Cllr Keith Wood was elected to the Cabinet at Winchester City Council's Full Council meeting this week (Wednesday 1 November).

Cllr Wood, member for Sparsholt and Crawley is recently retired from a banking career with the Bank of England, International Monetary Fund, and Kuwait Investment Office, and brings with him a wide experience of administration.

Leader of the Council, Cllr George Beckett said, "I am delighted to have a member of such wide experience in the Cabinet. Keith will be taking on the planning and transport portfolio, where his knowledge and experience of administration will be useful in tackling the challenges ahead."

Cllr Keith Wood said, "Planning and transport are very important topics to the people of the Winchester District. I know that there is a lot of strong feeling about the planning service at the moment and I want to work hard to use the excellent staff resources we have to provide a first class service to the people of the district.

"This is not an easy portfolio and when he took over in May, Barry Lipscombe inherited many long running problems.  Barry made a good start in resolving some of these and I plan to build on the progress he has made. I am sure I will have the Officers support in this area and the help of my fellow Councillors.

"There are a lot of big issues coming up, Silver Hill, Winchester Access Plan, and the new Local Area Development Framework, all of which will greatly influence the District's future. I want to continue to consult as widely as possible on these so that everyone who wants to can have their say."

Cllr Wood replaces Cllr Barry Lipscomb who resigned from the Cabinet in October