SWINDON Council's cabinet has shrunk in the latest reshuffle with its leader promising a new "green" manifesto.

Conservative group leader Roderick Bluh foreshadowed the changes ahead of the council meeting on Friday expected to ratify his appointment as council leader.

The cabinet will go from 10 to nine people following the revamp.

Coun Bluh (Cons, Dorcan) will take over the responsibilities of leader, including cabinet overview, external relations and emergency planning from outgoing leader Mike Bawden.

Coun Bluh will also take with him his current responsibility for economic development and regeneration.

The new-look cabinet includes three fresh faces Peter Greenhalgh (Con, Freshbrook and Grange), Steve Wakefield (Con, Toothill and Westlea) and former Labour councillor turned Tory, David Wren (Con, Moredon).

Out of the cabinet are present leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn), who leaves to become mayor; Coun Ian Dobie (Con, Haydon Wick) who Coun Bluh said has taken up a full-time job; Coun Andrew Bennett (Con, Ridgeway) who will move to be chairman of planning; and former councillor Jemima Milton, who lost her endorsement in Chiseldon and Wroughton and went on to be defeated by sitting councillor Kevin Small in the Western ward at the May 4 poll.

Coun Milton's former post of local environment and transport has been split, with transport going to Coun Greenhalgh's highways, transport and strategic planning portfolio.

Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Old Town and Lawn) is expected to keep her responsibilities for corporate affairs and become deputy leader of the council.

Coun Greenhalgh gets the expanded highways, transport and strategic planning post, Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) retains his unchanged resources role while Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) keeps children's services.

He will share youth responsibilities with Coun Wakefield (Con, Toothill and Westlea), who becomes cabinet member for community and neighbourhoods.

Coun David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) keeps health and housing and adds social care to his cabinet responsibilities, while Coun Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) stays with leisure, culture and recreation.

Coun Wren (Con, Moredon) becomes cabinet member for local environment.

Coun Bluh said the council was pushing a green agenda this year.

He said the council wanted to include green considerations in all of its decisions, something shown by the decision to make environmental issues top of Coun Wren's list of responsibilities.

"The big part is the environment," Coun Bluh said.

"There are big green issues.

"We are trying to get the maximum green accountability we can for the borough."

He said the council would release its green manifesto later this year.

The Conservatives hold 40 wards in the 59-seat chamber.

Labour holds 14 seats, Liberal Democrats three and the independents two.

Opposition leader Kevin Small was returned as Labour group head after the May 4 election.