Medway Council has had a cabinet reshuffle after three of its councillors were elected as MPs.

Following their election on Friday morning, Cllr Lauren Edwards, Cllr Naushabah Khan and Cllr Tristan Osborne tendered their resignation as members of Medway Council’s cabinet to take up their new responsibilities.

All three will remain as councillors.

It paves the way for Cllr Nina Gurung to take over as portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, while Cllr Alex Paterson will now look after community safety, highways and enforcement, and Cllr Louwella Prenter will also take on a new role as the portfolio holder for housing and homelessness.

Meanwhile, Cllr Harinder Mahil moves to become portfolio holder for economic and social regeneration and inward investment.

Commenting on the changes, council leader Vince Maple said: “I have congratulated Lauren, Naushabah and Tristan on their historic election results last week and want to place on record my thanks for the enormous service they have given as cabinet members during our first and busy year in administration.

“They have achieved so much in a short period of time from tackling anti-social behaviour to bringing investment into Medway and making strong progress on Medway’s housing challenges but I appreciate that the business of parliament means that they will not be able to serve in both roles.

“I am delighted that Nina, Alex and Louwella have taken up my invitation to join the cabinet and they are getting to work immediately as we have a busy agenda as set out in our recently published One Medway Council Plan and remain committed to delivering some great outcomes for local people in the coming years.

“I know that all cabinet members join me in welcoming them to their first meeting tonight.”

The first cabinet meeting is taking place at 7pm tonight (July 7) at Cozenton Park Sports Centre.