New Chair Elected by London Councils
Lambeth Council Leader Cllr Claire Holland has recently been appointed as the new Chair of London Councils, officially stepping into the role after the resignation of Georgia Gould, who was elected as the Member of Parliament for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale.
Having previously served as Acting Chair during Gould’s maternity leave and as Deputy Chair of London Councils, Holland brings valuable experience to her new position. She has also been an active member of the organisation’s Transport and Environment Committee.
Expressing her excitement about her new role, Cllr Holland stated:
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead London Councils as we embark on a fresh political journey, working alongside a dynamic group of political leaders from across the capital.
“London boroughs possess tremendous collective strength – by coming together across party lines to advocate for and serve our city and its 9 million residents, we can accomplish great things. We are prepared to collaborate with the new government to address the pressing issues facing our city and country, and to support a purpose-driven approach to governance, in partnership with the Mayor of London and other stakeholders.
“Our primary goal is to drive growth and resolve London’s housing crisis once and for all – this entails constructing more homes, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring that local authorities have the necessary resources and authority to fulfil our aspirations for the capital.
“I am immensely grateful to Georgia for her exceptional leadership over the past four years, as well as to our other departing Executive members for their dedicated service. With Georgia, Nesil, and Jas now serving as Members of Parliament, I look forward to collaborating with them as they continue to be the voice of Londoners and local government in Parliament.”
The London Councils’ AGM also saw the introduction of the new Executive Team, which includes:
- Deputy Chair/Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration – Cllr Grace Williams
- Vice Chair of the Conservative Group – Cllr Elizabeth Campbell
- Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrat Group – Cllr Gareth Roberts
- Vice Chair of the Independent Group – Chris Hayward
- Executive Member for Health – Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz
- Executive Member for London’s Future – Mayor Jason Perry
- Executive Member for Children and Young People – Cllr Ian Edwards
- Executive Member for Transport and Environment – Cllr Kieron Williams
- Executive Member for Community Safety – Cllr Muhammed Butt
- Executive Member for Communities – Cllr Anthony Okereke
- Executive Member for Planning and Skills: Cllr Peter Mason
- Data and Innovation – Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz
In her new capacity as the leader of the group representing 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation, Holland faces the task of fostering collaboration among all the boroughs to enhance the lives of Londoners. London Councils aims to achieve this by promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, addressing the city’s housing crisis, ensuring financial stability for councils, and advancing measures for prevention and wellbeing.
Image credit: iStock
