Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, has reshuffled his cabinet following the local elections just over a week ago.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Margaret Mullane. Picture: LBBDMargaret Mullane. Picture: LBBD (Image: Andreas Grieger PHOTOGRAPHER)

He was re-elected unopposed as leader last week and will head up the council for a second four-year term.

The ten cabinet members are:

Darren Rodwell (leader)

Dominic Twomey (deputy leader/finance, performance and core services)

Barking and Dagenham Post: Syed Ghani. Picture: LBBDSyed Ghani. Picture: LBBD (Image: Andreas Grieger PHOTOGRAPHER)

Saima Ashraf (deputy leader/community leadership and engagement)

Maureen Worby (social care and health integration)

Evelyn Carpenter (educational attainment and school improvement)

Cameron Geddes (regeneration and social housing)

Sade Bright (employment, skills and aspiration)

Lynda Rice (equalities and diversity)

Margaret Mullane (enforcement and community safety)

Syed Ghani (public realm)

Councillors Margaret Mullane and Syed Ghani have been newly appointed to the cabinet.

Ms Mullane, who has served on the council since 2010, is replacing Laila Butt, who recently resigned from the cabinet after an investigation was launched into an undeclared rental property owned by her husband, as the member for enforcement and community safety.

Ms Mullane said: “I am delighted to take up this role. The council has been making good progress in the area of enforcement, particularly in using our landlord licensing scheme to tackle the rogue landlords that blight our borough, but there is still much more work to be done.

“Policing will also be a key priority for me. After we won our fight to save Dagenham police station last year, I will be pressuring the Tory government to reverse their cuts to the police budget that have led to a decline in visible, community policing across the borough.”

Mr Ghani, who will be ensuring the borough’s public spaces are maintained, has served on the council since 2014. He said: “I am extremely proud to have been offered this role and will be working hard to ensure we can deliver on our manifesto commitment to make the borough cleaner.

“I know that our street cleaning and bin collection services have sometimes not been as good as they should be. That’s why, despite huge budget cuts being imposed by the Tory government, we are investing money in this area. I see my job as making sure we make this investment pay.”

Mr Rodwell said: Cllr Rodwell said: “I’m pleased to announce my new cabinet team, who are drawn from across the borough and have a wealth of experience. I look forward to working with them all.

“Our fantastic election results show that residents have faith in Labour’s vision for the borough. As a council, we will continue to do everything we can to fight Tory austerity and ensure no one is left behind in Barking & Dagenham.”