The politician in charge of transport in Bath is to lose his post.
Cabinet member for transport on Bath and North East Somerset Council Councillor Roger Symonds did not get enough votes to win a cabinet place at an internal Liberal Democrat meeting at the weekend.
The Combe Down councillor – who has championed pedestrians, cyclists and public transport – will be replaced by Newbridge councillor Caroline Roberts.
His ward colleague Councillor Cherry Beath, who as cabinet member for sustainable development was in charge of everything from tourism to major development projects, is also going to lose her seat on the cabinet.
She will be replaced by Widcombe councillor Ben Stevens.
Mr Stevens tweeted that he was "looking forward to getting my teeth into it" once the shake-up has been confirmed at the council's AGM.
Mr Symonds is the politician behind the decision to create a second bus gate in Dorchester Street, which will be challenged at a council panel meeting next week.
The transport portfolio – which in the past has been held by Conservatives Charles Gerrish and Sir Elgar Jenkins – has always offered the most controversial set of responsibilities in the cabinet.
Mrs Roberts and Mr Stevens will have to be officially voted in at the AGM on May 16.
Council leader Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown) said: "We are most grateful to Roger and Cherry who have both been responsible for some tremendous achievements over the past two years. This ranges from rolling out 20 mph zones across our communities to make residential roads safer to investing in Bath's Co-Working Hub as a place of digital innovation and entrepreneurship; furthering creative opportunities for local people to find employment, and ongoing investment in our heritage services, such as the Roman Baths, which raises revenue in support of other council services that our residents rely on.
"We are proposing to appoint Cllr Roberts and Cllr Stevens to the cabinet as we look for new ideas to help build on these successes to continue the journey taking the council from good to excellent.
"Subject to approval at the council AGM, the rest of the cabinet anticipates working with them both and providing support – so that they may work with officer teams across the council and get to grips with the exciting challenges ahead."
