Another Massive Vote of Confidence in Mayor Fiaz
The members of London Councils met recently for their AGM and to elect their executive for the new year.
This is an organization well known to Mayor Fiaz, as she was already on the executive.
On the basis of her outstanding performance in Newham, and in the light of her sterling work on the LC Executive, Rokhsana Fiaz decided to throw her hat in the ring for the position of Deputy Chair. So did fellow Labour member, Grace Williams the Leader of Waltham Forest Council.
The matter went to the vote. Suffice it to say, Willaims did not lose. The numbers are said to be “embarrassing”.
Not to be put off, Fiaz tried her chances again. This time to remain as an Executive Member. Four seats were up for election and there were five candidates. Long story short, she lost.
Her colleagues from the other London councils must have been feeling a little sorry for poor Rokhsana and her continued failure to get elected, to anything. So, they looked at her copious knowledge and vast experience and determined that this was the woman to advise them on “Data and Innovation”.
They must be people with access to hidden knowledge, because no-one else had any idea that Fiaz was an expert on this area. We take our hats off to them. It’s great that they have been able to utilize her hidden depths. At least, that’s what we hope it is. You don’t think that they simply threw her a bone in the form of a non-job, to give her some sort of title.
Not Deputy Chair, not Vice Chair, not even Executive Member, but the sole “Lead” for an area of work. It must rankle that she doesn’t even get her name and photo on the executive page of the website. Still, we look forward to seeing the innovation and changes that Fiaz will propose. But we do advise readers not to hold their breath.
She does however, appear at the bottom of the list of “office holders” elsewhere on the London Councils website.
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 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
Executive member for Planning and Skills: Cllr Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council
Data and Innovation Lead: Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Newham Council