The first few months of the Green minority administration, propped up by the Liberal Democrats, have been marked by confusion, broken promises and political chaos.
The Greens promised residents a more transparent and collaborative Council. Unfortunately, their actions since taking office have told a very different story.
Despite leading a minority administration, the Greens initially sought to retain every regulatory Committee Chair and Vice-Chair position, including Planning and Licensing, for themselves rather than reflecting the political balance of the Council. Labour and the Liberal Democrats put forward a more proportionate proposal for allocating these positions, which the Greens voted against.
On constitutional reform, the Greens campaigned on moving Lambeth to a committee system. Yet, after taking office, they abandoned that promise despite obtaining expensive legal advice confirming that it would be possible to introduce one. Instead, they agreed a compromise with the Liberal Democrats to introduce so-called “Cabinet Committees”. These committees have no decision-making powers and merely provide advice to Cabinet Members. Despite this compromise, the Green administration has yet to establish the Cabinet Committees, creating further unnecessary delay. Lambeth therefore will continue to remain with a Cabinet system, despite the promises made to residents before the election.
If the Greens had their way, these committees would have no real powers, would be chaired by Cabinet Members themselves, and would merely provide political cover for decisions already taken. Labour agreed to the introduction of a genuine committee system because it would give ward councillors, and therefore residents, a greater opportunity to influence decisions before they are made. A properly designed committee system would strengthen transparency, improve accountability and ensure decisions are subject to wider democratic input. We will continue to hold the Greens to the promise they made to residents and make sure any changes genuinely deliver a more democratic Council for Lambeth.
We’ve also seen confusion and contradiction over libraries. The Green minority administration repeatedly claimed that cuts to library services were never under consideration and publicly reassured residents that Lambeth’s libraries were being protected. However, correspondence with Corporate Directors, together with admissions made at various committee meetings, demonstrates that a range of options are being explored, including reductions in staffing, changes to opening hours and other potential savings, as officers seek ways to address the Council’s significant budget gap.
Residents were told one thing while internal correspondence and committee evidence showed another. Following significant public concern, those proposals are now under review rather than having been ruled out altogether. The financial challenges facing local government are real, and every administration has to make difficult decisions. However, residents deserve honesty about the choices being considered. Transparency means being upfront about the options under discussion, not denying they exist until they become public.
It is also important to remember the legacy left by the previous Labour administration. Lambeth Labour invested millions of pounds in modernising and improving Lambeth’s libraries, recognising them as vital community assets. The recently completed Waterloo Library was only possible because of the investment made and decisions taken by the previous Labour administration. It stands as a lasting example of Labour’s commitment to education, culture and community spaces that continue to benefit residents today.
The same is true of Brockwell Lido. The improvements now being delivered have only been made possible because the previous Labour administration took the decision to bring the Lido back into Council control. That decision created the opportunity for today’s investment in new equipment and improved facilities. These were decisions taken before the Greens came into office. Yet the Green administration has been quick to claim credit for these improvements, including through the Council’s own communications, while failing to acknowledge the decisions that made them possible.
As Shadow Cabinet Member for Inclusion, Democracy and Culture, I will continue to hold the Green minority administration to account. I will continue to scrutinise decisions, challenge broken promises and stand up for transparency, good governance and the public services our communities rely upon.
Lambeth residents deserve an administration that is honest about the challenges it faces, willing to work collaboratively in a minority administration and committed to delivering on the promises it made. Where the administration gets things right, Lambeth Labour will support it. Where it falls short, we will continue to speak up for residents, challenge poor decisions and ensure there is a strong, constructive and effective opposition holding the administration to account every step of the way.