FOUR councillors representing Salisbury and south Wiltshire have been given senior responsibilities in Wiltshire Council.

Pauline Church (Wilton and Lower Wylye Valley) is portfolio holder for Children’s Safeguarding, Atiqul Hoque (St Edmund and Milford) is portfolio holder for Streetscene, Darren Henry (Till and Wylye Valley) is portfolio holder for Libraries, Campuses and Hubs and John Smale (Bulford, Allington and Figheldean) is portfolio holder for Housing Stock.

The new appointments come after two councillors from the south of the county were named in leader Jane Scott’s cabinet – Richard Clewer and Bridget Wayman.

In total there are nine cabinet members, including the leader, and 16 portfolio holders.

Councillor Hoque said: “I was delighted to be appointed, I think it’s an achievement for the people of Salisbury, especially those who re-elected me.

“My aspiration is to put Salisbury in the picture because I love Salisbury.”

He added: “Streetscene covers everything that you see on the street from street cleaning, street signs, pavements and gutters. It’s early days, I have to speak to a lot of officers, the cabinet member and get information on the budgets. I have some ideas and will also look to residents and others to advise me.”

Councillor Smale said he was “thrilled”. “I spent two years on the district council and ten years on the county council, it’s very nice to be selected.

“I hope to follow on from my predecessor and do the best I can for everybody concerned.

“The officers are brilliant, I will take advice from them and see what happens.”

And councillor Darren Henry said: “I am delighted to take up this key role in the council, and I cannot wait to start working for people all over Wiltshire.

“I am looking forward to meeting staff to discuss the challenges ahead and ensuring we work together so local people can continue to enjoy our libraries, campuses and hubs which are a real focal point for all communities.”

Cllr Church said: “I’m honoured to work closely with our amazing children’s services team and to have the opportunity to help keep out children safe from harm.

“Children’s safeguarding is a difficult and complex subject and I’m proud to be part of this hard-working, resilient team.”