The Lambeth Council meeting on Wednesday 27 May 2026 saw the election of Councillor Paul Valentine as the new Mayor and Councillor Judy Best as Deputy Mayor. The council also approved the Revenue and Capital Budget for 2026/27, along with significant changes to the Council's Constitution and the Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor Paul Valentine was elected as the new Mayor of Lambeth, becoming the first Green Mayor for the borough. He expressed his commitment to representing all residents and aiming for consensus in council debates. Councillor Valentine also indicated a focus on supporting arts and culture charities within Lambeth during his term and invited councillors to suggest relevant organisations. Councillor Judy Best was elected as Deputy Mayor, with Councillor Keita Ogden proposing her and Councillor Chris Nicholson seconding the motion. Councillor Ogden highlighted Councillor Best's long-standing commitment to the Streatham and Lambeth community and her previous experience as Deputy Mayor.

Report of Mayoral Activities

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Adrian Garden, presented his report on his year in office. He detailed his activities, which included chairing meetings, acting as Lambeth's ambassador, representing the council at community events, attending citizen naturalisation ceremonies, organising the Civic Awards, and supporting his chosen charities, H.U.K. Lambeth and Lambeth Inc. Councillors from the Liberal Democrat, Labour, and Green groups paid tribute to Councillor Garden's service, commending his leadership, humour, and dedication to public service.

Suspension of Standing Orders and Urgent Motions

The council agreed to suspend standing orders to allow for the consideration of urgent motions. This led to the introduction of two significant motions.

Motion A2: Governance Arrangements in a No Overall Control Council

Councillor Simon Cordon moved a motion to adjust governance arrangements in light of the council being in no overall control following the recent elections. The motion aimed to ensure that all groups are properly informed before decisions are made, particularly concerning the budget. Councillor Cordon drew on his past experience in a hung council to emphasise the importance of collaborative decision-making. The Green Group, represented by Councillor Scott Ainslie, supported the motion, stating their commitment to a collaborative culture and working across parties for the betterment of Lambeth. Councillor Danial Adilypour, speaking for the Liberal Democrats, also supported the motion, highlighting the need for improved decision-making and equal briefing from officers. The motion was passed by a show of hands.

Motion B: Adjournment of Annual Council Meeting

Councillor Simon Cordon also moved an emergency motion to adjourn the Annual Council meeting. He argued that the traditional methods of electing a leader and cabinet, or simply noting a cabinet, might not be the most appropriate governance route for a council in no overall control. He stressed the urgency due to the statutory deadline for the Annual Council meeting by June 21, 2026. Councillor Claire Holland, speaking for the Labour Group, expressed regret that the motion was necessary, attributing it to chaos and confusion caused by the Green Group's indecision regarding governance models. While the Labour Group stated they were open to a committee system, they required more detail on proposals, resources, and equalities impact assessments. Despite these reservations, the Labour Group reluctantly supported the adjournment to allow for further clarification. Councillor Jay, speaking for the Green Group, confirmed their support for the motion and stated their commitment to negotiating in good faith, despite the Labour Group's criticisms. The Liberal Democrats, through Councillor Simon Cordon, also indicated their support, noting that all three parties agreed on the motion. The motion was passed, and the meeting was adjourned, with a reconvened Annual Council meeting scheduled for June 1, 2026.

Revenue and Capital Budget 2026/27

The council debated and ultimately approved the Revenue and Capital Budget for 2026/27. Councillor Judith Cavanagh, Cabinet Member for Finance (Acting), presented the budget, highlighting its focus on financial resilience, equity, and justice, with significant investments in adult social care, children's services, housing, and homelessness support.

Two amendments were proposed and subsequently defeated:

• Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget: Proposed by Councillor Ben Curtis, this amendment sought savings through greater efficiency, such as sharing back-office functions with neighbouring boroughs, and introducing measures like a late-night levy and increased fly-tipping penalties. It was defeated by 44 votes against, with four votes for and five abstentions.
• Green Group Alternative Budget: Proposed by Councillor Nicole Griffiths, this amendment aimed to protect vulnerable residents by redistributing funding towards frontline services, increasing fees on higher-polluting vehicles, and utilising developer contributions. It was also defeated by 44 votes against, with four votes for and five abstentions.

The original budget recommendations, as proposed by Councillor Judith Cavanagh, were then approved by 44 votes for, eight votes against, and one abstention.

Constitution 2026/2027

The council unanimously approved changes to the Council's Constitution for 2026/27. Councillor Donna Harris raised concerns about the existing constitutional procedures, suggesting that scrutiny and challenge were sometimes viewed negatively. Councillor Scott Ainslie highlighted that the review followed a Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review which identified significant issues with the council's governance and financial control, and that parts of the existing constitution were unlawful. Councillor James Bryan stated that the review had been a cross-party effort aimed at strengthening governance. The approved changes included updates to the Council Procedure Rules and the final draft of the Lambeth Constitution.

Pay Policy Statement 2026/27

The Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 was approved by 47 votes to zero, with four abstentions. Councillor Matthew Bryant noted positive developments, including a reduction in the ratio between the highest and lowest paid employees and a narrowing of the gender pay gap. Councillor Paul Valentine also acknowledged these improvements but encouraged further progress, while expressing concern about increased workloads for frontline staff. Councillor Judith Cavanagh highlighted Lambeth's commitment to fair pay as a London Living Wage employer and attributed changes in the workforce and pay bill to nationally agreed pay awards and efforts to bring services in-house.

Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029

The council adopted the Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029 by 44 votes for, seven against, and zero abstentions. Councillor Ben Curtis expressed concern about the removal of the No Casino resolution, arguing it was a mistake that could leave the council vulnerable if national legislation changed. Councillor Martin Abrams echoed these concerns, stating the clause had significant public support and its removal lacked clear justification. Councillor Dr. Mahamed Hashi explained that the removal aligned the policy with current national legislation, which does not permit new casino licences in London, and that the revised approach aimed to strengthen protections for vulnerable residents. The adopted policy includes encouragement for applicants to contact local gambling support groups, updated local area profiles, and pointers from the Metropolitan Police Service.