County council undergoes leadership shake up

The leading Reform UK group at Derbyshire County Council has unveiled a new leadership team as the party prepares to mark a year in power in the region.

New faces will oversee Derbyshire's health services, children and families, and a new role solely focused on the upcoming shake up of local councils in England has been created.

A number of cabinet titles have also changed, with explicit references to net zero and potholes removed.

While the Aston councillor Alan Graves will remain leader of the council, it was revealed yesterday that the deputy leader had been ousted by his colleagues.

Sutton councillor Rob Reaney fell short of the votes required to continue in the role in a secret ballot of the party's county councillors.

Clay Cross and Tupton councillor Stephen Reed will now serve as deputy leader of the council and retain most of his previous responsibilities overseeing business services.

Other cabinet positions were decided by Graves rather than by a vote of the party internally.

The number of cabinet positions will remain unchanged at 10, however supporting cabinet roles could be added at a later date.

Shirland and Wingerworth South councillor Paul Parkin is expected to become member for local government reorganisation (LGR) and transformation. He will also act as a liaison with district and parish councils as part of this role.

Some of the titles for cabinet positions have also been altered.

The reference to net zero has been removed from the title of the cabinet member overseeing the environment, Bolsover councillor Carol Wood, who retains her position, which will now just be known as environment.

Melbourne and Woodville councillor Charlotte Hill will remain in her role overseeing the county's roads, but her title no longer has an explicit reference to potholes and will simply be highways.

Some new faces are also expected to join the cabinet.

Ilkeston North councillor Dan Price will take on the position for communities and safety and will also be overseeing the region's health services, although the explicit reference has been scrubbed from the title.

Sawley councillor Paul Maginnis, who defected from the Conservatives last year, will take on the children and families brief.

The changes will be formally signed off at a full council meeting later this month.

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