The London Borough of Bexley Conservative Group of Council Members have selected their successor to the outgoing Leader, Councillor Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE.

Councillor David Leaf, currently Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, will take over as Leader at the end of Full Council on 5 November, subject to ratification at that meeting.

Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE will make her final speech as Leader at Full Council, before the ratification vote is taken.

She announced her decision last month to step down from the role she has held for over 17 years – making her the longest-serving Council Leader in Bexley and one of the longest in London. She also announced her decision not to stand for re-election next May.

While she will continue to serve as a Councillor until May 2026, she decided to step down as Leader in November to ensure a seamless transition to the new Leader.

She intends to concentrate on her work in the House of Lords, taking with her the vast knowledge of the interests of Bexley residents and serve as a figurehead for the borough.

She was elevated to the House of Lords shortly after being re-elected as a Councillor in 2022 but was determined to fulfil the four-year commitment she had made at the election.

Under her leadership, the Council has delivered many achievements, including:

• the new Civic Offices (saving taxpayers £2m a year in running costs and creating housing and job opportunities)
• significant regeneration projects in Thamesmead, Erith, Crayford, Welling and Slade Green (with more to do), new schools (including for children with special educational needs)
• leading the partnership to deliver the QMS campus (including the Urgent Care Centre, Dialysis, Cancer and Community Diagnostic Centres)
• delivering the pandemic response (including the Community Champions scheme to reach across our community) and saving Bexleyheath Police Station from closure