Lambeth London Borough Council

Local authority in Greater London, England

"Lambeth Council" redirects here. For the 1900 to 1965 council, see Lambeth Metropolitan Borough Council.

Lambeth London Borough Council

Coat of arms

Council logo

Type
Type|

London borough

Leadership

Mayor

John-Paul Ennis,
Labour
since 24 April 2024[1]

Leader

Claire Holland,
Labour
since 2 June 2021

Chief Executive

Bayo Dosunmu
since July 2022[2]

Structure
Seats| 63 councillors[3]

Political groups

Administration (58)
Labour (58)
Other parties (5)
Liberal Democrats (3)
Green (2)
Elections

Voting system

| First past the post

Last election

| 5 May 2022

Next election

| 7 May 2026
Meeting place
Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW
Website
www.lambeth.gov.uk

Lambeth London Borough Council, which styles itself Lambeth Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Lambeth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of the 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2006. The council meets at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton and has its main offices at the nearby Civic Centre.

## History

[edit]

There has been an elected Lambeth local authority since 1856 when the vestry of the ancient parish of Lambeth was incorporated under the Metropolis Management Act 1855. The vestry served as one of the lower tier authorities within the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London.[4] In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London. In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs, each with a borough council, which saw the parish of Lambeth become the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth.[5]

The larger London Borough of Lambeth and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964.[6] For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's two outgoing authorities, being the councils of the two metropolitan boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth (the latter only in respect of the Clapham and Streatham areas that were to be transferred to the new Lambeth borough).[7] The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.[8]

The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Lambeth".[9]

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Lambeth) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.[10] Lambeth became a local education authority in 1990 when the Inner London Education Authority was dissolved.[11]

In 1979, the administration of Edward ("Red Ted") Knight organised the borough's first public demonstration against the Thatcher government.[12][13]

In 1985, the council joined other left-wing councils in a rate-capping rebellion, although only Liverpool and Lambeth refused to set a legal budget.[14] All 34 Labour councillors present voted on 7 March 1985 not to set a rate.[15] On 9 September 1985 the district auditor for Lambeth gave notice that the delay in fixing the rates was wilful misconduct and so the councillors were required to repay the £126,947 costs as a surcharge. The amount per councillor was over £2,000 and therefore they were also disqualified from office.[16][17] The surcharged councillors from Lambeth appealed against the surcharges.[18] The High Court delivered its judgment on 6 March 1986, finding heavily against the councils; Lord Justice Glidewell described the stance of the councillors as "mere political posturing"; Mr Justice Caulfield described the evidence of wilful misconduct as "crushing" and the councillors' stance as having "reached a pinnacle of political perversity".[19] The councillors were disqualified on 30 March.[20][21]

In 1991, Joan Twelves' administration failed to collect the poll tax and opposed the Gulf War.[12][13] The following year, Twelves and 12 other councillors were suspended from the local Labour Party by regional officials for advocating non-payment of the poll tax and other ideas.[12][22][23] During this period, Lambeth became known the archetype of what critics described as a "loony left" council.[24]

Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.[25]

In July 2021 the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published a report that was highly critical of the council and which said serious abuse had been allowed to occur in five of Lambeth's children's homes between the 1960s and 1990s; over 700 children had suffered cruelty and sexual abuse,[26] although the Inquiry believed that the figure was likely to be significantly higher.[27] The Inquiry found that a "culture of cover-up" had led to the abuse continuing over decades; the Council made an "unreserved apology to the victims".[26]

Lambeth Council has faced significant criticism over their failure to deliver affordable housing and to properly administer housing they own and manage. Like a number of local authorities, in 2017, it set up a wholly owned company—Homes for Lambeth—to build new housing in the borough. An independent report commissioned by the council by Bob Kerslake, former head of the Civil Service, reported in 2022 that the delivery of new homes in the borough had been "very poor" and recommended closing the company,[28] which Lambeth accepted.[29]

In 2023, the Housing Ombudsman opened an investigation into the council's housing provision following numerous incidents judged by the ombudsmen to be "severe maladministration" and stated they need to "radically improve".[30][31] Michael Gove, then minister for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, stated that the Lambeth Council's behaviour towards residents was "completely unacceptable" and fell below "the most basic level of decency" owed to tenants.[32] Following further investigations, the Housing Ombudsman accepted that Lambeth had made improvements, but "too many residents" still get "an unacceptable service" from the council. Lambeth Council was also the first local authority housing provider to become the subject of an in-person inspection from the Housing Ombudsman over repeated failures to properly handle complaints from tenants and residents.[33][34][35]

In 2024, Lambeth Council was criticised for trying to force residents into non-disclosure agreements when settling complaints from leaseholders overcharged for repairs, building works and service charges.[36]

In June 2024 the CEO of Lambeth Council, Bayo Dosunmu, was charged by the police with possession of a Class A drug, failing to stop after a road accident, driving above the proscribed alcohol limit and using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance. He subsequently resigned from his £190,000 a year job.[37]

## Governance

[edit]

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates.[38] It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.[39]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2006.

The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[40]

Party in control | Years

|

| Labour | 1965–1968
| Conservative | 1968–1971
| Labour | 1971–1982
| No overall control | 1982–1986
| Labour | 1986–1994
| No overall control | 1994–1998
| Labour | 1998–2002
| No overall control | 2002–2006
| Labour | 2006–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The role of Mayor of Lambeth is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:[41][42][43]

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Archie Cotton |  | Labour | 1965 | 1968
Bernard Perkins[44] |  | Conservative | 1968 | 1971
Charles Dryland |  | Labour | 1971 | 1973
David Stimpson |  | Labour | 1973 | 1978
Ted Knight |  | Labour | 1978 | 26 May 1982
Robin Pitt[45] |  | Conservative | 26 May 1982 | Nov 1982
Ted Knight[46] |  | Labour | Nov 1982 | 1986
Linda Bellos |  | Labour | 1986 | 1988
Dick Sorabji |  | Labour | 1988 | 1989
Joan Twelves |  | Labour | 1989 | 1993
Steve Whaley |  | Labour | 1993 | 1994
No leader | 1994 | 1998
Jim Dickson |  | Labour | 1998 | 2000
Tom Franklin |  | Labour | 2000 | 23 May 2002
Peter Truesdale |  | Liberal Democrats | 23 May 2002 | 24 May 2006
Steve Reed |  | Labour | 24 May 2006 | 3 Dec 2012
Lib Peck[47] |  | Labour | 30 Jan 2013 | 13 Feb 2019
Jack Hopkins[48][49] |  | Labour | 13 Feb 2019 | 2 Jun 2021
Claire Holland[50] |  | Labour | 2 Jun 2021 |

In 1986, Linda Bellos was the second Black woman to become leader of a British local authority, after Merle Amory in the London Borough of Brent.[51]

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2022 election and changes of allegiance and by-elections up to May 2024, the composition of the council was as follows:[52][53]

Party | Councillors

|

| Labour | 58
| Liberal Democrats | 3
| Green | 2
Total | 63

The next election is due in May 2026.

## Elections

[edit]

See also: Lambeth London Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 25 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[54] The wards are:[55]

* Brixton Acre Lane (3)
* Brixton North (3)
* Brixton Rush Common (3)
* Brixton Windrush (2)
* Clapham Common and Abbeville (2)
* Clapham East (2)
* Clapham Park (3)
* Clapham Town (3)
* Gipsy Hill (2)
* Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction (3)
* Kennington (3)
* Knight's Hill (3)
* Myatt's Fields (2)
* Oval (3)
* St Martin's (2)
* Stockwell East (2)
* Stockwell West and Larkhall (3)
* Streatham Common and Vale (3)
* Streatham Hill East (2)
* Streatham Hill West and Thornton (2)
* Streatham St Leonard's (3)
* Streatham Wells (2)
* Vauxhall (3)
* Waterloo and South Bank (2)
* West Dulwich (2)

## Premises

[edit]

Lambeth Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG: Council's main offices since 2018

The council meets at Lambeth Town Hall on Brixton Hill in Brixton, which was completed in 1908 for the old Lambeth Borough Council.[56] The council's main offices are at Lambeth Civic Centre at 6 Brixton Hill, a short distance south of the Town Hall. The civic centre was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2018.[57]

Olive Morris House, 18 Brixton Hill: Council's offices 1978–2018, since demolished

The civic centre replaced the council's previous main offices at 18 Brixton Hill, which had been built in 1978 and was named 'Olive Morris House' in 1986 after Olive Morris (1952–1979), a local community leader and activist.[58][59]

## Notable councillors

[edit]

### Green Party

[edit]

* Jonathan Bartley, councillor for St Leonard's ward between 2018 and 2022, former Co-Leader of the Green Party.
* Scott Ainslie, councillor for St Leonard's ward since 2014 and MEP for London from 2019 to 2020.

### Liberal Democrats

[edit]

* Anthony Bottrall, former British diplomat and councillor for Stockwell ward from 1994 to 2006.
* Roger Liddle, British political adviser and member of House of Lords, and councillor for Prince's ward from 1982 to 1986 and 1994 to 1995.
* Mike Tuffrey, former member of the GLC and London Assembly, and councillor for Prince's ward from 1990 to 2002.

### Conservative Party

[edit]

* John Bercow, former councillor for St Leonard's ward (1994–1998) and Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019.
* Charlie Elphicke, former councillor for Gipsy Hill from 1994 to 1998 and Member of Parliament for Dover from 2010 to 2019.
* John Major, former councillor for Ferndale ward (1968–1971) and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997.

### Labour Party

[edit]

* Ibrahim Dogus, councillor for Bishop's ward since 2018 and entrepreneur and restaurateur.
* Jim Dickson, councillor for Herne Hill and former Leader of Lambeth Council.
* Steve Reed, former councillor for Brixton Hill (2006–2012) and Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 2012.
* Florence Eshalomi, former councillor for Brixton Hill (2010–2018), Member of the London Assembly (2016–2021) and Member of Parliament for Vauxhall since 2019.
* Marsha de Cordova, former councillor for Larkhall ward (2014–2018) and Member of Parliament for Battersea since 2017.
* Dan Sabbagh, former councillor for Vassall ward (2010–2014) and associate editor of The Guardian newspaper.
* Kitty Ussher, former councillor for Vassall ward (1998–2002) and former Member of Parliament for Burnley (2005–2010).
* Jonathan Myerson, former councillor for Clapham Town (2002–2006)
* Tom Rutland, former councillor for Streatham Common and Vale from 2022 to 2024.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Council minutes, 24 April 2024". Lambeth Council. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
2. ^ "Future Forum". Municipal Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
3. ^ "Open Council Data UK – compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
4. ^ Metropolis Management Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120)
5. ^ London Government Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14)
6. ^ "London Government Act 1963", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1978 c. 33, retrieved 16 May 2024
7. ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0901050679.
8. ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0901050679.
9. ^ "Insurance London Consortium Agreement" (PDF). Sutton Council. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
10. ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
11. ^ Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40)
12. ^ a b c "The rise and fall of Red Ted's loony lefties". Independent.co.uk. 29 July 1995.
13. ^ a b Kate Hoey MP and Lambeth Labour Party – Brian Deer investigates. Briandeer.com (8 August 1993). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
14. ^ Not the echo! Liverpool Labour News, (a newspaper published by the Labour Party in 1985), '6,0000 jobs threatened', p1. The article was written by Militant member Felicity Dowling.
15. ^ Stewart Morris, "No Surrender", South London Press, 12 March 1985, p. 21.
16. ^ Hugh Clayton, Peter Davenport, "Rebel councillors' £233,000 penalty", The Times, 10 September 1985, p. 1.
17. ^ Grant, "Rate Capping and the Law", p. 71-2.
18. ^ "Rates fight 'legal'", South London Press, 21 January 1986, p. 2.
19. ^ "Judges rap rebels for wilful misconduct", South London Press, 7 March 1986, p. 3.
20. ^ Stewart Morris, "Power bid by Tories hit by rule change", South London Press, 2 April 1986, p. 2.
21. ^ Hugh Clayton, "Lambeth rates rebels given time to pay surcharge of £105,000", The Times, 31 July 1986.
22. ^ Bennett, Will (29 July 1995). "The rise and fall of Red Ted's loony lefties". The Independent.
23. ^ GLATUC News. Glatuc.org.uk. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
24. ^ "Radical Lambeth". Lambeth London Borough Council. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
25. ^ Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107\. ISBN 978-0714648590.
26. ^ a b Easton, Mark (27 July 2021). "Culture of cover-up saw hundreds of children abused in Lambeth, report finds". BBC News Online. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
27. ^ Butler, Patrick (27 July 2021). "Hundreds of children abused while in care of Lambeth council, inquiry finds". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
28. ^ "Council to fold housing company back in-house after review slams 'very poor' delivery". Inside Housing. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
29. ^ Ing, Will (29 November 2022). "Lambeth Council set to wind up unpopular housebuilding arm". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
30. ^ "Lambeth Council: Disabled father left without toilet for three weeks". BBC News. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
31. ^ Butler, Patrick (12 April 2023). "Council's failures left disabled child in chronic pain for three years, watchdog finds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
32. ^ "Michael Gove hits out at Lambeth Council over housing". BBC News. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
33. ^ "Lambeth Council inspected by Housing Ombudsman over complaint". BBC News. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
34. ^ Lawrence, Mark (10 July 2023). "Lambeth Council inspection into complaint handling". Housing Ombudsman. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
35. ^ Feeney, Jackie (1 February 2022). "Special Report on Lambeth". Housing Ombudsman. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
36. ^ "Lambeth Council refunded £1.5m to 'gagged' leaseholders". BBC News. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
37. ^ "Lambeth Council boss charged with drug and driving offences". BBC News. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
38. ^ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
39. ^ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
40. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
41. ^ "Council minutes". Lambeth Council. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
42. ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
43. ^ Passmore, Michael (2015). The responses of Labour-controlled London local authorities to major changes in housing policy, 1971–1973 (PDF). London: King's College London. p. 280. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
44. ^ "Council will not raise 'totting' offer". Birmingham Daily Post. 24 February 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
45. ^ "Rebel mayor ousts Labour". Daily Mirror. 27 May 1982. p. 5. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
46. ^ Webster, Philip (13 November 1982). "Knight back in control at Lambeth". The Times. London. p. 2.
47. ^ "Lib Peck appointed to lead London's new Violence Reduction Unit". Mayor of London. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
48. ^ "Jack Hopkins to replace Lib Peck as Lambeth leader". London SE1. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
49. ^ Slingsby, Alan (10 May 2021). "Lambeth Council leader Jack Hopkins steps down". Brixton Blog. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
50. ^ "Cllr Claire Holland set to be new Leader of Lambeth Council". Lambeth Labour. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
51. ^ Mason-John, Valerie (1995). Talking Black: Lesbians of African and Asian Descent Speak Out. Cassell. p. xv.
52. ^ Cobb, Jason (28 February 2024). "Lambeth faces by-election as Labour Councillor Sonia Winifred resigns amidst Gaza ceasefire controversy". Retrieved 11 March 2024.
53. ^ Cobb, Jason (3 May 2024). "By-election success for Labour with Streatham Common & Vale and Knight's Hill both returning Labour candidates". Brixton Buzz. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
54. ^ "The London Borough of Lambeth (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/37, retrieved 24 April 2024
55. ^ "Electoral ward boundary review | Lambeth Council". beta.lambeth.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
56. ^ Historic England. "Lambeth Town Hall (Grade II) (1080534)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
57. ^ "Your New Town Hall - Lambeth Civic Centre". GL Hearn. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
58. ^ Osborne, Angelina (2 August 2020). "Black History Month: The Power of Olive Morris". Fawcett Society. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
59. ^ "Olive Morris House". Engdesign. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

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