The Cabinet of Southwark Council is scheduled to meet on Monday 16 March 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a discussion on a petition concerning businesses in Dulwich Village and a review of the council's performance and delivery over the past four years.

Petition: Save our High Street - Support Dulwich Village Businesses

The Cabinet is scheduled to consider a petition requesting that Southwark Council implement measures to support businesses in Dulwich Village. The petition, which has gathered 601 signatures, calls for more free parking spaces near the shops, the removal of road restrictions, and the reversal of 24/7 parking charges in Dulwich Park. The report pack indicates that the council's current position, as outlined in its Streets for People Strategy, is to prioritise creating streets designed for people, reducing pollution, and improving safety. The council has invested over £1 million in Dulwich Square, reporting increased footfall following these improvements. Regarding parking, the report states that the number of parking bays has been maintained, with free parking for the first hour available on the north parade of shops and Gilkes Place. The report also notes that road restrictions, such as the controlled parking zone and timed-access restrictions along Dulwich Village, were introduced for road safety and to address resident concerns about commuter parking. The parking charges in Dulwich Park were introduced due to the car park being regularly over-capacity.

End of Term Report 2022 - 2026

The Cabinet is also scheduled to review the council's performance and delivery against its Council Delivery Plan commitments for the period 2022-2026. This report, presented by Councillor Sarah King, Leader of the Council, outlines achievements across six key goals: Decent homes for all, A good start in life, A safer Southwark, A strong and fair economy, Staying well, and A healthy environment.

Key achievements highlighted in the report include:

• Decent Homes for All: The construction of 2,500 new council homes, with over 600 under construction, and a £250 million investment in improving the safety, condition, and sustainability of existing housing stock.
• A Good Start in Life: 99% of Southwark schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and 97% of 16- and 17-year-olds transitioning into education, training, or employment.
• A Safer Southwark: An investment of £2 million in an antisocial behaviour taskforce, a £3 million programme to enhance CCTV systems, and the upgrade of over 11,000 streetlights to LED lighting.
• A Strong and Fair Economy: Over £40 million distributed to families through cost-of-living support funds, and the accreditation of over 450 London Living Wage employers.
• Staying Well: The expansion of mental health services for young people through The Nest, and the opening of a new leisure centre at Canada Water.
• A Healthy Environment: The planting of over 13,000 trees, making Southwark the first inner London borough with over 100,000 trees on council-owned land, and a reduction in the council's operational carbon emissions by 18%.

The report also details the council's commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, as well as its engagement with residents in shaping its strategies. The Southwark 2030 Strategy serves as the overarching framework for the council's work.