A NEW ruling group is lining up ready to take over the running of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Cllr Samantha Dixon, council leader-elect, has unveiled her team to lead the council for the next four years now control has passed from Conservative control to Labour.

The new nine-strong cabinet will replace the former eight-strong executive and is drawn from across the borough, with two members from Winsford and one from Northwich.

Cllr Dixon, who has led the Labour group since July 2014, has appointed Cllr Louise Gittins, from the Little Neston and Burton ward, as the deputy leader and the member who will be responsible for health and wellbeing.

Former teacher Cllr David Armstrong, from Winsford, Swanlow and Dene, will be responsible for the finance and legal portfolio.

He has been the party's education spokesman for the past two years.

Winsford Wharton councillor Brian Clarke, steering committee chairman for Winsford Neighbourhood Plan and former chairman of planning for Vale Royal Borough Council, will be in charge of economic development and infrastructure.

Cllr Paul Dolan, from Northwich's Winnington and Castle ward, will lead on adult social care.

He works for the NHS supporting clinical commissioning, is also a former chairman of social services on Trafford Council and that authority's executive member for health and wellbeing.

Sutton councillor Nicole Meardon will take on the children and young people portfolio.

Ellesmere Port councillor Mark Henesey will hold the environment and communities portfolio, fellow Ellesmere Port councillor Angela Claydon, will be in charge of housing and Cllr Paul Donovan will take on a new portfolio of democracy and workforce.

Cllr Donovan is also the chairman of Brio, the councils's leisure Community Interest Company (CIC).

The Labour party won 38 of the 75 council seats, two more than the Conservative party.

The new cabinet will take over at the council's annual meeting on May 21.