THE BODY responsible for the key decisions at New Forest District Council has increased in size to meet the "significant challenges" facing the authority.

Cllr Barry Rickman, NFDC's leader, announced the changes to his cabinet on Tuesday.

The team of councillors is responsible overseeing the district council’s activities.

It is made up of the leader and other members of the majority party - which is the Conservatives.

As leader, Cllr Rickman has responsibility to appoint other members to the cabinet.

On the change, he said the cabinet featured fresh talent and was pleased with the team which had been assembled.

“The number of councillors who have portfolios in my cabinet will increase from the current six, and the new cabinet will have eight people to help address the significant challenges that we face in continuing to tackle austerity, provide more housing, and meet the needs of the community," Cllr Rickman said.

“Within our group we have many skilled and knowledgeable local councillors. The time is right for using more of their expertise to benefit the work of the cabinet.

"The need for innovation in how we deliver good services with less funding, meeting the needs of our community in this special place and the importance of reflecting a wider representation of the whole district when we make decisions is I believe addressed with these changes."

Each cabinet member holds a separate portfolio of responsibilities.

In the shake up, the size of the body has increased from six members to eight.

When the cabinet system was first introduced at NFDC in 2001 it consisted of eight councillors, but in 2011 it was reduced to six.

The councillors joining the new cabinet are Cllr Diane Andrews with the portfolio for community affairs, Cllr Alison Hoare with the portfolio for environment and regulatory services, and Cllr Michael Harris with the portfolio for local economic development, property and innovation.

The first meeting of the new cabinet will be on December 6, with the changes to the portfolios taking immediate effect.