Two new cabinet members appointed at Horsham District Council

Leader Ray Dawe has named Philip Circus (Con, Chanctonbury) his cabinet member for housing and public protection and Kate Rowbottom (Con, Billingshurst and Shipley) as his cabinet member for community and wellbeing.

Meanwhile Gordon Lindsay (Con, Billingshurst and Shipley) has switched portfolios from before the election and is now cabinet member for the local economy.

A cabinet member for Horsham town has yet to be appointed.

The following positions were announced last Wednesday:

- Claire Vickers (Con, Southwater), cabinet member for planning and development,

- Brian Donnelly (Con, Pulborough and Coldwaltham), cabinet member for finance and assets,

- Andrew Baldwin (Con, Holbrook East), cabinet member for waste, recycling and cleansing,

- Jonathan Chowen (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead), cabinet member for leisure and culture.

Mr Dawe said: “The council that the district’s voters have just elected is a mixture of great experience in local government and of new talent.

“This new cabinet reflects that great experience. 

“However, all its members are aware that we have a near 40 per cent change in the composition of the council.

“While we need to allow new members time to gain good working knowledge of the council, we shall need in the short to medium term, to look at how we can increase the responsibility of those members who are not in the cabinet but are able and willing to take this on.

“This will ensure that as experience grows and as opportunities arise, the new talent we have gained can be fully harnessed in appropriate roles.

“On advice from both the outgoing cabinet member and council officers, I have divided the previous role of cabinet member for communities into two cabinet posts. For the time being, the previous cabinet portfolio that focused on Horsham town and communications will be divided among the other cabinet members’ responsibilities.”

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