Cllr Jackie Dale has been appointed to Forest of Dean District Council's cabinet as cabinet member for thriving communities.

Cllr Jackie Dale said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to join Forest of Dean District Council's cabinet as the member for thriving communities and I will do my very best to support and enhance the excellent work of our council's communities team.

"My focus will be on local resilience and improving community engagement. I am passionate about hearing people's views and strengthening local democracy, so that people feel more empowered to get involved.

"I will approach this role with determination, honesty and humility. We all need each other, our family, friends and communities. That will be my starting point."

Cllr Mark Topping, leader of the council, said: "I would like to welcome Cllr Dale to the cabinet, and I look forward to working with her to deliver for the Forest of Dean community.

"Jackie has considerable personal and professional experience in health and community wellbeing. She is also a passionate advocate of public engagement, which has a central role in the new Council Plan. Adding Jackie to the cabinet gives us more capacity to deliver on behalf of communities across the district.

"At the same time as Cllr Dale's appointment, Cllr Adrian Birch's portfolio has changed from communities to built environment. Cllr Birch will now be able to focus on our net zero ambitions around planning and housing, leisure and the built environment generally."

Cllr Dale's thriving communities portfolio includes community empowerment and resilience, health and wellbeing, communications and public engagement.

Cllr Adrian Birch's built environment portfolio includes built environment (net zero), housing and homelessness, housing policy and leisure.