A FORMER leader of Oxford City Council will return to the top table to take charge of planning and transport.

The promotion has been given to Alex Hollingsworth, who became a Labour city councillor for Carfax after a September by-election, in a reshuffle of the city executive board.

Next week he will take charge of planning from city council leader Bob Price and transport from board member John Tanner.

His planning responsibilities in Oxford – which has the highest concentration of listed buildings outside of London – will include setting the city’s overall development strategy.

Mr Hollingsworth was leader of the city council between 2002 and 2006.

Elections in the city council’s Labour group also mean councillor Mark Lygo – currently responsible for sports, events and parks – will lose his position on the board next week.

However Mr Lygo will instead become a “champion” for events.

Most positions on the board remain the same, but councillor Mike Rowley, board member for leisure contract and community partnership grants, will also take responsibility for parks and sports.

And councillor Dee Sinclair’s brief of crime and community response will be expanded to include licensing.

The shake-up will be formally announced at a full council meeting in Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates, on Monday at 4pm.