DORSET Council has announced a reshuffle for several members of its Cabinet with immediate effect.

Councillor Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, said it is time to refresh some of the roles on his Cabinet, Lead Members and committees to take the council through "challenging times ahead."

Cllr Flower has made the changes outlined below as a mid-year reshuffle. This is effective from today, Monday October 18.

Cabinet:

Cllr Peter Wharf will move from Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change to Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health. (Cllr Wharf will continue in his role as Deputy Leader)

Cllr Jill Haynes will move from Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services to Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change

Cllr Laura Miller will move from Adult Social Care and Health to Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services

All other Cabinet Members continue with their current portfolios.

Lead members

There are also changes to the remits for Lead Members.

Lead Members are not members of the Cabinet but are appointed to work alongside Portfolio Holders. They provide additional leadership capacity and support to Cabinet.

Cllr Andrew Kerby will move from the People and Health Overview Committee to be Lead Member for Safeguarding (Children’s Services)

Cllr Jane Somper will move for Lead Member for Safeguarding to Lead Member for Health (Adult Social Care and Health)

Cllr Simon Gibson will move from Lead Member for Care to Lead Member for Highways (Highways, Travel and Environment)

Cllr Cherry Brooks will move from Lead Member for Highways to Lead Member for Care (Adult Social Care and Health)

Cllr Piers Brown will move from Lead Member – Health (Adult Social Care and Health) to being a member of both Scrutiny Committees

Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke will continue as Lead Member for Environment, Travel and Harbours

Cllr Byron Quayle will continue as Lead Member for Education

Committee membership

Cllr Daryl Turner will move from membership of the two Overview Committees to membership of the two Scrutiny Committees

Cllr Jean Dunseith will move from the People and Health Scrutiny Committee to the People and Health Overview Committee

Cllr Rod Adkins will move from both the Scrutiny Committees to the People and Health Overview Committee

Cllr Mike Parkes will move from the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee to the People and Health Overview Committee

Cllr Toni Coombs will move for the People and Health Overview Committee to the Place and Resources Overview Committee

Cllr Rod Adkins will join the Appeals Committee replacing Andrew Kerby

The changes create vacancies for chairmen of the two Overview Committees. The nominations for chairmen of the two Overview Committees will go to the Full Council meeting for approval on December 14.

Councillor Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, said: “The past 18 months have witnessed the worst pandemic for 100 years. A huge amount of time and effort by members and officers has gone into dealing with the crisis and at the same time tackling some of the structural changes required to sustain services and achieve balanced budgets since becoming Dorset Council in April 2019.

“It’s time to refresh some of the roles on Cabinet, Lead Members and committees to take the council through what will be challenging times ahead. I wish all of my colleagues who have new roles as part of this reshuffle, and those who remain in their current positions, the very best in making a difference to the lives of Dorset residents.”