A ONE-PARTY cabinet of seven Conservatives under a new leader, Roger Colomb, takes over the running of Wycombe District Council at the annual meeting on May 14.

It is part of the modernisation of local government throughout the country demanded by the Government and reluctantly agreed to by councils.

Because of delays in parliament getting the legislation in place, councillors had to agree with no votes against.

At a special meeting on Monday they did this, with Independent member Malcolm Blanksby and the Labour group abstaining.

Labour leader Ted Collins described the proposed system as too bureaucratic and was not happy about arrangements with the staff. But he would not vote against, he said.

Independent John Dalton said the present system had worked well for 100 years and the new one was like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"I hope the cabinet's decisions are in line with what my constituents need," he said.

Lib Dem leader Maurice Oram said one advantage was that people would know which cabinet member was responsible when decisions were taken.

Cllr Blanksby was worried that ordinary members would have nothing much to do but Lib Dem Brian Pollock said their job would be to watch things carefully as members of scrutiny committees.

The cabinet under Cllr Colomb is: deputy leader Tony Green (strategic development, external communications and member development), Peter Cartwright (housing), Bill Bendyshe-Brown, (customer services), Paul Rogerson, (planning), Alan Fulford (major developments), Audrey Jones (resources), Julia Langley (community affairs).

Cabinet meetings will be once a month.