IT'S Our County (IOC) has been snubbed over senior appointments to Herefordshire Council - despite being the largest single opposition group.
IOC was defeated in challenges for vice-chairman of the council and vice-chairman of overview and scrutiny when new authority held its first full meeting today (Fri).
Tories and Independents dominated the appointments.
The council is only under a duty to ensure membership of the six committees (planning, overview and scrutiny, health and social care scrutiny, regulatory, audit & governance and employment) reflects its political composition.
With the allocation of seats approved, it becomes a matter for the relevant political group leaders to confirm who takes up the seats offered.
IOC has second highest seat allocation with 15 compared to the Tories - 37, Independents - 10, and three each for the Greens and Lib Dems.
Senior roles are selected by nomination.
At this morning's meeting, Cllr Brian Wilcox (Con) was elected unopposed as chairman of the council. Vice chair will be Cllr Peter McCaull who defeated IOC nominee Cllr Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes by 37 votes to 12.
Cllr Tony Johnson was elected unopposed as leader of the council, Cllr Patricia Morgan will be his deputy.
Chair of overview and scrutiny went to Cllr Sebastian Bowen (Ind) with 41 votes to nine abstentions.
Cllr Mark Cooper (Con) beat Cllr Liz Harvey (IOC) to the vice-chairman's job by 35 votes to 14 with abstentions.
Lib Dem Cllr Polly Andrews will chair the health and social care scrutiny committee, Cllr John Stone (Con) is vice-chair having defeated IOC proposed challenger Cllr Chris Chappell (Ind) by 31 votes to 16 with 3 abstentions.
IOC leader Cllr Anthony Powers warned against the appearance of the council "marking its own homework" over scrutiny appointments.
Cllr Phil Cutter (Con) was elected chairman of the planning committee with 40 votes, 3 against and 8 abstentions. John Hardwick (Ind) was voted in as vice-chair.
Cllr Barry Durkin (Con) is to chair audit and corporate governance with Felicity Norman (Green) as vice-chair.
IOC scored its single senior appointment with Cllr Lloyd-Hayes appointed vice chair of the regulatory committee to chairman Cllr David Greenow (Con).
Chair of the employment panel will be Cllr Johnson with Cllr Morgan vice chair is Patricia Morgan.
The new council cabinet was confirmed after this morning's meeting with key changes to the previous line up.
Cllr Morgan will share the deputy leader's role with the cabinet portfolio for health and well-being.
She replaces Cllr Graham Powell who moves to economy and corporate services.
Cllr Jonathan Lester is promoted to cabinet with the young people and children's well-being portfoio, replacing the retired Jeremy Millar.
The Cabinet appointments in full are:
Cllr Tony Johnson - Leader of the council / corporate strategy and finance
Cllr Patricia Morgan - Deputy leader of the council / health and wellbeing
Cllr Harry Bramer - Contracts and assets
Cllr Graham Powell - Economy and corporate services
Cllr Philip Price - Infrastructure
Cllr Paul Rone - Transport and roads
Cllr Jonathan Lester - Young people and children’s wellbeing
Political group sizes on the council are:
Conservative - 29
IOC - 12
Independents - 8
Liberal Democrats - 2
Green - 2
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