Lambeth: New council administration agreed

The meeting, which follows the local elections on May 7, saw Councillor Martin Abrams elected as the new Leader of the Council, and also the appointment of Lambeth’s new Cabinet. Cllr Ciara Alleyne and Cllr Natalie Kane were appointed as the new Deputy Leaders of Lambeth Council.

Lambeth’s Annual Council meeting approved plans to move towards a hybrid Cabinet Committee model under the existing system, with new committees introduced to provide beefed up scrutiny and allowing for more cross-party working.

Cllr Abrams said: “I am honoured to lead the Green group at Lambeth and to have been elected as the Leader of Lambeth Council. It is a huge privilege and honour to have been backed to hold this important role.

“Our administration is committed to making the council more transparent and accountable to local people. That is why I am pleased that the council voted to increase the role of backbenchers from all parties in decisions made by Cabinet, give greater prominence to scrutiny and empowering ward councillors over decisions that affect their local communities.

“I now look forward to leading the council on this basis, to implement our ambitious agenda for the borough and to work closely with all my fellow councillors, council staff and our local residents to achieve that.

“By moving to a hybrid ‘cabinet committee’ system, Lambeth has already made steps toward a more open and transparent council.”

The meeting followed an adjournment of the council’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday 27, May, and saw a continuation of the same agenda on Monday evening.

The previous meeting saw Cllr Paul Valentine named as the new Mayor of Lambeth, the first Green mayor of the borough. Cllr Judy Best, representing the Liberal Democrats, was name as Lambeth’s Deputy Mayor.

The meetings follow the borough wide poll on May 7 that saw all 63 council seats across 25 wards contested at the ballot box. The current composition of the Council is the Green Party with 27 seats, Labour with 26 seats, the Liberal Democrats with eight seats and two casual vacancies which will be filled through by-elections that take place on 9 July.

The full Lambeth Council Cabinet is as follows:

Cllr Martin Abrams, Leader of the Council

Cllr Ciara Alleyne, Deputy Leader (Environment, Climate Crisis and Transport)

Cllr Natalie Kane, Deputy Leader (Inclusion, Democracy and Culture)

Cllr Pete Elliott, Cabinet Member for Housing

Cllr Scott Ainslie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development, Built Environment, and Public Realm

Cllr Zvikomborero Chihoro, Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Wealth Building

Cllr Michael Chessum, Cabinet Member for Economy, Cost of Living and Empowered Communities

Cllr Jeremy Isaacs and Cllr Sam Dorney-Smith, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care (job share)

Cllr Alice Weavers, Children and Young People

Cllr Jonathan Bartley, Cabinet Member for Safer, Thriving Neighbourhoods