The Council Assembly met for its Mayor Making and Annual Meeting, electing Councillor Naima Ali as the new Mayor of Southwark for the 2024-25 municipal year. The meeting also saw the appointment of cabinet members, deputy cabinet members, and the establishment of various committees and panels for the upcoming year.

Election of the Mayor

Councillor Naima Ali was elected as the new Mayor of Southwark for the 2024-25 municipal year. She accepted the office and appointed her daughter, Kafia Elmi, as Mayoress and Councillor Sunny Lambe as Deputy Mayor. Mayor Ali announced her chosen charities for her term: Speakerbox, Action Aid, and Living Bankside.

Executive Functions 2024-2025

The council noted the appointment of cabinet members and deputy cabinet members for the upcoming municipal year. Councillor Kieron Williams was confirmed as the Leader of the Council, with Councillor Jasmine Ali serving as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees. Other cabinet members appointed include Councillor Evelyn Akoto (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor John Batteson (Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business), Councillor Stephanie Cryan (Equalities, Democracy and Finance), Councillor Helen Dennis (New Homes and Sustainable Development), Councillor Natasha Ennin (Community Safety and Neighbourhoods), Councillor Sarah King (Council Homes), Councillor James McAsh (Clean Air, Streets and Waste), and Councillor Portia Mwangangye (Leisure, Parks and Young People).

Deputy Cabinet Members appointed were Councillor Sam Dalton (Supported Housing), Councillor Emily Hickson (Green Finance), Councillor Bethan Roberts (Resident Engagement), and Councillor Joseph Vambe (Neighbourhoods).

The meeting also noted the establishment of three cabinet committees: the Cabinet (Livesey Trust) Committee, the Better Placed Joint Committee, and the Joint IT Committee (Brent, Lewisham and Southwark). The report on the delegation of executive functions to various bodies and officers was also noted, with consequential updates to the council's constitution to follow.

Establishment of Committees, Panels and Related Matters 2024-2025

The council established its committees, panels, and appointed community champions for the 2024-25 municipal year. The political balance of the council was noted, with Labour holding 52 seats and the Liberal Democrats holding 11.

Key appointments included:

• Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees: Councillor Kieron Williams was appointed Chair of the Appointments Committee, Councillor Richard Livingstone as Chair of Planning Committees A and B, Councillor Cleo Soanes as Chair of the Planning (Smaller Applications) Committee, Councillor Barrie Hargrove as Chair of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, Councillor Jasmine Ali as Chair of the Corporate Parenting Committee, Councillor Ian Wingfield as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Councillor Renata Hamvas as Chair of the Licensing Committee. Councillor Kath Whittam was appointed Vice-Chair of Planning Committees A and B, and Councillor Irina von Wiese as Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Community Champions: Councillor Sunil Chopra was appointed Community Champion for the North-west multi-ward area, Councillor Leo Pollak for the North-east, Councillor Jason Ochere for West-central, Councillor Sabina Emmanuel for East-central, and Councillor Andy Simmons for South. Deputy Community Champions were also appointed for each area.
• Panels: The Council Assembly Business Panel, Constitutional Steering Panel, Pensions Advisory Panel, and Voluntary Bodies Appointments Panel were established. Councillor Maggie Browning was appointed Chair of the Constitutional Steering Panel, and Councillor Stephanie Cryan was appointed Chair of the Voluntary Bodies Appointments Panel.
• Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly: Three representatives were appointed to the LGA General Assembly, with Councillor Kieron Williams and Councillor Jasmine Ali each allocated three votes, and Councillor Victor Chamberlain allocated one vote.

Nominations to London Councils Committees, Greater London Employment Forum, Borough Lead Members, London Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Common Investment Vehicle (CIV) Ltd and London Councils Limited 2024-25

The council agreed to nominations for representatives on various London-wide bodies. Councillor Kieron Williams was nominated as the representative for the London Councils Leaders' Committee and the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, with Councillor Jasmine Ali as a deputy for the Leaders' Committee. Councillor Stephanie Cryan was nominated for the London Councils Grants Committee, the Greater London Employment Forum, and as a Borough Lead Member for Communities, Digital Innovation Leads, Devolution and Levelling Up, and Finance and Corporate Services. Councillor John Batteson was nominated as Deputy for the Greater London Employment Forum and as Borough Lead Member for Skills and Employment, Economic Development/Business, and Environmental Issues. Councillor Jasmine Ali was also nominated as Borough Lead Member for Children and Young People/Safeguarding and Schools. Councillor Evelyn Akoto was nominated as Borough Lead Member for Health and Social Care including Adult Services, Councillor Helen Dennis for Housing and Regeneration and Planning/Infrastructure/Development, and Councillor Natasha Ennin for Crime and Public Protection and Licensing and Regulatory Services. Councillor Portia Mwangangye was nominated as Borough Lead Member for Arts/Culture, Tourism, Sport and Leisure.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2023-24

The Council Assembly noted the scrutiny activity undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its commissions during the 2023-24 municipal year. The report highlighted the work of the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission, the Environment Scrutiny Commission, the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission, and the Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission. Key areas of focus included school amalgamations, community wealth building, sustainable freight, biodiversity, access to toilets, adult safeguarding, housing allocations, homelessness, heating and hot water outages, and policing in Southwark. The report also detailed the council's participation in Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the implementation of recommendations from a scrutiny improvement review.