A NEW cabinet has been appointed at Worcestershire County Council as councillors met for the first time since the local elections earlier this month.

Cllr Simon Geraghty was reappointed as leader of the county council during a meeting at County Hall on Thursday (May 20).

Cllr Adrian Hardman remains deputy leader as well as cabinet member for adult social care.

Announcing his new cabinet, Cllr Geraghty said: “In selecting my new cabinet I was keen to have a team that can build on the positive progress we have made in the past five years since I first took on the role of leader.

“I’d like to thank those councillors who were on the previous cabinet for all their hard work over the years.

“I believe this new team will help us move forward and enable us to continue building on the positive changes we have delivered across Worcestershire in recent years.

“I am looking forward to working with them to take this county forward, as we recover from the pandemic.

“This cabinet will work to deliver our ambitious agenda for the county, provide good quality services and deliver value for money.”

Newly elected councillor Matt Dormer, who is the current leader of Redditch Borough Council, takes on the role of cabinet member for communities replacing Lucy Hodgson who lost in Malvern Chase earlier this month.

Cllr Adam Kent is promoted to the cabinet and will be responsible for corporate services and communication.

Cllr Karen May moves to take over the health and wellbeing cabinet role following John Smith’s retirement.

Cllr Marc Bayliss, who was reappointed as leader of Worcester City Council on Tuesday (May 18), moves straight into a cabinet role at the county council and will be responsible for economy and skills taking over from Ken Pollock who was de-selected and could not stand for re-election.

Cllr Andy Roberts remains as cabinet member for children and families, Cllr Marcus Hart stays as cabinet member for education, Cllr Tony Miller keeps his role as cabinet member for environment and Cllr Alan Amos remains in his highways and transport role.

Former city mayor Cllr Steve Mackay, who was narrowly re-elected in St Peter’s, was elected chairman of the council with Chris Rogers elected deputy chair.

He takes over from Cllr Bob Brookes who chaired his first and last physical council meeting at County Hall on Thursday due to Covid restrictions.

Last year’s deputy chair Juliet Brunner resigned from the Conservatives in the run up to the local elections after she was shunned by the party and unable to defend her Arrow Valley East seat.

She instead stood as an independent candidate but lost out to Conservatives’ Matt Dormer and Jo Monk.

The Conservatives increased their majority on Worcestershire County Council following the local elections on May 6 pushing their seats up by five to 45.

Labour dropped to just three councillors after losing six seats, the Lib Dems won four, the Greens won three seats and two independent candidates were also elected.

Cllr Tom Wells, who was re-elected as independent councillor in Powick, takes over from Labour’s Richard Udall as chairman of the overview and scrutiny performance board – the council’s main scrutiny body – after winning a vote by councillors.

Cllr Richard Morris will take on the role of vice chair.

Newly elected councillor Mike Rouse will take over chairing the corporate and communities overview and scrutiny panel taking over from Adam Kent following his promotion to the cabinet.

Cllr Shirley Webb will chair the adult care and wellbeing overview and scrutiny panel taking over from Juliet Brunner.

Cllr Ian Hardiman will chair the council’s planning committee following Rob Adams retirement with newly elected Upton Snodsbury councillor Linda Robinson taking on the role of vice chair.

Cllr Kyle Daisley will chair the children and families overview and scrutiny panel taking over from Fran Oborski who lost her seat earlier this month.

Cllr Brandon Clayton will chair the council’s health overview and scrutiny committee taking over from Paul Tuthill.