Liberal Democrats elect Leader and Shadow Cabinet

1.07.18pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th May 2005

Cllr Dermot Roaf has been re-elected as the Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Oxfordshire County Council. Cllr Zoé Patrick was elected as the Deputy Group Leader.

The Liberal Democrat Group will now form the Opposition on Oxfordshire County Council and Dermot and Zoé will therefore be Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition respectively.

The Liberal Democrats have also elected their Shadow Cabinet for Oxfordshire. Dermot said, "We have a wealth of experience between us, and we are all keen to get on with the job."

Zoé said, "Liberal Democrats will be taking their role as the official opposition seriously and will be making sure we hold the executive to account on the issues that affect people in Oxfordshire."

The Shadow Cabinet consists of:

Cllr Dermot Roaf, Leader of the Opposition

Dermot has been Liberal Democrat Group Leader from March 2004 (and was previously Group Leader from 1995 to 2000). He has represented Oxford North (and now Summertown & Wolvercote) on the Council since 1981. He has been the Council's representative on various national and regional bodies for many years.

dermot.roaf@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 815285 (County Hall) 01865 559467 (home) 01865 815323 (messages)

Cllr Zoé Patrick, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Policy Co-ordination

Zoé was elected to the County Council for Grove (now Grove & Wantage) in 2001 and also served on the Vale of White Horse District Council for 6 years, where she was Deputy Leader of Council. On both councils she gained experience in a wide range of roles, including planning, health and personnel matters.

zoe.patrick@oxfordshire.gov.uk 07909 997094

Cllr Alan Bryden, Change Management

Alan was elected to the County Council for Abingdon North in 2001, and is also a member of Abingdon Town Council. On the County Council he has recently concentrated on education matters and Best Value & Audit.

alan.bryden@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01235 524081 (home)

Cllr Jean Fooks, Children

Jean was elected to represent Oxford Cherwell on the County Council in 2001 and now represents Summertown & Wolvercote. She has also been an Oxford City Councillor since 1992. She has a strong interest in environmental matters, particularly air quality, but has also recently been Chair of the County's Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committees.

jean.fooks@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 310351 (home) 07967 788065 (mobile)

Cllr Harry Wyatt, Community Safety

Harry has represented Eynsham on the County Council since 1993. He has also served 13 years as a councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council and before that worked for 27 years as a council officer. Harry has represented the Liberal Democrat Group on Community Safety and Fire issues for much of this time.

harry.wyatt@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 880181 (home)

Cllr Jim Moley, Finance

Jim was elected to the County Council for Wantage (now Grove & Wantage) in 1997 and was for two years the group's spokesperson on Learning & Culture. Jim has also been a Vale of White Horse District councillor since 1991, including serving on their Executive. He has an economics background.

jim.moley@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01235 763301 (home)

Cllr Janet Godden, Health & Community Services

Janet was on the previous Executive with the portfolio for Children & Young People, and since December has been chair of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust. She also chaired the Oxfordshire Learning Disability Partnership for four years. She was first elected in 1993 for the Hinksey division (now North Hinksey and Wytham).

janet.godden@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 862095 (home) 07989 554061 (mobile)

Cllr David Turner, Schools Improvement

David has been the County Councillor for Chalgrove for 16 years and has served on most of the County's committees in that time. David is also Leader of the Opposition on South Oxfordshire District Council.

david.turner@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 891169 (home) 07770 682182 (mobile)

Cllr Anne Purse, Sustainable Development

Anne was on the previous executive with the Sustainable Development portfolio. She has represented Wheatley on the County Council since 1993, and is a long-standing environmental campaigner. She is also a South Oxfordshire District Councillor.

anne.purse@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 351404 (home) 07787 885717 (mobile)

Cllr Bob Johnston, Transport

Bob has spent 23 years in local government, serving on the County, Vale of White Horse District and Radley Parish Council. He was Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council for three years from 1997 to 2000.

bob.johnston@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 730209 (home)

For more information please contact:

Cllrs Dermot Roaf or Zoé Patrick - numbers as above or 01865 815323