The new leader of Dorset County Council has announced his cabinet a month after taking charge.

Cllr Robert Gould replaced Spencer Flower who stood down last month after being charged with criminal offences.

And Cllr Gould has axed Cllr Toni Coombs from the controversial communications portfolio.

She is replaced by Cllr Robin Cook in the role of cabinet member for corporate development.

Other changes to the cabinet concern the portfolio for economy and growth, which has been assigned to Cllr Colin Jamieson, formerly the cabinet member for public health and community.

One Tory councillor said Cllr Coombs, who is married to Cllr Flower, has paid the price for "a poor performance" in the job, especially over the Chartwells free school meals fiasco.

She was criticised for misleading the Daily Echo about when Dorset County Council knew of the fire that damaged the catering firm's kitchen facility at Ferndown.

The blaze and other issues led to chaos in the first week of term last September.

Cllr Coombs first told the Echo that DCC was only informed at the start of term.

She later admitted the council had been told back in June, days after the blaze. She said she had “forgotten.”

Cllr Coombs retains her position as children and young people portfolio holder on the cabinet.

Cllr Rebecca Knox has been named cabinet member for communities, health and well-being, with Peter Finney also retaining the environment portfolio and Cllr Jill Haynes, holding adult and community services.

Cllr Gould, who became Leader in December 2014, will also have responsibility for budget and financial matters.

He said the changes to the community and health portfolio and economy reflected area of focus for the council.

“By reorganising the responsibilities I am giving new momentum to our plans to transform the council and the way it works for the benefit of everyone in Dorset”, he said.

*Cllr Flower is to appear in court on three charges of failing to declare an interest in planning matters in East Dorset.