THE new cabinet team of Swindon Borough Council has been announced by its Conservative leader David Renard (Haydon Wick) and includes two new appointments.

Toby Elliott (Priory Vale) will join with responsibility for communities and strategic planning while Mary Martin (Shaw) will be the cabinet member for corporate, customer and digital services. 

The cabinet will be appointed at the council's annual meeting on Friday.

At the local election on May 7, the Conservatives gained seven seats. They now have 32 seats in the chamber, Labour remaining on 23 and the Liberal Democrats being reduced to two.

Brian Mattock (Old Town) will be deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for adult health and social care.

Emma Faramarzi (Priory Vale) remains cabinet member for housing and public safety.

Brian Ford (Wroughton and Wichelstowe) remains cabinet member for StreetSmart while Fionuala Foley (Chiseldon and Lawn) continues as the cabinet member for children’s services.

Dale Heenan (Covingham and Dorcan) takes on the new portfolio of cabinet member for sustainability and transport, Russell Holland (St Margaret and South Marston) will assume additional responsibilities as the cabinet member for finance, people, and performance. 

Garry Perkins (Haydon Wick) remains responsible for the eonomy, regeneration and skills.

Coun Renard said: “These appointments show that the administration has the vision and the energy to take Swindon forward.

"The election results were a public endorsement of the reforms we have already made and the sound approach to public finances that underpin the council.”