Camden News: cabinet reshuffle, Ralph Scott

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Camden News - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 24 April 2008

Moving up: Ralph Scott

New face takes over top finance job in reshuffle

LIBERAL Democrats insist there has been no bad blood during a cabinet reshuffle which has seen a rookie councillor claim the key job of treasurer.
Kentish Town councillor Ralph Scott, 29, who has been at the Town Hall for only 18 months, will take over the crucial role of finance chief, placing him at the forefront of critical budget decisions.
He replaces Councillor Janet Grauberg, who made a “special request” to take over the children’s portfolio and tackle the debate over Camden’s first city academy.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said: “I have been impressed with Ralph’s commitment since he came on the council. He is very challenging and takes an interest in a wide number of issues.
“Janet was itching to take on this challenge. She will be working on the new school project, one of two major issues the council is facing.”
The jobs merry-go-round sees Cllr Grauberg take over the children’s job from John Bryant, the councillor at the centre of a row over a leaked memo in which he suggested a new school needed to be built in time to help win support for the next council election. He is hotly tipped to replace Councillor David Abrahams as chairman of the health scrutiny committee. Both men have said they have been forced to put work commitments first.
The changes, agreed at the Lib Dems’ annual meeting on Monday night, will see Kilburn councillor James King replace Councillor Ben Rawlings as community safety chief. He will also be asked to provide support to housing boss Councillor Chris Naylor, who has had to face down criticism over home sales, tenant participation and the possible privatisation of the caretaker service.
Cllr Moffitt said: “It wasn’t a case of Chris coming to me and saying ‘I need support’ – it was more the other way round. We saw him struggling manfully and decided he could have some help.”
He added that Cllr Rawlings, who has tried to champion civil liberties, had not taken any criticism personally. “He has pretty broad shoulders in more ways than one, and has done a great job,” said Cllr Moffitt. “We can expect more of the same from James.”
Deputy leader Councillor Flick Rea – the longest serving Lib Dem on the council – is standing down, to be replaced by Cllr Grauberg.
The changed line-up will ratified at a full council meeting on May 14.

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