Hammersmith and Fulham Council was held by Labour on May 7, when the party took 38 of the 50 seats available
A West London council has unveiled its Cabinet and Leader for the term ahead after winning a resounding majority at the elections on May 7. Hammersmith and Fulham Council is to continue to be led by Stephen Cowan, who has headed the Labour administration since it took control of the local authority in 2014.
Several members of his pre-election Cabinet are to be retained, with Cllr Andrew Jones to continue as Cabinet Member for the Economy, Cllr Rowan Ree as Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Cllr Frances Umeh as Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, and Cllr Zarar Qayyum as Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skills.
Cllr Alex Sanderson will also continue as Deputy Leader with responsibility for Children and Education, though with the added role of overseeing Health and Social Care. Elsewhere there have been changes not just in personnel but in titles.
Cllr Wesley Harcourt (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology) and Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier (Cabinet Member for Public Realm) have seemingly had their former positions largely transferred to a new Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, to be held by Cllr Nicole Trehy.
The other changes at the top table are Cllr Bora Kwon, who is to serve as Cabinet Member for the Environment, Arts and Culture, Cllr Hannah Bulmer, taking on a new role as Cabinet Member for Social Advancement and the Pathway Bond, and Cllr Lisa Homan, as Cabinet Member for Community Safety.
Cllr Kwon previously served as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, though this appears to have been added to Cllr Sanderson’s portfolio. Cllr Rebecca Harvey’s former Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety position has also been disbanded with its duties picked up elsewhere.
Cllr Bulmer made her maiden speech at last night’s (May 21) Full Council meeting, at which the Cabinet was officially unveiled. She praised the Labour group’s election manifesto, closing by telling the chamber: “At a time when cynicism dominates much of politics, what this administration offers is proof that good government, done well, changes lives.
“It is my immense privilege to offer our residents something too rare in politics today: hope they can believe in.”
Cllr Cowan was also among those to speak, in which he thanked all of the candidates who stood in the recent elections and those who voted. “This was an election about optimism,” he said. “And it was set in the context of a world that is more challenging than I think I have ever lived through.”
Cllr Cowan added it was “the most humbling experience I have ever had in my life” to have people vote for the party, and that he feels privileged to serve as a member of the administration.
Labour took 38 of the 50 seats available on May 7 with the remaining 12 going to the Conservatives. This was one up on their pre-election composition, having lost two members to the Greens and one go independent since 2022.
The Tories also increased their numbers, from 10 councillors.
Full list of Cabinet members and Leader
- Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader
- Cllr Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader (with responsibility for Health and Social Care and Children and Education)
- Cllr Nicole Trehy, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel
- Cllr Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for the Economy
- Cllr Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform
- Cllr Frances Umeh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness
- Cllr Bora Kwon, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Arts and Culture
- Cllr Hannah Bulmer, Cabinet Member for Social Advancement and the Pathway Bond
- Cllr Lisa Homan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety
- Cllr Zarar Qayyum, Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skills
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