Two Merton councillors are getting promoted.

Representative for St Helier ward Kelly Braund and Figges Marsh's Mike Brunt have each been given new roles in the council following a cabinet shake-up.

Leader of the council, Stephen Alambritis announced today that the pair would each be taking up new roles in the council, beginning on May 23.

Ms Braund will take over as cabinet member for children’s services while Mr Brunt is set to take on responsibility for environmental cleanliness.

Ms Braund was first elected in a by-election in St Helier last year after garnering 74 er cent of the vote and was re-elected last week.

“Merton has an outstanding team looking after our children, and we are determined Merton should continue to be a great place for families," she said.

"My aim is to offer all our young people in the borough the best possible start in life, with good services like our new library and new leisure centre and officially the country’s best secondary schools.”

Mr Brunt will lead the introduction of wheelie bins throughout the borough.

“I’m passionate about keeping our streets clean, but after eight years of government austerity the money available has been cut to the bone," he said.

"That’s why I’ll be overseeing a new bin system in line with most of the rest of Britain, to bring an end to split rubbish bags, deliver cleaner streets and drive down inefficiencies by sharing costs with neighbouring boroughs.”