The new Cabinet was also approved by councillors at the annual council meeting following a major reshuffle - with Cllrs Karen Shakespeare, Malcolm Knowles and Peter Miller all bowing out from the Tory frontbench.

Councillors Les Jones, Lesley Faulkner, David Blood and David Stanley have all been elected to join the current members in the top jobs.

Following the reshuffle, Mrs Millward now heads up council policy, Cllr Jones will take charge of Regeneration, Mrs Faulkner is now head of Adult and Community Services while Cllr Michael Evans moves to Performance Management and Quality Assurance (Children’s Services).

Cllr David Blood is the new cabinet member for finance, while Cllr David Stanley joins to head Environment and Culture and Cllr David Simms takes charge of Housing, Libraries and Adult Learning.

However Liz Walker remains in charge of Integrated Children’s Services, while Cllr Adrian Turner still heads Personnel, Legal and Property and Cllr Angus Adams remains with Transportation.