ONE of Southend's highest-profile councillors has been sensationally axed from the cabinet by new leader Nigel Holdcroft.

Ann Holland, who has served for the past seven years and has recently been in charge of culture, sport and waste disposal, has been dumped to make room for former leader Anna Waite.

In a major shake-up of portfolios and members, the leader has also brought in a new face, in Mark Flewitt, to take over the adult social care portfolio, which Mr Holdcroft ran for the past year.

Mrs Holland said she was disapointed by the decision and would miss the work she had recently been involved in.

She said: "I know if Murray Foster had not been defeated at the election, I would still have been a member of the cabinet.

"However, the appointment of the new cabinet is the choice of the leader and it is his decision.

"I wish the new cabinet and Nigel well and I will continue to work with the Conservative team on the council."

Mrs Waite will take on one of the biggest jobs in the cabinet, a year after she was defeated in Prittlewell ward.

She takes on the new portfolio of transport and planning, which Mr Holdcroft said was one of his main priorities.

Mrs Waite said: "It's going to be a tough job, but I have previously held the planning portfolio and I have been on the planning committee, so I hope it's something I can get my teeth into this year."

The issue of waste disposal will form part of a new public protection and waste portfolio, which has been given to Ian Robertson, who had been in charge of the now defunct safer, greener Southend.

Mr Robertson said: "There is a massive amount to be done and a lot of hard work. One thing I can say now is that we will not be going to fortnightly collections of household waste.

"That is the key issue and the rest will involve a lot of work for the future, particularly with the issues of waste disposal and recycling."

Mr Holdcroft said: "I believe we have a very strong team in place which can drive Southend forward for the future."

The full cabinet line-up:

Leader: Nigel Holdcroft (Con, West Leigh)

Deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, tourism and enterprise: John Lamb (Con, West Leigh)Cabinet member for support services: Brian Kelly (Con, Southchurch)Cabinet member for adult social services: Mark Flewitt (Con, St Laurence)Cabinet member for culture: David Garston (Con, Southchurch)Cabinet member for waste and public protection: Ian Robertson (Con, Chalkwell)Cabinet member for planning and transportation: Anna Waite (Con, St Luke's)Cabinet member for children's services: Sally Carr (Con, Thorpe)