Warwickshire County Council's reshaped cabinet has been announced with one under-fire councillor stepping back to a support role and one dropped altogether.

Leader Cllr George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central), who also became leader of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council on Wednesday, has sole discretion over who he appoints to his top team at Shire Hall and brought forward a few unexpected changes in his first reshuffle.

Cllr Finch has lightened the load of his own role by adding the responsibility for children and families to the education portfolio that will still be overseen by Cllr Wayne Briggs (Reform UK, Arbury).

He was in no mood to field questions on that tweak, though, with Cllr Nicki Scott (Green, Warwick South) seeing her attempt to speak shut down – something Cllr Finch has discretion to do – in the public-facing decision making meeting that saw the changes announced.

Cllr Scott asked: "Are we allowed to ask any questions?"

Cllr Finch replied: "I don't think we need any questions today. We have got a really busy day ahead of us."

When Cllr Scott asked whether he was sure, Cllr Finch stated: "We didn't have questions last year."

Cllr Scott said she hadn't been at last year's meeting with Cllr Finch responding: "I was."

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Cllr Scott said: "It is about the children and families section."

At that point, Cllr Finch thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.

Cllr Finch was approached but unavailable for comment after the meeting, indicating he had existing commitments to attend to.

Reform UK then issued a statement from Cllr Finch, which read: "I would like to thank each member of my group who has served in cabinet for the past year.

"We have had an incredibly successful first year in office and I know we will continue to deliver the change people want to see.

"This reshuffle ensures that all of our best talent is deployed at the right place on the front line, working hard for residents each day to build a council that works in the service of the people who put us here."

When interviewed eight days previously, on the day the new cabinet was originally meant to be announced, Cllr Finch indicated there would be changes but also said: "There are only two ways to reshuffle – if they want to leave or if you sack them.

"At this moment in time I don't want to do either, I don't want to sack them and they don't want to leave."

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In April it was announced by Reform UK that Cllr Stephen Shaw (Polesworth) would step back as deputy leader to to "focus exclusively" on his property and finance portfolio while balancing work commitments, but his replacement as the leader's right-hand man Cllr James Crocker (Reform UK, Arden) will now take over finance and property.

Cllr Shaw remains on the cabinet, though, perhaps in the most thankless role as he replaces Cllr Jennifer Warren (Reform UK, Hartshill & Mancetter) as portfolio holder for transport and planning.

Cllr Warren has been at the centre of a number of storms, including questions over how and when she used artificial intelligence (AI) to inform her decision to raise on-street parking prices only to perform a U-turn on that decision, and more recently losing control of a decision-making meeting on plans to install traffic lights at a crossroads in Fillongley, something that a panel of councillors from all other parties represented on the county have bounced back for reconsideration. Nonetheless, she replaces Councillor Stuart Green (Reform UK, Kingsbury) as cabinet support to Cllr Shaw in his new role.

The straight swap comes in fire and rescue, community safety and flooding with Cllr Robert Gisbourne (Reform UK, Atherstone) replacing Councillor Dale Bridgewater (Reform UK, Camp Hill).

Ex-leader Cllr Rob Howard (Reform UK, Attleborough) continues in his economy post with rural development added to his title, while Cllr Mike Bannister (Reform UK, Nuneaton Abbey) sees his customer and localities role rebadged resources and internal affairs, leading the key element of local government reorganisation.

Cllr Darren Cheshire (Reform UK, Nuneaton East) continues on environment, heritage and culture and Cllr Anne-Marie Sonko (Reform UK, Earl Craven) carries on overseeing adult social care and health.