THE first cabinet to lead Lancashire County Council has been confirmed at a meeting of the full County Council at County Hall, Preston.

The appointments to the Cabinet herald a new era at Lancashire County Council, where team work and focus on citizens and communities will be at the forefront.

Leading the 10-strong team is Coun Hazel Harding, a Rossendale councillor, whose deputy will be Accrington representative Doreen Pollitt.

Coun Harding said: "There are a great many challenges ahead for the county council.

"I am confident this new team will meet the high expectations of the people of Lancashire.

"We provide important services to more than 1.1 million Lancashire people, so it is vital we deliver the best possible value to our residents.

"Our new structure has been designed to be open to public scrutiny and be more efficient when making important decisions."

The new structure will replace the existing committee system and falls in line with government legislation.

Eight councillors will have specific portfolios.

There will also be four scrutiny committees, which will monitor decisions taken by the all-Labour cabinet, and four best value committees, which will look at how services can be improved.

The Lancashire Fire Authority, police authority and planning committee remain unchanged.