Building the future together: Redbridge appoints new Cabinet to lead borough wide transformation

Published: 21 May 2026 A group of Cllrs in formal attire, including traditional and modern dress, pose in front of a stage with musicians, conveying a celebratory mood.

Redbridge Council has confirmed a new Cabinet, setting out a refreshed leadership team tasked with accelerating the borough’s programme of modernisation and delivering improved services for residents.

The appointments were agreed at last night’s Full Council meeting, which also saw Cllr Bert Jones formally unveiled as the new Mayor of Redbridge, taking on the borough’s civic ambassador role from Cllr Beverley Brewer. Cllr Syeda Choudhury was also appointed as Deputy Mayor, taking over from Joe Hehir.

Announcing the new Cabinet, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Kam Rai, said the strengthened team reflects the administration’s commitment to high‑quality services, financial resilience, and continued investment in Redbridge’s neighbourhoods.

The new Cabinet is as follows:

  • Cllr Kam Rai – Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth and Property
  • Cllr Vanisha Bharti Solanki – Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Shared Prosperity
  • Cllr Saima Ahmed – Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
  • Cllr Jo Blackman – Cabinet Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods
  • Cllr Sunny Brar – Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Community Safety and Cohesion
  • Cllr Lloyd Duddridge – Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
  • Cllr Judith Garfield – Cabinet Member for Strategy and Modernisation
  • Cllr Daniel Morgan Thomas – Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health
  • Cllr Helen Mullis – Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture

Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: “It is a real privilege to have received the support of residents across Redbridge, and I want to thank everyone who has placed their confidence in us. We are committed to working hard every day to justify that trust.

“I also want to warmly welcome our new Cabinet Members. Each brings valuable experience and a strong commitment to public service, and together we will drive forward the modernisation and change our borough needs.

“But we cannot do this alone. Local people will be at the heart of our decisions, and we need our communities to be active participants in shaping the future of our borough. Redbridge is a place where everyone belongs, and we want every resident to feel proud to call it home.

“Over the next four years, we have an ambitious programme that builds on the progress we’ve already made. It is a programme for every resident, no matter how they voted. In Redbridge, we stand against division and instead celebrate what unites us — a shared pride in our borough and a commitment to treating one another with respect and understanding.

“Our focus is on making Redbridge an even better place for people of all ages. We have already begun work on the ten pledges we set out, from improving our roads and delivering more social housing, to investing in modern leisure facilities for everyone to enjoy. We are determined to ensure that every neighbourhood sees real, positive progress that residents can both see and experience.”