NEWLY-elected Clent Hills councillor Karen May has been handed a key role in Worcestershire County Council's restructured cabinet. 

Conservative cllr May has been appointed as the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Transformation and Commissioning. 

She takes over from cllr Andy Roberts, who is now Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families.

Cllr May said: "I am very grateful for the opportunity.

"I hope I can make a positive contribution to the ongoing success of Worcestershire County Council. I just want to do the best job possible."  

Her appointment was made in a restructuring of the cabinet announced by cllr Simon Geraghty on Thursday (May 25), following his re-election as leader.

The Tory councillor for Worcester Riverside said: "In selecting my new cabinet I was keen to have a team that combines experience with some fresh ideas.

"I believe this team does exactly that and I am looking forward to working with them to deliver our ambitions for the county and ensure that we provide good value for money services."

Cllr May has only just joined county council after a hotly-fought battle to regain the Clent Hills ward for the Tories in the May 5 local elections. 

The seat was lost to Independent Rachel Jenkins in 2013, but regained after Cllr May pipped her nearest rival Independent Steve Colella by 1574 votes to 1426 last month.

She is also deputy leader of Bromsgrove District Council and her new role is in line with her district role as Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, the Town Centre and Strategic Partnerships.

Elsewhere, Adrian Hardman has been named deputy leader, with the Conservative cllr for Bredon also taking on the responsibility for Adult Services.

The new chairman of Worcestershire County Council is to be Anne Hingley, cllr for St Barnabas in Kidderminster.

Cllr Brandon Clayton, the member for Redditch North is also to be the new vice chairman.

Other positions see Chaddesley cllr Marcus Hart named as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Skills; Evesham North West cllr John Smith named Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well Being; Malvern Chanse cllr Lucy Hodgson chosen as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities; Bowbrook cllr Tony Miller as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment; Tenbury cllr Ken Pollock as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure; and Bedwardine cllr Alan Amos as the new Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways.  

Leader of the council cllr Geraghty says his new team has a "vision" to shape the county's future.

He added: "We are making progress on the challenges we face but there is a lot to do and I am determined to deliver the ambitions that we have set out in our vision for the county, 'Shaping Worcestershire's Future'."