A reshuffle of Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder responsibilities has been completed by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Spencer Flower.
The changes, which affect some service areas, have been confirmed following the meeting of full council on Thursday evening (3 September).
Councillor Flower said: “The changes that I have announced will come into force with immediate effect and are designed to enable Portfolio Holders to manage large and complex portfolios and to help drive the transformation programme in the provision of services.
“In addition to some changes in responsibility areas, I have, in discussion with Cabinet colleagues identified a need for there to be additional support for three of the Cabinet Portfolios as we move forward with a significant agenda for the year ahead. This support will be provided by six Lead Members.
“As a number of strategic programmes start to gather pace, I will keep this new arrangement under review.”
The constitution allows up to six Lead Members to be appointed by the Leader of Council. This is a new approach by Dorset Council, but it is a well tried and tested way nationally of ensuring there is sufficient capacity for Cabinet Members to cope with their individual portfolios.
The Portfolio Holder and Lead Member responsibilities will be:
- Portfolio Holder for Governance, Performance & Communications – Cllr Spencer Flower (Leader)
- Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development & Change – Cllr Peter Wharf (Deputy Leader)
- Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel & Environment – Cllr Ray Bryan
- Lead Member for Highways – Cllr Cherry Brooks
- Lead Member for Environment, Travel and Harbours – Cllr Noc Lacey-Clark
- Portfolio Holder for People – Children, Education, Skills & Early Help – Cllr Andrew Parry
- Lead Member for Education – Cllr Byron Quayle
- Lead Member for Safeguarding – Cllr Jane Somper
- Portfolio Holder for People – Adult Social Care & Health – Cllr Laura Miller
- Lead Member for Care – Cllr Simon Gibson
- Lead Member for Health – Cllr Piers Brown
- Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy – Cllr Gary Suttle
- Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets & Property – Cllr Tony Ferrari
- Portfolio Holder for Planning – Cllr David Walsh
- Portfolio Holder for Customer & Community Services – Cllr Jill Haynes
- Portfolio Holder for Housing & Community Safety – Cllr Graham Carr-Jones
Cllr Val Pothecary was voted in as the new Chairman of the council, and Cllr Mike Parkes as Vice Chairman.
I’m interested in the fact that of 10 Cabinet Members, only 2 are female. Does this represent the numbers split of total County Councillors?
It seems similar to the position with senior staff – 6 males and just 1 female – with Theresa Leavy Executive Director of People – Children which could appear to be stereotypical perhaps?
Can you inform me who is responsible for tourists and visitors to Dorset.
Whatever our party politics we should wish them well, needing to meet so many community needs with inadequate resources. May the staff get all the support they require
Whatever political party we support we should wish them and all the Council staff well trying to meet all the needs of our communities with inadequate resources – even when they have to be hard headed may they never be hard hearted.
who is taking particular note of the Climate and Ecological Emergency?
Congratulations to Cllr Val Pothercary on her appointment as Chairman of Dorset Council
Also glad to see that Portfolio Holders will now have Lead members taking some responsibility for particular areas of work which should give more members an active interest in service provision.