Mayor and cabinet

The Mayor

Lewisham has a directly elected Mayor. Brenda Dacres was elected following a byelection on 7 March 2024.

The Mayor appoints a Cabinet to lead on decision making across the Council. She will confirm her Cabinet at the Council’s AGM.

Brenda has been a councillor since 2014, representing wards in New Cross and Deptford. She has been Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing Development and Planning since 2021. She has also held the Environment and Transport Safer Communities briefs.

Brenda has lived in Lewisham for over 40 years. Her parents came to England from Jamaica in the 1960s as part of the Windrush generation, her dad working as a mechanic and black cab driver, and her mum as an NHS nurse.

Brenda received a grant from Lewisham Council and became the first in her family to go to university at London South Bank. She completed a degree in Physical Sciences with Computing before taking a Law degree at the University of Wolverhampton. She was called to the Bar in 2006 by Middle Temple.

To get in touch with Brenda email brenda.dacres@lewisham.gov.uk.

Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham

• overall budget, strategy and policy responsibility
• trade unions
• service transformation
• Bakerloo line extension
• inward investment
• London Councils, Local Government Association and key stakeholder relationships
• Lewisham Strategic Partnership (LSP)
• communications
• Young Mayor's programme

Deputy Mayor Councillor Louise Krupski

• civic events
• Mayor's charity
• armed forces covenant

As Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Action

• environment and climate change
• air quality
• transport, including walking and cycling
• highways
• parking strategy and enforcement
• recycling and waste reduction
• street cleaning and fly tipping
• renewable energy, including district heat networks
• street trees
• parks, green spaces and trees

Councillor Amanda de Ryk, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance

• council budget
• cost of living
• digital transformation
• internal audit
• revenue collection and benefits
• pensions
• ethical procurement and contracting
• IT and digital services
• income maximisation
• council financial stability
• emergency planning and resilience
• customer services and complaints
• information governance
• corporate governance
• legal services
• democratic and electoral services
• human resources and organisational development

Councillor James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning

• social housing building programme
• planning
• regeneration
• planning enforcement
• strategic assets

Councillor Will Cooper, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness

• housing need, including lettings and allocations policy
• repairs
• homelessness and temporary accommodation
• landlord licensing
• private rented sector regulation
• relationship with housing providers including housing associations
• Gypsies and Travellers 

Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

• adult social care, including care home and at-home provision and quality assurance
• primary care
• mental health
• Health & Wellbeing Board
• health and social care integration
• adult safeguarding
• joint commissioning
• supporting people
• health services for LGBT+ residents
• older people, including representation, active citizenship, combating isolation, housing, technology, aids and adaptions
• public health
• Birmingham & Lewisham Africa and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR)

Councillor Ese Erheriene, Cabinet Member for Businesses, Jobs and Skills

• local economic development and inclusive growth
• evening and night-time economy
• adult education including Adult Learning Lewisham
• youth employment
• Mayor's apprenticeship programme
• business and retail support
• markets
• social enterprise
• higher education
• further education
• trading standards
• environmental health and food safety
  
  

Councillor Edison Huynh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

• primary and secondary school performance
• school admissions, attendance, inclusion and school place planning
• special educational needs
• early years education and childcare
• early help and prevention, including children's centres, family hubs and family support
• child protection and safeguarding
• corporate parenting for looked after children and care leavers
• youth services
• child poverty
• support for children in need
• youth violence
• youth justice (including Youth Offending Service) 

Councillor Sakina Sheikh, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Sports

• arts and culture
• libraries
• sports and leisure
• community development
• community engagement
• community centres
• grants programmes
• local assemblies
• community wealth building
• refugee resettlement and migrant support
• sanctuary borough programme
• Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) grants

Councillor Oana Olaru-Holmes, Cabinet Member for Refugees, Safer Lewisham and Equalities

• refugee resettlement and migrant support
• sanctuary borough programme
• equalities
• bereavement services
• partnership with police
• antisocial behaviour
• violence against women and girls
• CCTV
• regulatory services
• modern day slavery
  
  

Cabinet Advisors

Cabinet Advisors are appointed by the Mayor to assist with specific portfolio areas, helping to drive forward the Council's priorities. They provide political oversight to ensure services are effectively delivered and aligned with the Council’s goals. They collaborate with departments, participate in drafting Cabinet reports, attend relevant meetings, and represent the Council externally. The position is non-executive, and the Cabinet Advisor role is intended to support the Mayor and Cabinet without engaging in direct decision-making processes.

• Cllr Rosie Parry – Housing, Private Rented Sector
• Cllr Ese Erheriene – Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR) 
• Cllr Laura Cunningham – Carer’s & Autism Strategy

Council Champions

Council Champions play a key role in supporting and enhancing the work of portfolio holders and other Councillors with specific responsibilities. They focus on raising awareness and demonstrating the Council's commitment to important issues. By fostering effective communication and building strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, and community groups, Council champions help ensure progress. They also provide support and, when necessary, constructive challenges to Council officers to drive forward the Council's agenda on their designated issue.

• Cllr Mark Jackson – Armed Forces Champion
• Cllr Mark Ingleby – Cycling Champion
• Cllr Aisha Malik-Smith – Evening & Night-time Economy Champion
• Cllr Luke Warner – Heritage & History Champion
• Cllr Carol Webley-Brown – Mental Health Champion