New changes at Ealing Council following Deirdre Costigan becoming Ealing Southall MP – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 towns

Ealing Council has a new deputy leader as well as a new cabinet member for climate action following previous incumbent Councilor Deirdre Costigan becoming MP for Ealing Southall at last week’s general election.

To replace Councilor Costigan, Councilor Louise Brett has been appointed as deputy leader and Councilor Paul Driscoll joins the cabinet as portfolio holder for climate action.

Councilor Brett will also continue in her portfolio holder role for safe and genuinely affordable homes

Leader of Labour-run Ealing Council, Councilor Peter Mason said: “I want to thank Councilor Deirdre Costigan for her hard work over the last three years as deputy leader and as cabinet member for climate action, particularly for her central role on delivering our hugely successful bike hanger and school street projects, and on the unveiling of our plans to fulfill the historic ambition for a regional park.

“I’d like to congratulate Councilor Louise Brett in her additional role as our newly appointed deputy leader, and Councilor Paul Driscoll, who will lead on addressing one of our key priorities, fighting the climate crisis.

Councilor Brett said: “I’m looking forward to taking on this new leadership role, alongside my portfolio work, ensuring our residents have access to safe, secure, and genuinely affordable homes, as well as continuing to work closely with my colleagues in cabinet and the wider organization to continue to deliver on our priorities of creating good jobs, fighting the climate crisis, and tackling inequality.”

Councilor Driscoll said of his appointment to the Ealing Council cabinet: “I am delighted to be appointed as the new cabinet member for climate action. This portfolio is focused on one of the defining issues of our time. I’m particularly looking forward to building on our commitment to improving active travel in the borough through investing at least £10 million to increase cycling, walking, running, and scooting.”

Speaking to EALING.NEWS about the appointment of Councilor Driscoll, Neil Reynolds chair of Ealing Green Party said: “This is welcome news. Councilor Driscoll is a committed councilor and, was proponent of low traffic neighbourhoods, his appointment is welcome.”

Mr Reynolds added: “This new appointment, therefore, appears to be a response to the increased green vote in Ealing, London and across the country. It hopefully marks a change of course from the tokenistic approach of Councilor Mason’s administration on climate change so far. I wish Councilor Driscoll well, in persuading his colleagues to take meaningful action.”