CHRIS Robbins is set to be selected as the new Waltham Forest Council leader.

Cllr Robbins, the current cabinet member for children and young people, was elected leader at the Labour group's annual general meeting last night.

He will spend the next week working to select candidates for cabinet positions.

Cllr Robbins said: "I am very pleased to receive the support of the Labour group and I am looking forward to the next 12 months."

Cllr Robbins paid tribute to Clyde Loakes, who stood down as leader to concentrate on his bid to become the MP for Northampton South.

He said: "Clyde will be a strong act to follow, he has done some excellent work in the borough and it will be a challenge for us to build on that."

Cllr Robbins said improving the street scene, sorting out the Arcade site development, and raising the profile of the borough will be his priorities as leader.

Cllr Robbins will be formally elected council leader at a meeting of the full council later this month.

The Labour group declined to reveal which other councillors put themselves forward for the group leadership.

But Cllrs Afzal Akram, Marie Pye and Liaquat Ali had all been rumoured to be interested in the post.