This week in Lambeth:

• The Health and Wellbeing Board approved the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for public consultation and discussed strategies for safeguarding adults and promoting healthy lifestyles.
• The Planning Applications Committee granted conditional planning permission for the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park, addressing concerns about heritage impact and amenity.
• The Pensions Board reviewed the Lambeth Pension Fund's performance, risk management, and future plans, noting underperformance in some areas and discussing cyber security measures.

Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday 08 May 2025

The Lambeth Health and Wellbeing Board approved the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for public consultation, with a focus on out-of-hours pharmacy access. The board also discussed safeguarding adults, health strategy data, a weight management programme for the Latin American community, and the Better Care Fund¹.

Latin American Weight Management Programme

The board heard about the Lambeth Latin American Weight Management Programme, a 12-week lifestyle programme delivered in Spanish and Portuguese. Vidya Cunningham, Public Health Specialist, Maria Oguijo, Weight Management Project Officer, and participants Doris and Jose presented the programme's success, with 83% of participants losing weight. The programme includes nutrition education, physical activity, cooking workshops, supermarket tours, and gym inductions. Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, praised the programme's co-design and holistic approach. Councillor Donna Harris, Liberal Democrats Group Lead, suggested it could be a blueprint for other community groups.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Data Monitoring

Rachel Scantelbury, Public Health Consultant[^8], presented data related to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, highlighting metrics on NHS health checks¹, smoking prevalence, physical inactivity, obesity, emergency hospital admissions due to falls, deaths due to suicide, and detentions under the Mental Health Act[^3]. Concerns were raised about increases in smoking, mental health detentions[^3], and obesity. Councillor Harris questioned whether the strategy effectively addressed health disparities across ethnic and socioeconomic groups, especially given the cost of living crisis[^5] and housing challenges. It was agreed that a deep dive into the data would be beneficial.

Safeguarding Adults Annual Report

The board reviewed the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) annual report for 2023-24, noting a reduction in safeguarding concerns due to the establishment of a safeguarding hub. The report indicated that in 66% of cases, actions taken to mitigate risk reduced the risk, while in 32% of cases the risk was removed fully. Neglect and acts of omission were the highest reported types of abuse.

Other Matters

The board also discussed the Lambeth Together Health and Care Plan, the Better Care Fund, and the Director of Public Health Quarterly Report (DPH). Councillor Harris expressed concern about the number of strategies and frameworks and hoped for a focus on deliverables in future planning. She also raised concerns about the Better Care Fund always coming already approved as chair's action.

Planning Applications Committee - Tuesday 06 May 2025

The Lambeth Council Planning Applications Committee granted conditional planning permission for the Lambeth Country Show (LCS) in Brockwell Park in 2025. The application sought permission for temporary infrastructure, including fencing, lighting, stages, and funfair rides, for 17 days.

The committee considered the LCS in the context of other events scheduled for Brockwell Park in 2025, including the Brockwell Live events approved under permitted development rights[^2]. Concerns were raised about the impact on the Brockwell Park Conservation Area, the Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden, and the setting of Brockwell Hall.

To address concerns, the committee imposed conditions on the planning permission, including a noise management plan, lighting strategy, waste management plan, traffic management plan, and tree protection plan. The committee concluded that the public benefits of the Lambeth Country Show outweighed the potential harms.

Pensions Board - Wednesday 07 May 2025

The Lambeth Council Pensions Board reviewed the performance of the Lambeth Pension Fund, risk management, and future plans. The board noted the Pension Administration Service Performance update, the Lambeth Pension Fund Risk Register, and the draft business plan.

The Investment Performance Report - Quarter 4 2024 indicated that the fund's assets had a market value of approximately £1,852.5m as of 31 December 2024. While the fund outperformed its benchmark in the fourth quarter of 2024, it underperformed over one, three, and five-year periods. This underperformance was attributed to the London CIV[^10] (JP Morgan) and the Invesco Property portfolios. Councillor Matthew Bryant, Deputy Group Leader, asked about potential changes in investment strategy and funds on the committee's watchlist. It was noted that the committee had already decided to divest from Invesco, but exiting the investment could take time.

The board reviewed the Lambeth Pension Fund – Risk Register, noting that the risk rating for PA22, qualified audit opinion of the Fund’s financial statements, had increased from 4 to 8 due to the qualified audit opinion received in 2023/24. Mitigations included bringing in additional resources to prepare the 2024/25 accounts and resolve the issues that led to the qualification. Another area of discussion was cyber security, with officers responding that the pension software system had recently been retendered to Heywood Limited, and the evaluation process included questions related to cyber security.

This week in Lambeth:

• At the Council meeting, Councillor Adrian Garden was elected as Mayor and Councillor Christine Banton as Deputy Mayor.
• The Council also approved the Members' Allowances Scheme 2025-26 and the Council's Constitution 2025-26.
• A review of the allocation of seats to political groups was also approved, despite concerns about opposition representation.

Council - Wednesday 23 April 2025

At the annual meeting of Lambeth Council, Councillor Adrian Garden was elected as Mayor and Councillor Christine Banton as Deputy Mayor for the upcoming municipal year. Councillors also approved the Members' Allowances Scheme 2025-26, the Council's Constitution 2025-26, and a review of the allocation of seats to political groups.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor Adrian Garden was elected as Mayor of Lambeth for 2025-26, succeeding Councillor John-Paul Ennis. Councillor Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion, moved the motion, highlighting Councillor Garden's dedication to charitable causes and his commitment to justice. Councillor Martin Tiedemann seconded the motion, noting Councillor Garden's long service to the community, including his work with the Friends of Windmill Gardens¹. Councillor Garden accepted the office, outlining his three priorities: chairing council meetings, acting as an ambassador for Lambeth, and raising money for his chosen charities, Age UK Lambeth and the Lambeth and Croydon Food Bank, part of the Oasis Trust. Paul Coles of Age UK Lambeth and Reverend Steve Chalk of the Oasis Trust spoke about the work of their respective charities.

Councillor Christine Banton was elected as Deputy Mayor, with Councillor Rebecca Spencer, Chair of Corporate Committee, moving the motion, praising her dedication to the borough and her work as a mental health advocate. Councillor Jackie Meldrum seconded the motion, highlighting Councillor Banton's commitment to the sickle cell policy and her work in tackling domestic violence.

Retiring Mayor's Report

Councillor John-Paul Ennis, the outgoing Mayor, presented his report, reflecting on his year in office and the experiences he had. He spoke about his aim to inspire younger people to get involved in politics. Councillor Scott Ainslie, Group Leader, and Councillor Ben Curtis, Group Whip, thanked Councillor Ennis for his service. Councillor Dr. Mahamed Hashi, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, also spoke, thanking Councillor Ennis for his work.

Leader of the Council, Cabinet Portfolios, Other Administration and Opposition Appointments

Councillor Ainslie raised concerns about the deletion of reference to the ethical care charter² and the equalities, governance and change portfolio. Councillor Matthew Bryant, Deputy Group Leader, welcomed Ian Davis as the new chief executive and expressed interest in the new portfolio encompassing digital data and resident experience. Councillor Holland defended the administration's record, highlighting investments in communities, support for vulnerable residents, and action on climate change.

Review of Allocation of Seats to Political Groups

The council reviewed the allocation of seats to political groups on committees. Councillor Ainslie expressed disappointment with the lack of opposition representation on scrutiny committees. Councillor Bryant echoed these concerns, calling for at least one scrutiny sub-committee to be chaired by an opposition councillor. Councillor Scarlett O'Hara, Chief Whip, defended the Labour group's representation, stating that Lambeth voted Labour and its Labour councillors who are the best people to represent them. The recommendations in the report were agreed.

Constitution 2025-26

The council considered updates to the constitution for 2025-26. Councillor Ainslie argued that the Green Party should have a seat on the Constitutional Working Group. Councillor Donna Harris, Group Leader, supported this proposal, emphasising the importance of opposition voices in the process. Councillor James Bryan, Deputy Chief Whip, stated that the constitution had been revised to refocus the rules of cabinet on the principles of inclusivity delivery and equity. The recommendations in the report were agreed.

Members' Allowances Scheme 2025-26

The council discussed the Members' Allowances Scheme for 2025-26. Councillor Ainslie questioned the value for money of special responsibility allowances (SRAs). Councillor Curtis stated that the Liberal Democrats believed that pay needs to reflect the work done, but were unhappy with the scope and scale of the SRAs. Councillor Annie Gallop, Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, spoke about the importance of the members allowance in terms of her personal situation, and also to the borough and health of our politics and democracy here in Lambeth. The recommendations in the report were agreed.

This week in Lambeth:

• The Corporate Parenting Board discussed services for children in care and care leavers, including health summaries and mentoring schemes.

Corporate Parenting Board - Wednesday 16 April 2025

The Lambeth Council Corporate Parenting Board met to discuss updates on services for children in care and care leavers. The board agreed to provide a breakdown of data on placement moves for children in care and to explore ways to involve children in care and care leavers more directly in board meetings and decision-making. They also discussed ways to improve communication about available support and services to care leavers, particularly regarding health prescriptions.

Cath, whose role is not specified in the transcript, presented the action tracker, highlighting progress on several key initiatives:

• Sibling Contact: The council is reviewing its contact policy to better promote contact between siblings in care, aligning it with practice guidance and providing child-friendly leaflets explaining their rights.
• Health Summaries: A health summary has been circulated, summarising annual health checks for care leavers. The council is also working on a health passport for care leavers.
• Mentoring Schemes: Andrew, whose role is Corporate Director, has been working with a participation officer to scope out mentoring schemes available through the council and the wider community, including the volunteering and faith sectors. Councillor David Oxley, Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, noted the importance of clear communication to ensure young people are aware of and can access the support available.

Teresa, whose role is not specified in the transcript, provided an update on various aspects of the Corporate Parenting Service:

• Care Leavers Who Are Parents: The council has developed a leaflet outlining entitlements for care leavers who are parents and is working with children's centres to ensure they receive adequate support.
• Care Leavers in Prison: Protocols are being developed with probation services to improve support for care leavers in prison, including preparing for their release and maintaining contact.
• Health: Efforts are being made to increase the uptake of health prescriptions, with consideration being given to developing an app to facilitate access. Dr. Efun Johnson, whose role is not specified in the transcript, confirmed that health summaries are being completed and tracked effectively.
• Contextual Safeguarding: Multi-agency safety plans are in place for children and young people, and a risk management group monitors those over 18. Links have been established with services offering support for domestic abuse.
• Keeping in Touch: The council sends out regular letters to over 600 care leavers to maintain contact and remind them of available support.
• Children Looked After: The council has reduced the frequency of visits to looked after children to four-weekly, aiming to build stronger relationships.
• Placement Stability: The council is working to minimise placement moves for children in care, with stability meetings held when placements are at risk of breaking down.

Councillor Oxley requested a breakdown of the reasons for the 46 children who have experienced three or more placement moves. Andrew clarified that some moves are due to the national transfer mechanism¹ for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or parental assessments, while others indicate instability. Councillor Christine Banton, Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Champion, expressed concern about continuous moves and whether they reflect difficulties settling in placements. The board agreed to provide a breakdown of the data and a case study to illustrate the complexities involved.

Councillor Ibtisam Adem, Policy Lead for Sanctuary Seekers and Migrants, requested information on the rights and entitlements of young people in prison, and Kath, whose role is not specified in the transcript, confirmed this was included in the corporate parenting newsletter. Councillor Banton asked about the number of young people accessing violence against women and girls services and whether they are aware of coercive control. Teresa agreed to provide this information at the next meeting.

Councillor Adem inquired about how the council identifies care leavers who become parents and whether they are linked with Homestart Lambeth. It was confirmed that all care leavers known to the council are allocated a personal advisor (PA) or social worker, and that Homestart and St Michael's Fellowship provide support services for young parents. Brenda, whose role is not specified in the transcript, mentioned that audits have been conducted of young parents who are care leavers to identify gaps in support. Andrew noted the challenge of tracking fathers and the importance of building relationships to encourage engagement with services.

The board discussed feedback from Voices of Success (VOS), the children in care council, regarding awareness of free prescription offers for care leavers and the need for board meeting dates. The council has taken steps to address these issues, including providing information to personal advisors and exploring ways to communicate the offer to a wider cohort of care leavers, possibly through an app.

Councillor Adem suggested providing support to help young people apply for health certificates, and Kath confirmed that the uptake of free prescriptions by eligible care leavers is tracked on the corporate parenting data dashboard. Councillor Banton proposed involving young people in developing an app to meet their needs, and Andrew noted the potential for collaborating with Nottingham, which has already developed a similar app. Councillor Banton also suggested helping young people apply for funding for technology projects.

Laura Feeney, Assistant Director for Transformation Improvement and Performance, provided an update on the activities of the Visions of Success (VOS) group, including reach for the stars events, input into life skills hubs, and upcoming events. The young people requested that the next corporate parenting board meeting be held in person and that they be given the opportunity to lead the agenda.

Councillor Banton praised the reach for the stars award and the farm event, highlighting the positive impact on the children and their families. Councillor David Bridson, Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing, Investment and New Homes, suggested holding an annual in-person meeting with VOS and incorporating a social element to build relationships. Councillor Banton recalled a previous event where children shared their culture and history, and Kath mentioned a planned full council takeover day involving young people. Andrew suggested exploring how to model a VOS takeover of a board meeting, potentially adding an additional meeting to allow the young people to shape their own agenda.

No one from the Lambeth Foster's Care Association was in attendance. It was agreed that the council would seek written input from the association and circulate it to board members. Councillor Bridson suggested requesting three bullet points from foster carers to highlight key issues, and Robert Bielby suggested inviting foster carers to submit video messages. Councillor Adem proposed inviting different foster carers to present at meetings to provide a variety of perspectives.

Pras, whose role is not specified in the transcript, presented the Virtual School annual report, highlighting strengths in education, employment, and training, as well as areas for development. Key points included:

• Most young people attend good or outstanding schools.
• Attendance is generally good at primary and lower secondary levels but declines with age.
• Attainment at key stage one and two is above local and national averages.
• There has been a permanent exclusion for almost 10 years.
• There are various pathways to employment and education.
• A high number of young people are taking level three qualifications at post 16.
• More people are progressing to university, including Russell Group universities.
• Suspension rates have increased recently, particularly at upper secondary level.
• Examination attainment at key stage four was lower than local and national averages.

The report also included data on the characteristics of children in care, attendance rates, suspension rates, and attainment at different key stages. Councillor Bridson raised concerns about the age of some of the data and the rising suspension rates. He suggested reviewing the suspensions to identify potential interventions and ensure the dashboard accurately reflects suspensions rather than exclusions. Pras explained that academic results are reported a year in arrears due to verification processes and that the council investigates each suspension.

Councillor Sarina Da Silva expressed a desire for the council to strive for excellence in educational outcomes and asked about additional support offered to children who have fallen behind. Pras outlined the interventions provided, including tutoring, and emphasised the importance of considering the individual needs and potential of each child. Councillor Cole asked about the needs of children who are not unaccompanied minors but have ESOL needs, and Pras confirmed that all young people with ESOL needs are unaccompanied minors.

Councillor Adem inquired about spending on interpreting services and training on cultural competency for carers. Pras clarified that interpreting services are typically arranged by social workers and that cultural competency was the focus of the last annual conference. Councillor Banton asked whether young people who have had fixed-term exclusions have gone through a governor exclusion process first. Andrew clarified that the council encourages internal suspensions where possible to avoid formal exclusions. Councillor Adem asked where managed moves are recorded, and it was confirmed that they are not formally recorded as they are agreements between schools.

The board briefly discussed the corporate parenting dashboard, with Kath noting that the data on fixed-term exclusions needs to be updated to reflect suspensions.

This week in Lambeth:

• Lambeth Council's cabinet adopted a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and reviewed the Quarter 3 Performance and Business Planning Report.
• The Planning Applications Committee approved the redevelopment of Timber Mill Way for industrial use and a temporary change of use for a rooftop car park on Pope's Road.
• The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for Buddy's Deli with amended hours and deferred a decision on Exquisite Restaurant and Bar.
• The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a summary review of Aquum nightclub's premises licence following a serious sexual assault allegation.

Cabinet - Monday 07 April 2025

Lambeth Council's cabinet adopted a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and reviewed the Quarter 3 Performance and Business Planning Report. The homelessness strategy aims to tackle the housing crisis through prevention, early intervention, and partnership working. The performance report highlighted achievements in areas like adult social care, street cleansing, and economic inclusion.

Councillor Danial Adilypour, Deputy Leader of the Council (Housing, Investment, & New Homes), emphasised the urgent need for a renewed strategy given the housing crisis in Lambeth, where 35,000 households are on the waiting list and 4,800 are in temporary accommodation (TA). He noted the significant financial pressure on the council's general fund, with over £100 million spent on temporary accommodation in 2024-25.

The strategy focuses on four key priorities: ensuring suitable accommodation for homeless people to move into, preventing rough sleeping, strengthening prevention efforts, and improving data on homelessness.

Councillor Claire Holland, Leader of the Council, noted the importance of building new homes, referencing the new houses and flats that the council built at Patmos Lodge and Roman Rise, which she said were opposed in terms of the building by people and parties in this borough.

The cabinet voted to adopt the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and to note the latest performance update against the delivery of the Outcomes Framework.

Planning Applications Committee - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Lambeth Council Planning Applications Committee approved the redevelopment of Timber Mill Way for industrial use and a temporary change of use for a rooftop car park on Pope's Road in Brixton. Both applications were approved, subject to conditions and Section 106 agreements¹.

The committee considered an application for the demolition of existing buildings at A E Chapman And Son Ltd, Timber Mill Way, and the redevelopment of the site to provide flexible industrial floorspace. Councillor Martin Bailey, Chair of Pensions Committee, questioned the intensification of the Key Industrial Business Area (KIBA) and why a more mixed-use site hadn't been explored, in line with the London Plan 2021. Officers stated that the policy encourages intensification of business and industrial uses in KIBAs.

The committee then considered an application for temporary permission for a period of five years, for the use of a car park roof area of 24A Pope's Road for food stalls, bars uses and film screenings. Councillor Diogo Costa asked how the figure of £45,000 for public realm improvements was arrived at, and whether there were details on how much street lighting it would provide. Officers responded that the figure was based on a previous calculation when the funder scheme was under consideration, and accounted for inflation.

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider a new premises licence for Buddy's Deli and a review of the premises licence for Exquisite Restaurant and Bar. The sub-committee granted the licence for Buddy's Deli with amended hours, and deferred a decision on Exquisite Restaurant and Bar for five working days.

Stassen Leisure Limited applied for a new premises licence for Buddy's Deli, 1 The Polygon, SW4 0JG, a cafe and delicatessen. The sub-committee granted the premises licence with the amended hours and existing conditions. Councillor David Robson, Chair of Licensing, encouraged Mr Stassen to be an active member of the Clapham community and participate in the Friday night hub meetings.

The sub-committee then moved on to consider a review of the premises licence for Exquisite Restaurant and Bar, 7A Station Rise, SE27 9BW. The sub-committee decided to defer the decision for five working days. Councillor Robson thanked Jacqueline Pennycook, Democratic Services, for her 40 years of service to Lambeth Council, as she was about to take semi-retirement.

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to consider an application for a summary review of a premises licence. This was prompted by an allegation of a serious sexual assault at Aquum nightclub. The committee was to determine whether interim steps were necessary, pending a full review.

The primary focus of the meeting was to be the application for a Summary Review of the premises licence for Aquum, located at 68 - 70 Clapham High Street. The application was submitted by Detective Superintendent Emma Bond of the Metropolitan Police, following an allegation of a serious sexual assault at the premises on 29 March 2025. The police notified of the incident by the victim on 02 April 2025.

The report pack included a copy of the application, as well as a certificate signed by Detective Superintendent Emma Bond, asserting that the premises is associated with serious crime and disorder.

According to the report pack, the Licensing Sub-Committee was to consider the application in light of all relevant information, and decide whether to take interim steps, pending determination of the review of the premises licence, and if so, what steps were appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives².