Skip to content

Leader and Cabinet Members confirmed at annual Vale of White Horse District Council meeting

Councillor Bethia Thomas has been confirmed as the Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council.

Cllr Thomas – who became leader last December after previous leader Cllr Emily Smith stepped down – was officially confirmed as leader again at Wednesday’s (May 17) full council meeting following the results of the local elections in May.

In a sign of its importance to the administration, Cllr Thomas will also hold the portfolio for Climate Action and the Environment.

Councillor Neil Fawcett was confirmed as Deputy Leader and will hold the portfolio for Strategic Partnerships and Place.

The full council meeting also saw the rest of the cabinet confirmed:

  • Andy Crawford, Finance and Property
  • Andy Foulsham, Planning and Development Management
  • Debby Hallett, Corporate Services, Governance, Policy and Transformation
  • Debra Dewhurst, Leisure Centres and Community Buildings
  • Helen Pighills, Community Health and Wellbeing
  • Mark Coleman, Environmental Services and Waste
  • Sue Caul, Affordable Housing, Development & Infrastructure

Also confirmed was Cllr Sally Povolotsky as Chair of the Council for the year, taking over from Cllr Margaret Crick.

Cllr Crick has been raising money for the past year for her two chosen charities:

  • Practical Action – an international charity that helps people find solutions to the world’s toughest problems
  • BBOWT – A voluntary organisation concerned with all aspects of nature conservation in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Cllr Povolotsky will create a chair’s charitable fund that will raise cash for local causes.

Cllr Thomas said: “I’d like to thank our returning cabinet members and welcome our new cabinet members.

“The work now begins repaying the faith put in us by the electorate and we are committed to delivering our priorities. Taking climate action affects all we do as a council. We will continue to drive towards making the district carbon neutral by 2030.

Cllr Fawcett added: “We recognise the impact the cost of living crisis is having on residents and businesses across the district. We will continue to provide as much support as we can through grants and other funding, and highlighting other sources of help locally and nationally.”

You can find more details about the cabinet members on our cabinet webpage.

You can also see all the results from the May elections on our Elections webpage.