BUCKINGHAMSHIRE has a new education boss.

Steven Adams has taken over from Marion Clayton as cabinet member for achievement, learning and skills at Buckinghamshire County Council.

Cllr Clayton said she had chosen to step down after nine years in post after discussions with Conservative council leader David Shakespeare.

A new social services boss was also appointed. It came as an opposition councillor questioned the continued use of cabinet-style council.

Cllr Clayton said: “It was longer than I was expecting to be in post.

“I had discussions with David Shakespeare. I have not been thrown out, it was a mutual agreement.”

Cllr Clayton said: “I have loved absolutely every second of it, it is the most exciting job in the entire council but it is perhaps time for somebody who is more politically astute to take over.”

The county has ‘the best children’s services in the entire county’ she said.

Cllr Adams, who represents Amersham, was previously Cllr Clayton’s spokesman.

Cllr Adams told members today that Cllr Clayton had ‘handed over what is probably the best education system in the country’.

He said he was mindful about immediate reforms pledged by the new Government to allow more schools to become academies, which have more independence.

Cllr Adams said: “We are going to see a wave of change coming into our schools system.”

He hit headlines last year when he was pushed on the doorstep by an angry voter while out campaigning in an election of all seats on BCC. He lost but took Amersham in a by-election shortly after.

Cllr Patricia Birchley also replaces Cllr Mike Colston as cabinet member for adults and families, the brief responsible for adult social care, the council’s biggest spend.

Cllr Colston said he told Cllr Shakespeare on his appointment in 2004 that he would serve five years but stayed on one more year when asked.

Cllr Birchley had been trained during the last two years, he said.

Cllr Colston, 71, said: “It is healthy for an organisation to have a turnover of people and ideas. It brings in ideas, new blood and energy.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Chester Jones asked Cllr Shakespeare whether he had considered changing how the council makes decisions.

Under Labour, most councils changed from making decisions via committees of most councillors to decisions made by a cabinet of about eight people.

Backbenchers frequently complain that this means they are less involved in decision making.

Cllr Jones said: “Some of us would feel more involved rather than slightly semi-detached.”

Cllr Shakespeare said it was a ‘difficult question’ and said the council’s future was dependant on members agreeing a change together.

He said: “Just remember Mr Jones, if you need to feel really involved in the council it is a question of the amount of time you have to be here.”

This brought cries of ‘disgrace’ and ‘no need for that’ from the Lib Dem bench at today’s meeting of the full council at County Hall, Aylesbury.