New Leader of Southampton City Council and Cabinet take office following 2022 Local Elections

The Annual General Meeting of Southampton City Council took place today (18 May 2022) in the Southampton Council Chamber

18/05/2022

At Southampton City Council’s local elections on Thursday 5 May 2022, 17 out of 48 seats were up for election, one in each of the City’s 16 Wards together with an additional seat in Shirley ward.

Following the election, the make-up of the council is now 26 seats for the Labour Party, 21 seats for the Conservative Party and one seat for the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour Group took control of the council, and the new Leader of the Council is Councillor Satvir Kaur.

Today she appointed a new Cabinet which is as follows:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children & Learning – Councillor Darren Paffey
Cabinet Member for Finance & Change – Councillor Steve Leggett
Cabinet Member for Health, Adults & Leisure – Councillor Lorna Fielker
Cabinet Member for Housing & the Green Environment – Councillor Lisa Mitchell
Cabinet Member for Economic Development – Councillor Sarah Bogle
Cabinet Member Transport & District Regeneration – Councillor Eamonn Keogh
Cabinet Member for Safer City – Councillor Matthew Renyard
Cabinet Member for Communities – Councillor Toqeer Kataria

Councillor Satvir Kaur comments on the priorities of the new administration:

“Thank you to everyone who came out and voted at the Local Elections earlier this month. It’s incredibly humbling that the Labour Party has been trusted again to lead our great city. As a new administration we are keen and eager to start delivering for the people of Southampton, and create a safer, greener and more affordable city, with community pride at its centre. From the conversations we had with residents at their doorsteps, we know that there are many local and national issues, like the cost of living crisis, that are of real concern for many. We want to support local people in the best way we can and be a council that works with, as well as for, you.

“Already since the elections, it’s been amazing to be part of the final stages of our UK City of Culture 2025 Bid. The support from everyone, from our local communities, city institutions to large and small businesses has been phenomenal and I couldn’t be prouder of our wonderful city. It has been a transformative process so far and we are keeping everything crossed while we wait for the final decision next week.”

Southampton’s 800th Right Worshipful Mayor of Southampton and 585th Sheriff were sworn in at a ‘Mayor Making’ Ceremony today.

At the ceremony at Southampton O2 Guildhall, Councillor Jacqui Rayment became the city’s 800th Mayor and Councillor Valerie Laurent takes on the role of the 585th Sheriff. Both will hold the posts for the next 12 months.