The local elections on Thursday 7th May did not return any party in Lambeth with an overall majority.
We absolutely recognise that there is a situation of no overall control. We fully accept that it is the duty of all parties to collaborate and work constructively in the best interests of residents. This is our focus as the second largest group on Lambeth Council (Green Party 27, Labour 26, Liberal Democrats 8).
Since the election, Lambeth Labour has worked hard to engage meaningfully with both the Lambeth Green Party and the Liberal Democrats in an attempt to reach a resolution in the best interests of our residents.
The Lambeth Green Party stood on their flagship manifesto promise to bring in a new Committee system of governance to Lambeth. Within weeks of the election, they have already broken this commitment, despite having the support to deliver it.
The Council officers secured the highest quality legal advice to ensure the system could be lawfully and properly introduced.
The Liberal Democrat Group supported the move and the Labour Group did not stand in their way.
Despite weeks of negotiations, discussions and public money being spent on setting the council up to implement the Committee system, the Lambeth Green Party has made a clear choice: to abandon their manifesto commitment and opt for the existing strong leader and cabinet model of governance.
Weeks of chaos and public money wasted simply to stick with the status quo.
The Green Party also tried to inflate the allowances paid to their Cabinet members by putting forward the most expensive allowances scheme on the table. This is despite proposing to scrap them altogether in 2021-2022, and then later proposing to massively cut them. Yet another promise broken at the first opportunity.
On top of all of this, two Green Party councillors resigned, immediately on being elected, not even attending one meeting between them, causing two by-elections that will cost Lambeth residents £60,000. This cost was totally avoidable had the Lambeth Green Party properly vetted their candidates as we asked them to do so.
The result of all this has been weeks of avoidable chaos, unnecessary expense and growing uncertainty for residents, staff and local services.
Lambeth deserves better.
Labour has shown what we can achieve when working hard for residents in Lambeth, with millions of free school meals, outstanding public services, 1000 social and affordable homes in delivery, the highest ever number of award-winning parks and 10 libraries protected for future generations.
Lambeth Labour will continue to stand up for every community in our borough, hold this minority Green Party administration to account, and fight for all our residents.