Lambeth’s Spring Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provides children on benefit–related free school meals with free activities and food throughout the holiday periods it funded 55 clubs across the borough and over 8,500 places Nearly 2,300 individual children and young people benefitted from free places Families and Education said: “Too many families are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis – and during the school holidays With the soaring cost of family holidays and even a simple day out now adding up quickly it’s vital we have support in place that every family can access we’ve invested in making sure no child misses out our holiday activities and food programme provided over 10,000 healthy meals creative arts and more – giving children across our borough a chance to enjoy their time off Whether it’s our new breakfast clubs rolling out to primary schools Lambeth’s auto-enrolment scheme for free school meals or these extra holiday programmes we’re committed to making Lambeth a great place to grow up – where every child can thrive Lambeth also allocated some of its HAF funding to support children and young people with additional needs in accessing the programme Children and young people will be able to take advantage of the programme which is part of the Department for Education’s Funded Holiday Activities and Food Programme so please look out for any announcements regarding the programme Get email updates about things happening in Lambeth Explore our topics and pick the ones that matter to you Find local events and sign up to join the fun at your local library updates and opportunities and stay updated on what's happening in Lambeth Lambeth Council is aiming to increase the number of new affordable homes that could be delivered on the Westbury Estate in Clapham The project is currently seeking a development partner to help the Council bring forward the next phase of new homes in addition to the 64 new social rent homes that have been built already on phase 1 in 2021 Previous regeneration plans included only redeveloping the low-rise buildings on the estate the Council is now planning to include the two high-rise towers on the estate into the wider estate plans and therefore create more opportunities for more residents living on the estate Deputy Leader of the Council and Member for Housing said:” Lambeth has a pressing need for more new homes that our residents desperately need That’s why we have increased our commitments to deliver more affordable new homes in the borough in our latest New Homes Programme we are being bolder and more ambitious by seeking the maximum number of affordable homes that can be delivered on our housing projects to reduce the number of people on our housing waiting list and provide them with new high high-quality homes we have the opportunity to significantly increase the number of new homes that can be built but also enable more residents who have lived in this neighbourhood to benefit from new high-quality homes and improved community facilities and open spaces.” the Amesbury and Durrington Towers are planned to be included in the next stage of the procurement process for a development partner to deliver the Westbury Estate regeneration The procurement for a development partner began in November 2024 and the process is due to complete later this year The development partner appointed will work with residents to create new plans and designs for the estate redevelopment thereafter which they will have a chance to vote on through a resident ballot For more updates on the progress of the scheme, visit the dedicated Westbury website Lambeth councillors have voted for the Cabinet that will lead the borough over the coming year At The Annual Council meeting on Wednesday [April 23] councillors approved the Cabinet members put forward by Council Leader The new team includes Brixton Acre Lane councillor David Bridson who will share the role of Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities with Cllr Nanda Manley-Browne Cllr Timothy Windle is stepping down from cabinet Cllr Judith Cavanagh becomes Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance which also includes policy lead and champions appointments “reflects the wonderful diversity of our borough.” She added: “I’m delighted to welcome Cllr Bridson to lead health and equalities with Cllr Manley-Browne bringing his lived experience as a care leaver and a member of Lambeth’s LGBTQ+ community “And I welcome Cllr Cavanagh as deputy cabinet to support Cllr Amos to steer us through the most challenging financial landscape whilst continuing to support the most vulnerable I want to thank Cllr Tim Windle for his work stepping in and stepping up; his contributions will be sorely missed in cabinet.” The council meeting also elected Brixton Rush Common councillor Adrian Garden as the borough’s Mayor for 2025-26 who now becomes a Policy Lead for Young People a small but powerful group has dominated the debate about Lambeth’s future,” an open letter written to residents has said News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A group of south Londoners have warned that Lambeth could become “sterile, unaffordable, and soulless” if festivals held in Brockwell Park and other late-night events are blocked insisting the majority of people in the borough enjoy events such as LGBTQ friendly Mighty Hoopla and jazz and funk festival Cross the Tracks Meanwhile, campaign group Protect Brockwell Park has insisted that the festivals are permanently damaging the park, with the Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance claiming the events have turned the space “into a prison camp”. Protect Brockwell Park has launched a legal challenge against Lambeth Council to protect the beloved park against large-scale private events and has crowdfunded £31,000 to cover legal costs But an open letter addressing “the people of Lambeth” has hit back saying “it’s time for us to rise up and be counted” a small but powerful group has dominated the debate about Lambeth’s future — shouting down new homes and trying to silence our vibrant night-time economy,” the open letter said And now it’s time to make ourselves heard.” The open letter added that Lambeth’s night-time economy is not just about entertainment but jobs and opportunity insisting that spaces such as music venues clubs and late-night cafes are “vital for our communities” and they offer safe spaces for people from all walks of life The open letter also called on south Londoners to say “no to the NIMBYism that blocks the housing young people and families desperately need,” insisting that young people are being pushed out and priced out of the area Drink-drive London council boss given £88,000 ‘golden goodbye’ after crash scandal Brockwell Park festivals 'welcome scrutiny' amid £31k legal challenge Mark Rylance says music festivals have turned Brockwell Park into 'prison camp' Meet the entrepreneur turning plastic waste into something wonderful It went on: “We also need to protect events in our parks. Mighty Hoopla, Wide Awake, Lambeth Country Show and other festivals bring life and give thousands of people access to music Parks are for everyone — and events are part of that shared A petition by a group named SayYesLambeth has also been set up alongside the open letter Protect Brockwell Park sent a pre-action letter to Lambeth Council notifying them of their intent to initiate court proceedings The group aims to challenge the council's decision to grant a certificate of lawful development which would allow commercial events in Brockwell Park to take place without requiring planning permission polluting generators running around the clock and problems with waste and overflowing toilets They argue these activities have led to "permanent damage" to parts of the grassland and are harming trees with heavy equipment impacting root protection zones A spokesperson for the group previously said: “Our beautiful Brockwell Park is a haven for nature and of immense value to the people of Lambeth and Southwark “We are local people fighting a million-pound company whose unsustainable business practices are damaging our trees and fencing off huge areas of the park for weeks at a time “We have repeatedly raised our concerns with Lambeth Council Lambeth has ignored petitions that have garnered thousands of signatures and the adverse ecological impact on the park over the years “The Council has also failed to properly follow correct procedures and properly consult with local residents.” The group first took action last summer by launching a petition calling for an end to the “fencing off and damaging” of the park The petition has since gathered over 3,000 signatures Meanwhile, Brockwell Live, the umbrella group that represents the independent festivals that take place in the park has “welcomed scrutiny”. The festivals have donated over £150,000 to local organisations to date through their community fund and have paid £317,000 to help upkeep the beloved park over the past five years Since 2023, the festival organisers have also co-produced the Lambeth Country Show a free event run by Lambeth Council for 50 years and best known for its vegetable sculpture competition VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview Residents are invited to a community fun day being organised by the Brixton Immortals Domino Club and the Brixton Soup Kitchen on Sunday May 25 which is over a bank holiday weekend The fundraising event will run from 2pm to 7pm at the Brixton Immortals Domino Club Backyard in Coldharbour Lane is a team and wider community social club playing dominoes in Brixton which shares a site with the Brixton Immortals support and company in a warm and friendly environment Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities said: “These organisations contribute so much to Lambeth and I want to thank them for organising this event “It’s an opportunity to raise awareness of their work build our community bonds and have a good time so I’d encourage local people to come along.” The family-friendly fundraising event will feature: • Face painting and a kids’ creative workstation • A Cook-Off Showdown between Brixton Immortals and Brixton Soup Kitchen • Complimentary food provided by Milo & Red Peas and the Brixton Soup Kitchen and Social Advice teams offering free advice The event will be at 297-299 Coldharbour Lane Lambeth has previously warned that it is facing a ‘stark challenge from falling enrolments’ with nearly 1,000 fewer children going to school in the borough compared to 10 years ago Another London primary school could shut at the end of the school year as pupil numbers continue to plummet in the capital Lambeth Council has put forward proposals to merge St Bede’s Catholic Infant School and St Bernadette Catholic Junior School into a single site as the number of schools shutting across London accelerates Lambeth has already put forward plans to close or merge another six primary schools due to a sharp drop in the number of children in the borough The south London borough is facing a “stark challenge from falling enrolments,” with nearly 1,000 fewer children going to primary school in the area compared to 10 years ago The borough has previously said that the drop in pupil numbers in London has been caused by Brexit the cost of living crisis and the birth rate in the capital dropping by a third Lambeth is not the only borough facing an exodus of families and children. Hackney Council agreed to close four primary schools last week as classrooms were left half empty, having already closed the same number last summer Days later, Islington Council also closed a further two primary schools Campaigners have also raised concerns that the issue could “fan out” into outer London boroughs, causing further schools to close Newham Council is currently looking into plans to cut over 400 school places across 14 schools Under the changes put forward by Lambeth Council St Bernadette Catholic Junior School would close and St Bede’s Catholic Infant School would be extended to cover older year groups There are 235 pupils across the two schools The number of pupils in each year group at St Bede’s will remain at 30 in Reception All pupils currently attending St Bernadette will be offered a place at St Bede’s if the school is shut down Most schools have Send pupils in mainstream classes amid capacity issues – poll Lambeth residents accuse campaigners opposing Brockwell Park festivals of 'NIMBYism' Ministers’ ‘evangelical’ support for EdTech sparks warning by campaigner Meal2Deal: on a mission to make food poverty history Lambeth warned that the falling birth rates across the borough and London as a whole mean that there will continue to be a drop in demand for school places in the coming years Since schools are directly funded by pupil numbers the council explained that unfilled places mean that school budgets are slashed damaging the standards of education that can be offered If the plans go ahead the two Lambeth schools will be merged on a single site from September 2025 The final decision on whether to merge the two schools will be in June 2025 The council added that it believes the decision “is necessary to safeguard the quality of education in Lambeth for the future” Join Lambeth for our annual Readers and Writers Festival with events across all 10 Lambeth Libraries throughout May 2025 The 2025 Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival goes live in May – but you can already bookmark your place for the events you want to see This year’s festival leads with local actor/director and screenwriter Adjoa Andoh who will be reading favourite pieces from Lambeth Archives 1632 copy of Shakespeare’s second Folio and discussing what makes his writing relevant today Lambeth Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities said: “I am delighted to welcome you to the Lambeth Libraries Readers and Writers Festival For coming up to two decades it has been a regular highlight in the Lambeth calendar “In 2025 we have over a month or more of events to suit all tastes – whether you enjoy reading discussion or simply sitting back and listening You’ll be amazed at the fun you can have in your local library Throughout May and on into June we have loads more authors discussing their books including Funmi Fetto (Hail Mary) with Emma Dabiri shortlisted International Book Prize nominee Vincent Delecroix (Small Boat) BBC Radio 1Xtra Radio Presenter Fee Mak leading a panel on Love Lust and Liberation: How Romance fiction is changing? music journalist Chris Salewicz (Redemption Song: The Definitive Biography of Joe Strummer) comedian Mark Steel (The Leopard In My House) American crime writer/screen writer Attica Locke (Guide Me Home) See the full programme with details of dates times and locations across Lambeth’s network of libraries for these events and much Mental Health Week performances from the Black Men’s Consortium and new writing on topics as varied as the Roma people and the contrasts between French and English culture Personalised classes are being put in place for newly arrived students at three Lambeth schools to help them thrive The aim of the programme is to build their confidence ensure they have strong English language skills and help them get good exam results The Lambeth Council funded initiative was launched in the autumn term last year and is being piloted in The Elmgreen School The three pilot schools have a strong commitment to inclusivity and supporting students from diverse backgrounds Schools may lose central government funding based on when a young person arrives and begins school The funding from Lambethfor this programme  aims to address this issue said: “It’s so important that young people who arrive in the UK from abroad are given the chance to thrive and feel part of their new community That can be incredibly challenging — especially when you don’t yet speak the language — which is why initiatives like this are so vital delivered in a partnership between Lambeth Council and local schools is a fantastic example of how we are supporting newly arrived young people – finding innovative ways to provide tailored support that meets their needs and help them settle in It was inspiring to see first-hand just how much students have achieved in such a short time — building confidence, improving their English and pursuing their ambitions. Lambeth is proud to be a Borough of Sanctuary, and we’re committed to making sure every young person has the chance to succeed.” Students said they are finding the extra support very useful One student said: “Thanks to the programme I was able to progress to the Set 2 Maths GCSE group said: “At Norwood we are very proud to run one of Lambeth’s International classes for newly arrived students in the country Our aim is to deliver good quality education for all including the students in the International Class positivism and high expectations of these students where every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow and every step forward is celebrated.”    Families with children eligible for the International Classes are advised to follow the standard admissions process Lambeth Council will provide detailed information and guidance to help families navigate the enrolment process Lambeth was the second borough in London to achieve accreditation as a Borough of Sanctuary which welcomes and supports people who are fleeing violence and persecution A group of residents have warned that Lambeth could become “sterile and soulless” if a legal challenge to block festivals is successful Small business owners, creatives and renters in Lambeth have written an open letter in support of events taking place in Brockwell Park which they say foster community spirit and celebrate the borough’s diversity Festivals penned for this summer include LGBTQ friendly Mighty Hoopla, jazz and funk festival Cross the Tracks, City Splash, Wide Awake and the free Lambeth Country show which has been running for more than 50 years This comes after campaign group Protect Brockwell Park launched a legal challenge against the council to protect the park against large-scale events Campaigners claim the park has suffered from repeated damage due to major events which they say is caught in a cycle of “fencing off” and “damage” and trying to silence our vibrant night-time economy Lambeth’s night time economy isn’t just about entertainment but “life It continued: “We need to say no to the NIMBYism that blocks the housing young people and families desperately need “A borough that refuses to grow is a borough that refuses to care for its future “We also need to protect events in our parks which bring life “Parks are for everyone — and events are part of that shared The group has launched a petition named SayYesLambeth which calls on the council to defend its events against legal challenges Protect Brockwell Park issued Lambeth council with a letter before action on April 9 Issues they highlight include HGVs driving across the grass compacting soil and disrupting wildlife as well as polluting generators running around the clock the umbrella group that represents the independent festivals that take place in the park said it “welcomed scrutiny” The festivals have donated more than £150,000 to Lambeth organisations to date through their community fund and have paid £317,000 to help upkeep the park over the past five years The legal challenge was triggered after Lambeth council granted a series of live events at the park with a certificate of lawful development in March This means that commercial events would be able to take place in Brockwell Park without planning permission Protect Brockwell Park described the council’s planning procedures as “unlawful” A Lambeth council spokesman said: “The council has received a pre-action protocol letter in relation to a judicial review claim for Brockwell Park Pictured top: Johnny Clarke on the main stage of the Lambeth Country show in 2022 (Picture: Colin Taylor photography) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" photos and illustrations at Lambeth Council’s Archives tells the story of how the borough was the birthplace of the circus in Britain Although Philip Astley never called his “Amphitheatre” – opened in 1770 on a site in Westminster Bridge Road where St Thomas’ Hospital now stands – a circus it is now recognised as the first ever fixed-site circus and the birthplace of a British and European circus tradition that continues to this day and more – can be traced back to the trick-riding displays rope acts and tumbling successfully put on by Astley and his wife Patty Jones in Lambeth Astley’s became a much-loved London fixture lasting over 120 years before being closed down in 1893 documents and illustrations  from Lambeth Archives’ rich collections to bring Astley’s back to life It also features Astley’s local competitors – including Vauxhall Gardens the  Canterbury Hall and the Royal Circus – whose combined attractions made Lambeth an exciting entertainment destination for Victorian Londoners The exhibition features not only material from Lambeth Archives’ collection but also a wonderful selection of photographs and objects of some of the many circus families who lived in the borough and became globally famous in the late-Victorian and Edwardian eras: acts like the acrobatic Craggs the Mongador Brothers and the aerial Hanlon-Volta troupe Also featured are the later travelling circuses such as Sanger’s and Smart’s who would pitch on Clapham and Streatham Commons to be followed in the 1980s by their “New Circus” successors performing physical theatre without animal acts: companies like Archaos Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities said: “We’re incredibly proud of the new Lambeth Archives as well as our 10 libraries our prison book service and our home library service “We have invested an extra £4.7 million in our libraries since 2022 to make sure they can provide the best services for our residents “I encourage all Lambeth residents to visit this exhibition telling the story not only of how Lambeth is the birthplace of a long tradition of entertainment for the people who lived in Lambeth but exported their talent and became internationally famous performers.” Every child who had an application for a reception place in a Lambeth primary school for September 2025 has been offered one new figures revealed on Wednesday 16 April new figures have revealed on Wednesday 16 April This is the 14th consecutive year that over 96 per cent of families have been offered a place at the school of their choice 82.89 per cent of applicants (1,759) received their first-choice school and 8.19 per cent (174) their second choice In total 96.18 per cent of applicants received a preference school Parents and carers were asked to list up to six schools of their choice in order of preference They applied through their home borough for any state school anywhere in England Lambeth is part of the pan-London system which links with the other 33 London authorities and 5 surrounding Councils This collaboration enables the process to work smoothly as most preferences made by Lambeth residents are within London Lambeth received 2,122 applications for primary school places this year said: “Choosing the first school for your children can be a daunting decision for parents and carers I am really thrilled to see that so many people were able to get their first preference school “Schools face the combined challenge of the funding formula and outward migration from London due to Brexit and the cost of living crisis our brilliant primary schools are still able to keep doing excellent work and offer over 96% of families a place at their preferred school This is a great achievement and one they should all be proud of it continues to be an extremely challenging time for our schools in Lambeth The council has been working in partnership with schools across the borough to manage falling numbers we can do all we can together to preserve our hugely valued primary schools and continue to deliver excellent education provision maintaining a wide choice of school type.” “We are delighted to welcome new families and new pupils to class along with their classmates and future friends London primary schools received 83,581applications in total this year a 2.1 per cent decrease compared to last year according to figures published on National Primary Offer Day 2024 by the Pan London Admissions Board the body with overall responsibility for co-ordinating school admissions in the capital 97.9 per cent of children due to start primary school this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools To find out more, please visit the Lambeth website Lambeth Council is encouraging residents to hold street parties to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan Day this year Lambeth Council has set up an online form for residents to express their interest The deadline for VE day celebration road closures is Saturday 30 March and 22 June for VJ day street parties The information has been posted at lambeth.gov.uk 8 May this year and Victory over Japan Day marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II said: “These are moments in our history when we can reflect on the incredible tragedy of war mark momentous moments in our history and celebration the freedom that was so hard won to build new bonds and restate our commitment to peace I would encourage anyone interested in hosting a street party to apply via our online form.” Lambeth Council has announced an expansion of its Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points network and will take responsibility for the existing network from Monday 17 March Lambeth currently has more than 600 EV charging points across the borough with a further 70 fast or rapid points and 264 lamppost charging points planned to be installed this year From Monday the remaining the Lamp column EV charging infrastructure will change as the council transfers the operation to its in-house system Deputy council leader Cllr Rezina Chowdhury cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air said: “This is an exciting moment for Lambeth as we are implementing an innovative own and operate model one of the first of its kind in the country “It gives the council control over how we grow the network without causing disruption to residents and businesses It will allow us to install charge points in areas where they are most needed It also means we can be fair and transparent on pricing and respond quickly to any issues with revenues reinvested in improving the service.” Cllr Chowdhury added: “Since we published our Electric Vehicle Strategy in 2023 we have been clear that all vehicles on the road becoming electric is not the solution to the climate crisis Mainly we need to reduce the overall vehicle journeys but we want to support those who rely on their vehicle to travel sustainably with less pollution and convenient vehicle charging is part of this.” In the face of the housing crisis facing Lambeth the council has set out new plans to bring empty homes in the borough back into use in a bid to help meet the huge demand for accommodation the council has set out new plans to bring empty homes in the borough back into use in a bid to help meet the huge demand for accommodation Lambeth’s Empty Homes and Voids Action Plan defines different types of empty home sets out the impacts on Lambeth and outlines actions the council is taking to continue to improve the turnaround between letting of council properties and bring other empty homes back into use across the borough The council is also asking residents to report empty properties in a bid to get on top of the issue by emailing emptyproperties@lambeth.gov.uk or by filling out a form at lambeth.gov.uk contact the owner and if empty will work to bring the property back into use where possible The plan is desperately needed because the housing crisis has seen demand for homes far outstrip supply private renting becoming ever more unaffordable and desperate shortage of affordable housing to meet demand which has led to long waiting lists and rising homelessness 5,500 people made homelessness applications to Lambeth Council and pressure for temporary accommodation continues to rise The huge scale of the challenge means Lambeth Council is identifying every possible way to provide the homes people need This is key because across England in 2022 there were 676,304 empty homes according to council tax stats the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Housing our housing waiting list is long and the lack of affordable homes put real pressure on our residents and our local communities It is also putting a huge strain on the council’s budget housing associations and our own council stock we know there are a range of properties that are empty for a range of reasons We have adopted this new action plan to ensure as many houses as possible are made available to local households as quickly as possible “It sets out the important steps we are taking to tackle this issue including quicker turnaround of council homes that need repairs before we can house people in them using data to track availability and regularly sharing updates with our communities on progress made.” The Empty Homes and Voids Action plan has been adopted by Lambeth Council and supports wider measures including plans to put a 100 per cent council tax premium on empty properties and building 500 new homes on council owned land the council announced the borough’s new property licensing scheme is set to be rolled out across most of the borough after a successful launch in four wards earlier last year with the aim of driving up housing standards for renters Lambeth Council is one of the biggest social landlords in the country with 33,000 rented and leasehold council homes Around 23,000 of these are tenants directly with the council it has a high number of its own properties that become empty when tenancies change Some homes will always be empty at any given time because of their suitability repair and re-let these properties between tenancies The new plan aims to accelerate ongoing work to ensure that these properties are available to residents as soon as is possible and increase the supply of desperately needed family sized homes To read the new action plan visit moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk All Lambeth’s councillors will meet next week to debate proposals for setting a balanced budget in the face of “the worst funding crisis that the council has ever faced” Amid huge financial pressures after 14 years of austerity and structural underfunding from previous governments and spiralling demand for vital front-line services the council leadership has set out proposals to make savings of more than £99 million over the next four years The budget report approved by the council’s Cabinet on Monday and recommended to the meeting of Full Council on 5th March highlighted the impact the housing crisis was having on Lambeth’s finances:  homeless households supported by the council have increased by 50% in the last two years and the cost of housing homeless households in overnight accommodation is expected to reach £100m this year The report added that unprecedented demand for statutory services including adult and children’s social care meant the council is required to fund £45.9m of additional growth next year to fund these statutory services alone and to meet the need to fund essential services Lambeth also plans to raise Council Tax by 2.99% said: “We need to be open with residents that this is the worst funding crisis that the council and local government have ever faced “We will continue to do all we can to protect the front-line services people rely on A relentless focus on delivering a balanced budget will be needed to ensure the future financial stability of the council.” The budget proposals will now be considered by all councillors, at Budget Council The meeting will also consider statutory written recommendations from the council’s External Audit 2023-24 under Schedule 7 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 This is pursuant to the need for Full Council to consider statutory written recommendation issued by its auditor Forvis Mazars The auditor recommendations are as follows: We recommend the Council takes immediate action to: will be published in the Council meeting agenda papers online The meeting will be held on Wednesday 5th March 2025 A by-election will be held in Lambeth’s Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction Ward on May 1 this year following the resignation of Cllr Jim Dickson who has spent more than 30 years serving the borough as an elected representative for local people Cllr Dickson was first elected as councillor for Herne Hill in 1990 before becoming the Lambeth Council leader in 1994 and serving in several council cabinet roles including as Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities until 2024 His resignation as a councillor after 35 years follows his success in being elected as a Member of Parliament at the last general election the Leader of Lambeth Council said: “Cllr Dickson’s contribution to Lambeth has been huge and we thank him for his unrivalled service to the borough for more than three decades “He has worked incredibly hard for the people living in his ward In particular in recent years as our health lead supporting communities through the Covid-19 pandemic and leading Lambeth Council’s crucial work to tackle health inequalities.” A notice of Election of a Councillor for Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction Ward has been published on the council website at www.lambeth.gov.uk ahead of the poll on Thursday 1 Lambeth Council’s new Chief Executive Ian Davis will be serving at the Returning Officer for the by-election Lambeth Council has planted more than 2,000 new trees across the borough’s streets estates and parks over the winter planting season which is just ending now The council is currently watering the trees weekly to help them get established Residents are asked to keep an eye on the new trees and give them extra water if it gets very dry and hot over the coming months Deputy Leader (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air) said: “Our teams are now out watering the new trees but because it’s been so dry there’s an unusually high need this Spring “This year we want our trees to enjoy the sunny weather as much as everyone else get out there and help out local trees if we do another extended period of dry and sunny weather.” Lambeth Council is aiming to plant 5,000 new trees over four years This winter’s planting season has included nearly 1,400 new street trees 350 in parks and open spaces – with 100 added to Brockwell Park – and 70 new trees at local schools The planting programme was supported by local people who volunteered This winter more than 150 different species of trees were planted during the season which run from October to early April The total planted over this winter is an increase of almost 300 trees on last year’s winter planting programme Cllr Chowdhury said: “This huge tree planting effort has been across Lambeth and we have been concentrating on areas that had the fewest trees which helps create local benefits such as reducing the flood risk and creating shade during hot weather.” The council also has a Tree Guardian programme which more than 100 local people have signed up to so far. For residents interested in finding out more, including becoming more involved in the borough’s tree planting and tree care efforts visit lambeth.gov.uk More sustainable drainage has been installed across the borough to reduce the risk of localised flooding around schools and boost biodiversity Lambeth has unveiled five new kerbside sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) schemes to reduce the risk of surface water flooding around local schools The projects outside Archbishop Sumner Primary School and Jessop Primary School are part of a larger “Soak Up Lambeth” initiative to improve drainage in the borough In addition, two significant projects are underway on the St Matthews Estate along Effra Road and Norwood Park manage water flow and incorporate native planting and landscaping to create habitats and we know how devastating it can be for residents We’re working hard to tackle the issue and protect everyone from this risk “These new rain gardens enhance our kerbside spaces boosting biodiversity and building resilience against the impact of flooding.” These initiatives will reduce the risk of surface water flooding and water pollution while boosting biodiversity and access to green spaces Groundwork is expected to be finished next month Smaller SuDS schemes are also being implemented on Myatts Field and Claremont estates, with more to come over the next few years. For more information on the schemes, visit the Have Your Say page News from Lambeth Council and the community delivered to every household and business in your free 24-page Lambeth Talk magazine for Spring 2025 Your Spring 2025 Lambeth Talk features healthy neighbourhoods with a cover photo showing a cargo bike in use Lambeth Council asked residents to nominate their local heroes for the Civic Awards The shortlisting has been done and the finalists are announced For the Lambeth Civic Awards, residents of Lambeth were asked to nominate local individuals groups and organisations that do amazing work in the borough The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the incredible work that Lambeth’s community does to help others The Civic Awards nominations were open between Monday 16 December and Sunday 2 February groups and organisations that make a difference through their time Lambeth Council received hundreds of nominations Thank you to everyone who showed their appreciation and took time to nominate We had some exceptional individuals and organisations nominated for a Lambeth Civic Award There were an incredible number of nominations We received close to 500  nominations across 9 award categories for the Lambeth Civic Awards recognising and celebrating the immense contributions of our vibrant business community The Civic Awards panel – made up of community partners and Lambeth council leaders – have now shortlisted the finalists Congratulations to all who were nominated and those who made it to the final list said: “Our vibrant business community and our passionate voluntary sector are essential to making Lambeth what it is They all care deeply about Lambeth and helping it to thrive “I want to say a big thank you to everyone who works tirelessly to make Lambeth an amazing place to live I’m excited to celebrate in April with the finalists and winners.” and we want to make sure we celebrate them We received some truly heart-warming stories so I wanted to thank everyone who nominated for the Awards but also a huge thank you to all the organisations and people around Lambeth who do incredible work You can see our finalists and learn more about the Civic Awards at www.lambeth.gov.uk/awards Lambeth Council is asking for feedback on plans to install 148 new dockless bays for rental e-scooters and e-bikes to expand the existing network throughout the borough The expansion would bring the total number of bays to over 350 meaning that most of Lambeth’s residents will be able to reach a bay within a 3-minute walk. The proposed Phase Four locations can be found in this map. The council has launched a consultation on the proposals and is asking residents to respond by visiting our consultation portal starting on Friday November 15 and will finish on Friday December 6 Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air said: “Lambeth Council supports the further expansion of sustainable forms of travel such as rental dockless bikes and scooters but we also recognise the accessibility issues that parking on pavements and in high demand locations can cause “As more people use rental bikes and scooters users need to be considerate to those who rely on a wheelchair or pushchair and who find blocked pavements a significant problem “It’s vital that when people are finished using rental scooters and bikes they are stored safely in one of the new dockless bays rather than abandoned on the street for the next person to use.” The dockless bays are proposed to be installed in some of Lambeth’s busiest areas and frequent destinations to ensure that e-scooter and e-bike users can properly park their rental vehicles when they finish their journey They will also be installed in residential areas which currently have a lower density of bays so Lambeth residents and visitors who are travelling to work to the shops or back home can start or end their journey without inconveniencing people walking and wheeling Expanding the provision for cycle hire schemes was a key commitment in Lambeth Council’s Transport Strategy and its award-winning Kerbside Strategy to reclaim space from car parking and repurpose it for other uses Cllr Chowdhury added: “We are committed to improving the cycle hire infrastructure across the borough so we can encourage more people to try out more active ways to get around Lambeth like cycling “We would urge rental bike and scooter users to be thoughtful of others and return them to one of the new dockless bays even if it takes a minute or two longer to get to your destination.” Lambeth Council has entered the second year of its groundbreaking New Homes Programme which is delivering more than 2,000 new homes in the borough on council owned land This is delivering on the council’s ambition to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and do all it can to tackle the housing crisis The council’s plans were first set out in March 2024, the first year of the New Homes Programme (NHP). A refreshed report providing a progress update on the programme was adopted by Cabinet on 17 March which set out the next steps for continuing this work It includes an increased commitment to build a minimum of 600 new affordable homes on council owned land by 2030 up from the previous target of a minimum of 500 Lambeth’s Local Plan sets out the council’s commitment to maximising housing growth and affordable housing by developers across the borough beyond council-owned land Lambeth has over 10,500 homes approved to support the government’s growth mission to build more new homes Deputy Leader of the Council and Member for Sustainable Growth and New Homes said: “We have made real progress over the last year in speeding up the delivery of new affordable housing in Lambeth “This is vital work being carried out in challenging times but in the face of a national housing crisis which is heavily impacting people in Lambeth we are determined to do all we can to make a difference for the 35,000 people on our council housing waiting list and the 4,800 homeless households in often sub-standard temporary accommodation “We are aligned with the Government’s house building agenda and have now agreed as a council to increase our affordable house building target for council owned land to a minimum of 600 by 2030 as part of this commitment.” Highlights of the New Homes Programme over the last 12 months include: the council will continue to build on this momentum by seeking a development partner to deliver new homes and area improvements on the Westbury Estate and on six development-ready sites in some of Lambeth’s most sought-after areas that together can deliver up to 450 new homes The council will also progress plans for new homes on former school sites identify new housing delivery opportunities and support current development projects on council owned land to move through procurement and planning processes towards construction phases A new workstream with the specific focus of increasing temporary accommodation supply to tackle one of Local Government’s most significant challenges will also be driven by the New Homes Programme Cllr Adilypour said: “We are speeding up house building in the borough of all types and private – to tackle the housing crisis But we also remain committed to strong communication and engagement with our communities as this work progresses so these initiatives work for all our residents.” In the first year of the NHP the Council has engaged with 1,300 residents across 80 events and activities as part of our estate renewal programme and will continue to prioritise good engagement and communication for the next year of the programme Lessons learned activities have been carried out for work completed to date sets out the resident engagement expectations for the next phases of delivery at Westbury The council’s actions will be informed and influenced by this essential feedback loop with residents and to ensure that all council delivery partners provide the same level of engagement and communication outlines a set of commitments for working collaboratively and effectively with residents impacted by any council led development near to their homes Lambeth Council plans to trial a Kennington Triangle Healthy Neighbourhood to reduce road danger improve air quality and make the area more pleasant as a place to live or work The council will begin speaking to residents businesses and other stakeholders over the next month and will use the feedback to produce the initial proposals for the Kennington Triangle Healthy Neighbourhood The scheme proposal covers the area containing the Imperial War Museum and The Cinema Museum A trial is expected to be launched later this year for the council to monitor traffic data and gather community feedback before evaluating the overall success of the scheme The council will be holding a series of ‘Walk and Talks’ in the neighbourhood between now and April 10 where local people and community groups can share their views on the proposals cabinet member for Clean Air and Sustainable Lambeth said: “Over the next few weeks the council will be speaking to the community to find out exactly what they want to see as part of this new Healthy Neighbourhood trial “We want people to tell us what they want improved in their local area as part of this scheme whether it’s more trees and greenery or reduced road danger The Kennington Triangle Healthy Neighbourhood will be tailored to the needs of the community It is aimed at making it safer for walking scooting and wheeling by reducing vehicle through-traffic and speeds It will make the use of public space in the neighbourhood fairer for local people including the majority in Lambeth who do not own a private vehicle The scheme is an update to Lambeth’s Healthy Streets programme which uses interventions and public space improvements to help make neighbourhoods safer The Kennington Triangle Healthy Neighbourhood was put forward after receiving feedback from members of the public on two nearby proposed Healthy Neighbourhoods in Walnut Tree Walk and Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Cllr Chowdhury added: “We have come forward with these plans for Kennington Triangle Healthy Neighbourhood after undertaking prioritisation analysis of Lambeth neighbourhoods and listening to the concerns of local people “We will look to launch a trial to understand the potential for addressing these issues through a scheme like this “Healthy Neighbourhoods can help rebalance local streets I look forward to looking at the feedback over the next couple of months and working with the community to come up with designs for the initial trial period.” For more informaiton visit the Kennington Triangle Healthy Neigbhourhood page An independent review team has praised Lambeth Council’s performance in a series of key areas following a four-day visit to the Town Hall last year A Local Government Association (LGA) ‘peer challenge’ found the council had strong political and organisational leadership – and a clear focus on achieving equity and justice which “shines through” Lambeth’s ambitious masterplan for the borough The LGA team also reported that Lambeth was making sustained progress on improving performance in key public services such as Housing and Children’s Services The LGA visited Lambeth in November and carried out a ‘Corporate Peer Challenge’, the results of which will be considered by the Council’s Cabinet on February 24. Cabinet members will also consider an action plan for carrying out the recommendations The peer team reported that the council has shown strong leadership on climate change and net zero and is leading from the front with innovative practice common The report also finds that the council has worked hard to mitigate the significant financial challenges it faces but recommended that it go further and faster to ensure the council’s future financial stability “Lambeth has a clear and ambitious borough plan, Lambeth 2030, in which equity and justice shines through,” the Peer Challenge report concluded and is underpinned by a new performance framework which the recently established Communities Governance and Change (CGC) directorate is working with service directorates to embed.” Peer reviews are a voluntary assurance and improvement process that local authorities are encouraged to undertake The LGA Peer Team at Lambeth included Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Chief Executive Stephen Evans and Councillor Shantanu Rajawat said: “Hosting this review brings a fresh perspective to look at how we work how we prioritise and where we must increase the pace of our work “As well as that as part of their feedback the review team highlighted that Lambeth’s greatest strength is the diversity of its workforce and its elected members that partnership working is a key strength and that equity diversity and inclusion is a clear focus through Lambeth 2030’s golden thread of equity and justice “I thank the peer review team for their time and look forward to taking our work to the next level to deliver for our residents.” The council asked the LGA peer team to provide advice and insight on how the council could continue to drive delivery to realise the ambitions of Lambeth 2030 given the council’s significant financial pressures To do that the review team looked a wide range of documents and held interviews and focus groups with more than 90 people including senior council leaders as well as voluntary and community sector partners and residents The LGA team also identified “solid political leadership and stability at the Council and good relationships between officers and members” and said Lambeth’s role in several partnerships across the community was “a key strength for the Council” The report added: “The Council was noted to have strong political stability and the Leader and Cabinet were widely praised with Cabinet members described as ‘having a keen interest The council action plan sets out the council’s response in four themed areas – with key actions under each recommendation made by the peer review team They will return to Lambeth for a follow-up review and to observe progress against the actions in the Autumn Lambeth has improved key services in the face of increased demands and huge financial pressures said the council’s performance across a wide range of services and had been “broadly positive and … reflective of strong work being undertaken across the Council” The Quarterly Performance and Business Planning Report identified “a significant decrease” in litter across the borough after a concerted effort to tackle the issue by the council by focusing on the most-impacted areas It also highlighted an above-target total of 44.91% of kerbside waste sent for reuse Both of these contribute to Lambeth’s ambition to be a Net Zero borough by 2030 The three-month period also saw continued council success in making Lambeth a borough of equity and justice – through helping people into employment or training and supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse The council’s blueprint for the borough, “Lambeth 2030: Our Future, Our Lambeth” sets out its vision for the future with three bold ambitions – Making Lambeth Neighbourhoods Fit for the Future Making Lambeth One of the Safest Boroughs in London and Making Lambeth A Place We Can All Call Home These are now backed by a new Outcomes Framework with a series of performance indicators identifying and measuring “the work that needs to take place to ensure Lambeth 2030 becomes a reality” The latest performance report, which will be debated at a cabinet meeting next week (7 April) explained that: “Of those indicators which are targeted 81% were meeting target at Q3 (up from 74% in Q2) and a further 6% were within 5% of target Overall performance is also trending in the right direction of travel “Of those indicators with trending information available 27% reported a positive change in performance of at least 5% compared to 19% reporting a negative change in performance of at least 5%.” Among the findings in the Quarter 3 report were: There are continued challenges to meet educational outcomes around the number of pupils achieving grades 9-4 in both English and Maths at Key Stage 4 which the council works closely with schools to improve The outcomes framework assesses performance against targets according to a Red/Amber/Green (RAG) system The latest performance summary found that 16 indicators were at “green” status but four were rated “red” as they were more than 5% away from target Six indicators recorded a positive change in performance of at least 5% while five had a negative change of at least 5% Cllr Nanda Manley-Browne and Councillor Fred Cowell said: “We have set ourselves a number of ambitious targets to achieve the bold ambitions in Lambeth’s Borough Plan and it’s vital that we keep a close eye on how we are performing against these “It has been a difficult time for all councils with limited funding and increasing demands for our services But we have a duty to provide the best services we possibly can for the residents who depend on them “We’re delighted with the improvements we’re making across the board but we know we still have much work to do.” left his £190,000-a-year post at Labour-run Lambeth Council following his arrest last year A council chief executive convicted of drink-driving and fleeing the scene of a collision received a payout of nearly £90,000 after stepping down from his role Bayo Dosunmu, 46, left his £190,000-a-year post at Labour-run Lambeth Council following his arrest in June last year which led to a two-year driving ban after he pleaded guilty to multiple motoring offences Newly released documents show Dosunmu was awarded a "settlement agreement" worth £87,879 citing the "unexpected and unprecedented emergency situation" that arose The "golden goodbye" has sparked fury among campaigners who have branded it a waste of taxpayers' money Dosunmu was behind the wheel of a white Jeep when he crashed into a blue Toyota shortly before 9am on June 23 The driver of the Toyota pursued Dosunmu as he tried to flee officers reported he was slurring his words and "struggling to follow directions" Tests found he was three times the drink-drive limit He pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in September 2024 to drink-driving driving without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of a collision He was sentenced to a 12-month community order 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement his lawyer Colin Aylott KC said Dosunmu had a “history of public service” and that losing his job had taken "a heavy toll on him" adding that he had since moved in with a relative Lambeth resident Sheila O’Reilly submitted a data request asking whether the council considered Dosunmu’s behaviour gross misconduct Residents block street to stop £650k plan to replace parking spaces with benches Murder suspect arrested by police after house destroyed in huge blast Past AXA Startup Angel winners share their tips the council said: "The council considered the issues as ones which gave rise to the question of whether trust and confidence in Dosunmu as chief executive had broken down." It added Dosunmu was suspended the day he was arrested and resigned the following month "but no reason was given" The council said under his contractual terms and two pro-rata payments totalling £34,250 for his acting returning officer duties during the July 4 general election and a by-election Dosunmu has also kept his government-deferred pension Ms O’Reilly has since launched an online petition demanding government intervention accusing the council of being "increasingly authoritarian" with "no meaningful opposition" and mounting debts head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: "It’s an absolute disgrace that a council boss on a six-figure salary was handed nearly £90,000 of taxpayers’ cash after being convicted of drink-driving and fleeing the scene of a crash "Residents expect their hard-earned money to fund front-line services "Lambeth council should explain why someone who brought the council into disrepute was handed a golden goodbye instead of being shown the door without a penny." A Lambeth Council spokesman said: “Bayo Dosunmu stepped down as chief executive of Lambeth council in July 2024 He received payment in respect of his notice period untaken annual leave and for his work as acting returning officer for the general election and a by-election "These were paid in line with his contract and for work already completed." Step inside Lambeth Town Hall like never before as ‘Orchitecture’ transforms the building’s historic Edwardian architecture into a living live installation will explode an orchestra across interconnecting rooms creating a ‘Symphony to Walk Within’ — an experience that places you at the heart of the music Produced by award winning arts organisation Aswarm in collaboration with Chineke Foundation – Europe’s leading majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra – this transformative performance invites audiences to explore sound and even see a conductor in the Mayor’s chair guiding an invisible orchestra in the ornate council chamber Sit in the councillors’ seats and feel the power of the music from a unique perspective This unique event will take place at the Town Hall said: “Orchitecture Brixton is a powerful celebration of Lambeth’s diversity By transforming our historic Town Hall into a living symphony this event honours our commitment to making public spaces more inclusive and tell stories that reflect our shared history and future and feel the heartbeat of Lambeth’s community through music.”  Celebrating Lambeth’s Diversity and Creativity  Orchitecture Brixton aligns with Lambeth’s Borough Plan The event features the artistry of Chineke Foundation and local young talents from Lambeth Music Service promoting intergenerational mentorship and creative expression By reimagining civic spaces as cultural hubs it supports Lambeth’s goal of creating connected neighbourhoods where everyone feels a sense of belonging Foundation will perform Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Othello Suite This piece highlights Lambeth’s history of activism and community resilience Orchitecture encourages reflection on creating inclusive spaces and celebrating diverse narratives amidst global challenges The event will also feature a series of thought-provoking talks:  The event not only celebrates Lambeth’s rich cultural diversity but also sparks conversations about the importance of public spaces for creative expression and social interaction By blending historical stories with modern performances Orchitecture Brixton offers an immersive experience that challenges how we see things and encourages people to engage with the arts in new and meaningful ways It prompts reflection on representation in both classical music and public institutions The performance features professional musicians from Chineke Junior Orchestra and local youth from Lambeth Music Service fostering mentorship and community engagement Orchitecture Brixton is produced by Aswarm and Lambeth Council in partnership with Chineke Supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Select tickets – Orchitecture Brixton – Lambeth Town Hall  Lambeth Council’s plans to build desperately needed new affordable homes in the borough are advancing with the search for a new Development Partner set to start this January Lambeth Council is seeking a single Development Partner to deliver up to 450 new homes These will be delivered across six different sites in the borough through a portfolio approach This is part of the continued efforts to build new affordable homes under the Council’s New Homes Programme to tackle the chronic shortage of social housing in Lambeth said: “Since the launch of our New Homes Programme in March last year we have made great strides in unlocking many housing projects in the borough to enable us to deliver more affordable housing for our residents “But as the temporary accommodation crisis continues with 5,000 households in often sub-standard temporary accommodation and more than 40,000 people on Lambeth’s housing waiting list coupled with difficult financial circumstances we need to act more urgently through the most effective way to help us deliver new housing “Alongside working with the Government to find solutions to our housing crisis we know that the right partnership with an industry expert will help us deliver more new affordable homes at pace which we have started implementing on other projects already to accelerate delivery “As we begin the search for a partner to deliver the New Homes 6 I look forward to working with our residents and the right partner to bring forward this significant project that will not only bring forward much-needed high quality homes but also improve so many of our Lambeth neighbourhoods in the future.” Across the portfolio the Council expects the following to be met: The Development Partner procurement process for the NH6 portfolio will also help the Council to meet priority one of the  Lambeth Housing Strategy 2023-30 ,by maximising the number of new homes at Social Rent Lambeth Council has been awarded £1.36 million government funding to upgrade and expand its Electric Vehicle charging network in the latest boost for drivers who have made the switch from fossil fuels The council made a successful joint bid with Southwark Council for £2.7million in Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding from the Department for Transport to support EV charging infrastructure Lambeth Council has taken a £1.36m share of that funding and will use it to add up to 404 new charge points across the borough and help electrify its own fleet of cars The funding comes just weeks after Lambeth Council announced a new own and operate model for its network of charge points This means the council will manage its own network rather than paying a third party so revenue raised from charge points can be reinvested Existing EV users who previously used Ubitricity charge points have now moved to the smartphone-based app ClenergyEV The move to bring EV charging in-house will also give the council greater control over the type and location of each charge point it installs Lambeth currently has more than 600 EV charging points across the borough with a further 100 fast or rapid points and 130 lamppost charging points planned to be installed this year Lambeth Council is committed to supporting residents and businesses to use more sustainable forms of travel in a bid to reduce overall vehicle journeys by 27 percent This has involved transforming local streets to support people to cycle scoot or wheel through their neighbourhoods the council also recognises that some people require a motor vehicle and the Electric Vehicle Strategy 2023-2030 sets out ways the council will support EV drivers by investing in infrastructure such as rapid and fast charging points and EV charging hubs said: “This is a significant investment in EV infrastructure that means we will be able to continue our roll out of rapid and fast charging points over the coming year “The council is committed to transforming our local streets and while we are supporting people to take more active forms of travel we have to consider the needs of those who need to drive a motor vehicle “We do not believe electric vehicles are the solution to making travel more sustainable but we recognise they form a part of that solution If we are going to be success in reducing road danger improving air quality and encouraging more sustainable travel we need solutions that work for everyone.” Cllr Rezina Chowdhury explains more in this short video Lambeth has removed more than 60 No Ball Games signs on local estates as part of a campaign encourage children to play and stay active The council has embraced the More Ball Games initiative – led by inequality charity London Sport and supported by the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi – as part of wider drive to put children’s rights at the heart of its work was unveiled at the Mursell Estate in Stockwell earlier this week with support from the council leader and the London Lions basketball team More Ball Games highlights the need to reclaim public spaces for young people and calls on policymakers to remove barriers to play and physical activity the Leader of Lambeth Council said she was delighted to support this campaign Cllr Holland said: “Our child-friendly policy asks for children to be made welcome on the estates where they live ‘No ball games’ signs do not help children feel part of their community “This campaign is really vital for us in terms of building a child-friendly borough so that we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to play sport play with their friends and lead happy and fruitful lives “Having a campaign such as this is beautiful because it really contributes to our mission to be the best borough in London for children.” The council has already removed 61 signs from 10 estates across Lambeth without any complaints and has now committed to taking down the rest over the next six months The move aligns with Lambeth’s goal of becoming a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community ensuring that young people have safe and accessible spaces to stay active Lambeth will review any locations where safety concerns may require them to remain The council is encouraging residents to engage with the campaign and help shape a more inclusive environment for children across the borough Hundreds of Lambeth residents are benefiting from improvements including loft insulation and new doors and windows which will make their council homes more energy efficient and help to reduce energy bills Almost 700 homes across the borough were upgraded as part of a national scheme to “retrofit” socially rented properties part of a £6.9 million partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing started in 2021 and was delivered with funding from the Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ) The funding is part of the government department’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) aiming to make energy efficiency improvements to homes across the UK Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council and Cabinet Member for Housing Investment and New Homes welcomed news of the retrofitting project’s completion: “Lambeth was the first London borough to declare a climate emergency in 2019 and we are already progressing efforts to make homes more energy efficient The council has carried out nearly 17,000 detailed condition surveys on its estates and buildings That data is being used to inform a new investment plan due to be evaluated by the council’s Cabinet within the coming months This plan will set out how the council intends to manage its housing stock over the next five years while operating within strict budgetary constraints Cllr Adilypour added: “Our housing stock is relatively old and much of it suffers as a result of poor quality building in the 1960s and 1970s “The condition surveys we’ve done help identify which homes are in most need of investment and which are suitable to retrofit and insulate to enable us to reach our carbon reduction aspirations “Lambeth Council aims to contribute to the delivery of our targets to be Net Zero compatible by 2030 But the council’s severe financial challenges mean we can’t always do as much as we would wish.” As well as replacement of doors and windows to prevent loss of heat and energy through draughts and reduce the risk of damp and mould One resident benefiting from the project is David Francis who lives on the Woodvale Estate in West Norwood  He was keen to get involved in the green initiative and have solar panels fitted to his roof but had concerns about potential wiring problems A contractor visited Mr Francis at his home and answered all of his questions reassuring him that all cables across his ceilings would be hidden Mr Francis also learned that the large battery which stores the electricity generated from the sun through the solar panels for use in the evening could be stored out of sight in the loft Monocrystalline rather than polycrystalline and the back-up batteries store the excess energy – and it’s green energy which is the best thing of all.” After the installation, Mr Francis decided to acquire the necessary certification to enable him to sell excess energy generated by the panels back to the national grid and has been helping his neighbours do the same. Between June and August 2024, he earned £20 from selling back excess electricity through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme.  Still more Lambeth residents are set to benefit from further retrofitting, with Wave 2 of the SHDF project now under way. This next phase of the programme will be focussed on the Blenheim Gardens Estate and Tivoli Road.  Local residents keen to find out more can contact Ernesta.Sauliunaite@wates.co.uk Lambeth Council is inviting residents to share their thoughts on proposals to transform the area around Stockwell Gardens into a safer cleaner and greener ‘Healthy Neighbourhood’ There’s still more than a week to take part in the public consultation on the plans to turn the area into a safer reduced traffic and speeding means people can live more active lives It also means removing traffic that is using the neighbourhood’s residential streets as a cut-through It also enables the creation of kerbside spaces for people and planting new trees & other greenery Lambeth has identified Stockwell Gardens as a good location for a healthy neighbourhood scheme because: The designs are based on previous engagement with local people and organisations in 2023 and 2024 in addition to analysis of data on traffic the council is proposing to introduce a healthy neighbourhood on a trial basis we want your feedback on the proposed design of this healthy neighbourhood The four-week consultation process on the proposed design will end on 28 April You can view maps and other information via these links: The council has welcomed the finding of an Ofsted focused visit to Lambeth children’s services which were issued by letter today outlining the inspector’s views that services in the borough have significantly improved since 2022’s last full Ofsted inspection The visit which was held in December specifically evaluated ‘the experiences and progress of disabled children children subject to child in need and protection planning and the quality of practice with children subject to the Public Law Outline’ It also looked at the quality of social work provided by the council The detailed findings which were shared with the council on January 13 found many areas of strength praised the leadership in children’s services saying performance management was highly effective and also that services for disabled children are vastly improved Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “Lambeth children’s services provide incredibly important community support safeguarding the future of the most vulnerable young people in our borough “So I am really pleased that we have got this positive feedback from Ofsted and am reassured that the council is on a strong improvement path following the disappointing outcomes highlighted in our last inspection two years ago “While there is lots of praise in the letter outlining the findings it is also a reminder that we must continue to put in the hard work that has got us to this place but we are determined to use the experience gained here and build on that to best meet the needs of our borough.” The letter set out how the inspection found social workers and managers are alert to risks to children outside the family home and understand the push and pull factors that influence children in being drawn into exploitative relationships It also said that increasingly child and family assessments are comprehensive and well written and include the child’s history It said social workers assessments are now effective in analysing the risk and working effectively to identify the interventions necessary to meet children’s needs The inspectors found that leaders at the council know that there is more work to do to ensure that all children in need of help and protection receive a consistent It also said the director of children’s services together with his senior team have worked diligently to develop and support a culture of continuous learning and improvement said: “I’m really pleased at the Ofsted findings and we will use this feedback to drive our continuous improvement “We are committed to serving Lambeth’s children and families and making Lambeth one of the best places to grow up and thrive Our workers are on the front line making a real difference and it was good to see that the inspectors noted that our diverse workforce really reflects the local community and that is a real strength We want Lambeth as an employer to be the first choice for talented committed and passionate social workers and professionals.” Lambeth Council has written to the Government highlighting the importance of tackling empty and under-occupied homes when it comes to building on the welcome first steps that have been taken on a national level to address the country’s deep housing crisis which is a national push to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing for people who need it The housing crisis is having a huge impact on people across Lambeth London and much of the rest of the country The issue is critical locally with Lambeth Council currently housing one in 30 of all households in temporary accommodation in the country and there are more than 35,000 residents on the borough’s social housing waiting list Lambeth Council has already launched an Empty Homes and Voids Action Plan to bring new focus to tackling empty homes and voids in the borough But is now calling for the measures and powers to go further The letter has been co-signed by Cllr Danny Adilypour Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing the Minister for Housing and Planning and Angela Rayner the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government and Rushanara Ali MP The Lambeth councillors wrote: “We are committed to working collaboratively with government to ensure that policies and resources are aligned with the needs of our communities In no policy area is this more pressing than on housing achievable steps that would make a tangible difference in unlocking much needed local housing and improving outcomes for residents.” Ministerial Letter on Empty Homes Lambeth council has set out how major budget pressures from demand for emergency housing threatens the future of services in the borough with new proposals to meet a significant part of its £69million funding gap set to be considered on December 9 The council’s Cabinet will consider dimming streetlights during the middle of the night increasing income from services like parking and events in parks and consulting on reducing the number of children’s centres in a bid to save £50million Cllr David Amos said: “This is the worst funding crisis that the council has ever faced and we need to be open with residents that saving this amount isn’t possible without having a major impact on the services people rely on “The need to find these significant savings is driven by over a decade of austerity by underfunding by previous central governments rising inflation and demand for public services biting down hard on the financial sustainability of local government services “The demand for emergency housing for families in the borough alone is costing us more than £250,000 a night a direct result of the national housing crisis which impacts places like Lambeth most of all “Because the council is legally required to fund these services and legally required to set a balanced budget that forces on us impossible choices that mean cuts to other services.” Lambeth’s core government funding has reduced by 34 per cent in real terms since 2010 rising demand for social services and increased responsibilities from central government Combined with an unprecedented demand for services including temporary accommodation which is now costing £90 million a year – £29 million forecasted over budget – the council must make savings of over £69 million over the next four years The council has already taken urgent in-year action to deal with a projected overspend of £34 million this year which is driven largely by demand for temporary accommodation which is up by a third since 2023 The action includes putting in place emergency spending controls which include reviewing all recruitment and non-essential spend and ending consultancy and advisory contracts unless they deliver essential services for residents the continued rise in demand-led services like housing and social care and rising inflation means that the council faces having to cut vital services for residents in the next two years with services likely to be cut back to legal minimal levels unless there is further government support to councils that are facing unprecedented demand pressures Cllr Amos said: “We are proud that we have managed to maintain funding for vital services that support vulnerable residents from our major cost of living support package and services that support care leavers to refuge beds for women and girls who are victim to violence and domestic abuse “Our aim is to maintain those services but the financial situation we face is stark and substantial and without more government support councils face impossible choices about their future.” To read the full report visit moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk Lambeth Council has agreed that its former office block in a high-profile Vauxhall location will be rented to hotel operator the Whitbread Group who will refurbish the 10 story block and re-open it as a Premier Inn The move follows Lambeth Council reducing the number of offices it runs from 14 to two in a bid to save money and use the majority of its buildings to create new homes generate income and offer more modern customer services The council aims to issue a 32-year lease on Phoenix House while keeping the longer-term head lease which has the majority of its 999-years remaining The council vacated Phoenix House in 2019 as part of the award-winning Your New Town Hall scheme This wide-ranging project to reduced Lambeth Council’s core office buildings from 14 to two with further community benefits including 219 new homes for rent and sale Initial attempts to rent out the building to an international office operator were unsuccessful after the firm experienced financial difficulties During the Covid-19 when demand for buildings of this size was depressed the council used the offices as temporary space for specific projects said: “I’m delighted that we have agreed a rental agreement that will see this property brought back into use boost the local area and create income for the council at a time of unprecedented financial strains on our budget “A hotel operator was chosen as the best option for Phoenix House because as well as getting rent for the council it supports our work to boost evening activity in the area which is one of the London Mayor’s Night Time Enterprise Zones “The building will also be brough back into use at a high level of environmental sustainability standards and create new job opportunities for local people “We are ambitious for our town centres and expect that this agreement will be a catalyst for making further improvements to Vauxhall with the aim of making it a far more attractive and safe place to both live and visit.” Lambeth celebrates reaching a milestone of 300 accredited Living Wage employers in the borough Lambeth celebrates a milestone of 300 accredited Living Wage employers in the borough now committed to paying staff the London Living Wage in sectors including catering Paying the Living Wage – the only UK wage rate based on the real cost of living – shows other businesses and your employees that a business believes their people deserve to be treated fairly The Living Wage Foundation say “Living Wage is about more than money it’s part of making sure everyone who works for you is treated right Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion said: “As Lambeth reaches this milestone of 300 accredited Living Wage Employers paying wages tied to the real cost of living what we are really celebrating is the commitment that will help us build a future where everyone can participate in the local economy Living Wage plays a vital part in keeping local economies thriving.” Lambeth Living Wage accredited employers explain the business benefits of being part of the 300: Lambeth Council’s Appointments Committee has recommended that Ian Davis be appointed as the council’s new Chief Executive subject to the approval of Full Council in January Ian Davis is currently the Chief Executive of Enfield Council His appointment was recommended by a cross-party appointments committee and following an extensive recruitment process He is expected to take up the new role in Lambeth in early 2025 he has led the council’s significant regeneration programme including a borough-wide estate renewal of 3,000 homes the £6bn Meridian Water scheme of 10,000 homes as well as driving through a council-wide cultural change programme focused on fairness and overseeing continuous improvements in children’s services Mr Davis was previously also Enfield’s Executive Director for Housing Regeneration and Environment where he successfully integrated the ALMO and established Enfield’s vision for Crossrail He has a background of almost 30 years of experience in local government Leader of Lambeth Council said: “I’m delighted that Lambeth’s Appointments Committee has appointed Ian Davis to be the council’s new Chief Executive subject to approval at Full Council in early 2025 “Ian is a local government leader with significant experience of driving service improvement and delivering better outcomes for residents knowledge and commitment will be crucial to supporting the council to deliver our Lambeth 2030 ambitions especially in the challenging financial times that local government faces “I want to pay tribute to the council’s Acting Chief Executive Fiona Connolly for her outstanding leadership professionalism and integrity in taking on the role since the summer She will continue to play a key role in Lambeth’s leadership team and in continuing to drive forward improvements in our housing and adult social care services.” Ian Davis said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected as Lambeth Council’s new Chief Executive Lambeth is an iconic borough with huge potential and the borough’s Lambeth 2030 vision sets out a clear and compelling vision for the future that I look forward to working with you all to deliver “It is great to be joining a well-established team working with the senior officer leadership and local communities that are passionate about where they live and ambitious about the future “The commitment to equity and justice really resonated with me when applying for the role and the council’s values are those that I have strongly believed in throughout my Local Government career.” Lambeth’s Acting Chief Executive said: “I’d like to congratulate Ian Davis on his appointment as Lambeth Council’s new Chief Executive He brings significant experience from his existing role at Enfield which will be crucial for the council as we deal with a very challenging set of financial circumstances “He will find a council that is hugely passionate about delivering for residents with a group of staff who are deeply committed to making Lambeth a better place for everyone who lives and works here.” Details of Lambeth Council’s budget have been published today setting out the urgent action needed due to the organisation’s ‘extremely challenging and perilous financial future’ The council has identified more than £99 million in savings over the next four years savings which are required because of years of structural underfunding from central government rising demand for vital statutory services and the significantly increased cost of providing them Lambeth has experienced unprecedented demand for statutory services such as temporary accommodation along with adult and children’s social care which will require £45.9 million of further funding next year for these services alone More homeless families than ever need housing by the council with the number of homeless households supported by Lambeth having increased by 50 per cent in the last two years to 4,600 households The cost of housing homeless households in overnight accommodation is expected to reach £100 million this year meaning that the council has spent £30 million more than it budgeted for Rising demand and the cost of services that the council has to provide by law such as adult social care and children’s services are also driving council overspending – meaning £46.3 million of savings will be needed in 2025/26 and a further £49.8 million of savings will have to be found over the next four years to make sure the council’s budget is balanced The budget paper will be considered by the council’s Cabinet on February 24 If agreed by Cabinet the budget will be considered on March 5 at Budget Council said: “The cost of providing the vital public services that the most vulnerable in our communities rely on has spiraled leaving us in an unsustainable financial position following years of chronic underfunding from central government “Following years of structural underfunding and a refusal of successive governments to stabilise local authority finances and deliver much needed reform Councils across London are now at breaking point “Our ability to cope with the situation has been worn down by fourteen years of austerity policies and a succession of government failures and delays in delivering much needed reforms That includes failures to address the promised reforms to adult social a failure to build the housing this country so desperately needs and a failure to properly fund front-line services our residents depend on “This is now the worst funding crisis this council We need to be open with residents that saving this amount isn’t possible without having an impact on the services people rely on we have focused on finding savings through being more efficient putting forward income generating proposals and increasing our fees and charges in a way that’s fair within the current challenging financial situation.” In line with most councils and to meet the need to fund essential services Lambeth will raise Council Tax by 2.99 per cent and the Adult Social Care precept by 2 per cent In addition to the Council Tax premium collected on empty homes the council will be introducing a Council Tax premium on second homes for 2025/26 Cllr Holland said: “Although this will maintain Lambeth’s Council Tax rate as one of the lowest in the UK we know significant challenges remain for some of our most vulnerable residents Support for the most financially vulnerable will continue to be available through the Lambeth’s Council Tax Support scheme which remains one of the more generous in London alongside the council’s Cost of Living support programme.” Lambeth Council welcomed the government’s finance settlement at the end of last year which provided some extra funding but not enough to address the council’s huge pressures Cllr Holland said: “The local government financial settlement is an essential first step in starting to rebuild local services that have been stripped away by austerity decisions by national governments over 14 years “We will continue to work with government to address the financial challenges local government faces This is particularly acute for councils in London such as Lambeth since we are on the frontline and bear the brunt of the national housing crisis.” housing services – which are funded through a separate council housing account – are under major pressure due to years of underfunding through a combination of rent freezes and caps imposed by central government and the cost of extra fire and building safety work needed following the Grenfell tragedy The council is in discussions with the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government to determine what actions will need to be taken to balance the budget over the next few years and how services like repairs funding improvements such as new windows and doors and cleaning and improving estates can continue to be delivered Cllr Holland said: “Delivering a balanced budget is incredibly challenging in the face of our budget situation but doing so is vital if we are to preserve and protect the essential services that our most vulnerable residents rely on.” To read the full report visit moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk Lambeth Council hosted London Mayor Sadiq Khan today as he announced a new £6million investment to help ensure victims and survivors of domestic abuse get the help and support they need to reach safe accommodation Sadiq chose Lambeth as the location for the announcement in recognition of the borough’s London leading work to tackle violence against women and girls and the councils effective work with community organisations in Lambeth supporting those in need said: “We are proud of Lambeth’s leading work to support women and girls who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse and to work with the Mayor of London on our shared ambitions to keep women and girls safe “This visit recognises Lambeth’s long history of strong local funding We are committed to tackling gender-based violence in all its forms in our borough and have protected these services from the deep funding cuts our sector has faced over many years.” Lambeth council funds 52 refuge bed spaces which is the highest number of commissioned domestic abuse safe accommodation beds in any London borough said: “Domestic abuse refuges and community organisations are a lifeline for so many Londoners in need grassroot support groups are struggling to survive due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and years of underfunding from the previous government “So I’m pleased to be working with partners to fund vital support services for thousands of survivors of domestic abuse and violence who need safe accommodation across our city.” Lambeth Council’s strategy for tackling violence against women and girls has been in place since 2021 and sets out how the council works with its partners on the issue over the following five years It builds on previous strategies and a decade of work to establish effective services partnerships and processes that support victims and survivors and their children and hold perpetrators to account Cllr Holland said: “The majority of our offer is culturally specific support in recognition of the evidenced benefit of tailored support for women and their children fleeing abuse “There is also specialist community-based support for victims and survivors of all genders and ages who are at risk of gender based violence through our free “We now look forward to working with the Mayor and his team on a fair and sustainable offer for those fleeing domestic abuse across London.” Thousands of residents struggling with the cost of living crisis can get additional help with household expenses through a multi-million pound package of support organised by Lambeth Council Vital expenses including extra help to pay household bills, and school meals during the holidays, can now be supported over the next six months through the borough’s £2.7m Household Support Fund (HSF) allocation The funding will enable Lambeth to continue essential support for low-income families at a time of significant financial pressure due to unprecedented demand for front-line services As many people continue to struggle with household costs including fuel bills, Lambeth has decided to continue directing its HSF funding towards the residents who need it most The latest cost of living package is expected to support almost 45,000 people over the next six months All of Lambeth’s previous allocations under the HSF during critical periods including the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have been focussed on those groups and individuals most directly affected The latest activity is a key part of the range of help and support the council provides for residents who are vulnerable or on the lowest incomes: Lambeth currently spends £9.4m per annum on direct support to financially precarious residents Lambeth’s Joint Cabinet Members for Equalities Councillor Fred Cowell and Councillor Nanda Manley-Browne said: “People might have assumed that we’re through the worst of the cost of living crisis now that inflation has fallen from the unprecedented levels of a couple of years ago But there are thousands of people who are still struggling to afford household essentials “The Household Support Fund has been a lifeline for so many people over a number of years and we welcome the Government’s decision to extend it We will continue to use it to ensure our most vulnerable residents receive the support they need at this particularly difficult time of year.” Continued household support funding is particularly welcome given the significant financial challenge Lambeth faces with a £69million funding shortfall over the next four years Cllr Cowell and Cllr Manley-Browne added: “This funding comes at a time when the council is having to make incredibly tough decisions about how we spend limited resources We will continue to do all we can to support people on low-incomes and welcome the Government’s recent commitments to allocate funding according to need helping us to tackle the root causes of deprivation in our communities” New figures have revealed that for the eleventh year running every child in Lambeth whose application was on time has received an offer of a secondary school place This year 92 per cent of Lambeth parents and carers who applied to a secondary school in the borough have been offered a place at one of their preference schools starting this September On the day that parents and carers across London are told which secondary school their children have been offered places at Lambeth Council has revealed that offers were made to 2,225 applicants this year 1,426 of whom were offered their first preference This meant that 64% of Lambeth children have been offered their first preference of secondary school The overall figures do not include pupils with an Education The co-ordinated school admissions process enables parents and carers to choose schools in Lambeth and in other boroughs With so many good local schools to choose from it is inevitable that unfortunately not all children will be able to be offered their first preference Lambeth continues to be able to offer the majority of parents and carers a school from their preferences and have enough year 7 places overall for residents to choose from said: “Schools across Lambeth have worked incredibly hard to ensure every child has access to a good school place Fourteen years of central government cuts have left schools struggling with an unfair funding formula that does not reflect the needs of inner-city areas like ours “Falling birth rates and rising costs add further challenges but our schools continue to provide high-quality education and ensure every family has a place for their child in secondary school “This success is down to the dedication of our brilliant teachers who go above and beyond every day to support young people “Because of the hard work of our schools and education service families no longer face the uncertainty of previous years when some worried about whether their child would get an offer at all “Gone are the days when a family felt anxious about where their children might go to school and when a child’s future depended on whether they got an offer Every child in Lambeth has the opportunity to thrive in school “We are also continuing to strengthen support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) ensuring they get the right help as early as possible From investment in SEND places to expanding our early intervention support we are committed to making sure every child can succeed in mainstream education where possible and access specialist provision when necessary “As we welcome this new cohort of students in September we remain committed to fighting for fairer school funding and making sure every child in our borough has the best possible start to their secondary education.” 94.8 per cent of children have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools Figures released today by the Pan London Admissions Board the body with overall responsibility for the co-ordination of school admissions in the capital show that 71.6 per cent of children applying to London schools got into their first preference school 90.5 per cent of London pupils were offered a place at one of their top three choices of secondary school Lambeth Council is inviting residents to be community parklet keepers to help make their neighbourhoods more pleasant and sustainable places The council’s Big Shift Community Parklet Scheme is now asking for fresh applications for residents to establish their very own parklet in areas of Lambeth that need it most Parklets are a shared area of the kerbside that would normally be used by vehicle parking they can be transformed into a social space where residents can meet places to stop and rest and give them a say over how their streets are used The Big Shift Community Parklet Scheme was launched in 2023 to give every council area in Lambeth the chance to apply Applications are open to residents in the following wards:  Oval Applicants are asked to speak to their neighbours to gain support and decide what sort of parklet their neighbourhood would benefit from They can fill in a simple online form showing support for the parklet before submitting it to the council for review Each application will be scored and those that are successful will be invited to choose from a catalogue of items to design their parklet Every parklet is assigned a person who helps maintain the new space and can report repairs to the council WATCH: How a Big Shift Community Parklet is built said: “Since launching the Big Shift Community Parklet scheme we have already seen neighbourhoods that have been transformed Streets that were previously lined with parked cars now have a dedicated space for people to enjoy whether it’s creating a community garden or a safe space for children to play “The council is committed to rebalancing our streets so they are less dominated by vehicles and give ordinary people a much larger say in how they use or travel through their local area “Feedback from parklet keepers show these new spaces have a tremendously beneficial impact on peoples’ lives and I would encourage anyone interested to speak to their neighbours and see if they can drum up support for their very own community space.” Applications open on March 3 and close on May 3 For more information visit https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/streets-roads-transport/community-parklet-scheme Lambeth Council has welcomed the government’s funding announcement on December 18 of extra money being allocated to councils coming into this settlement Lambeth had 34 per cent less in real terms spending for every resident as a result of 14 years of government austerity measures rising costs and rising demand for services means big savings totalling an estimated £69million from the council’s budget The council is also currently engaging with the government on an ongoing basis about support to deal with huge pressures in its housing revenue account This follows years of central government policies that have restricted the council’s ability to raise income to maintain its housing stock and also seen extra unfunded responsibilities put on local authorities Leader of Lambeth Council said: “The Local Government Settlement provides welcome additional funding for services in Lambeth with growth of £11million in our core spending power “This builds on the welcome engagement from the new government with local councils with the announcement of more powers for local communities and moving towards more sustainable funding after 14 years of cuts forced on councils by central government “The settlement has provided funding at a greater level than our earlier forecasts but the increase in funding does not address the funding gap and growth in the spending pressures we are experiencing in a number of areas “One year’s funding settlement was never going to be able to reverse the impact of those 14 years of cuts especially given the economic inheritance the new Government has received “So we need to be open with residents that we still face significant budget gaps caused by 14 years of government funding cuts unprecedented demand for emergency housing for homeless families and rising demand for adult and children’s social care.” The council needs to save £69 million over the next four years and proposals worth £50 million to bridge much of that gap were agreed by the council’s Cabinet on December 9 The council will now consider the full implications of the Local Government Finance Settlement and bring forward final budget proposals to Cabinet and Full Council in February housing services – which are funded through a separate council housing account – are under major pressure due to years of underfunding ageing council estates and the cost of extra fire safety work needed following the Grenfell tragedy In total over the last 14 years in Lambeth alone Government cuts and unfunded policies have taken £500 million out of the ‘Housing Revenue Account’ budget which is used to maintain the borough’s council homes Lambeth Council is the second largest social housing landlord in London with 23,600 socially rented homes But the borough’s housing is ageing and needs investment with most homes being flats that are on average more than 60 years old the council is in discussions with the Ministry for Housing funding improvements such as  new windows and doors and cleaning and improving estates can continue to be delivered Previous governments placed restrictions on how councils could run and fund their housing revenue accounts and then imposed rent cuts that have cost the council tens of millions of pounds a year That’s money that we don’t have to improve our repairs service or to invest in ensuring every home is maintained to a high standard “It leaves us with a huge shortfall when it comes to meeting our commitment to high standard social housing We have cut back spending on all but the most essential services But this is still not enough to meet the gap between the money we have and the amount we need to spend on our housing estates “This is a situation that many councils in London now face Lambeth is in discussions with the new government about borrowing extra money and raising additional income as well as reducing costs so we are able to meet our commitments to residents regarding the standard of council housing in the borough We welcome the new government’s commitment to working with councils to address challenges that have been forced on councils by the previous government “We have made good progress in our housing maintenance work and a national inspection outcome announced in November highlighted Lambeth’s successful improvement journey But we can only keep this going if we get fresh investment in our housing services and our homes and that is what we are working to secure.” updates and opportunities and stay updated on what's happening in Lambeth.