Labour’s Mete Coban quits Hackney Council ahead of move to City Hall
Mete Coban with Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley. Photograph: Hackney Council
Stoke Newington representative Mete Coban is to step down as a councillor and cabinet member in Hackney following his appointment to City Hall.
Coban, who became Hackney’s youngest ever councillor in 2014, was appointed last week by London Mayor Sadiq Khan as deputy mayor for environment and energy.
His departure has triggered the seventh by-election in Hackney so far this year.
Coban said the decision to stand down was a “bittersweet moment”, but that his new role is an “incredible opportunity”.
“It has been a really difficult decision to make, as Hackney is not just my home; it’s my story and who I am,” he added.
“Serving as a councillor in the place I call home has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, and I couldn’t be more proud of my contribution to creating a greener, healthier Hackney over the past decade.”
He is to start in his new role on Thursday 25 July.
Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley said Coban “has been such an energetic and exciting colleague to work with”.
“He has been instrumental in making it easier and safer for people to move safely about Hackney, one of the busiest boroughs in London, and has been the driving force behind our vital investment in renewable community energy,” she continued.
She continued: “While we will be sad to see him go, this is an absolutely amazing opportunity, and it can only be good news for our borough to have such a dedicated climate champion at the heart of City Hall.”
As cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, Coban has helped to expand Hackney’s low traffic neighbourhoods, overseen the installation of thousands of electric vehicle chargers, and launched the Community Energy Fund.
During this time, he also faced criticism for the number of flights he takes.
The Telegraph calculated that he had racked up approximately 40,000 air miles while warning people that “the way we travel” can “have a huge impact on the climate”.
Coban defended his flights, saying they were for the purpose of his work for non-partisan campaign group My Life My Say, which seeks to increase youth voter turnout.
He has also stepped down as chief executive of My Life My Say ahead of entering City Hall.
I don't really understand why increasing youth voter turnout required him to do a Rishi Sunak and fly everywhere.
Over paid look at me chancer, surely we have had enough of vacuous politicians after Boris. What has he delivered for hackney? Most LTNs cameras are broken, signed a contact with lime as cityam reported his charity has linked too. You shouldn’t travel by car but ok for me to fly everywhere, when he is not sucking up to ed Milband of a job higher up the tree, next Mayor of London, a real reason not to vote labour. Thank the lord he never got. Mayor of hackney. God help us.
Quoting todays times
“After taking up his role, Coban warned that “the way we travel” can “have a huge impact on the climate” and called on residents of Hackney to “redouble [their] efforts” to fight climate change. However, this did not stop him flying to Istanbul, Guatemala, Miami, Washington DC, Malta and Dubai. When he was in the Middle East he was also pictured trying out a racing.”
Mete, I really hope you get wind of these comments – as one of the people you blocked on social media, I'd like to say that my initial reaction to your appointment was to check if it was April 1st.
My opinion of you would likely be redacted. But It's safe to say that you appear to be living in a moral and ethical vacuum.
From your half-naked posing on social media to your enviable air miles – I can't for the life of me understand why you have been appointed. But then again, Amy Lame is being paid a bucket load to preside over the demise of London's nightlife – I'm sure you'll get on just fine.
You're all of London's problem now, not just Hackney's
Good riddance
It seems he has followed the route of Jules Pipe who helped to cover up unchecked corruption and abuse of office going on in the planning dept eg – The council had refused planning permission with statements such as "The proposal would adversely affect light and outlook to the rear of these properties to an unacceptable degree, reducing the quality of life of these residents". The applicants appealed to the Secretary of State for the environment who also refused it on similar grounds. Unfortunately, before the SOSfE made his decision The planning officers "mislaid" their original refusal and approved an identical 2nd application (3 days before the deadline they gave to objectors) This time they omitted all the detriment they had listed in the previous application and insured, through deceptive correspondence, that there would be no objectors at the neighbourhood committee where it was approved. The council refuse to answer how they went from a to z in their decision making as no policy or procedures were followed. See Whatcott Mews N16