A NEW cabinet has been appointed at Durham County Council.

After being re-elected leader, Councillor Simon Henig said his new team was experienced and would stand County Durham in good stead for the budget cuts ahead.

There is much continuity in the ten-strong cabinet, with Coun Alan Napier continuing as deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, Coun Neil Foster maintaining the economic regeneration brief, Coun Morris Nicholls keeping his role overseeing adult services , Coun Maria Plews still in charge of leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, Coun Brian Stephens continuing as cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships and Coun Lucy Hovvels still holding the safer and healthier communities role.

There are three new cabinet members, however. Coun Jane Brown takes up the new cabinet post for corporate services, Coun Ossie Johnson takes over at children and young people’s services and Coun Eddie Tomlinson assumes an expanded housing and rural issues brief.

Coun Henig said: “This is an experienced cabinet which includes representation from all six parliamentary constituencies in County Durham as well as previous experience on all but one of the previous eight district and county councils.

“The cabinet will be supported by eight other councillors including five newly elected members. This mix of experience and new ideas will stand County Durham in good stead as we continue to face unprecedented budget cuts from central government which could continue for several more years.”

Coun Pauline Charlton, who represents Evenwood, succeeds Coun Linda Marshall as council chairman. Her chosen charities for her year in office are the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland and the Treetops children’s ward at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The new vice-chairman is Coun John Robinson. During her year as chairman, Coun Marshall raised £26,000, which will be split between Cardiac Risk in the Young and the Royal British Legion.

The changes were made at today’s (Wednesday, May 22) annual meeting of the council.