Westminster votes in new council leader

Westminster City Council has appointed Rachael Robathan as the new leader of the council. Robathan is the cabinet member for finance, property and regeneration and the councillor for Knightsbridge and Belgravia. She has been with the council since 2013. She was elected by a majority vote at the meeting last night, 15 January, and will be formally elected as leader at the full council meeting on 22 January. Robathan replaces Nickie Aiken, who has been leader since 2017. Aiken announced her resignation last month when she was elected as a member of parliament for the City of London and Westminster and decided she would be unable to commit sufficient time to her council duties. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette