A HIGH-PROFILE former businessman is likely to become one of the main decision-makers on the region's biggest council.

The new cabinet of Durham County Council will be confirmed at its annual meeting at County Hall this morning -the first meeting of the authority since Labour won the election with an eight-seat majority earlier this month.

Councillor Bob Young, a former pitman who founded a successful transport and opencast mining firm, has been picked by his Labour colleagues to sit in the cabinet of the new-look Durham County Council, which will become the county's unitary authority next year.

Coun Young, 61, the member for Delves Lane and Consett South since 2005 and honorary president of Newcastle United Football Club, founded the Young Group and went on to run Hargreaves Services, based in Esh Winning, County Durham, until his recent retirement.

Coun Young has yet to be given his responsibilities, but Coun Simon Henig, who is expected to be confirmed leader of the authority at today's meeting, said he would bring an important dimension to decision-making.

He said: "Bob has a lot of experience in business and he brings a different angle to the standard angle."

Coun Brian Stephens, the leader of Sedgefield Borough Council for many years, will have responsibility for local partnerships, and will work with district, town and parish councils to smooth the switch to unitary local government.

Also making a return to the cabinet will be Coun Neil Foster, from Tudhoe, who lost his position as head of education in 2006 when Coun Albert Nugent replaced Coun Ken Manton as leader.

Current county council cabinet members Claire Vasey, from Stanley, Michele Hodgson, from Annfield Plain and Morris Nicholls, from Thornley, east Durham, have been selected, along with deputy leader Clive Robson, from Consett, to join the cabinet.

They will be joined by newcomers Lucy Hovvels, from Trimdon and Eunice Huntington, from Easington.

Coun Henig said he was delighted at the team chosen by the Labour group and said he was busy fitting people to responsibilities.

He said: "It brings together people from a range of different backgrounds. We have people from the county, the districts, and a geographical spread.

"We will appoint a number of executive support members to help cabinet members in their role. It has worked well elsewhere."

Among those expected to be present at today's meeting are five Labour councillors suspended from the party in a long-running row over female candidates, including Coun Nugent, who was effectively barred from standing for re-election.

Despite the suspension, the five have been instructed to attend the meeting and vote in line with party policy.