Lib Dems shake up Shropshire Council's top team

Shropshire Liberal Democrats have unveiled a shake-up of the Council’s political leadership after their first year in office, with Leader Councillor Heather Kidd saying the changes are designed to strengthen delivery, deepen cross-party working and put housing and financial recovery at the centre of the next phase of changes.

At the heart of the changes is a significant overhaul and strengthening of scrutiny, which Councillor Kidd said reflected a Liberal Democrat belief in stronger challenge, shared responsibility and more open government.

A new Housing Scrutiny Committee will replace the Housing Supervisory Board, creating a dedicated forum to scrutinise affordable housing, Cornovii, STAR Housing, developer contributions, Place Plans and the Local Plan. It will be chaired by Councillor Andy Davis (Lib Dem, St Oswald) with Councillor Rosemary Dartnall (Labour, Column and Sutton) as Vice Chair.

Transformation and Improvement Scrutiny will also be recast as Finance and Improvement Scrutiny, chaired by Councillor Chris Naylor (Lib Dem, Burnell) with Councillor Dawn Husemann (Reform, Claverley and Worfield) as Vice Chair, strengthening oversight of financial recovery, improvement work and issues such as the Council’s upcoming Asset Review and ongoing Financial Improvement programme.

Other scrutiny proposals have also been confirmed, with Councillor Ed Potter (Conservative, Loton) continuing as Chair of Economy and Environment Scrutiny, alongside the Chair of Chairs role overseeing scrutiny. Councillor Mandy Duncan (Reform, Sundorne) will be chairing People Scrutiny in a first for the party, and Councillor Bernie Bentick (Lib Dem, Meole) will be leaving Cabinet to chair Health Scrutiny.

The new arrangements also deliver full political proportionality across scrutiny, including opposition leadership roles for Reform on both People Scrutiny and Audit.

Alongside this, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet is being refreshed.

Councillor Sarah Marston (Lib Dem, The Meres) joins Cabinet as a new face in a newly created Communities and Environment portfolio, covering libraries, sport and leisure, youth services, environmental services and partnership working.

Several senior Cabinet portfolios held by Councillors Roger Evans (Lib Dem, Longden), David Vasmer (Lib Dem, Underdale), Rob Wilson (Lib Dem, Copthorne), James Owen (Lib Dem, Oswestry North East) are being changed or slimmed down to allow greater focus on core priorities.

Changes have also been made to Cllr Ruth Houghton (Lib Dem, Bishop’s Castle) who will be taking on Heatlh alongside her Adult Social Care Role. The Children’s Services part of the role will be taken on as part of the Education brief by Cllr Andy Hall (Lib Dem, Whitchurch North).

Cllr David Walker (Lib Dem, Whittington) remains unchanged in his Planning portfolio.

Deputy Leader Alex Wagner (Lib Dem, Quarry) will take on a new role leading on the push for savings, transformation and economic strategy, bringing together financial improvement, corporate services and economic growth in a single portfolio.

Leader of the Council Heather Kidd said:

“These changes are about building a stronger leadership team for the next phase.

“We have worked hard to stabilise the Council. Now we need structures that help us improve it.

“That means stronger housing scrutiny, much sharper financial oversight, more focused Cabinet portfolios and genuine political proportionality in how scrutiny works.

“As Liberal Democrats, we believe power should be challenged, not hoarded. Good councils are open, collaborative and prepared to reform themselves – and that is what these changes represent.”

Deputy Leader Alex Wagner added:

“We’ve made real progress in getting a firmer grip on the Council’s finances, but nobody is pretending we are out of the woods yet.

“This next phase is about turning stabilisation into lasting improvement. It will take a huge collective effort to make the Council financially sustainable, and to stay tough and disciplined in the decisions we take.

“These changes help align political leadership with that crucial task – strengthening the focus on financial improvement, change and growth, while delivering the change people voted for.”

Shropshire Liberal Democrats said the changes begin to mark a shift from crisis management towards rebuilding the Council’s ability to deliver for residents, rooted in Liberal Democrat values of accountability, reform and local leadership. These changes will take effect at the Annual Meeting of Shropshire Council on 14th May 2026.