Council leader announces Windsor and Maidenhead cabinet reshuffle

The Royal Borough’s cabinet has been reshuffled ahead of the final municipal year before the local elections.

On Tuesday, the leader of the council, Andrew Johnson, announced that Cllr Gerry Clark (Con, Bisham & Cookham) had been dropped from the administration and replaced by Cllr Phil Haseler (Con, Cox Green).

Cllr Haseler will become the lead member for highways and transport, parking, and planning, with Cllr Clark focusing on ‘driving scrutiny improvement’.

Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray), who spearheaded the Borough Local Plan in the years leading up to its adoption, loses planning and will be the lead member for environmental services, parks & countryside, and Maidenhead.

As a result of the changes, Cllr Haseler will no longer chair the Maidenhead Development Management Committee, with a new chair to be elected at the next meeting.

Cllr Coppinger has since taken his place on the panel.

Cllr Johnson (Con, Hurley and the Walthams) will retain be the lead member for growth and opportunity, whilst also serving in his role as leader of the council.

Cllrs Samantha Rayner (Con, Eton & Castle) and Stuart Carroll (Con, Boyn Hill) will retain their roles as deputy leader and vice-chair of the cabinet respectively.

On social media, Cllr Johnson said: “I wanted to thank Gerry Clark who has done a tremendous job across hugely complex briefs over the last 3 years.

“Gerry is now going to focus on driving scrutiny improvement.

“Gerry will be replaced by Phil Haseler who has done a terrific job in chairing planning.”

Speaking to the Advertiser, Cllr Johnson added: "[The changes have been] driven by the fact that we've just passed the budget, and before that the Corporate Plan, thus giving refreshed portfolio holders the opportunity to take forward that corporate agenda and deliver the agreed priorities, plus start the work on next year's budget build over the coming months.

"Also, the fact that we've recently adopted the BLP gives the opportunity for Cllr Coppinger to take on new challenges and Cllr Haseler to focus on delivering improved customer service and the development of the supporting documents which sit beneath the BLP within a more integrated transport and planning role. 

The full cabinet is now as follows:

• Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of the council & cabinet member for growth & opportunity
• Cllr Samantha Rayner, deputy leader of the council & cabinet member for business, corporate & residents services, culture & heritage, & Windsor
• Cllr Stuart Carroll, vice-chair cabinet & cabinet member for adult social care, children’s services, health, mental health, & transformation
• Cllr David Cannon, cabinet member for anti-social behaviour, crime, and public protection
• Cllr David Coppinger, cabinet member for environmental services, parks & countryside & Maidenhead
• Cllr David Hilton, cabinet member for asset management & commercialisation, finance, & ascot
• Cllr Phil Haseler, cabinet member highways & transport, parking, & planning
• Cllr Ross McWilliams, cabinet member for digital connectivity, housing opportunity, & sport & leisure
• Cllr Donna Stimson, cabinet member for climate action & sustainability.