TWO county councillor representing Fenland communities have been appointed to top jobs within the new Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet. The council s ruling Conservative Group recently selected a new leader - Councillor Shona Johnstone - and she has

TWO county councillor representing Fenland communities have been appointed to top jobs within the new Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet.

The council's ruling Conservative Group recently selected a new leader - Councillor Shona Johnstone - and she has now announced the line up of her top team which will lead and oversee the work of the council.

Councillor Jill Tuck, who represents Waldersey, has been given Cabinet responsibility for Children and Young People's Services, a portfolio with a budget of £84 million. The office provides services and support to thousands of young people around Cambridgeshire, including school support services, special education provision, fostering and adoption services.

Councillor Alan Melton, who represents Chatteris, takes on the role of Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, responsible for the financial control of the overall county council budget of more than £550 million including schools, and all the county council's 'back-office' systems including finance, the development of shared business services, a £600 million property portfolio, legal services and HR.

Cllr Johnstone, said: "Both Jill Tuck and Alan Melton are very accomplished and experienced councillors and I am delighted that they have agreed to take on these extremely important roles in my new Cabinet.

"They will have always worked extremely hard for the community of Cambridgeshire and will bring a high level of expertise to the leadership of the council in every area.

"I believe the Cabinet team I have selected has the individual drive and collective expertise to ensure the services provided by the County Council will continue to be of a high quality and cost effective and an our ambitious program to achieve sustained and continuous improvement will be achieved."

Another Fenland Councillor, Martin Curtis (Whittlesey North) who was elected to the council in 2005, has been elevated from the back benches to take on his first Cabinet role, leading the work of Universal Services, responsible for Lifelong Learning including early years services, Libraries and Heritage, Youth Services and Registration Service.

Fellow Fenlander, Councillor Fred Yeulett (March East) will also take on a new Cabinet job, moving from his current portfolio as Cabinet Member for Community Learning and Development and Adult Social Care, to take on the Enhanced Services portfolio, responsible for the 50 plus agenda including Adult Social Care, pooled services with the PCT and Children's Social Care and Inclusion.

The full Cabinet line-up is (responsibilities in brackets):

* Shona Johnstone (Leader of the Council and Cabinet chair)

* Alan Melton (Corporate Services)

* Jill Tuck (Children and Young People's Services)

* Roy Pegram (Environment and Community Services and Deputy Council Leader)

* Martin Curtis (Universal Services)

* David Harty (Service Infrastructure)

* Victor Lucas (Communities)

* Fred Yeulett (Enhanced Services)

* Mac McGuire (Highways and Transport)

* John Reynolds (Planning and Regional Matters)