'Team Wandsworth’ joins together to create a fairer, compassionate, more sustainable borough

Council leader Simon Hogg has confirmed the Cabinet team of leading councillors who will be supported by Policy Champions in helping to deliver policies and initiatives that benefit the day-to day lives of local residents.

Councillor Hogg said he and his senior colleagues have formed a new leadership ‘Team Wandsworth’ as they continue to build an administration based on fairness, compassion and sustainability.

He added: “Team Wandsworth is determined to deliver for our residents and businesses. We are committed to putting our communities at the front and centre of everything we do.”

The council’s cabinet of leading members comprises the following councillors:

• Council Leader - Simon Hogg
• Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Voluntary Services and Culture - Kemi Akinola
• Cabinet Member for Health - Graeme Henderson
• Cabinet Member for Transport - Jenny Yates
• Cabinet Member for Housing - Aydin Dikerdem
• Cabinet Member for Children - Kate Stock
• Cabinet Member for Environment - Judi Gasser
• Cabinet Member for Finance – Angela Ireland

The Policy Champions will support the Cabinet in raising awareness of their specific roles and responsibilities, engage with local stakeholders, research innovative new ideas and evaluate relevant work in other boroughs.

There are three new faces in this list of champions, who will be focusing on new priorities for the administration. They will promote and enhance the council’s work on safer streets, high streets and Wandsworth’s role as London Borough of Culture 2025.

The full list of champions is:

• Refugees Champion – Sarmila Varatharaj.
• Safer Streets Champion – Sean Lawless.
• Borough of Culture Champion – Jessica Lee.
• Active Travel Champion – Jack Mayorcas.
• Tenants Champion– Matthew Tiller.
• Families Champion - Sarah Davies.
• Conservation and Heritage Champion – Rex Osborn.
• High Streets Champion – Jo Rigby.

Clockwise from top left: Jack Mayorcas, Jessica Lee, Sean Lawless, Sarah Davies, Matthew Tiller, Sarmila Varatharaj, Jo Rigby, Rex Osborn

Councillor Hogg continued: “I’m delighted to confirm the borough’s Policy Champions. They will work alongside my cabinet colleagues in delivering real and positive change for the people of this borough. They will bring additional knowledge, experience and expertise to the forefront of everything we do to improve the daily lives of our residents.”

The council has also confirmed the senior councillors who will chair the town hall’s important Overview and Scrutiny Committees. These committees give councillors the chance to comment, question and analyse council policy.

Wandsworth’s committee chairpersons are as follows:

• Health Committee – Lizzy Dobres
• Environment Committee – Jamie Colclough
• Transport Committee – Clare Fraser
• Children’s Committee – Sheila Boswell
• Finance Committee - Annamarie Critchard
• Housing Committee – Paul White
• Planning Applications Committee – Tony Belton
• Regulatory Licensing Committee - Maurice McLeod
• General Purposes Committee - Rex Osborn

For more information on on how the council works and the roles and responsibilities of members please visit https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/the-council/