ONE of Worcestershire's best-known politicians has quit the county council's Conservative leadership - with the first reshuffle in two years taking place.

Councillor Liz Eyre has stepped down as cabinet member for children and families after 12 years on the top table.

Your Worcester News can also reveal:

- Councillor Marc Bayliss, who was elected to Worcestershire County Council for the first time just two years ago, is the new cabinet member for transformation and commissioning and will now be responsible for driving through huge changes

- Councillor John Campion, who used to do that role, has been moved sideways to take on the children and families brief

- Councillor Eyre will be asked to take on the role as deputy chairman of the council's main watchdog, the overview scrutiny and performance board

The changes are the first ones by leader Councillor Adrian Hardman since 2013, when a brutal local elections outcome resulted in him losing two former cabinet members.

The children and families brief includes education and young people's social care, and comes with huge pressure.

Councillor Eyre, who was first elected in 2001 to represent Broadway, said: "It's been a long time, I joined the cabinet in 2002 and it's been relentless, particularly the social care side.

"I have never had a break.

"It's a massive brief, massive hours and I don't think anyone in the country has done it for as long as I have - I love what I do but it's time for a new challenge."

Since 2010 schools in Worcestershire have seen record levels of improvement but children's social care has been hugely demanding.

Around 700 children are currently looked-after and in the current financial year an extra £4 million is being pumped into the service to keep up with demand, on top of the £22 million bill last year.

As well as school performance the role includes skills and services for families.

Councillor Campion said: "I'm very proud to be given the opportunity to lead the children and families agenda in Worcestershire.

"We have seen many improvements for our young people in recent years, but there is much more to do.

"I will continue the focus on keeping our young people safe and equipping them with the skills to give them the best possible start in life."

Councillor Bayliss, who is the deputy leader at Worcester City Council, will take over a hugely important role, with the authority aiming to outsource 85 per cent of its functions by 2018.

A controversial new operating model was voted through in May last year despite opposition from Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors.

Leader Councillor Hardman said the rest of his cabinet will remain the same.

"We are having a series of sensible changes, starting with Liz, and I'd pay tribute to her - she's done it for 12 years and I quite understand she didn't want to do it anymore," he said.

"It's a long old stretch."

The cabinet roles come with special responsibility top-ups worth £16,499, a rate which has stayed the same since 2009.

* In some other changes Tory backbencher Kit Taylor, who was the former vice-chair of the OSPB, is being moved to chair the council’s resources panel, and in turn Councillor Bob Banks will vacate the resources role to chair a new-look pensions committee.

The names of some of the in-house committees are also being changed, and will be voted through by full council this Thursday.