A NEW Leader of Chiltern District Council was appointed in a cabinet shake-up last night.

Cllr Nick Rose was elected Leader of the council when John Warder decided not to seek re-election after holding the role for three years.

His first act was to increase the number of cabinet members from six to seven “as a reflection of the challenges the council will face in the forthcoming year”, with two new councillors joining.

Cllr Mike Stannard took on the newly-created role of member for Financial and Resource Management and Cllr Isobel Darby was appointed member for Health and Housing.

Cllr Mike Smith is now the council's Deputy Leader, taking over from Cllr Linda Smith who remains as a cabinet member.

The two other cabinet members are Noel Brown and Mimi Harker.

Cllr Rose said Cllr Warder, who will stay as a backbench councillor, had done a “tremendous amount of work” since first being elected in 1991.

Cllr Jeremy Ryman remains as council chairman for a further year, with Cllr Derek Lacey staying as deputy.