East Somerset, have been announced.
They were appointed at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 21st May.
The cabinet will include, for the first time in the council’s history, two job-share roles, one of which will focus on climate emergency and the other on transport.
The new cabinet along with their portfolios are:
- Councillor Dine Romero, (Southdown ward) – Council Leader
- Councillor Richard Samuel (Walcot ward) – Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources
- Councillor Kevin Guy (Bathavon North) – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
- Councillor Rob Appleyard (Lambridge) – Cabinet Member for Adult Services
- Councillor Sarah Warren (Bathavon North) and Councillor Dave Wood (Mendip) (Job Share) – Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services
- Councillor Neil Butters (Bathavon South) and Councillor Joanna Wright (Lambridge) Cabinet Member for Transport Services (Job Share)
- Councillor Tim Ball (Twerton) Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning, and Economic Development
- Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown) Cabinet Member for Community Services
In addition to the cabinet roles the AGM appointed a new Chairman of the Council, Councillor Eleanor Jackson (Labour, Westfield). The Vice-Chairman of Council is Councillor Andrew Furse (Liberal Democrat, Kingsmead).
At the meeting, Councillor Romero set out how the new cabinet roles would serve the residents of Bath and North East Somerset.
She said: “Our new cabinet team sets a clear direction for the council. We are ambitious for our area and have some big tasks ahead particularly addressing the climate emergency and have already created a dedicated cabinet role to champion this vital concern.
“All our cabinet members are committed to opening up the council and making sure people’s voices are heard about issues that really matter locally.
“Our new cabinet members will focus on working with local people on issues like making it easier to travel around, building more affordable homes and ensuring more prevention in health and social care.
“We are also committed to cleaner and safer streets as well as protecting our local facilities for the benefit of the community.”