Role 'huge responsibility' for new council leader

The new leader of Luton Borough Council said it was a "huge responsibility" after being elected to replace outgoing leader Hazel Simmons.

Labour councillor Tahmina Saleem has taken over from Simmons, who has stepped down after nearly 20 years.

Saleem said Simmons, who was a councillor for 35 years, had "left a huge legacy but laid the foundations for a really positive future".

"I think people expect me to be excited and I am because of the possibility," she said.

Umme Ali, who represents High Town ward, has been appointed deputy leader of the Labour-led council.

Simmons began her political career as a councillor in the Lewsey ward in 1991 and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to local government and the community.

In paying further tribute, Saleem said of Simmons: "We owe you a debt of gratitude. People spoke about the English Defence League and how you saw them off, about austerity, and they spoke about Covid and personal stories."

Saleem has a background in social research, having set up the Kirklees Young Carers Project in Yorkshire in the 1990s.

She moved to Luton in 2007 and worked for Luton Culture and Marie Curie.

She became a Labour councillor in 2019 and has represented the Round Green and Biscot wards, and served as mayor from 2024 to 2025.

In 2021 she became portfolio holder for children, families and education, a year after the authority was ranked "inadequate" by Ofsted.

"Two years after that we were lifted out of special measures, which was a labour of love for me as I put my heart and soul into it," she said.

She only put herself forward as a leadership candidate at the last minute.

"The interview was on my birthday and it was Ramadan, so I was quite relaxed," she said.

In terms of challenges, her goals are wrapped up in the Luton 2040 project, which aims for the town to be "healthy, fair and sustainable".

"Poverty is a huge challenge - I represent Biscot Ward and 48% of the children in our ward live in poverty," she said.

She confirmed the authority was spending £3m to increase enforcement and improve the look and feel of the town.

"I'm a resident myself and when we're on the doorstep, we're told the state of the town, litter, fly-tipping, that's a huge concern for people, so that's going to be a priority for us, and people should see a tangible difference in their day-to-day lives in the next year."

Another issue on her to-do list is parking, which she said "had become unsafe and anti-social as people are parking fully on pavements".

But praising the town, she said it was "incredible".

"It's a youthful town, as 23% of our population are under the age of 16 when nationally that's 18%.

"We had the Luton Carnival and it was incredible, jaw-droppingly good, and we want to unleash that potential so people can see and hear who Luton's people really are, rather than all the negative stuff that, you know, has to be reported... but we need to balance that with the reality."

In a year's time, the town will have council elections, having seen its first Reform UK councillor voted in via a by-election in March.

"I think the [recent] elections may be the most divisive this country has seen," said Saleem.

"Locally though, I have confidence that people will look at the town and make the decision that's best for the town.

"We want to stay unified as a town and are actually a gem in that. We are so diverse and yet we live together, mostly, in harmony. I think we are a shining example to others of what can be."

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