Leader Of The Council Resigns To Join The Mayor Of London's New Team
Ian Clement has resigned as Leader of the London Borough of Bexley to take
up a key post in Mayor Boris Johnson's new team.
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Ian Clement |
Mr Clement informed the Council's Chief Executive of his decision yesterday
(5 May) and his resignation took effect immediately. The Deputy Leader of
the Council, Cllr
Teresa O'Neill, has taken over as Acting Leader until the
Annual Meeting of the Council on 14 May, when a new Leader will be elected
by all Members of the Council.
Cllr O'Neill commented: "I am very pleased that the new Mayor of London
has invited Ian to join his team. I have full confidence that he will do
his best to serve London well based on his work in Bexley & the Mayor's
team will benefit from having someone in the team with his experience of
Bexley. I have enjoyed working with Ian over the years and know that whoever
succeeds him permanently will look to build on what we have achieved over
the past two years."
The former Council Leader has been appointed as Deputy Mayor, responsible
for government relations both in the UK and the international arena. Holders
of such senior posts in local government are not permitted to serve as local
councillors.
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Cllr Teresa O'Neill, Acting Leader of the London
Borough of Bexley |
Mr Clement had served as Leader of the Council since May 2006. He was originally
elected to the Council in 1998 and served as Leader of the Opposition from
2003 to 2006. He joined the Executive of London Councils in May 2006, where
he served as lead member for Crime and Public Protection.
"Bexley has been my life for the past ten years," said Mr Clement. "The
decision to leave was a very difficult one, but I believe you can only do
one job really well."
"I feel very honoured and proud to have served as Leader of the Council
and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of the job. I am very
pleased that the Mayor has invited me to join his team and I am now looking
forward to my new role.
"I am sad to be leaving Bexley and the friends and colleagues I have
worked with for the past ten years, but I will continue to live in the borough."
Cllr Teresa O'Neill has served as Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet
Member for Children's Services since May 2006. She was also first elected
to the Council in 1998 and represents Brampton Ward.
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Cllr Gareth Bacon, Cabinet Member for the Environment
and London-wide Assembly Member |
Cllr O'Neill is an investment banker for an international banking group
and works in the City of London. Her previous experience includes being a
Parliamentary Candidate for Lewisham Deptford in 1992 and standing for election
to Lewisham Council in 1986 & 1990.
Mr Clement's resignation leaves a vacancy on the Council. A by-election
to fill the vacancy will be announced shortly.
At last week's elections, Cllr
Gareth Bacon, the Council's Cabinet member
for the Environment, was elected to the London Assembly as a London-wide
member. Cllr Bacon will join James Cleverly on the Assembly, following Mr
Cleverly's election as the new Constituency Member for Bexley and Bromley.
