As part of interim arrangements, Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE has appointed Cllr Sarah Ruiz as Statutory Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Ruiz will have overall Executive Member oversight of the Environment and Sustainable Transport portfolio following the departure of James Asser as a councillor of the London Borough of Newham.
Cllr Ruiz will provide senior member support to Cllr Miraj Patel, Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, and Cllr John Morris, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Sustainable Transport, who continue to support on their respective portfolio responsibilities.
Cllr Madeleine Sarley Pontin has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Member to support Cllr Ruiz in managing her Children’s Services and Education portfolio responsibilities.
Paying tribute to former Statutory Deputy Mayor and councillor, James Asser, Mayor Fiaz said:
“I would like to thank James Asser for his service to Newham Council and the residents of Newham, since being elected in 2018; as a councillor, a Cabinet member, and as my Statutory Deputy Mayor. James has been a wonderful friend and colleague who has made an incredible contribution to my administration and our ambition of Building a Fairer Newham. I will miss him dearly, but I know he will continue to play a huge part in Newham’s future.”
Commenting on Cllr Ruiz’s appointment as Statutory Deputy Mayor, Mayor Fiaz said:
“Cllr Sarah Ruiz is an extremely experienced and accomplished councillor and Executive Member who oversaw the turnaround in Children’s Services leading to a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.”