THREE senior councillors are to swap roles in a New Year reshuffle of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet.
Deputy council leader Councillor Bill Dixon will move from social services to take responsibility for housing.
Coun Dixon has been in charge of social services since 1997, when Darlington split from Durham County Council to become a unitary authority.
A series of innovative projects have been introduced in the past six years, but the department still received a one-star rating in the latest Government assessments.
Coun Dixon said: "I am very proud of what has been achieved.
"Now increasing work commitments mean that I will be moving across to housing, which will offer me an exciting new challenge, but hopefully make less demands on my time."
Councillor Eleanor Lister, cabinet member for leisure, will take the social services portfolio. She will be replaced by the member for housing, Councillor Lee Vasey.
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