Following ratification by Full Council last night (5 November), Councillor David Leaf has become the new Leader of the London Borough of Bexley. His Deputy Leader is Councillor Melvin Seymour.
Cllr Leaf had been selected by the Conservative Group of Council Members after Councillor Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE announced in September her decision to step down as Leader after 17 years in the role, to focus on her work in the House of Lords. Cllr Leaf was her Deputy at the time, so his selection created the vacancy filled by Cllr Seymour.
Cllr Leaf was first elected in 2006, at the age of 22, to represent Belvedere Ward. He was later elected to represent Longlands Ward in 2014 and, following boundary changes and the reduction in the number of Councillors, was elected to represent Blendon and Penhill Ward in 2018 and 2022.
He has held senior roles and responsibilities on the Council, including as the Cabinet Member for Resources since 2018 and the Deputy Leader from 2021. He has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Vice Chairman of the Pensions Committee.
He is Vice Chair of London Councils' Grants Committee - which distributes £6m per year to charities to work on services supporting and preventing those affected by homelessness and domestic abuse and violence – and Vice Chair of the Local Government Association's Local Government Resources Committee and a member of the NJC employers' side, which negotiates and agrees pay terms for Council employees.
Outside of his work on the Council and in local government, Cllr Leaf has worked for and advised Members of Parliament for over 20 years. He has a First Class Honours Degree in International Politics and International History and has held roles as a school governor and charity trustee. He has one son and enjoys walking around Bexley's parks and open spaces, reading and sports.
Councillor Melvin Seymour has been a resident of the borough for over 25 years. He is very proud and privileged to be representing the people of Crayford and is pleased to be expressing their views and listening to their concerns. Melvin’s wife was born in Crayford and their children were educated and live locally. He is interested in History and Literature and enjoys all sports, particularly golf.
Melvin Seymour has been a Councillor in Bexley from May 2006 to 2014, representing Crayford and moving to represent Northumberland Heath Ward before returning to Crayford in 2018. Melvin served as a Scrutiny Chairman for 12 years before he joined the Cabinet in 2022 as Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services & Health.
The new Leadership will continue to focus on delivering the priorities of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022 to 2026, within the context of unprecedented financial challenges for local government.
Cllr Leaf said,
It is a great honour to become the Leader of the Council. Bexley is my home and I care deeply about ensuring our Borough continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family. My Deputy Leader and Cabinet will be working with me to make Bexley even better, deliver our ambitious plans for our Borough and support the aspirations of our residents.
Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE has been an outstanding Leader for over 17 years and leaves a remarkable legacy of improved services and investments across our Borough. We wish her well in the future as she continues to stand up for Bexley in the House of Lords."