A backbench Labour councillor has been given a temporary promotion to Greenwich Council’s cabinet and will be taking charge of the controversial “sustainable streets” scheme to extend controlled parking zones in the north of the borough.
Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, who represents Creekside, will step up to be cabinet member for climate action, sustainability and transport while the council’s deputy leader, Averil Lekau, takes a period of absence.
The Greenwich Wire understands that Lekau has been unwell and recently suffered a knee injury. It is not clear how long she will be absent for.
O’Byrne Mulligan, who was first elected in 2022, is a keen cyclist and as a backbench councillor has pressured his colleagues on topic such as the broken escalators at Cutty Sark DLR station – now being replaced – and broken lifts at Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels. Those issues will now be his responsibility.
The troubled “sustainable streets” scheme is likely to dominate his workload. Part of the scheme, in Plumstead and Shooters Hill, was scrapped after overwhelming opposition, but a consultation is ongoing for other areas, stretching from Lee Green to Woolwich and west Thamesmead. A new series of public meetings was announced earlier this week, while a consultation ends on September 30.
With Lekau absent and council leader Anthony Okereke taking leave later this month following the death of his father, former council leader Denise Hyland is set for a surprise comeback at the helm of the town hall.
Hyland, who ran the council from 2014 to 2018 and is currently the cabinet member for resources, will be filling in for Okereke while he is away, including at the full council meeting on September 24. Anti-CPZ protesters have already announced plans to hold a demonstration outside the meeting.
To submit a question to the council meeting, email committees[at]royalgreenwich.gov.uk by noon on September 17.
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