Cabinet Member For Ict, Hr And Communications Announced Is Stepping Down From His Cabinet Role

Councillor Phil Pritchard, Cabinet Member for ICT, HR and Communications has announced he is stepping down from his cabinet role. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Pritchard, who represents the Welshpool Castle ward and has been a member of the cabinet since August 2014, said he was stepping down to give the leader the flexibility to reshuffle portfolios and provide greater balance to the cabinet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the cabinet, it has been both demanding and rewarding, I feel the time is right to step down. My decision will give the leader the opportunity he needs to reshuffle portfolio responsibilities and provide a greater balance to the cabinet,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Leader, Councillor Barry Thomas thanked Councillor Pritchard for his hard work and contributions to the cabinet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“His decision to stand down and give me the opportunity to refresh the cabinet is typical of him. He has demonstrated integrity and statesman like qualities. I am grateful for his hard work and contributions to the cabinet over the past 18 months,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Thomas announced that Councillor Rosemarie Harris would join the cabinet at the end of the week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have asked Councillor Rosemarie Harris to join the cabinet. She is a highly experienced councillor and will bring additional knowledge and expertise to our meetings, as well as a better geographic and gender balance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have also decided that the cabinet will continue to operate with nine members until the end of this council’s life. The decision means we will be able to generate some savings but it will mean a change in some cabinet member responsibilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I will announce changes to the cabinet portfolios within a few days,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​