ALMOST every top job at Swindon Council will have a new person in charge following a cabinet reshuffle.

The Conservative-led council has also changed the remit of certain portfolios and is putting the changes forward for approval at the next council meeting on Friday.

Leader Coun Rod Bluh will now have Coun Garry Perkins, who was formerly in charge of children’s services, as his deputy.

The deputy leader’s role will now include economic development, regeneration and culture, a stand alone post formerly held by Coun Phil Young, who stood down before the recent election.

Coun Peter Greenhalgh stays in charge of sustainability, strategic planning, property and transport and Coun Mark Edwards remains in control of finance.

Coun Fionuala Foley, who had announced she was standing down from cabinet, moves from deputy leader to the leisure and corporate services role.

Coun Foley said: “After careful consideration and discussion with Rod Bluh over the last five months, and after meeting with him and Garry Perkins last week, they asked to stay on the cabinet.

“I enjoyed my time on the cabinet but I needed to stand down as deputy leader because of the huge workload and the number of hours.

“With this portfolio area, I have done it before and was instrumental in setting up the strategic partnership with our strategic partner, Capita.”

A new portfolio of housing, community and partnerships will now be taken Coun Brian Mattock, while Coun David Renard takes charge of children’s services.

Coun Keith Williams, who was previously in charge of leisure and corporate services, will now look after the streetscene brief, which includes waste and recycling.

There are also two new faces on the cabinet: Coun Peter Mallinson will take over as head of health and adult social care, while Dale Heenan takes on the policy and performance brief, which includes making sure the council meets its 50 Promises.

Coun Bluh said: “I am delighted to be bringing two new members into the cabinet.

“We felt that this was the time for a new look cabinet and we have ended up with most people doing different jobs.

“We have tried to give it a refreshed look.

“As ever we have a big agenda for the next few months and the new team is looking forward to getting down to it.”

The appointments are draft proposals and are still to be ratified by the council when it meets on Friday when the new mayor, Coun Rex Barnett, will also be elected, taking over from Coun David Wren.