Cllr Dominic Twomey was elected as the new Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council at a full Assembly meeting last night, 18 September.

Cllr Twomey has served the borough as a councillor in the Gascoigne ward since 2010, and has been Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Core Services for the last 10 years. 

During this time Cllr Twomey has set balanced budgets for the council while transforming the way it provides services, with better outcomes for residents. This has included essential support to residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and, since then, the cost of living crisis. 

Cllr Twomey said, “It is a privilege to serve the residents of the borough as Council Leader. We are living through momentous times and I’m looking forward to harnessing the opportunities ahead, as our borough continues to evolve and grow.

“Barking and Dagenham is incredibly special - it’s a place like no other and I will have a laser focus on delivering for our residents – whether it’s tackling the inequalities people face or, quite simply, delivering the best services every day.

“We’ve endured over a decade of austerity, stripping councils of funding and piling demand on our services, and I remain determined to continue creating opportunities for our residents and business to thrive.

“We faced massive challenges from the pandemic and cost of living crisis, but now we must look forward to a period of renewal. With a change of government just months ago, and three new MPs representing our borough in parliament, we are presented with an almost once in a lifetime opportunity - to refocus our efforts to enable our residents to live healthy, fulfilling lives where the daily challenges they face can be eased by a safe, supportive and inclusive community with a council that’s on their side.

“I want to put on record my thanks to Councillor Darren Rodwell for the energy and enthusiasm with which he led our borough, putting us on the map and attracting investment into our borough. Now as Leader it is imperative for me that all of us must benefit to the fullest extent from the growth we are seeing in Barking and Dagenham. 

“We have many more opportunities on the horizon and, working with our partners and Government, I will do everything I can to make sure we get our fair share of resources and to ensure we get the best value for money for every penny the council spends. Together with the people of our borough, we will ensure everyone is proud to live, work, study and stay in Barking and Dagenham.”

Cllr Darren Rodwell is also standing down as a Councillor. Over the last decade, under his leadership, the council has secured investment and new opportunities which have transformed the borough. 

As well as being responsible for building one in five of London’s affordable homes, it has attracted two brand new film studios, a modern university run by CULondon, the Future Youth Zone in Parsloes Park, London’s only Women’s Museum in Barking, the Thames Clipper Service and a new train station at Barking Riverside. 

This is alongside nine out of ten schools rated Good or Outstanding by OFSTED, and building new homes in Barking town centre, (including the 360 Building, the former Gascoigne estate), and former industrial land (including Beam Park, Ford’s former stamping plant, in Dagenham).