TWO backbench councillors have received major promotions in a minor shake-up to the administration by incoming council leader Cllr Dan Yates.

Councillor Yates will give up his chairmanship of Brighton and Hove city council’s Health and Wellbeing board and instead chair the policy resources and growth committee as is traditional for the leader.

In his place, Queens Park Councillor Karen Barford, who sat on the Board as Cllr Yates’s de facto deputy, is taking up the role.

Cllr Yates said: “Karen as adult social care lead has successfully ensured that despite government grant cuts we have protected the services and outcomes for the most vulnerable adults in the city.

“As chairwoman of health and wellbeing, she will help bring together health and social care systems over the next 12 months.”

Cllr Clare Moonan will replace Cllr Barford as lead member for adult social care, in addition to her role as lead member for rough sleeping.

Councillor Nancy Platts, who was elected to the council in a by-election in January after Lloyd Russell-Moyle stepped down, has been given a major new brief focused on how best the city can use its money.

Cllr Platts will deputise for Cllr Alan Robins on the tourism development and culture committee but will also be lead member for economic development and social value.

Cllr Yates said: “This role will work to help the council’s spending power deliver as much as possible in the local economy, so that residents and businesses can benefit more from council spending.

“We want to grasp fully the social value and benefits of our many community-minded businesses and organisations in the city.”

He said Cllr Platts would work to ensure the city gets stronger economic value delivered out of council spending and pointed to the example of Preston City Council, which has been widely praised in recent years for investing in local businesses and creating worker-owned co-operatives.

These changes will come into effect after Mayor Making later this month and last until the May 2019 council elections.