Ealing Liberal Democrats have started the New Year with updates on the responsibilities its seven councillors have as the official opposition to Labour-run Ealing Council.
The changes come after the October 2024 Hanger Hill by-election which saw the Lib Dems win from Conservatives.
According to the LibDems there will be an increased focus on local and national issues including adult and children’s social care, anti-social behaviour and the use of artificial intelligence.
The responsibilities for each Liberal Democrat councillors are:
Councillor Gary Malcolm – Leader of the opposition and transport
Councillor Gary Busuttil – Deputy leader, whip, finance, IT including AI, performance and council honesty
Councillor Connie Hersch – Crime, anti-social behaviour, communities and regeneration
Councillor Jon Ball – Housing, development, the Local Plan and licensing
Councillor Athena Zissimos – Environment, streets, parks and climate change
Councillor Jonathan Oxley – Children (Education, children’s services, special educational needs, fostering and looked after children)
Councillor Andrew Steed – Adults’ Services (Social Care, jobs, adult education, training and skills, mental health and disabilities)
Councillor Oxley said of his portfolio responsibilities: “As a new Liberal Democrat councillor, I welcome the responsibility of scrutinising the council in this area. I have two children myself and am keen to ensure that the council is managing and ensuring appropriate service provision. We are concerned that the council means to close children centres across the borough reducing access to critical services and impacting families at this difficult time. Liberal Democrats will stand up for parents and their children.”
Councillor Steed spoke of his focus and said: “The Ealing Liberal Democrats are concerned that Labour-run Ealing council are looking to reduce adult services to save money by closing the essential service centres of Michael Flanders, Cowgate and the Solace Centre. There is a consultation underway which we believe will result in these sites being repurposed as building sites.”
He added: “It is disappointing to see given that adult social services is in crisis and that the new government has decided to kick the can down the road for another three years with stalling tactics. This is despite the Fabian Society publishing a report over two years ago on this matter and social care featuring prominently in the manifesto on which the new government was elected.”
