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Annual and Mayor Making meeting, Council Assembly - Saturday 17 May 2025 11.00 am

May 17, 2025 View on council website  Watch video of meeting or read trancript
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Summary

The annual meeting of the Southwark Council Assembly included the election of Councillor Sonny Lambe as the Mayor of Southwark for 2025-2026, and considered reports on executive functions, committee appointments, and scrutiny activity. Councillor Sabina Emmanuel was appointed as Deputy Mayor.

Election of the Mayor

Councillor Kieron Williams, Leader of the Council, nominated Councillor Sonny Lambe to be the Mayor of Southwark, and Councillor Cassandra Brown seconded the nomination. Councillor Lambe was duly elected.

In his incoming speech, Councillor Lambe announced that his mayoress would be his wife, Jean Galley-Lambe, and that Bishop Christopher Chesson would be his chaplain. He also announced the charities he intended to support throughout the year:

  • Busy Bodies, which supports children and young people across the borough.
  • United Arts, which provides preventive and supportive services to women suffering from abuse and domestic violence.
  • The King's College Hospital Wellbeing Initiative.

Councillor Lambe spoke of his personal journey, arriving in the UK from Nigeria in 1986, and his commitment to serving all people and communities in Southwark.

Executive Functions and Cabinet Appointments

Councillor Kieron Williams reported on the appointment of cabinet members and the delegation of executive functions. The following cabinet portfolios were announced:

  • Councillor Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member Children Education & Refugees
  • Councillor Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
  • Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance
  • Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development
  • Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods
  • Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business
  • Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes
  • Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste
  • Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People

The following Deputy Cabinet Member appointments were also announced:

  • Councillor Sam Dalton, Deputy Cabinet Member for Supported Housing
  • Councillor Margy Newens, Deputy Cabinet Member for a Cleaner Southwark
  • Councillor Reginald Popoola, Deputy Cabinet Member for Landlord Services
  • Councillor Joseph Vambe, Deputy Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods

Councillor Williams also noted the establishment of the following cabinet committees: the Cabinet (Livesey Trust) Committee, the Better Placed Joint Committee, and the Joint IT Committee (Brent, Lewisham and Southwark).

Committee Appointments and Proportionality

The Council Assembly considered the establishment of committees, panels, and related matters for the 2025-2026 municipal year.

The council noted that the Labour group held 52 seats and the Liberal Democrat group held 11 seats, and that there was no change to proportionality in the allocation of seats on committees and panels.

The council established several committees, including the Appointments Committee, Planning Committees (Major and Smaller Applications), Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, Corporate Parenting Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Licensing Committee.

The council appointed chairs and vice-chairs for each of these committees. There were five contested positions, which were decided by a vote.

The council also appointed neighbourhood champions for the following neighbourhood areas: North-west, North-east, West-central, East-central, and South.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report

Councillor Ian Wingfield presented the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2024-251, highlighting the committee's activities and key areas of focus. Councillor Irina Von Wiese responded to the report. The report detailed the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its commissions, including reviews of education, local economy, environment, health and social care, housing, community safety, and community engagement.

The report was approved.


  1. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for reviewing and scrutinising decisions made by the council, as well as the performance of other public bodies in the area. 

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorSuzanne Abachor
CouncillorSuzanne Abachor  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for CouncillorEvelyn Akoto
CouncillorEvelyn Akoto  Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing •  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Profile image for Councillor Jasmine Ali
Councillor Jasmine Ali  Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees •  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for CouncillorNaima Ali
CouncillorNaima Ali  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Batteson
CouncillorJohn Batteson  Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business •  Labour •  Newington
Profile image for CouncillorRachel Bentley
CouncillorRachel Bentley  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Oliver Bradfield
Profile image for CouncillorCassandra Brown
CouncillorCassandra Brown  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Maggie Browning
Councillor Maggie Browning  Labour Group Whip •  Labour •  Dulwich Hill
Profile image for CouncillorVictor Chamberlain
CouncillorVictor Chamberlain  Leader of the Opposition •  Liberal Democrats •  Borough & Bankside
Profile image for CouncillorSunil Chopra
CouncillorSunil Chopra  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorStephanie Cryan
CouncillorStephanie Cryan  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance •  Labour •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for Councillor Ellie Cumbo
Councillor Ellie Cumbo  Labour •  St Giles
Profile image for Councillor Sam Dalton
Councillor Sam Dalton  Deputy Cabinet Member for Supported Housing •  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Mohamed Deen
Councillor Mohamed Deen  (Labour Party) •  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for CouncillorHelen Dennis
CouncillorHelen Dennis  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development •  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle MBE
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle MBE  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for CouncillorEsme Dobson
CouncillorEsme Dobson  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for Councillor Gavin Edwards
Councillor Gavin Edwards  Labour •  Nunhead & Queen's Road
Profile image for Councillor Sabina Emmanuel
Councillor Sabina Emmanuel  The Deputy Mayor of Southwark •  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for Councillor Natasha Ennin
Councillor Natasha Ennin  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods •  Labour •  Newington
Doreen Forrester-Brown
Profile image for CouncillorSam Foster
CouncillorSam Foster  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for Councillor Renata Hamvas
Councillor Renata Hamvas  Labour •  Peckham Rye
Profile image for Councillor Barrie Hargrove
Councillor Barrie Hargrove  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for Councillor Ketzia Harper
Councillor Ketzia Harper  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for Councillor Jon Hartley
Councillor Jon Hartley  Labour •  Dulwich Hill
Profile image for CouncillorYoucef Hassaine
CouncillorYoucef Hassaine  Labour •  Newington
Profile image for Councillor Esme Hicks
Councillor Esme Hicks  Labour •  Champion Hill
Profile image for Councillor Emily Hickson
Councillor Emily Hickson  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Arthur Holmes
Profile image for Councillor Adam Hood
Councillor Adam Hood  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Profile image for CouncillorLaura Johnson
CouncillorLaura Johnson  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for Councillor Nick Johnson
Councillor Nick Johnson  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Timothy Jones
Profile image for Councillor Sarah King
Councillor Sarah King  Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Champion Hill
Profile image for CouncillorSunny Lambe
CouncillorSunny Lambe  The Mayor of Southwark •  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorRichard Leeming
CouncillorRichard Leeming  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Dulwich Village
Profile image for Councillor Maria Linforth-Hall
Councillor Maria Linforth-Hall  Liberal Democrats •  St George's
Profile image for Councillor Richard Livingstone
Councillor Richard Livingstone  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Maria Lugangira
Profile image for CouncillorJames McAsh
CouncillorJames McAsh  Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste •  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for Councillor Hamish McCallum
Councillor Hamish McCallum  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Darren Merrill
Councillor Darren Merrill  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for CouncillorVictoria Mills
CouncillorVictoria Mills  Labour •  Peckham Rye
Profile image for CouncillorPortia Mwangangye
CouncillorPortia Mwangangye  Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People •  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for Councillor Graham Neale
Councillor Graham Neale  Liberal Democrats •  St George's
Profile image for CouncillorMargy Newens
CouncillorMargy Newens  (Labour and Co-operative) Deputy Cabinet Member for a Cleaner Southwark •  Labour •  Dulwich Village
Profile image for Councillor Jason Ochere
Councillor Jason Ochere  Labour •  St Giles
Profile image for Councillor David Parton
Councillor David Parton  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for Councillor Leo Pollak
Councillor Leo Pollak  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Reginald Popoola
Councillor Reginald Popoola  Deputy Cabinet Member for Landlord Services •  Labour •  Nunhead & Queen's Road
Profile image for CouncillorSandra Rhule
CouncillorSandra Rhule  Labour •  Nunhead & Queen's Road
Profile image for CouncillorBethan Roberts
CouncillorBethan Roberts  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for Councillor Catherine Rose
Councillor Catherine Rose  Labour •  Dulwich Wood
Profile image for Councillor Jane Salmon
Councillor Jane Salmon  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Profile image for CouncillorMartin Seaton
CouncillorMartin Seaton  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for Councillor Andy Simmons
Councillor Andy Simmons  Labour •  Dulwich Wood
Profile image for Councillor Michael Situ
Councillor Michael Situ  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Profile image for Councillor Charlie Smith
Councillor Charlie Smith  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for Councillor Cleo Soanes
Councillor Cleo Soanes  Labour •  Peckham
Stuart Taylor
Profile image for Councillor Emily Tester
Councillor Emily Tester  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Joseph Vambe
Councillor Joseph Vambe  Deputy Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods •  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for CouncillorIrina Von Wiese
CouncillorIrina Von Wiese  Liberal Democrats •  Borough & Bankside
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Watson
CouncillorDavid Watson  Liberal Democrats •  Borough & Bankside
Profile image for Councillor Kath Whittam
Councillor Kath Whittam  Independent •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for CouncillorKieron Williams
CouncillorKieron Williams  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for CouncillorIan Wingfield
CouncillorIan Wingfield  Labour •  St Giles
Virginia Wynn-Jones

Topics

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