South Gloucestershire Council have appointed both a new deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young people.

The news comes following the announcement that Councillor Jon Hunt would be stepping down from the Council after his successful 14-month battle with cancer.

Councillor Ben Stokes, will be appointed Deputy Leader, a role in which he will serve alongside his current portfolio as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

Through the deputy leader role, Councillor Stokes would take on the responsibility for the Council’s ongoing community support work, a portfolio that was established following the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure the Council was able to help organise and assist the growing number of voluntary groups that have formed to support vulnerable people in the community during the crisis.

Taking over the Children and Young People portfolio will be Councillor Sam Bromiley.

Welcoming their appointment, Councillors Ben Stokes and Sam Bromiley said: “We are delighted to be taking on these roles that will enable us to have a truly positive impact for people across South Gloucestershire, including some of our most vulnerable. As with the rest of the country, South Gloucestershire currently faces significant challenges and we are prepared to do what we can with this added responsibility to help.

“Jon has been an exceptional role model within the Council and we want to thank him for all he has done. He is leaving big shoes to fill, having played such a major role in how local Conservatives have improved the way of life for so many South Gloucestershire residents.”

Councillor Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Ben and Sam in this new capacity and am keen to see them bring a new energy to the Cabinet. They have demonstrated time and time again their commitment to making South Gloucestershire a great place to live and work.”

Cllr Jon Hunt, outgoing Deputy Leader of South Gloucestershire Council and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The past nine years serving my community as a local councillor have been a privilege and I am proud with what I have been able to accomplish in that time. I am pleased that I have two really committed and capable successors in Sam and Ben and wish them the best of luck in their new roles.”

Both Councillors will assume the new roles on Friday, August 14.