New cabinet role created to reorganise local government in Rutland

A new role has been created to manage the reorganisation of local government in Rutland.

Rosemary Powell, who leads the Independent group on Rutland County Council, has joined its Lib-Dem led cabinet on the invitation of council leader Gale Waller.

Coun Powell will be responsible for economic development, heritage, tourism, property and assets, which had been handled by Coun Paul Browne. He will remain responsible for planning.

The cabinet shuffle was announced at a meeting of the full council last night (Thursday, March 27).

Coun Waller, who is ward councillor for Whissendine, said Rutland was in a vulnerable position as the financial year ends because its participation in a Local Enterprise Partnership would finish, including the funding that went with it.

She added: "Mayoral combined authorities receive funding for economic development and transport and if Rutland is to receive our share of this funding, not only will we have to be in a mayoral combined authority, but we also need to be clear about what Rutland needs.”

Coun Powell, who is a chartered accountant and was a member of the cabinet under a previous administration, said she was pleased to accept the offer, although said she was ‘under no illusion this is going to be a huge challenge’.

She said that there was no place for party politics in a council as small as Rutland’s.