Ealing Council has a new deputy leader as well as a new cabinet member for climate action following previous incumbent Councillor Deirdre Costigan becoming MP for Ealing Southall at last week’s general election.
To replace Councillor Costigan, Councillor Louise Brett has been appointed as deputy leader and Councillor Paul Driscoll joins the cabinet as portfolio holder for climate action.
Councillor Brett will also continue in her portfolio holder role for safe and genuinely affordable homes
Leader of Labour-run Ealing Council, Councillor Peter Mason said: “I want to thank Councillor Deirdre Costigan for her hard work over the last three years as deputy leader and as cabinet member for climate action, particularly for her central role on delivering our hugely successful bike hanger and school street projects, and on the unveiling of our plans to fulfil the historic ambition for a regional park.
“I’d like to congratulate Councillor Louise Brett in her additional role as our newly appointed deputy leader, and Councillor Paul Driscoll, who will lead on addressing one of our key priorities, fighting the climate crisis.
Councillor Brett said: “I’m looking forward to taking on this new leadership role, alongside my portfolio work, ensuring our residents have access to safe, secure, and genuinely affordable homes, as well as continuing to work closely with my colleagues in cabinet and the wider organisation to continue to deliver on our priorities of creating good jobs, fighting the climate crisis, and tackling inequality.”
Councillor Driscoll said of his appointment to the Ealing Council cabinet: “I am delighted to be appointed as the new cabinet member for climate action. This portfolio is focused on one of the defining issues of our time. I’m particularly looking forward to building on our to commitment to improving active travel in the borough through investing at least £10million to increase cycling, walking, running, and scooting.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS about the appointment of Councillor Driscoll, Neil Reynolds chair of Ealing Green Party said: “This is welcome news. Councillor Driscoll is a committed councillor and, was proponent of low traffic neighbourhoods, his appointment is welcome.”
Mr Reynolds added: “This new appointment, appears therefore to be a response to the increased green vote in Ealing, London and across the country. It hopefully marks a change of course from the tokenistic approach of Councillor Mason’s administration on climate change so far. I wish Councillor Driscoll well, in persuading his colleagues to take meaningful action.”
