WIGAN Council's new ruling cabinet includes a trio of new faces.

Joining the executive for the first time are Aspull councillor Chris Ready, Christine Hitchen from Douglas ward (formerly Newtown) and Terry Halliwell from Wigan West (formerly Beech Hill).

They replace Steve Parker, who stood down at the local elections, and election casualties Alan Stephenson and Lynne Liptrot.

The 10-strong executive is responsible for taking all major policy decisions and is elected by the majority group on the council, and the portfolios are allocated by council leader Lord Smith.

Several portfolios have new names reflecting changing local and national priorities.

Lifelong Learning becomes Children's Services and Social Care becomes Adult Services. The former Regulation portfolio is now known as Licensing and Lifestyle while Community Safety becomes Community Protection.

The Cabinet includes: Leader - Peter Smith, Deputy Leader and Planning and Regeneration - John O'Neill, Adult Services - Christine Hitchen, Children's Services - Brian Wilson,

Community Engagement and ALMO (housing) - Chris Ready, Community Protection - Keith Cunliffe, Culture/ Human Resources - Brian Baldwin, Environment - David Molyneux,

Licensing and Lifestyle - Terry Halliwell, Performance - Kevin Anderson.

Lord Smith said: "Although I am sorry to have lost the services of three experienced, hard-working cabinet members, the new executive will carry on the good work of ensuring that we continue to provide excellent services to the people of our borough."

Susan Loudon is the new chairman of the powerful Overview and Scrutiny committee of 'backbench' councillors which holds the executive to account and can examine council policies in depth.

The committee's two vice-chairmen are Maggie Coghlin and opposition leader Peter Franzen.

Long-standing Abram councillor Audrey Bennett has been appointed vice-chairman of the planning committee.

In another change the council is moving from a six to an eight-week cycle from September to cut down on the number of town hall meetings although the cabinet will continue to meet every two weeks.