SWINDON’S controlling party has a new line-up in the wake of its loss of cabinet members.

Conservative Fionuala Foley (Old Town and Lawn) resigned from the cabinet while Peter Mallinson, who represented Walcot, was defeated in the election.

Now Coun Dale Heenan (Covingham and Nythe) has also been shifted out of the inner circle, after just one year in the council’s cabinet.

In their place come Coun Russell Holland (St Margaret), as well as past cabinet members Coun Colin Lovell (Moredon) and Coun Nick Martin (Shaw and Nine Elms).

Asked about the apparent demotion, Coun Heenan, who is going back to heading the council’s planning committee, said: “With my cabinet work being completed my skills are better suited to any planning problems in the town.

“I’ve always seen planning as the coalface in the council.

“You make a decision and within a matter of months you see the results.

“Because of the importance of planning and regeneration it’s always had a key role in the town.

“In the cabinet I’ve helped out with library strategy and One Swindon.

“With that now being sorted, I’m moving back into planning.”

Meanwhile Mr Mallinson’s Adult Services portfolio is being taken over by Coun Brian Mattock (Old Town and Lawn), who is also in charge of housing.

Adult social care is seen as the toughest task on the council because it has the biggest budget, almost always overspends, and involves making unpopular decisions about spending on very frail people.

Asked it was “the kiss of death” for political careers, Mr Mallinson said: “Some people would say that. I wouldn’t.”

He said: “Put it this way, it’s the biggest budget on the council. You’re dealing with a lot of elderly, vulnerable and sick people.

“You’re dealing with human beings. Its not like potholes in the road or emptying wheelie bins.

“Because of the size of the budget even small variations are a lot of money.

“Sometimes people don’t like change and if you’ve got to make changes, you have to be aware people won’t necessarily like what you’re doing.

“You just have to harden your heart to it and do it.

“You can’t make decisions from the heart all the time; you’re dealing with a finite amount of money.

“I didn’t enjoy a lot of the things I had to do.”

But he said Coun Mattock was a “rock solid guy”, and wished him “all the luck in the world”.

The new cabinet members will be formally confirmed in post at the annual council meeting on Friday.

The new line-up
* Rod Bluh: leader
* Garry Perkins: deputy leader, economic regeneration and culture
* Mark Edwards: finance
* Peter Greenhalgh: sustainability, strategic planning, transport and now also “council transformation”
* Russell Holland: communities, rural affairs and “One Swindon partnerships”
* Colin Lovell: customer services and “a safer and stronger borough”
* Nick Martin: Streetscene and parks
* Brian Mattock: health, housing, adult social care
* David Renard: children’s services
* Keith Williams: leisure and corporate services