Sutton Council Appoints New Deputy Leader and Deputy Mayor
Councillor Cryss Mennaceur takes on Deputy Leader role, while Councillor Luni Sabharwal becomes Deputy Mayor following recent changes.
By Emily Carmichael
••2 min read
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Generic image of a town hall facade with a balcony and blue sky.
Councillor Cryss Mennaceur has been appointed as the new Deputy Leader of Sutton Council, succeeding Councillor Sam Martin, while Councillor Luni Sabharwal has been named the new Deputy Mayor.
At a recent meeting of Full Council, Councillor Cryss Mennaceur was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Council. This appointment follows the decision of the previous Deputy Leader, Councillor Sam Martin, to step down from the role due to family reasons.
Councillor Mennaceur, first elected as a councillor for Sutton Central in May 2022, has chaired the Pensions Committee since her election. She was confirmed as Deputy Mayor in May 2026 and will now relinquish this position to assume her new responsibilities as Deputy Leader.
Following Councillor Mennaceur’s transition, the Mayor has appointed Councillor Luni Sabharwal as Sutton’s new Deputy Mayor. Councillor Sabharwal was elected in May 2026 in Worcester Park South.
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"It has been an honour to serve as Deputy Leader of Sutton Council since 2024. I have recently become a father for the second time and therefore feel the time is now right to concentrate on my family responsibilities. Sutton is a great place to raise a family and this has continued in recent years with everything from parenting support to high-quality libraries. I look forward to seeing the ‘Our Sutton’ corporate plan come to fruition, with family-friendly measures including safer streets, better quality housing, more culture and recreation opportunities for young people, and better public transport."
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"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Councillor Sam Martin for his dedication and service as Deputy Leader. I am delighted to welcome Councillor Cryss Mennaceur as our new Deputy Leader and Councillor Luni Sabwarhal as Deputy Mayor. Councillor Mennaceur brings a wealth of experience and community focus to the role, and I am looking forward to working closely alongside her to deliver the priorities set out in our corporate plan, Our Sutton."
