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| Town Hall’s new leader
prepares for polls battle |
Lawyer shrugs off criticism that
he lacks experience for top job
New leader Cllr Raj Chada |
CRIMINAL defence lawyer Raj Chada will become the next leader
of Camden Council after being selected unopposed by Labour members
on Monday evening.
He will be formally confirmed in his new position early next month
following the decision by Councillor Dame Jane Roberts to step down
from the top job.
At 32, Cllr Chada will be the youngest Town Hall leader in the council’s
history.
The New Journal revealed exclusively last week how Cllr Chada –
the council’s housing chief for the past 18 months – was
the front runner in the contest to find a new leader and how potential
challengers were thinking twice about standing against him as his
popularity grew.
Cllr Chada, who is in a relationship with fellow senior Labour councillor
Geethika Jayatilaka, said: “There was no pact with other councillors.
I told them that if they wanted to challenge then they should challenge
for the leadership but we have a united group.”
The new leader said he was determined to ensure the council provided
solid public services, even if it meant standing up to central government
funding policies.
He added: “I want to build on the success of Jane Roberts.
I want to focus on good public services. I will criticise the government
if necessary but praise it when policy has helped Camden.”
His elevation to leader after just three years at the Town Hall
has been viewed as a gamble by opposition councillors, who claim
he does not have the experience for the top job.
But Cllr Chada dismissed the criticism and said he was ready to
lead Labour into battle at next May’s Town Hall elections.
He said: “I do have experience. I’m confident we can show
the electorate the benefit of having a Labour council and that a
Labour council will be returned.”
In a Labour reshuffle, long-serving councillor Julian Fulbrook was
chosen as housing chief, Anna Stewart moved departments, from community
safety to finance, where she will replace outgoing treasurer John
Mills, and Lucy Anderson was chosen as the council’s new education
boss.
Meanwhile, Cllr Jayatilaka holds children’s services, Jake
Sumner was elected to the cabinet in the community safety portfolio
and Highgate councillor Maggie Cosin was chosen to oversee adult
social services. Councillors John Thane, Theo Blackwell and Phil
Turner retained senior positions.
Cllr Jonathan Simpson, who defected to the party from the Lib Dems
only five months ago, was given the role of licensing chairman.
Lib Dem group leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said of the choice
of new leader: “Raj is a nice guy but he has very little experience.
He has only been a councillor for three years. This seems like re-arranging
the chairs on the Titanic.
“The whole thing seems cobbled together, a strange mix. They
have certainly lost two big hitters in Jane Roberts and John Mills.”
Tory leader Councillor Piers Wauchope said: “The Labour elections
will make no change at all at the Town Hall.
“The only change will be at the council elections next May
when the public will get the chance to change things around rather
than the Labour Party.” |
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