The Independent and Green Group at Rutland county Council see more change, while Leader and Deputy Leader of the group have joined Cllr Lucy Stephenson's 'Rainbow' Cabinet.

Cllr Rosemary Powell and Cllr Marc Oxley, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Independents and Green Group at Rutland County Council are pleased to announce they have joined the Cabinet following the decision to create an alliance of members from across the political groupings at Monday's Annual meeting of the Council.

They are also announced that Cllr Rosemary Powell has been made Deputy Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Independents and Green Group.

After 7 years as Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr Oxley has decided to step down. He has every confidence in her as their Leader.

Their only regret was that the Leader of the Lib Dem Group declined the offer of a position on Cabinet.

However, they look forward to working with all members in a constructive way in the coming months. Cabinet portfolio responsibilities will be announced shortly.

They added: "We would like to stress that we are not joining a Conservative Cabinet but will be keeping true to our Independent status; we were elected to the Council in 2019 on an Independent platform and that has not changed. Because no Group on the Council has a majority and, as the largest Group on the Council following the recent resignations of 3 members from the Conservative Group in the run up to RCC'S Annual Meeting, it fell to us to ensure that stability was maintained."

Their goal is to build bridges between the various Political Groups on the Council.

They concluded: "Being Independents means that we are politically neutral and are in the best position to achieve that."

Leader of Rutland County Council, Cllr Lucy Stephenson's 'Rainbow' Cabinet is made up of:

The Councillors sitting on the cabinet will be:

• Marc Oxley (Independent and Green Group)
• Rosemary Powell (Independent and Green Group)
• Karen Payne (Conservative)
• David Wilby (Conservative)

Find out more about the changes that took place within Rutland County Council during their Annual meeting on Monday the 9th of May here.