London council boss Dosunmu resigns after drug, driving charges

A chief executive officer of Lambeth council in London, Bayo Dosunmu, has resigned after being charged with a number of driving and drug offences.

Dosunmu was arrested in the Westminster area on 23 June after allegedly failing to stop at the scene of an accident, BBC reported.

The 46-year-old has also been charged with possession of a class A controlled drug, driving over the alcohol limit, and driving without insurance.

Lambeth Council confirmed that Dosunmu would step down as chief executive from 15 July.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Dosunmu has been away from work since last month when he was arrested by police,

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 August.

Dosunmu was appointed chief executive of the council in April 2022, and was previously the council’s deputy chief executive and strategic director for resident services.

Fiona Connolly, the council’s corporate director of housing and adult social care, is currently acting chief executive while Lambeth Council intends to begin recruiting for a new permanent chief executive soon.

A Lambeth Council document from November 2022 confirmed Dosunmu earns £187,775 yearly and also receives a separate payment for his role as Returning Officer, which he was expected to carry out during the General Election.

The Lambeth Conservatives have written to the Leader of Lambeth Council, Claire Holland, expressing their concern over the hiring process and asking what the council’s next steps will be.

Dosunmu’s appointment as chief executive was made by Labour Councillors Claire Holland, Matthew Bennett, Jacqui Dyer and Rezina Chowdhury, along with Green Councillor Nicole Griffiths. Three candidates were interviewed.

He first joined Lambeth in 2019 as Strategic Director for Resident’s Services. He has previously worked as a senior civil servant in the Welsh Government and was head of transport integration during the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games.