West Berkshire Council has a new leader.
Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) has taken the helm after former leader Lee Dillon stood down from the role to focus on his campaign for the Parliamentary seat of Newbury.
Mr Dillon remains on the executive committee with responsibility for public safety and community engagement.
Denise Gaines is now deputy leader, also holding the portfolio for planning and housing.
Iain Cottingham is executive member for finance and resources, Louise Sturgess holds the pen for economic development and regeneration.
Adult social care and public health goes to Patrick Clark and Heather Codling takes on children and family services.
Nigel Foot is culture, leisure, sport and countryside, while Stuart Gourley is environment and highways and Vicky Poole is at transformation and corporate programme.
The executive is the main decision-making body of the council. They make the key decisions - those that affect two or more wards or where decisions will have a significant impact on the council's budget.
Each member of the executive has responsibility for a specific area (or portfolio) as outlined above.
Speaking about the new appointments, Mr Brooks said: “We have a strong set of councillors joining our executive who will help us move our plans forward in the coming years.
"We promise to work hard for the residents of West Berkshire, and the new executive echoes this.
"Members come from across the district, including towns and countryside, and from the east to the west. Some are new, and some have done this before.
"They bring fresh ideas and know a lot about how things work in our area.
"Together, they'll help us continue the good work we have done over the last year and implement our strategy and do very good things for our residents.”
At the meeting, councillor Billy Drummond was also appointed as the new chairman of the council.
