New cabinet focuses on creating a greener, healthier and fairer Oxfordshire

New cabinet members have been announced at Oxfordshire County Council including a newly created role solely focusing on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) improvement.

Councillor Kate Gregory will take on this role while Cllr John Howson is the new cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services.

Other new cabinet members are Cllr Neil Fawcett who will oversee community and corporate services, Cllr Nathan Ley who will look after public health, inequalities and community safety and Cllr Judy Roberts who will manage infrastructure and development strategy. Cllr Calum Miller has decided to step down from the role of cabinet member for finance and will be replaced by Cllr Dan Levy.

Last week, it was announced that Cllr Pete Sudbury had taken on the role of deputy leader of the county council. He will also retain his current role as the cabinet member for climate change delivery and environment.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have quickly filled vacant cabinet positions and we are now rapidly focusing on the issues that matter to Oxfordshire people. 

“At the top of our list of priorities is the subject of special educational needs and disabilities following the recent Ofsted and CQC local area partnership SEND inspection judgement. Cllr Kate Gregory will be focused solely on the urgent action needed to tackle the matters raised by inspectors.

“The creation of a new cabinet role dedicated to SEND will ensure that the whole council has a constant and permanent focus on turning the situation around at pace.

“Our priorities will be on rebuilding trust with parents and children, communicating better with them, listening to them and delivering better outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the county.

“Meanwhile the other new cabinet members will each bring fresh ideas and energy to their roles as we look to the future in terms of our overarching aim of creating a greener, healthier and fairer Oxfordshire.”

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