Ealing Council Cabinet Reshuffle Announced
Blerina Hashani joins after departure of Bassam Mahfouz
Cllr Blerina Hashani (lfet) with Cllr Peter Mason. Picture: Ealing Council
May 16, 2024
A significant reshuffle of Ealing Council’s cabinet has been announced following the departure of Cllr Bassam Mahfouz.
Although he remains a councillor for Northolt West End, he is stepping down from his responsibilities as cabinet member for housing following his election to the Greater London Assembly as the representative for Ealing and Hillingdon.
Leader of the Council Peter Mason said, “I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to Councillor Mahfouz for his dedication and service to the borough. Whether guiding the council’s finances during the worst years of government-mandated austerity; ensuring the smooth introduction of the borough’s wheelie bins; or, most recently, leading the charge to secure 10,000 new, decent jobs; Bassam’s impact will continue well beyond his time in cabinet.
“As our new member of the London Assembly, I wish him every success in championing the needs of both Ealing and Hillingdon at City Hall”.
He is being replaced by Councillor Blerina Hashani, who Ealing Council believe is the country’s first cabinet member of Kosovar heritage. Councillor Hashani was elected to represent North Acton ward in 2022. She is a public policy professional and has previously worked in Parliament and for a national cultural institution. She has been made cabinet member for thriving communities.
Council leader Peter Mason said, “Councillor Blerina Hashani joins the cabinet to take on responsibility for key projects, like our new state of the art leisure centre at Gurnell, launching our new plan for cultural infrastructure and venues as well as our progress toward becoming a Borough of Sanctuary.
“Like many families in our borough who have had to endure and experience the injustice of fleeing war and as a refugee, Councillor Hashani’s own experience of asylum from the 1999 Kosovo war will be invaluable to the council as we continue to build a welcoming, fair and equal London.”
Councillor Hashani said, “I am delighted to be appointed as the new cabinet member for thriving communities. This exciting portfolio is focused on bringing people together, and I look forward to working with colleagues to continue to deliver on our manifesto pledges.
“My focus remains putting the community power that already exists within the heart of each of our 7 towns into everything we do, as we are doing through our Your Voice Your Town initiative. I also look forward to delivering on our pledge for well-loved community facilities, including a new leisure centre at Gurnell.
“I am especially proud to be able to support our work as a Borough of Sanctuary. We will build on work that’s already been done to ensure refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed and supported when they arrive in our borough.’’
Cllr Louise Brett takes up the mantle as cabinet member housing with Cllr Kamaljit Nagpal, formerly cabinet member for education taking on Cllr Brett’s former cabinet post of decent living incomes. Cllr Blacker moves to education and his former responsibilities for adult social care and health are being given to Cllr Knewstub, who had the thriving communities job. She has been given a new portfolio title of healthy equal lives which covers adult social care, public health and equalities. Cllr Josh Blacker now takes on responsibility for education.
The cabinet in full is now:
Leader of the council: Councillor Peter Mason
Deputy leader and climate action: Councillor Deirdre Costigan
Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour: Councillor Jasbir Anand
Inclusive economy: Councillor Steve Donnelly
Good growth and new homes: Councillor Shital Manro
Decent living incomes: Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal
A fairer start: Councillor Josh Blacker
Safe and genuinely affordable homes: Councillor Louise Brett
Healthy, equal lives: Councillor Polly Knewstub
Thriving communities: Councillor Blerina Hashani
Councillor Gareth Shaw continues to attend cabinet as the council’s chief whip
The new cabinet portfolios and portfolios will come into effect following the annual full council meeting on Tuesday 21 May.
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