A Colliers Wood councillor joins the new cabinet for the Labour run Merton Council a year after her election to the ward.

Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah joins the cabinet with responsibility for adult social care and health in a re-shuffle announced on Wednesday, June 4, following the local elections last month.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis will remain leader of the council and will work with eight cabinet members to focus on local issues that affect residents.

Deputy leader Councillor Mark Allison remains responsible for finance, Maxi Martin for children’s services and Martin Whelton for education.

Councillor Nick Draper remains cabinet member for community and culture and Andrew Judge for environmental sustainability and regeneration.

Judy Saunders has environment, cleanliness and parking, with Edith Macauley taking on community safety.

Coun Cooper-Marbiah said: "I will be ensuring that the council continues to look after older and disabled people who need help and that we fight to keep all our local hospitals open."

The new chairs of council committees were also agreed at the meeting on Wednesday, June 4.

Councillor Linda Kirby takes over in the key role of chair of what a council spokesperson calls the ‘powerful’ planning applications committee to which a number of newly elected councillors have also been appointed.

Coun Kirby said: "I want to make the planning process more responsive to the needs of local people, and I’m delighted so many new councillors are keen to get involved in our new approach of putting residents first."

Council leader Stephen Alambritis said: "I am looking forward to continuing our work on behalf of our residents and to delivering great services over the next four years that will ensure we look after the vulnerable, keep our streets clean, our libraries thriving and our schools great places to learn."

The meeting saw more than 20 new councillors officially sworn in at the Civic Offices in Morden.