Cornwall Council's FIRST female leader announces new Cabinet 'to serve taxpayers'

Cornwall Council's new Conservative leader has announced who will be joining her on the Cabinet to run the council for the next four years.

Linda Taylor is the first female leader of the council after leading her party to victory in last week's elections.

The Conservatives are the first party to take overall control of the council since the unitary authority was formed in 2009.

Announcing her Cabinet Cllr Taylor said: "I am delighted to present our formidable Conservative Cabinet which will run Cornwall Council for the next four years.

"Here we have an excellent mix of skills, experience and knowledge from a diverse and enthusiastic group of councillors, all who have serving Cornwall at their heart.

"Our Cabinet is there to serve you, the Cornish taxpayer, and we will not let you down. We look forward to getting to work to make Cornwall Council work for you, to work with our six Cornish Conservative MPs and the Conservative government and to make our Cornwall a better place to live and work and grow up in".

Cornwall Council Leader, Linda Taylor

The announcement sees some changes to the Cabinet positions which were previously held at the council. The post of Cabinet member for neighbourhoods has removed reference to climate change while the responsibility for planning has moved from the economy portfolio to the housing portfolio.

There are more women in the new Cabinet with three compared to two in the last Cabinet.

Who is on Cornwall Council's new Cabinet?

Linda Taylor, Leader

Linda is a retired bank manager and has previously been mayor of St Ives for three consecutive years. She has been a Cornwall councillor since 2017 and leader of the Conservative group since 2018.

David Harris, Deputy Leader

A councillor for four years, Cllr Harris had chaired the council's audit committee for the last two years and was the group's shadow member for finance.

Andy Virr, Adults

Dr Andy Virr has 25 years' experience working on the front line of the NHS as an A&E doctor and will have responsibility for the council's role in health and social care.

Martyn Alvey, Environment & Public Protection

Cllr Alvey has been a parish councillor since 2004 and was first elected to Cornwall Council in 2017. His working career was in the RAF, retiring as squadron leader in 2004.

Stephen Rushworth, Economy

Cllr Rushworth entered politics in 2009 and previously served as Cabinet member for economy & climate change. He has previously worked at the St Moritz Hotel and is a director of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.

Olly Monk, Planning & Housing

An environmental consultant since 2012 Olly has been a Cornwall councillor since 2012 and since 2018 was the Conservative's shadow cabinet member for housing.

Philip Desmonde, Transport

Cllr Desmonde is a chartered engineer and has been a Cornwall councillor for four four years where he was shadow Cabinet member for transport and vice chair of the audit committee.

Barbara Ellenbroek, Children, Wellbeing and Public Health

A volunteer director of Youth Cafes Cornwall Community Interest Company Barbara trained as a youth worker in the 1980s and is said to be "passionate about giving our young people and their families the support that they need to make the most of the opportunities available to them".

Carol Mould, Neighbourhoods

Carol has lived in St Minver Lowlands all her life and has served as Neighbourhoods shadow cabinet member for the last four years. Her career was spent in the tourism industry.

Richard Pears, Customers

With a background in business and local government, Richard has been a Cornwall councillor for four years. As a non-executive director of Corserv he has three years' experience working with the council's group of companies.

You can read the full list of newly or re-elected Cornwall Council councillors here.