The new team (l-r): Adele Morris, David Noakes, Rosie Shimell, Michael Bukola, Anood Al-Samerai, Graham Neale

Leader of Southwark Liberal Democrats, Councillor Anood Al-Samerai, has unveiled her new frontbench team for the year leading up to 2014’s council elections, with the focus on more affordable homes.

Cllr Adele Morris will be the Southwark Liberal Democrats’ new deputy leader and is taking on a new Shadow Cabinet role of ‘Regeneration, Jobs and Affordable Homes’. The Lib Dems have created this role to mark out affordable housing as a priority for a future Lib Dem administration.

Cllr Morris has recently completed a Masters Degree in Urban Regeneration and has already been pressing the Labour Council to be more open about their dealings with developers, as well as their failure to deliver more affordable homes in new developments.

In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Cllr Al-Samerai will be focusing on council budgets and community councils, outlining the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to giving residents more say over how their own money is spent.

The full frontbench team for the next year is:

Cllr Anood Al-Samerai – Leader; Finance and Community Councils

Cllr Adele Morris – Deputy Leader; Regeneration, Jobs and Affordable Homes

Cllr David Noakes – Older People, Health & Adult Social Care

Cllr Rosie Shimell – Children, Young People and Equalities

Cllr Michael Bukola – Housing Management and Community Safety

Cllr Graham Neale – Environment and Leisure

Cllr Al-Samerai has also reaffirmed her commitment to providing value for money for Southwark residents by putting together a smaller front bench team which better mirrors the council’s existing departments. Labour’s currently have nine Cabinet members and they have resisted calls to reduce this number.

Previous deputy leader Cllr Paul Noblet will be leading on putting together the group’s 2014 election manifesto.

Commenting on her new frontbench team, Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Anood Al-Samerai, said:

“We’ve got an impressive and diverse team going into next year’s election, which will be working from now until polling day to prove we’re on the side of Southwark residents.”

“Affordable housing is the biggest issue in Southwark, which is why it is a top priority for local Liberal Democrats. Residents are tired of seeing their council leaders roll over to big developers whilst they sell off our council homes. It’s at the top of our agenda.”

“I’d also like to pay tribute to Councillor Paul Noblet who has been a fantastic deputy leader over the past 3 years and who is now going to be overseeing our manifesto process. Over the next year we’ll be getting out our message that if you want the council to get the basics right on the things like homes, schools and street cleaning, you should be backing Southwark Liberal Democrats.”