Guy McGregor out of the cabinet as Lisa Chambers leads on Education

Guy McGregor: out of the cabinet

Hoxne, Stradbroke and Eye county councillor Guy McGregor has found himself the casualty of Mark Bee’s attempts to reform his administration. Now out of the Cabinet he secures the sinecure of Chairman of the Council, a post that was due to go to former Tory councillor Anne Whybrow who lost her seat by one vote to UKIP.

Former Education portfolio holder Graham Newman takes over McGregor’s transport brief. His post has been taken by newly elected deputy leader Lisa Chambers who certainly
brings credibility to the post with children herself going through the re-organisation in the Newmarket area where she is a councillor.

Chambers will also face a proposed free school in her own backyard.

Lisa Chambers: Education Brief

This is clearly building on the earlier news that education is to be the surprise priority of this new Council, I say surprise because it never even made it to the top 5 list of promises that Suffolk Tories fought the election on.

That said education certainly needs to be a priority and everyone of good will in Suffolk will be hoping Mark Bee can pull off the much needed improvements and make Suffolk schools feel that the Local Authority is on their side.

Changes in the cabinet don’t end there with three new faces coming into the cabinet.

Becky Hopfensperger

Becky Hopfensperger West Suffolk Councillor Becky Hopfensperger comes into cabinet with an interesting new “localities” brief designed to focus on urban areas and also picks up the library portfolio.

Aldeburgh and Leiston’s Richard Smith takes on a new portfolio comprising Economic Development, Environment and Planning. Ipswich Councillor.

Alan Murray joins cabinet  taking on Adult Care and Health with Colin Noble moved to the Finance brief where he will doubtless boast about keeping Council Tax the same...

Only Colin Spence is spared change retaining his public protection brief.

In perhaps the most bizarre move of the reshuffle Joanna Spicer will join Cabinet but without either a portfolio or pay according to the EADT:

Joanna Spicer

Mrs Spicer’s role – which will be unpaid – will include acting as a liaison between the cabinet and backbench councillors of all parties. 

The divisive Cllr Spicer seems astrange choice as a liaison person and I expect she is more a Tory Chief Whip and UKIP liaison person. It’s difficult to imagine her building bridges across the opposition...

Ipswich Spy Story
Paul Geater’s EADT Story