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Agenda

May 21, 2025 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The annual meeting of Wandsworth Council saw Councillor Jeremy Ambache elected as Mayor for the second time, and Councillor Rosemary Birchall appointed as Deputy Mayor. Councillors also approved the appointment of cabinet members, committee members, and representatives to outside bodies. A proposal to create five Deputy Cabinet member positions was approved, despite opposition concerns about the cost.

Deputy Cabinet Members

The council voted to approve the creation of five Deputy Cabinet member positions, each receiving an allowance of £9,314. These roles will focus on resident engagement, environment, housing, communities, and health, replacing the previous system of eight policy champions.

The Conservative opposition group voted against the proposal, arguing that it would increase the cost of the Council Reliance Scheme by around £23,000, resulting in an overall budget of £46,570, without providing value for money or appropriate scrutiny.

Election of Mayor and Appointment of Deputy Mayor

Councillor Jeremy Ambache was elected as Mayor of Wandsworth for a second term. Councillor Sheila Boswell, in proposing Councillor Jeremy Ambache for the role, highlighted his commitment to equality and the charities he has chosen to support: Wandsworth Supports Refugees, Wandsworth Oasis, and Mineworks UK. Councillor Graeme Henderson seconded the nomination, noting that Councillor Jeremy Ambache was the first mayor in 70 years to read a proclamation on the King's accession to the throne.

Councillor Rosemary Birchall was appointed as Deputy Mayor. Councillor Jeremy Ambache said that he knew that Councillor Rosemary Birchall would do an excellent job and that her husband Richard Birchall would be her consort.

Mayor's Announcements

Councillor Jeremy Ambache thanked the outgoing mayor, Councillor Sana Jafri, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Finna Ayres, for their service. He also congratulated the outgoing youth mayor, Millie Quinn, and deputy youth mayor, Favell Honoré, and welcomed the new youth mayor, Kwasi Akram Konachi, and deputy youth mayor, Sophia Dyson.

Councillor Jeremy Ambache outlined four goals for his term:

  • To model good behaviour in council meetings while having vigorous political debates.
  • To celebrate Wandsworth's year as London Borough of Culture.
  • To become more inclusive, welcoming those who are most disadvantaged and marginalised.
  • To develop more active lifestyles and travel more on foot, on scooters, and on bicycles.

He also announced his three mayoral charities: Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees, Wandsworth Oasis, and Mindwatch UK.

Appointments

The council approved the appointment of cabinet members, committee members, and representatives to outside bodies.

The cabinet members and their remits are:

  • Councillor Kemi Akinola: Voluntary Sector, business engagement and culture
  • Councillor Angela Ireland: Finance
  • Councillor Aydin Dikerdem: Housing
  • Councillor Judi Gasser: Children
  • Councillor Graeme Henderson: Health
  • Councillor Jenny Yates: Transport
  • Councillor Paul White: Environment

Councillor Kemi Akinola was also appointed as Deputy Leader of the Council.

Councillor Aled Richards-Jones was confirmed as Leader of the Opposition, and Councillor Mrs. Kim Caddy as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Tributes

Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Council, thanked the outgoing mayor, Councillor Sana Jafri, for her service, highlighting her work in celebrating and supporting the community, and uniting the people of Wandsworth. He also thanked Councillor Finna Ayres, Deputy Mayor, for her year of service.

Councillor Aled Richards-Jones also thanked Councillor Sana Jafri and Councillor Finna Ayres for their service. He also noted that the meeting coincided with the 60th anniversary of Wandsworth Borough Council.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Kemi Akinola
Councillor Kemi Akinola  Deputy Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Tooting Broadway
Profile image for CouncillorJeremy Ambache
Councillor Jeremy Ambache  Mayor of Wandsworth •  Labour •  West Putney
Profile image for Councillor Juliana Annan
Councillor Juliana Annan  Labour •  Battersea Park
Profile image for Councillor Sara Apps
Councillor Sara Apps  Labour •  Shaftesbury & Queenstown
Profile image for CouncillorNick Austin
Councillor Nick Austin  Independent •  West Putney
Profile image for Councillor Finna Ayres
Councillor Finna Ayres  Labour •  East Putney
Profile image for Councillor Tony Belton
Councillor Tony Belton  Labour •  Battersea Park
Profile image for Councillor Mrs. Rosemary Birchall
Councillor Mrs. Rosemary Birchall  Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth •  Conservative •  Wandsworth Common
Profile image for Councillor Sheila Boswell
Councillor Sheila Boswell  Labour •  Tooting Bec
Profile image for Councillor Ethan Brooks
Councillor Ethan Brooks  Conservative •  Thamesfield
Profile image for Councillor Mrs. Kim Caddy
Councillor Mrs. Kim Caddy  Deputy Leader of the Opposition •  Conservative •  Southfields
Abdus Choudhury
Profile image for Councillor Jamie Colclough
Councillor Jamie Colclough  Labour •  St Mary's
Profile image for Councillor Jonathan Cook
Councillor Jonathan Cook  Conservative •  Lavender
Profile image for Councillor Leonie Cooper
Councillor Leonie Cooper  Labour •  Furzedown
Profile image for Councillor Matthew Corner
Councillor Matthew Corner  Conservative •  Nine Elms
Profile image for Councillor Annamarie Critchard
Councillor Annamarie Critchard  Labour •  Tooting Bec
Profile image for Councillor George Crivelli
Councillor George Crivelli  Conservative •  East Putney
Profile image for Councillor Sarah Davies
Councillor Sarah Davies  Labour •  Wandsworth Town
Profile image for Councillor Caroline de La Soujeole
Councillor Caroline de La Soujeole  Conservative •  St Mary's
Profile image for Councillor Aydin Dikerdem
Councillor Aydin Dikerdem  Cabinet Member for Housing •  Labour •  Shaftesbury & Queenstown
Profile image for Councillor Lizzy Dobres
Councillor Lizzy Dobres  Labour •  Trinity
Profile image for Councillor Katrina Ffrench
Councillor Katrina Ffrench  Labour •  Furzedown
Profile image for Councillor Clare Fraser
Councillor Clare Fraser  Labour •  South Balham
Profile image for Councillor Judi Gasser
Councillor Judi Gasser  Cabinet Member for Children •  Labour •  Furzedown
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Ghossain
Councillor Daniel Ghossain  Conservative •  West Hill
Profile image for Councillor Ravi Govindia
Councillor Ravi Govindia  Conservative •  East Putney
Profile image for Councillor Mrs. Angela Graham
Councillor Mrs. Angela Graham  Conservative •  Wandsworth Common
Profile image for Councillor Peter Graham
Councillor Peter Graham  Conservative •  Wandsworth Common
Profile image for CouncillorMalcolm Grimston
Councillor Malcolm Grimston  Independent •  West Hill
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Hamilton
Councillor Daniel Hamilton  Conservative •  Balham
Profile image for Councillor Lynsey Hedges
Councillor Lynsey Hedges  Conservative •  Balham
Profile image for Councillor Graeme Henderson
Councillor Graeme Henderson  Cabinet Member for Health •  Labour •  Roehampton
Profile image for Councillor Simon Hogg
Councillor Simon Hogg  Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Falconbrook
Profile image for Councillor Guy Humphries
Councillor Guy Humphries  Conservative •  Southfields
Profile image for Councillor Angela Ireland
Councillor Angela Ireland  Cabinet Member for Finance •  Labour •  West Hill
Profile image for Councillor Sana Jafri
Councillor Sana Jafri  Labour •  Wandsworth Town
Profile image for Councillor James Jeffreys
Councillor James Jeffreys  Conservative •  Thamesfield
Profile image for Councillor Mark Justin
Councillor Mark Justin  Conservative •  Nine Elms
Chris Kelly
Profile image for Councillor Sean Lawless
Councillor Sean Lawless  Labour •  Tooting Broadway
Profile image for Councillor Jessica Lee
Councillor Jessica Lee  Labour •  St Mary's
Profile image for Councillor John Locker
Councillor John Locker  Conservative •  Thamesfield
Profile image for Councillor Norman Marshall
Councillor Norman Marshall  Labour •  South Balham
Profile image for Councillor Jack Mayorcas
Councillor Jack Mayorcas  Labour •  Trinity
Profile image for Councillor Maurice McLeod
Councillor Maurice McLeod  Labour •  Battersea Park
Fenella Merry
Profile image for Councillor Rex Osborn
Councillor Rex Osborn  Labour •  Tooting Broadway
Profile image for Councillor Emmeline Owens
Councillor Emmeline Owens  Conservative •  Northcote
Profile image for Councillor Denise Paul
Councillor Denise Paul  Labour •  Wandle
Profile image for Councillor Tom Pridham
Councillor Tom Pridham  Conservative •  Lavender
Profile image for Councillor Aled Richards-Jones
Councillor Aled Richards-Jones  Leader of the Opposition •  Conservative •  Northcote
Profile image for Councillor Jo Rigby
Councillor Jo Rigby  Labour •  Balham
Peter Sass
Profile image for Councillor Kate Stock
Councillor Kate Stock  Labour •  Falconbrook
Profile image for Councillor Steffi Sutters
Councillor Steffi Sutters  Conservative •  West Putney
Profile image for Councillor Will Sweet
Councillor Will Sweet  Conservative •  Wandsworth Town
Profile image for Councillor Matthew Tiller
Councillor Matthew Tiller  Labour •  Roehampton
Profile image for Councillor Sarmila Varatharaj
Councillor Sarmila Varatharaj  Labour •  Wandle
Profile image for Councillor Paul White
Councillor Paul White  Cabinet Member for Environment •  Labour •  Tooting Bec
Profile image for Councillor Stephen Worrall
Councillor Stephen Worrall  Labour •  Shaftesbury & Queenstown
Profile image for Councillor Jenny Yates
Councillor Jenny Yates  Cabinet Member for Transport •  Labour •  Roehampton
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