Lambeth Labour has received support from key environmental groups ahead of the local elections in May.

Under Labour, Lambeth has led the way in tackling air pollution and improving our air quality. Lambeth has adopted a comprehensive Air Quality Action Plan and successfully lobbied the London Mayor for one of the first clean bus corridors in London.

Lambeth has supported local clean air projects, including the first inner-city, co-operatively owned renewable energy project on a social housing estate in which Repowering installed a 37.24kWp solar power station on the roof of Elmore House on Loughborough Estate in Brixton. Repowering is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in facilitating the co-production of community-owned renewable energy projects.

Photo: Cllr Lib Peck, Leader of Lambeth Council, Agamemnon Otero, Chief Executive of Repowering and Afsheen Kabir Rashid, Chief Operating Officer of Repowering at Elmore House which has the first inner-city, co-operatively owned renewable energy project on a social housing estate

Lambeth Labour is also supporting UK100’s Clean Air Commitment as part of its manifesto for May’s local elections. UK100 is a network of local government leaders, which seeks to devise and implement plans for the transition to clean energy that are ambitious, cost effective and take the public and business with them.

Lambeth Labour’s manifesto commitments to clean air include: provide funding for clean air green screens at every Lambeth school on a main road, plant 1,000 more trees by 2022, double the number of cycle hangar spaces, install over 200 new electric vehicle charging points, and campaign for the Mayor to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone to cover the whole borough.

Cllr Lib Peck, Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “Improving air quality is a key priority for Labour. 

“Poor air quality is a killer, there is no doubt about that, and we are determined here in Lambeth to do all we can to tackle pollution and improve the air we breathe.

The council cannot improve air quality alone. I have been pleased to work with the fantastic Repowering London and other community groups in London. I am also pleased that we have the recognition for our commitment to clean air from UK100.”

Agamemnon Otero, Chief Executive, Repowering London, said: “Labour has a strong track record in backing the delivery of clean, green energy in partnership with the community. Over the past four years there have been big strides make in our joint efforts to lower Lambeth’s carbon footprint.

“Repowering set up the UK’s first inner city, co-operatively owned renewable energy project on a social housing estate at the Loughborough Estate in Brixton. Since then we have worked with Lambeth schools to cut their emissions, set up solar power station on more estates and used the experienced we have gained here to help other London boroughs.

“Labours commitment to green energy builds supports the party’s wider push to improve air quality and make Lambeth a more environmentally friendly place. Successes in boosting cycling, securing one of the first clean bus corridors in London and campaigning for the Mayor to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone across Lambeth all illustrate how Labour is making a real difference.”

Polly Billington, Director of UK100, said: “Lambeth, like many other boroughs in London, needs leadership on air pollution. We welcome the pledge by council candidates across the country to make clean air a priority. Residents want action to deal with this public health crisis.

“The Clean Air Commitment gives candidates the chance to show their determination to act on clean air, making it a priority and involving the public in devising solutions.

“We hope it will inspire other leaders across the political spectrum to be a force for good when it comes to finding innovative and successful ways to drive down air pollution and ensure their constituents can live a healthier life.” 

Cllr Jackie Meldrum blogs about our record and plans to make Lambeth an Age Friendly borough... 

Under Labour, Lambeth has a strong record in working to make Lambeth friendly to people of all generations. We already work closely with AgeUKLambeth as well as a range of other community groups and faith organisations and we are committed to working together going forward to make our borough even better for older people.  Lambeth Labour is delighted to support Age UK’s “Make London’s Boroughs Age Friendly!” Report.

At Lambeth we understand that caring for our vulnerable residents is one of the most important jobs we have as a society. Lambeth Council spends the majority of its budget on social care. We have protected our care budgets so we can provide support for those who depend on our care. As a Labour council we’ll defend investment in social care, protecting our most vulnerable residents from the failing Tory government.

We have launched a Carers Action plan to improve the experience of our fantastic family & friend carers. We’ve improved the pay and conditions of care workers by using our powers as a council to extend the London Living Wage to 2,200 agency staff.

We have already been working closely with the local NHS to develop a shared understanding and of what integrated care means for our residents in our neighbourhoods their local and then work towards delivering this shared aim. Through our Lambeth Together Alliance we are integrating all Lambeth’s care services with the NHS, focussed around our GPs, aiming to create a seamless service for older people, those with physical and learning difficulties, mental health services and for children.

At Lambeth we know the importance of tackling loneliness. In our manifesto, we pledge to continue to encourage organisations and community groups tackling loneliness and social isolation across the borough and will introduce a good neighbour befriending schemes to support older people and disabled people. We believe in the value of inter-generational work to strengthen our communities.

Despite a challenging funding climate from the Tory government, Under Labour, Lambeth has protected out award winning parks, tackled fly-tipping, improved pavements and maintained our 10 libraries which are all key priorities for older people.

AgeUK urges boroughs to ensure good communication with our older residents and we work with our local AgeUKLambeth to help tackle digital exclusion. All our council sheltered housing schemes have an in house computer facilities and we are expanding computer classes.  And as a Cooperative Council, we work with voluntary and community sector networks which have a key role providing advice and getting key information to older people

We aim to support people to live in their own home as long as possible and provide aids and adaptations. Every year we assist 3,000 older Lambeth residents to stay in their homes by providing care at home.

We are committed to making Lambeth’s housing age friendly.  We have upgraded all our sheltered housing schemes and we working with partners to build extra care schemes across in borough for social rent and shared ownership. . 10% of all the new homes in the borough are wheelchair accessible and all are built to the Lifetime Homes Standard.

On May 3 Vote Labour for a better, fairer Lambeth for all.

Lucy Caldicott, Labour candidate for Stockwell ward, blogs about representing Labour at the South London Queer Question Time... 

I'm proud of the record that Lambeth Labour has on supporting the LGBT+ community in our borough so when I was invited to appear as part of the panel at the South London Queer Question Time, I thought it would be a good opportunity to listen to issues people wanted to raise and answer their questions. Plus, to proudly represent the L in LGBT+.

Queer Question Time is a series of political panel discussions which generally take place in the run up to elections. They are curated by London-wide DJ and Chair of Wandsworth LGBT forum, David Robson. Three have taken place in North, South, and East London focusing on the local elections throughout London on May 3. Queer Question Time South was hosted by long-standing Clapham High Street venue, the Two Brewers. The panel was deftly chaired by Son of a Tutu and my fellow panelists were performer and activist, Asifa Lahore, playwright, Patrick Cash, Charley Jarrett, Conservative candidate for Clapham Town, Pamela Ritchie, Women’s Equality Party candidate for Greenwich and myself, Labour Party candidate for Stockwell. It was a lively evening, with questions raised on a wide range of topics.

People were understandably very keen to discuss Brexit and their concerns regarding the impact the UK leaving the EU could have. With several EU citizens in the audience and many thousands having made their home across Lambeth, one of Lambeth Labour’s key manifesto pledges is to do everything we can to fight to protect their rights. Working for equality and human rights is at the heart of the Labour movement. LGBT+ people know how hard we have fought to win the rights we have today and we should be proud of the influence the UK has been able to have, working as an EU member, on supporting minorities in other member countries.

Hate crime was another issue of concern to the audience and the panel. Lambeth has one of the largest LGBT+ communities in the country and diversity is at the heart of our identity. Everyone should be able to feel safe and protected on our streets. Sadly in recent years, and particularly since the EU Referendum, reported incidences of hate crime against minorities has been on the increase, even in a diverse and welcoming borough like ours. Lambeth Labour will work together with the police, our community safety teams and others to fight racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and disability hate crime and harassment across the borough.

Health was also a key theme raised by audience members. There was an impassioned discussion about the additional impact on LGBT+ people of cuts to mental health and sexual health budgets. Lambeth Council has been working hard alongside health partners locally to address this and is piloting a whole system approach in tackling inequality in both healthcare and mental health wellbeing for our LGBT+ community. Compared to other parts of London, Lambeth has a very high number of people living with HIV. As a result of increasing early testing and diagnosis as part of the award-winning ‘Do It London’ campaign, the borough now leads HIV prevention across London. We are also campaigning for the NHS to properly fund universal availability of PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) to eliminate transmission of HIV in Lambeth and across London by 2030.

The importance to the community of LGBT+ spaces came up several times. Lambeth Labour campaigned hard to protect the historic Royal Vauxhall Tavern when its future was uncertain. I’ve lived in Lambeth since the early 90s and over the years several community spaces I used to go to have been sadly lost such as the Little Apple, Brewery Tap, and the Clockhouse. Being able to be in spaces where it’s safe and comfortable to be ourselves is vital for community wellbeing. This is why events like Queer Question Time are so important as they give the LGBT+ community the chance to discuss issues that affect us openly and safely. It was a great event to be a part of.

Lucy Caldicott, Labour candidate for Stockwell ward