The Green Party has named its new joint leaders, who will head up the council in Waltham Forest after their election win.
Councillors Paul Perkins and Eva Tabbasam have been selected by secret ballot to lead Waltham Forest’s Green Party group, following their historic win in the May 7 local elections, where they secured 31 out of 60 seats and took control of the council from Labour.
Their election as joint leaders reflects the Green Party’s commitment to shared, democratic leadership.
Councillor Tabbasam said: "Leadership must be collaborative and rooted in the lived realities of communities.
"I want to build a confident, values-led Green group that is genuinely ambitious for Waltham Forest."
Councillor Perkins will serve as leader of the council for the first year, with Councillor Tabbasam as deputy leader, before they swap roles in year two.
This rotating approach, which the group describes as rare in local government, is designed to prevent power from becoming 'concentrated in a single person.'
Councillor Tabbasam, who represents Cann Hall ward, was elected with 1,970 votes.
She leads a national network of 17 organisations, including ActionAid, Oxfam and Amnesty International UK, focusing on policy advocacy and systems change with national government.
Councillor Perkins, who represents Forest ward, was elected with 2,332 votes.
He has held senior leadership roles in local government and the voluntary sector, including work as a youth and community worker and charity chief executive, and previously served as co-chair of the Waltham Forest Green Party.
Mr Perkins said: "Residents have chosen hope over complacency, and a fresh start.
"We now have a responsibility to rebuild trust, stabilise the council and show what a genuinely community-led Green administration can achieve."
Both councillors will be formally proposed at the full council meeting on May 21, with cabinet appointments to be announced before this date.
The Green group takes office during a period of significant financial strain and has pledged to be open and honest with residents about the challenges ahead.
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