The new cabinet at South Cambridgeshire District Council has been appointed, and includes two district councillors from our villages.

New district leader councillor Bridget Smith’s cabinet was officially announced at the council’s annual meeting on Wednesday, after the Liberal Democrats won 30 of the 45 seats up for grabs in the local elections earlier this month.

As well as being leader, Mrs Smith – who lived in Sierra Leone as a child and whose eldest son is actor Jeremy Irvine – will be lead member for economic development.

She has also taken up a place on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority board.

Away from politics, she specialises in environmentally sustainable community buildings and enjoys long distance walking – usually over 25 miles.

The deputy leader has been confirmed as Barrington district councillor Aidan Van de Weyer.

Mr Van de Weyer, who has two children, has a doctorate in French political history and now works as a small business consultant. He will be the council’s lead member for strategic planning and transport and will also represent the authority on the Greater Cambridge Partnership board. Away from politics, he enjoys cookery, travel and languages.

Councillor John Williams, who represents Fen Ditton and Fulbourn, takes up the post as cabinet member for finance. Mr Williams was previously part of the management team at Stansted Airport. He lists reading, gardening and art among his hobbies

The environmental services and licensing cabinet position has been taken on by Cottenham councillor Neil Gough.

He has worked for BP and Vodafone in finance and strategy roles, and lived and worked in the USA, Hong Kong, India and South Africa. Mr Gough, whose wife Alice grew up in Harston, will now be responsible for waste and recycling services across South Cambridgeshire.

He also lectures at the Judge Business School on the Technology Policy programme.

Milton and Waterbeach member councillor Hazel Smith takes the lead as cabinet member for housing. One of the first women to attend King’s College, she has been a trustee of the homelessness charity Emmaus for the last 14 years.

Away from council, along with her husband she has a keen interest in folk music and plays in a local ceilidh band.

The planning portfolio is now held by Caldecote councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins. Dr Hawkins, who is originally from Nigeria, had a successful career in telecommunications before becoming involved in property and eCommerce. Councillor Hawkins, a chartered engineer with a PhD, is a mum of two and has lived in Caldecote for more than 20 years.

The cabinet is completed by Melbourn Councillor Philippa Hart, who takes on the portfolio of customer service and business improvement. Councillor Hart, who runs her family’s farm and the village allotments in Meldreth, will also be the lead member for services that the district council shares with its neighbouring authorities. She is a former lawyer, has two dogs and four children and enjoys music festivals, cycling and running.