New cabinet roles have been announced at Oxfordshire County Council following the collapse of the ruling coalition.

The Fair Deal Alliance of Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Green parties was shattered last week when Labour pulled out.

The fallout came over a damning report into the county’s troubled special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

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It saw Labour Cllr Liz Brighouse leave her role as cabinet member for children, education, and young people's services.

The council announced today (Monday, October 2) that Cllr John Howson would take over the cabinet position while Cllr Kate Gregory has been appointed to a newly created role solely focusing on SEND improvement.

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

She said SEND services was “top of our list of priorities” and that Cllr Gregory would be “focused solely on the urgent action needed” following the report.

“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," she added.

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 stepped down as cabinet member for finance and will be replaced by Cllr Dan Levy.

Tory leader Eddie Reeves wished the new cabinet "well in stabilising the council" but said it was a "shame" that Cllr Miller was stepping down.

He said: "It is a shame he decided to do so in the middle of the financial year with savings still to make and next year's budget-planning underway.

"I sincerely hope that he ask clarifies his position, so that voters and taxpayers can make an assessment of his ongoing motivations as well as his reflections on the events of last week."

Cllr Miller's decision to leave comes after he was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the new parliamentary seat of Bicester & Woodstock.

He said: "My commitment is to serving the community in which I live. I will continue to do that as a county councillor for my area, and I hope to do so as the first MP for the new seat.

"It has been an honour to serve as the county council’s cabinet member for finance for the last two and half years.

"However, I believe in fully committing to any role I hold and, given that the general election could be called at any time, I have concluded that it is right to step back from the cabinet. "