The Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday 21 January 2026 was set to cover a range of important governance and policy matters. Key discussions were expected to include the allocation of seats on various committees to reflect the Council's political balance, proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution, and a review of financial regulations. The meeting also included time for councillors to ask questions of Cabinet members on a variety of issues, and for the debate and voting on several motions, including those concerning pensions investments, tackling rough sleeping, regulating e-bike operators, and supporting Lambeth's night-time economy. An emergency motion regarding the Freedom Pass was also scheduled.

Constitution Review and Updates

The Council was scheduled to discuss proposed amendments to its Constitution for the 2026-27 period. This included updates to various sections, such as the glossary, executive functions, scrutiny functions, and financial regulations. Notably, the report indicated the replacement of the Corporate Committee with two new bodies: the Audit and Risk Committee and the General Purposes Committee. Changes were also planned for the terms of reference of the Joint Strategy Forum and the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), alongside updated terms for the Pensions Committee and Pensions Board. The report also detailed minor amendments to officer delegated responsibilities and approval processes, particularly concerning honoraria and acting up allowances.

Financial Regulations and Scheme of Delegation

Significant updates were proposed to the Financial Regulations, aiming to improve clarity and reflect current practices. These changes were to be considered by the Council for approval. The report also outlined the Scheme of Delegation to officers, detailing the powers delegated to various senior roles within the Council, including the Chief Executive, Corporate Directors, Directors, and Assistant Directors. This included specific financial thresholds for contract awards, loans, and debt write-offs, as well as responsibilities related to staffing and procurement.

Motions and Questions from Councillors

A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to councillors' questions to Cabinet members and the debate and voting on several motions.

Councillor Scott Ainslie (Green Party) raised concerns about the lack of progress on improving Streatham Green and the use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund money, questioning the Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion, Councillor Marcia Cameron, on this matter. Councillor Matthew Bryant (Liberal Democrats) questioned the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Danny Adilypour, regarding the recovery of loans made to Homes for Lambeth and the timeline for its winding up. Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones (Labour) sought an update from Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainability, on plans for tougher enforcement regarding badly parked e-bikes and operator accountability.

Councillor Deepak Sardiwal (Labour) asked Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, about the cancellation of the Lambeth Country Show for 2026 and the reasoning behind it. Councillor Scarlett O'Hara (Labour) questioned Councillor Mahamed Hashi, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, about efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in Streatham, specifically around the Vale Co-op. Councillor Diogo Costa (Policy Lead for Digital, Data and Insight) asked Councillor Fred Cowell, Cabinet Member for Digital, Data and Resident Experience, about promoting local initiatives to encourage reading among children. Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones (Labour) inquired about traffic calming measures on roads surrounding Abbeville Road from Councillor Rezina Chowdhury. Councillor Dominic Armstrong (Labour) asked Councillor Danny Adilypour about support for single mothers and their children in temporary accommodation. Councillor Scott Ainslie (Green Party) questioned Councillor Danny Adilypour regarding the council's approach to affordable and environmentally sustainable housing developments. Councillor Martin Tiedemann (Labour) asked Councillor Mahamed Hashi about tackling gang crime and protecting young people in Clapham Park. Councillor Sarina Da Silva (Connect to Work Champion) indicated no supplementary question was needed for Councillor Rezina Chowdhury. Councillor Ben Curtis (Liberal Democrats) thanked Councillor Mahamed Hashi for his support. Councillor Emma Nye (Labour) asked Councillor Fred Cowell about promoting local initiatives that supported children's love of reading. Councillor Martin Bailey (Chair of Pensions Committee) was absent. Councillor Nicole Griffiths (Green Party) raised concerns about anti-social behaviour linked to the Streatham Business Improvement District (BID) with Councillor Marcia Cameron. Councillor John-Paul Ennis (Policy Lead for Young People) asked Councillor Ben Kind about widening participation in new sporting facilities.

Several motions were also scheduled for debate and voting:

• Motion 1 (Green Party): Pensions Divestment From Genocide and War. This motion called for a review of investments in companies allegedly complicit in Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, with a view to divestment. An amendment from the Labour Group was proposed, which sought to acknowledge the concerns while emphasising acting within statutory powers and fiduciary duty. A further amendment from the Green Group was also proposed.
• Motion 2 (Labour): Introducing an overnight levy in Lambeth. This motion aimed to introduce a levy on short-term lets and hotels to fund local services. Amendments were proposed by the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.
• Motion 3 (Liberal Democrats): Gambling as a Public Health Issue. This motion sought to treat gambling as a public health issue, retain the no casino resolution, require strategies from licence applicants in Gambling Clusters, add those with a known suicide risk to at-risk groups, conduct a survey of schoolchildren, ban gambling advertising on Lambeth property, and call on the government to revoke the aim to permit principle and create a Gambling Ombudsman. Amendments were proposed by the Labour and Green parties.
• Motion 4 (Labour): Supporting Lambeth's Night time Economy and Workers. This motion aimed to work with the government to build a thriving 24-hour borough, support extended opening hours, use licensing powers to enable a thriving night time economy, work with partners for external funding, enhance the public realm at night, and strengthen Lambeth as a welcoming 24-hour borough. Amendments were proposed by the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.
• Motion 5 (Labour): Tougher action on dockless e-bike operators. This motion called for statutory powers for councils to remove or impound dockless bikes, a dedicated offence for improper parking, a clear legal framework for charging operators, stronger enforcement powers, and a pan-London working group. Amendments were proposed by the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Other Scheduled Business

The meeting also included:

• Declarations of Pecuniary Interests: A standard item to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests.
• Minutes: To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 October 2025.
• Announcements: A section for any mayoral announcements.
• Petitions and Deputations: This included the presentation of petitions and the consideration of deputations on topics such as Angell Town Community Space Funding and the White Badge Scheme.
• Cabinet Statement: A statement from the Cabinet was scheduled.
• Opposition Statement: A statement from the Opposition was scheduled.
• Youth Council Annual Report: A verbal report from the Youth Council was expected.
• Allocation of Seats: A review of the allocation of seats on committees to reflect political balance was scheduled.
• Constitution: Proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution were to be discussed.
• Use of Special Urgency in respect of key decisions: A report on decisions taken under the Special Urgency Procedure was to be presented.

The meeting was scheduled to conclude by 9:53 pm.