New deputy leader announced

The new deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council will be Councillor Pete Sudbury with effect from Tuesday, 26 September, it has been announced.

Cllr Sudbury will also retain his current role as the cabinet member for climate change delivery and environment.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that there will be a newly created position of cabinet member for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This and other appointments – including cabinet member for children’s services – will be announced later this week.

Until then, Councillor Liz Leffman will take responsibility for children’s services, corporate services, travel and development strategy and public health and inequalities.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It is important that we begin to quickly fill vacant cabinet positions so that we can rapidly re-focus on the issues that matter to Oxfordshire people. I look forward to working with Cllr Sudbury in his new role as deputy leader.

“Very much at the fore of our thoughts is the subject of special educational needs and disabilities following the recent Ofsted judgement.

“We need to act urgently on the matters raised in the recent Ofsted inspection. The creation of a new cabinet role focused wholly on SEND will ensure that the whole council has a constant and permanent focus on turning the situation around at pace.

“We feel strongly that we need to build trust with parents and children, communicate better with them, listen to them and deliver better outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the county. I look forward to the new arrangements coming into place and to working with colleagues to deliver the change that’s needed.”