Wandsworth Council Leader Awarded CBE
Recognising his services to local government
Leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in recognition for his services to local government.
Cllr Govindia was first elected to Wandsworth Council in 1982 and became leader in May 2011. He has held several cabinet portfolios and chairmanships during his 34 years at the town hall, specialising in the fields of regeneration, housing and planning.
He is co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership and played a key role in securing the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms in north Battersea, which unlocked central London’s biggest economic development and home building programme.
Cllr Govindia is also a member of the Government’s national panel of experts on estate regeneration. In 2012 he launched London’s most ambitious housing estate regeneration programme.
Under his leadership the Council has delivered record levels of new housing and pioneered a range of homeownership schemes to help ordinary working households on to the property ladder.
Other key council achievements during Ravi’s time as leader include developing an approach to protecting London’s vulnerable pub trade which has seen 120 Wandsworth pubs given protection from the threat of redevelopment or conversation.
Cllr Govindia said, “I’m very proud of the role Wandsworth Council has played in pioneering valuable new homeownership schemes and in developing a new model for estate regeneration which puts the needs and wellbeing of existing residents at its very heart. Tackling London’s housing challenges and raising the aspirations of disadvantaged communities have been central to by career and remain my top priorities.
“It is a great privilege to serve the people of Wandsworth and I want to thank the many brilliant councillors, council officers and community leaders who do so much to improve life chances and opportunities in our borough. This honour is for all of us.”
This is Cllr Govindia’s second honour, having been awarded an MBE in 2007.
CBE stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire. MBE stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire.
If you know someone who lives in the Wandsworth area who was also recognised in this year's list, we'd like to make sure they get due recognition so please let us know at editor@wandsworth.com.
January 4, 2017