The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Lambeth Council met on Monday 21 September 2026 to discuss Lambeth's Active Leisure Strategy, the Events Policy and Strategy, and the New Homes Programme. Key decisions included noting the findings of a Scrutiny Review Report and Action Plan, and agreeing to a series of recommendations for the future development of the Council's events policy and new homes programme.

Lambeth's Active Leisure Strategy

The committee reviewed the progress of Lambeth's Active Lambeth Strategy, which aims to increase physical activity and improve health outcomes for residents. Concerns were raised by users of the Brixton Recreation Centre regarding the condition of facilities, including broken gym equipment and poor cleaning standards, despite reported investments. Councillor Natalie Cain, Deputy Leader for Inclusion, Democracy and Culture, acknowledged these issues, stating that while millions had been invested, more was still required for the aging infrastructure. Officers committed to improving engagement with user groups and addressing specific concerns about equipment and cleanliness.

Questions were also raised about the reinstatement of capital funding for Kennington Skate Park, with Councillor Claire Holland expressing concern that funding had been removed without explanation. Councillor Nanda Manley-Brown questioned how the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) would demonstrate actual changes in physical activity and health outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged residents. Officers confirmed that funding for Kennington Skate Park had not been removed but was being reviewed for alternative funding sources. They also committed to reviewing KPIs as part of the strategy refresh in 2027.

Further discussions focused on the need for more leisure facilities in the north of the borough and the management of private tennis coaches block-booking courts. Plans for expanding the Active Lambeth offer and providing free memberships for asylum seekers were also discussed. The committee agreed on a series of recommendations, including officers responding to concerns about cleanliness and equipment, providing comparative data on usage, confirming plans for resident access to leisure facilities in the north of the borough, and establishing a clear timetable for the refresh of the leisure strategy.

Events Policy and Strategy

The committee discussed the future approach to events in Lambeth's parks and open spaces. Councillor Natalie Cain, Deputy Leader for Inclusion, Democracy and Culture, outlined a new policy approach that would prioritise parks as green spaces, with events needing to add value rather than detract from them. Concerns were raised by residents and groups such as Protect Brockwell Park and Friends of Clapham Common about the damage caused to parks by large events, including ground compaction and loss of amenity. They called for greater transparency in budgeting, reinvestment of the Parks Investment Levy, and limits on event duration and footprint.

The committee heard from various speakers, including Janice Noabwezi, who highlighted the importance of free events like the Lambeth Country Show for teenagers and the wider community, and Ben Reimer from the Lambeth Parks and Open Spaces Forum, who called for more transparency in the allocation and governance of the Parks Investment Levy. Dr. Mohamed Hashi spoke in defence of events like City Splash, emphasizing their cultural significance for the black community and their charitable contributions, while criticising what he described as ill-informed councillors targeting these events.

Councillor David Bridsen questioned the administration's stance on large events and the impact on park investment, while Councillor David Ford sought reassurance that funding for smaller parks would be maintained. Councillor Claire Holland raised formal complaints about statements made by Green Party councillors regarding City Splash, stating that the claims were unsubstantiated and caused harm.

The committee discussed recommendations for better mitigation of event impacts, including a review of fairground rides, timings, and parking enforcement. There was also a focus on ensuring local businesses benefit from events and improving the transparency of Parks Investment Levy spending. The need for more representative consultation processes, particularly for speakers of English as a second language and those with disabilities, was also highlighted. The committee agreed on recommendations for bringing forward options for the Lambeth Country Show, providing a breakdown of Parks Investment Levy funding, analysing the economic impacts of major events, improving consultation processes, and updating the Green Events Guide.

New Homes Programme

The committee received an update on the New Homes Programme, with Councillor Scott Ainslie, Cabinet Member for Planning, Development, Built Environment and Public Realm, emphasizing the significant housing demand in Lambeth and the need to increase supply through both new builds and better utilisation of existing homes. He highlighted the discovery of issues with previous administrations' development plans, such as the blocking of Phase 2 of the Nance Walk Estate regeneration by the completion of Phase 1.

Councillor Michael Ball argued for the creation of a new local plan to address the housing affordability crisis, stating that simply building more homes was insufficient if they were unsuitable for average incomes or priced out of reach. Councillor Claire Holland expressed concern that the current administration's approach risked jeopardising work on delivering new homes, particularly questioning the lack of detail on the Green Party's housing priorities and the delay in publishing appraisals for the South Lambeth Estate.

Questions were raised about the assessment criteria for new housing schemes, the timeline for decisions on estates like South Lambeth, and the financial implications of acting versus not acting on estate renewal. Councillor Dominic Lynch criticised the current administration's focus on reviewing existing plans rather than presenting new ones, and questioned how new homes would be funded. Councillor Bryn Scott echoed concerns about the lack of detail and potential delays, emphasizing the need for safe and secure housing for vulnerable families.

The committee discussed the financial viability of schemes, the role of developers, and the cost of rents. Councillor Chris Nicholson raised concerns about the limited number of homes projected to be completed by 2030 under the current review process and called for more scrutiny. Councillor Georgina Berriman sought clarity on the assessment criteria for schemes and when Cabinet recommendations would be presented for pre-decision scrutiny. Councillor Diogo Costa highlighted the ongoing uncertainty for residents on the South Lambeth Estate and questioned the spending of off-site affordable housing contributions.

The committee agreed on a series of recommendations, including officers providing a report on estate regeneration options, a substantive update on the New Homes Programme, an update on the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme funding, and a breakdown of off-site affordable housing contributions.

Scrutiny Review Report and Action Plan

The committee noted the findings of a Scrutiny Review Report and Action Plan conducted by CIPFA. The report identified 20 recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Council's scrutiny function, including enhancing the work programme's focus, the quality of recommendations, the use of commissions and pre-decision scrutiny, and member development. The committee agreed to note the report and provide feedback to the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Corporate Director of Resources to support the delivery of the Action Plan.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its draft work programme for 2026-27, noting upcoming items including the Scrutiny Review Report, New Homes Programme, Active Leisure Strategy, and Events Policy and Strategy. They also reviewed the action monitoring log from previous meetings. The committee agreed to note the work programme and action monitoring log, with some discussion regarding the scheduling of future meetings.