Cllr Claire Holland has been elected Chair of London Councils and is ready to lead the cross party group representing the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation into ‘a new political era’.
Cllr Holland is Leader of Lambeth Council and was appointed as Chair at London Councils AGM, which took place today (Wednesday 17 July). She succeeds Georgia Gould, who resigned as Chair of London Councils after being elected as MP for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale and being appointed as a Cabinet Office Minister.
Cllr Holland was Deputy Chair of London Councils and was Acting Chair during Georgia’s maternity leave. Before that she served on London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee.
Cllr Holland will lead collaborative work between London boroughs to improve the lives of Londoners. This includes driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth to improve living standards for all, tackling London’s housing emergency, achieving greater financial stability for councils, promoting prevention and wellbeing, and helping London get to net zero.
Top of her to-do list will be working effectively with the new government, including on its legislative programme as announced in the King’s Speech today (17 July).
She said:
“I’m delighted to have been elected to lead London Councils as we enter a new political era and to be working with a fantastic group of political leaders from across the capital.
“London boroughs are a force to be reckoned with – when we collaborate cross-party to champion and serve our city and its 9 million residents, we can achieve so much. We are ready to work with the new government to address the urgent challenges facing our city and country and help support a new mission-driven approach to government, working alongside the Mayor of London and our partners.
“In particular, we are determined to drive growth and bring London’s housing crisis to an end – that means building more homes, investing in infrastructure and ensuring local authorities have the powers and funding we need to deliver on our ambitions for the capital.
“I want to thank Georgia for her inspiring and accomplished leadership over the past four years, and our other outgoing Executive members for their service. With Georgia, Nesil and Jas being elected as MPs, I look forward to working with them as they continue to be a voice for Londoners and local government in Parliament.”
London Councils’ new Executive team was also confirmed at the AGM today:
Chair: Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council
Deputy Chair and Executive member for Housing and Regeneration: Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Vice Chair, Conservative Group: Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Vice Chair, Liberal Democrat Group: Cllr Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council
Vice Chair, Independent: Chris Hayward, Policy Chair, City of London Corporation
Executive member for Planning and Skills: Cllr Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council
Executive member for Health: Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Leader of Islington Council
Executive member for London’s Future: Mayor Jason Perry, Croydon Council
Executive member for Children and Young People: Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council
Executive member for Transport and Environment: Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council
Executive member for Community Safety: Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council
Executive member for Communities: Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Data and Innovation Lead: Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Newham Council
