New Executive appointed to deliver Council’s priorities for the year ahead
Published: 15 May 2024
Council Leader Phil Bialyk said he was looking forward to delivering the Council’s priorities for the year ahead after his new Executive was formally appointed.
Cllr Bialyk was appointed Leader following the Annual Meeting of the Council at the Guildhall on Tuesday and Cllr Laura Wright will serve as Deputy Leader.
Cllr Bialyk welcomed the 10 new councillors to the Council and pledged to work with communities throughout Exeter while delivering on his party’s manifesto.
Following the election on 2 May, Labour has 24 of the 39 seats on the Council, the Greens have seven, Liberal Democrats four, Conservatives three and Independents one.
Cllr Bialyk said: “We have a good working majority which means that we will be able to deliver on the manifesto we put to the public, and I am very pleased to say that more than 12,000 people voted for my party across Exeter.
“We will listen to the views of all councillors and will take things on board. But we are clear about the manifesto that people voted for.
“Exeter is a very successful place and we want to continue taking it forward. We have an important agenda on housing, on active lives, decarbonisation at the Riverside and at RAMM, we are working on plans for the Wonford Sports Hub, enhancing and protecting our parks and open spaces – there is a lot going on and we are listening to people and working with communities across Exeter.”
As well as Cllr Bialyk as Leader and Cllr Laura Wright as Deputy Leader, six other members of the Executive were appointed at the Annual Meeting, with the following Portfolios:
- Climate, Ecological Change and Communities - Cllr Matt Vizard
- Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Customer Services - Cllr Marina Asvachin
- Leisure Services & Healthy Living - Cllr Duncan Wood
- City Management - Cllr Ruth Williams
- City Development - Cllr Naima Allcock
- Arts, Culture & Tourism - Cllr Bob Foale
Cllr Bialyk added: “I have a great new set of portfolio holders with three new members coming in. It really is a great team of people who are committed to taking the city forward and listening to people here in Exeter.
“In the year ahead we need to see some change nationally and we need a change of Government, which will hopefully be a Labour government. That won’t bring us lots of money, but it may bring us some new ways for working, which will bring new opportunities for Exeter.”