The Council of Lambeth Council met on Monday 1 June 2026 to discuss and vote on a range of constitutional and governance matters. Key decisions included the adoption of a new governance framework, the appointment of Councillor Martin Abrams as Leader of the Council, and the approval of a revised members' allowance scheme.

Future Governance and Democratic Reform in Lambeth

The council debated and voted on a motion concerning future governance and democratic reform. This motion, which was amended through two separate votes, ultimately passed. The first amendment, which involved deleting and replacing specific paragraphs related to the appointment of chairs of cabinet committees, was carried. The second amendment, proposing that chairs of cabinet committees should be elected by the full council, also passed. Following these amendments, the substantive motion, as amended, was voted on and approved. The debate highlighted differing views on the move away from a leader and cabinet model towards a committee system, with the Labour group expressing concerns about the Green Party breaking manifesto commitments. The Liberal Democrats supported the amendments, viewing them as an improvement to a less-than-ideal system.

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

Following the governance reforms, the council proceeded to elect the Leader of the Council. Councillor Martin Abrams was appointed as the Leader of the Council for the next term. The Liberal Democrats stated they would support the Green Group's leader based on three conditions: enhanced roles for ward councillors, improved scrutiny of decisions, and a commitment to a balanced and legal budget. The Labour group congratulated the newly elected councillors but stated they would not be supporting Councillor Abrams, highlighting their own achievements during their previous administration and warning against plunging the council into chaos. The Green Group, as the largest party with the popular vote, put forward Councillor Martin Abrams as their proposed leader, with Councillors Qiyara Alleyne and Natalie Kane as Deputy Leaders. They emphasised the need for communication, camaraderie, and collaboration to deliver on their promises. The report and subsequent appointments were noted by the council.

Members' Allowance Scheme

The council discussed and voted on the members' allowance scheme, including amendments proposed by the Labour and Green groups. The Labour amendment, which aimed to propose an alternative scheme, was debated and subsequently carried. Following this, the substantive motion, as amended by the Labour group's proposal, was voted on and passed. The Liberal Democrats indicated their support for the Labour amendments, emphasizing that allowances are crucial for ensuring public service remains accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. Councillor Natalie Kane of the Green Group spoke passionately about the importance of equity and inclusion, warning that special responsibility allowances could compromise these goals and potentially contravene the Equality Act 2010. She highlighted statistics on the current demographic of councillors and stressed the need to support councillors from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with caring responsibilities or financial constraints.

Review of Allocation of Seats to Political Groups

The council then considered the review of the allocation of seats to political groups. Amendments from the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups were discussed. The Liberal Democrat amendment proposed establishing a process for a Finance and Budget Scrutiny Committee, which was carried. The Labour amendment sought to increase the size of the Scrutiny Subcommittee from six to seven members, which also passed. Following the approval of these amendments, the substantive motion, as amended, was voted on and carried. Councillor Cain noted that confusion had arisen due to the way papers were presented, with some amendments not clearly indicating the proposing group.

Constitution, Committee and Outside Body Appointments

The final item of business involved appointments to the Constitution, Committee, and Outside Bodies. An amendment tabled by the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups concerning committee chairs was discussed. The Liberal Democrats spoke in favour of their amendment, which aimed to ensure scrutiny committees are chaired by councillors not part of the administration, a principle they had advocated for previously. They also noted that a nominee for the Housing Scrutiny Subcommittee would be provided later. The Labour group waived their right to speak, stating their support for their amendment and the Liberal Democrat's request. The Green Group expressed concerns that the proposed allocations, particularly the handing over of all statutory committees to the opposition, did not reflect the democratic mandate and could lead to increased costs. They argued for a more equitable distribution of committee chairs. Following the debate, the Liberal Democrat and Labour amendment was voted on and carried. Subsequently, the substantive motion on the Constitution, Committee, and Outside Body appointments was also voted on and carried.

The Mayor concluded the meeting by thanking attendees and officers, acknowledging the challenges of governing with no overall control but commending the council for its productive debate and decision-making. The Mayor also announced their chosen charities for their term: The Bureau of Silly Ideas, based in Brixton, and Gallery 198 in Herne Hill. The next meeting was scheduled for 15 July 2026.