SEVERAL new appointments to key roles within Somerset County Council have been approved this morning.

The county council voted to appoint a new chairman, which is Cllr Nigel Taylor, who was elected to the authority in 2017, and represents the Cheddar division.

The council also approved appointments to chairman and vice-chairman positions of the 13 different decision-making and scrutiny committees within the authority at its annual general meeting today (May 16).

This included the following:

  • Scrutiny for Policies and Place: Chair – Cllr Anna Groskop, Vice-Chair – Cllr Mike Lewis
  • Scrutiny for Policies, Adults and Health: Chair – Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, Vice-Chair – Cllr Claire Aparicio-Paul
  • Scrutiny for Policies, Children and Families: Chair – Cllr Leigh Redman, Vice-Chair – Cllr Rod Williams.

Earlier in the week, the Leader of the Council, Cllr David Fothergill, announced changes to the cabinet membership, creating two new cabinet member roles – Resources, and Education and Council Transformation.

The council’s cabinet now comprises:

  • Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategy and Customers & Communities: Cllr David Fothergill
  • Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources: Cllr Mandy Chilcott
  • Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Community Infrastructure: Cllr David Hall. Junior Cabinet Member: Cllr Mike Pullin.
  • Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care: Cllr David Huxtable. Junior Cabinet Member: Josh Williams.
  • Cabinet Member for Children and Families: Cllr Frances Nicholson
  • Cabinet Member for Education and Council Transformation: Cllr Faye Purbrick
  • Highways and Transport: Cllr John Woodman
  • Public Health and Wellbeing: Cllr Christine Lawrence