Bolton Council's new Liberal Democrat administration has unveiled the team it hopes will lead the borough into a new era.

The group has stamped its authority on the council by slashing the number of members on the executive committee, the most powerful committee on the council, from 10 to eight.

All eight positions have been filled by members of the Lib Dem group after both Labour and the Conservatives snubbed a power-sharing deal.

Following behind-the-scenes negotiations, Labour will take the chairmanship of the scrutiny committees, which examine and consider decisions made by the executive but have no power to overturn them.

The Conservatives have been given the chairmanship of the Licensing committee, which considers applications for licences affecting a number of trades including pubs and taxis.

The Lib Dems shot from the smallest to largest party on the council at last month's council election, taking 21 seats compared to Labour's 20 and the Conservatives' 19.

They are the first party to form an administration since Labour began a 24-year run in power in 1980.

Here are brief biographies of the eight councillors who will form the executive committees and the new chairman of the planning committee Cllr Margaret Rothwell.

Cllr Barbara Ronson

Council leader and executive member for corporate resources.

She is married to fellow Horwich North East councillor Bob and together they have two grown-up sons.

Born in 1942, she went to Brandwood Street and Pikes Lane primary schools before winning a scholarship that allowed her to go on to study O-levels and A-levels at Bolton School. She has held teaching and librarian jobs and did a course in Literature and Philosophy.

Cllr Bob Ronson

Executive member for social services and health.

Horwich North East councillor Bob did his National Service with the RAF and worked for a number of years as a radio and television service engineer.

Cllr Ronson, aged 69, was elected to Bolton Council in 1993 and has served on committees concerned with education, social services and housing. He is president of Bolton West Scouts.

Cllr Martyn Cox

Executive member for culture.

Born in Bolton, Cllr Cox attended St Cuthbert's School and Thornleigh Salesian College before studying economics and politics at Plymouth University.

After graduating, the Horwich and Blackrod councillor lived in Madrid where he met his wife Rosa. They have three children. He is the finance director of a local construction company.

Cllr Carole Swarbrick

Executive member for education and integrated children's services.

A teacher of 30 years, Cllr Swarbrick recently moved into working with young people with emotional and behavioural problems. The Smithills councillor claims she is committed to the development of a top-class education system in Bolton which gives everyone the best start in life and work as well as the chance to develop as individuals.

Cllr Roger Hayes

Executive member for direct services and area working.

Roger was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School and Exeter University. The 60-year-old is divorced with no children and his partner Jaleh is Iranian.

The Smithills councillor has worked in local government and as a personnel manager in various industries. He is a big fan of cricket, football and golf.

Cllr David Wilkinson

Executive member for environment and housing strategy.

Cllr Wilkinson, aged 46, has lived in Westhoughton all his life and is a single parent with a 16-year-old son. The Westhoughton South councillor is engaged to Janet Halliwell, a town council member. He is in his 14th year as a borough councillor and has served as Westhoughton mayor twice.

Cllr Julia Silvester

Executive member for human resources and diversity.

Cllr Silvester is the mother of two grown-up children. Her last professional post was as a public health work force manager for the North West Office of the Department of Health.

She is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist who has worked in the voluntary sector in Bolton.

The Westhoughton South councillor has a degree in Social Science.

Cllr John Rothwell

Executive member for social inclusion and community safety.

He is married to fellow Kearsley councillor Margaret Rothwell and together they have five children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The 75-year-old worked for the BBC for 45 years. He has enjoyed a number of spells on the council since he first joined in 1973.

Cllr Margaret Rothwell

Chairman of planning.

The Kearsley councillor was born in 1931 in Little Hulton and joined the council four years ago.

She is a retired teacher who worked at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School in Over Hulton.

She and her husband Cllr John Rothwell enjoy gardening and reading.