Subscribe to updates
You'll receive weekly summaries about Greenwich Council every week.
If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.
Council Annual Meeting - Wednesday, 27 May 2026 - 7.00 pm
May 27, 2026 at 7:00 pm Council Annual Meeting View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on Greenwich and are not the council. About us
The Council Annual Meeting of the Royal Borough of Greenwich was held on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Key decisions included the election of Councillor David Gardner as Mayor and Councillor Anthony Okereke as Leader of the Council. The meeting also established the various committees and appointed members to them for the upcoming municipal year.
Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Councillor David Gardner was elected as the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich for the municipal year 2026-2027. Councillor Gardner indicated his intention to appoint Councillor Raja Zeeshan as his Deputy Mayor.
Election of Council Leader and Appointment of Cabinet
Councillor Anthony Okereke was elected as the Leader of the Council. Following this, Councillor Okereke announced the appointment of Councillor Jackie Smith as Deputy Leader and Vice-Chair of Cabinet, along with the other members of the Cabinet for the 2026-2027 municipal year. These appointments were noted by the Council.
Delegations and Executive Responsibilities
The Council noted the allocation of Cabinet portfolios by the Leader of the Council, the Leader's General Scheme of Delegation for 2026-27, and the appointments made to joint committees and outside bodies that exercise executive functions.
Establishment of Committees and Appointments
The Council agreed to establish various Member-level bodies for the 2026-2027 municipal year, including the Audit and Risk Management Panel, the Borough-wide Housing Panel, the Corporate Parenting Partnership Board, the General Purposes Committee, the Health and Well-Being Board, the Licensing Committee, the Local Planning Committee, the Margaret McMillan Field Study Centre Sub-Committee, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Overview and Scrutiny Call In Sub-Committee, the Pension Fund Investment and Administration Panel, the Planning Board, six Scrutiny Panels, the Standards Committee, and the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). Consultative bodies, including the Greenwich Council Joint Committee and Schools Forum, were also established. The allocation of seats on these bodies, their terms of reference, and the chairs of the Scrutiny Panels were agreed. Dr Susan Blackall was appointed as Chair of the Standards Committee and Vice-Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Panel, with Celestine Anderson and Tom Tyson also appointed as independent members to the Standards Committee and Audit and Risk Management Panel respectively. The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the relevant Party Whip, was authorised to appoint to any vacancies on these bodies.
Appointment of Members to Member-Level Bodies and Outside Bodies
Members were appointed to the various Member-Level Bodies for the 2026-27 Municipal Year. The Council also agreed to the appointment of Members to serve on outside bodies for the same period, in accordance with the Chief Whip's nominations.
Outline Calendar of Meetings
The outline calendar of meetings for the Council and other Member-Level Bodies for the Municipal Year 2026-27 was approved.
Appointment of Political Assistants
The Council agreed to the principle of appointing Political Assistants within the framework of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 for the period May 2026 to May 2030. It was agreed to allocate one Political Assistant post to the Labour Group (35 hours per week), one to the Conservative Group (17.5 hours per week), and one to the Green Group (17.5 hours per week), along with the associated appointment procedure.
Opposition Whips and Leaders
The appointments of the Council Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Leaders of the Opposition Groups, and Opposition Groups Party Whips for the 2026-27 Municipal Year were noted. These included Councillor Jane Dickenson as Council Chief Whip, Councillor Lewis Hurst as Deputy Chief Whip, Councillor Tamasin Rhymes as Leader of the Opposition Green Group, Councillor Stewart Christie as Deputy Leader of the Opposition Green Group, Councillor Max Green as Chief Whip of the Opposition Green Group, Councillor Matt Hartley as Leader of the Opposition Conservative Group, Councillor Charlie Davis as Deputy Leader of the Opposition Conservative Group, and Councillor Roger Tester as Chief Whip of the Opposition Conservative Group.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
-
Election of Council Leader
Recommendations ApprovedGreenwich Council elected Councillor Anthony Okereke as Leader of the Council on 27 May 2026. The decision was made at the Council Annual Meeting. The Leader is responsible for appointing a Deputy Leader and the Cabinet.
-
Appointment of representatives to Outside Bodies for 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedThe Council Annual Meeting decided to approve recommendations for the appointment of Members to outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2026/27. This decision was made on 27/05/2026. The agreed nominations are listed in the appendix to the report.
-
Appointment of Members to Member level bodies and the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs and Memberships for 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedThe Council Annual Meeting decided to approve recommendations for appointing members to member-level bodies for the 2026-27 Municipal Year. This included appointing members to various committees, panels, and boards. The agreed nominations will be published on the Council's website.
-
Outline Calendar of Meetings of the Council and other Member-level bodies for the municipal year 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedThe Council Annual Meeting decided to approve the outline calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2026-27 on 27/05/2026. This included inserting a Full Council meeting for 24 June 2026.
-
Appointment of Political Assistants
Recommendations ApprovedThe Council of Greenwich decided to appoint Political Assistants for the Labour, Conservative, and Green Groups. This decision was made on 27 May 2026. The Council agreed to allocate one full-time post to the Labour Group and two part-time posts to the Conservative and Green Groups, approving the appointment procedure.
-
Council Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Leaders of Opposition Groups and Opposition Groups Party Whip
Recommendations ApprovedGreenwich Council noted the appointment of Members to various party whip and opposition leader roles for the 2026-27 Municipal Year on 27 May 2026. The appointments included Cllr Jane Dickenson as Council Chief Whip and Cllr Matt Hartley as Leader of the Opposition Conservative Group. The decision will be published on the Council's website.
-
Appointment of Cabinet Members
Recommendations ApprovedGreenwich Council noted the Members of Cabinet, as appointed by the Leader of the Council, on 27 May 2026. The appointed members include Councillor Anthony Okereke as Leader and Councillor Jackie Smith as Deputy Leader.
-
Delegations and Executive Responsibilities
Recommendations ApprovedThe Council Annual Meeting of Greenwich Council decided to approve recommendations on 27/05/2026. The meeting noted the allocation of Cabinet portfolios, the Leader's General Scheme of Delegation for 2026-27, and appointments to joint committees and outside bodies.
-
The Council Annual Meeting decided to establish various Member-level bodies for 2026-2027. These bodies include the Audit and Risk Management Panel, Licensing Committee, and six Scrutiny Panels. The decision was made on 27/05/2026. The Council agreed to the allocation of seats, terms of reference, and appointed Chairs for the Scrutiny Panels.
-
Appointment of Deputy Mayor
Recommendations ApprovedGreenwich Council noted that Councillor David Gardner intended to appoint Councillor Raja Zeeshan as his Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2026-2027. This was decided on 27/05/2026.
-
Election of Mayor
Recommendations ApprovedGreenwich Council agreed that Councillor David Gardner be appointed as the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich for the municipal year 2026-2027. This decision was made on 27/05/2026.
Attendees
Topics
Meeting Documents
Agenda
Additional Documents