The Greenwich councillor in charge of development and building new council houses has quit the cabinet after just two years.

Aidan Smith, a Greenwich Park councillor, was the cabinet member for planning, estate renewal and development – a post known as “regeneration” until recently. 

The role is one of the biggest on the council, involving dealing with developers and taking charge of the Greenwich Builds council homebuilding programme. 

Smith, whose day job is as a university librarian, had been a backbench Labour councillor for eight years being promoted to the role in May 2022. He said on social media that he was standing down because of an “advancement in my career” but would remain a councillor. 

Majid Rahman, an East Greenwich councillor elected two years ago, will now take up the role. His day job is as a business engagement officer at Goldsmiths University, according to the council’s register of interests.

Smith said: “We have achieved so much as a council, from increasing our council housing delivery and securing planning permission for the new [Woolwich] leisure centre, to developing our new local plan and decarbonising our corporate buildings and schools. 

“The 10-year regeneration plan and estate regeneration plan we recently passed should stand us in good stead for the future and I know Majid will do a brilliant job in my place.”

Okereke said that it had been a “pleasure” working with Smith and that he “understood the vision and mission and drove it forward”, while Greenwich & Woolwich MP and housing minister Matt Pennycook said Smith had done a “brilliant job”.

He added that Rahman “joins us at a crucial time with much to deliver, from estate renewal to a new local plan and ensuring we get high-quality developments in Greenwich. Majid is pro-business and committed to delivery.”

Rahman said he would “work tirelessly to deliver for our residents”.

Women posing with large bin
Rachel Taggart-Ryan, third left, helping launch a knife amnesty bin scheme in Abbey Wood recently. She joins Ann-Marie Cousins (third right) and Denise Hyland (second right) in the cabinet. Image: Greenwich Council

Smith’s departure means another change to Okereke’s cabinet after a reshuffle in the spring.

Newcomer Rachel Taggart-Ryan was appointed cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, replacing Ann-Marie Cousins, who took on the culture and communities brief.

Adel Khaireh became cabinet member for children and young people, while Mariam Lolovar switched to take on the health and social care role.

Jackie Smith, a council veteran, returned to the cabinet to take on the economy and business role. She first became a councillor in 2002 and served in the cabinets under previous leaders Chris Roberts, Denise Hyland and Danny Thorpe.

Matt Morrow and Denise Scott-McDonald departed the cabinet.

Cabinet members are paid £33,818 a year – the basic councillor’s allowance of £11,256 and a “special responsibility allowance” of £22,562. The positions are chosen by the leader, so many continue in their day jobs while carrying out their council roles.