Executive appointments for 2021/22 at West Berkshire Council

West Berkshire

05/05/2021

The Executive line up for the year ahead was confirmed at West Berkshire Council’s Annual Council Meeting yesterday.

Nine councillors will sit on the Executive, the main decision-making body of the Council. The Executive takes key decisions – those that affect two or more wards or where decisions will have a significant impact on the Council’s budget. Each councillor has responsibility for a specific areas of responsibility (or portfolio) such as adult social care, environment and waste, and health and wellbeing. The portfolio areas and Executive Members are set out below.

Leader of Council and District Strategy and Communications
Lynne Doherty

Deputy Leader of Council and Health and Wellbeing
Graham Bridgman

Adult Social Care
Jo Stewart

Children, Young People and Education
Dominic Boeck

Planning, Transport and Countryside
Richard Somner


Environment and Waste

Steve Ardagh-Walter


Finance and Economic Development

Ross Mackinnon


Housing, Strategic Partnerships and Transformation

Hilary Cole


Internal Governance, Leisure and Culture

Howard Woollaston

Councillor Lynne Doherty, who remains as Council Leader, said: “I’m looking forward to working with the Executive over the coming year to deliver the Council Strategy and ensure the Council continues to perform well. The councillors appointed to the Executive have a wealth of experience from both the public and private sector, and were all on the Executive last year which brings with it stability as we respond to the pandemic. We’re committed to delivering the strategy and setting the foundations for the district’s recovery from Covid-19 to ensure the district remains a great place to live, work and learn.”

The Executive meets in public usually every six weeks in the Council Chamber, Market Street, Newbury RG14 5LD (Covid-permitting). Although the majority of decisions are made in public, some items may need to be discussed in private (these are known as Part II Exempt Items or confidential items). At meetings Executive Members also answer questions submitted by members of the public.