The Cabinet of Lambeth Council met on Monday 02 February 2026 to discuss several key reports, approving the Lambeth Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2028, the Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care & Care Experienced Young People 2025–30, and the HRA Rent and Service Charge Setting Report for 2026/27. The meeting also addressed the January Financial Planning and Medium Term Strategy Report 2025-2030, agreeing proposed savings and noting the expected final Local Government Finance Settlement.

Lambeth Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2028

Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Leader of the Council (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air), introduced the Lambeth Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2028. She highlighted that clean air is fundamental to a healthy, fair, and thriving borough and is central to the Borough Plan's commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more equitable Lambeth by 2030. The plan addresses inequalities, as air pollution disproportionately affects children, older people, residents with heart and lung conditions, multi-ethnic communities, and those in more deprived neighbourhoods. The Action Plan builds on previous successes and outlines seven priority areas, including cleaner transport and freight, reducing emissions from buildings and construction, and strengthening monitoring, enforcement, and public awareness. Lambeth is on track to meet its borough-wide Air Quality Vision targets by 2030, aligning with World Health Organisation guidelines.

Several individuals addressed the Cabinet, offering their perspectives:

• Zak Bond from Clean Cities praised Lambeth's leadership in expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and its ambition for a car club on every street and estate by 2030. He highlighted the significant contribution of diesel vans to oxides of Nitrogen (Nox) and PM2.5 emissions and suggested the potential for electric-only loading bays, increased support for cargo bike adoption, and the exploration of zero-emission freight zones in partnership with neighbouring boroughs.
• Claire McDonald from Solve the School Run presented evidence from Transport for London (TfL) showing that School Streets reduce nitrogen dioxide by 23% and achieve an 18% modal shift. She emphasised the long-term behavioural impact of sustained School Street schemes and noted that 12 eligible primary schools were still awaiting implementation, affecting approximately 5,000 children. She also stressed the importance of extending School Streets to secondary schools.
• Ben Pearce from Impact on Urban Health highlighted the importance of measurable targets aligned with World Health Organisation guidelines and the need to centre equity more explicitly within the Action Plan. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that feedback from the Air Quality Forum influenced policy decisions and continued collaboration on construction emissions and evaluation of the Construction Compliance Officer role.

Officers responded to questions and comments, advising that:

• An Equality Impact Assessment had been conducted on the Action Plan, concluding that it would deliver net positive impacts for children, older people, residents with existing health conditions, and Black and minority communities, with no significant adverse impacts identified.
• Trials to incentivise electric cargo bikes for businesses were underway, particularly in Waterloo and the South Bank. Lessons learned would inform wider rollouts, acknowledging the role of cargo bikes in supporting businesses to transition to cleaner freight and service delivery models.
• Equity is central to the Air Quality Action Plan, with the Air Quality Forum established to ensure those most affected by poor air quality shape priorities and inform future iterations of the Plan.
• Lambeth is leading construction emissions work with Impact on Urban Health and Southwark, with the Construction Compliance Officer role intended to continue beyond current funding and learning embedded across planning and regulatory services.
• Officers are collaborating with the procurement team to ensure realistic and deliverable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within contracts, recognising procurement's importance in reducing emissions, especially for the Council's fleet.
• Officers are working with Public Health to align air quality and respiratory health priorities, including promoting the Asthma Friendly Schools programme to support vulnerable children and young people.

Cabinet resolved to adopt the Lambeth Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2028.

Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care & Care Experienced Young People 2025–30

Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, introduced the Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care & Care Experienced Young People 2025–30. He highlighted that the strategy outlines the Council's approach to ensuring sufficient, high-quality placements for children in care and care leavers between 2025 and 2030. He noted Lambeth's success in recruiting 24 new foster carers in the previous year, the highest number in London, reflecting significant improvements and the strength of the Council's holistic One Lambeth support offer for carers and young people. The strategy aligns with Child Friendly Lambeth principles and strengthens the Council's corporate parenting responsibilities.

Councillor Matthew Bryant, Liberal Democrats Deputy Group Leader, emphasised the importance of the Edge of Care approach in reducing entries to care, noting that numbers had stabilised at just under 400. He inquired about anticipated reductions and whether targets had been set, and also asked about planned foster carer recruitment initiatives and lessons learned from the previous year's success.

In response to questions and comments, officers advised that:

• Recruitment processes had been redesigned to improve responsiveness and candidate experience, including faster enquiry responses, streamlined assessments, prioritised medical checks, and more proactive, visible community-based recruitment activity.
• A multi-faceted strategy had been implemented to attract carers, alongside strengthened support and retention arrangements to ensure foster carers remained with the Council.
• Edge of Care work is being strengthened through the Families First Partnership to improve integrated early help. Further analysis is underway to quantify impact and early permanence outcomes, with more detailed figures to follow.
• Improved analysis of projected need and the profile of children entering care enables more targeted foster carer recruitment, including engagement with faith communities and specific neighbourhoods, ensuring campaigns reflect the diversity and characteristics of children in care.
• It was noted that under the Council's Housing Allocation Policy, prospective and approved foster carers are placed in the highest priority banding for accommodation, reflecting the Council's commitment to supporting fostering wherever possible.

Councillor Ben Kind reassured Cabinet that reductions in children in care reflected outcome-focused decisions rather than financial targets, with interventions tailored to individual needs and stability prioritised through a range of appropriate permanence options. Cabinet recorded its thanks to partners, stakeholders, and the Council's in-house foster carers, and confirmed that Members' doors remain open to ongoing ideas, feedback, and collaboration.

Cabinet resolved to approve and endorse the Placement Sufficiency for Children in Care and Care Experienced Young People 2025-30 Strategy.

HRA Rent and Service Charge Setting Report

Councillor Danial Adilypour, Deputy Leader of the Council (Housing, Investment and New Homes), introduced the HRA Rent and Service Charge Setting Report for 2026/27. He highlighted that Lambeth Council is the second-largest social housing landlord in London with 23,600 socially rented homes, but the housing stock is ageing and requires significant investment. He noted the financial pressures on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) due to previous government policies, resulting in a substantial shortfall. Despite these challenges, Lambeth has maintained a C2 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing.

The report proposed an increase in rents by 4.8% (CPI+1%), in line with the Regulator of Social Housing limit, and convergence to formula rent at the maximum rate determined by HM Government. Service charges are set on a cost-recovery basis.

Georgina Schueller addressed Cabinet, expressing concerns about the proposed 4.8% rent increase, additional rent convergence, and service charge increases, warning of the impact on tenants, particularly those just above the benefits threshold. She suggested that rent income should be prioritised for repairs and tackling the root causes of disrepair rather than litigation. She also expressed concern about rising arrears and homelessness and urged the Council to improve housing management and lobby the government on historic Housing Revenue Account (HRA) funding and debt issues.

Councillor Matthew Bryant queried why the Rent Setting Question and Answer (Q&A) session with tenants had not taken place prior to Cabinet. He stated that while there was no statutory requirement to consult, it would have been preferable for Cabinet to hear tenants' views before setting rents.

In response to comments and questions, officers noted that:

• The Q&A session had been delayed due to uncertainty around rent convergence guidance, which had only recently been confirmed, to ensure residents received clear and complete information.
• Officers advised that due to changes in Universal Credit data sharing, the Council no longer held detailed benefit information, and while around 60% were estimated to receive support, this could not be confirmed as the data is held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
• HRA borrowing is used to fund the wider capital programme and is reinvested directly into the Council's housing stock, ensuring that borrowing supports improvements to the homes and estates in which Lambeth tenants live.
• Officers advised that each £1 per week rent convergence increase equates to approximately £1.2m of annual HRA income, and that delays to convergence had contributed to a shortfall of around £6 per week per property, limiting investment capacity.

Cabinet resolved to approve the increase in rent by CPI+1% (4.8%), approve convergence to formula rent at the maximum rate determined by HM Government, approve the approach to setting tenant and leasehold service charges, approve the increases in sheltered housing management service charge, and approve the increase in charges for garage rental, with no change in sheds and cycle storage rental, all with effect from 6 April 2026.

January Financial Planning and Medium Term Strategy Report 2025-2030

Councillor Judith Cavanagh, Acting Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the January Financial Planning and Medium Term Strategy Report 2025-2030. She highlighted that the report sets out the Council's Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025–2030, addressing significant financial pressures including rising temporary accommodation costs, increasing social care demand, and borrowing pressures. The Strategy outlines savings proposals, transformation activity, and strengthened financial governance arrangements, aiming to stabilise the Council's financial position while protecting priority services.

Councillor Matthew Bryant addressed Cabinet, noting that eight recommendations had been made by Scrutiny, including a request for greater clarity and detail in savings and spending proposals. He sought further detail on three specific savings proposals: item 71 (Sustainable Adult Social Care), given demand-led pressures; item 58 (Parks Restructuring), including the overall parks budget context; and item 56 (Vale Street Depot), seeking clarification on alternative funding models and potential additional charges.

In response to questions and comments, officers advised that:

• Further details on the size of the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) application would be provided in the budget report due on 13 February. The application comprises three elements: rebuilding depleted reserves, balancing the budget in the short term to allow for transformation, and addressing specific one-off pressures.
• Regarding Sustainable Adult Social Care savings, officers explained the proposal focuses on cost-effective care packages through enhanced data analysis, reassessment, and improved commissioning, amounting to approximately 3.5% over four years and considered deliverable. An additional £0.5m relates to the expanded use of the Sanctuary Grant.
• The proposed parks restructuring would protect frontline services, prioritising visible staff presence, routine maintenance, inspections, and health and safety.
• Discussions regarding the Vale Street Depot are ongoing with the Western Riverside Waste Authority (WRWA), and detailed options are not yet available.
• Members were assured that proposals would be developed with the Deputy Leader and would avoid adverse impacts on residents.
• Officers noted that while total reserves at the end of 2024/25 were £55.7m, general fund balances and unallocated reserves were only £5m, significantly below the Section 151 Officer's recommended level of approximately 10% of net revenue budget (£45m). A substantial proportion of reserves are ring-fenced and not available for general revenue expenditure. EFS is being sought partly to rebuild reserves and improve financial resilience.
• The Corporate Director of Resources, Zena Cooke, noted that the final Local Government Finance Settlement had been delayed until the following week, which would impact recommendation three by moving the timetable back by one week.

Cabinet resolved to agree and approve the proposed savings summarised in Table 1 and detailed in Appendix 1. They also noted that these savings proposals were considered by the Equity and Justice (E&J) Panel on 22 January 2026, and that a verbal update would be given. Finally, they noted that the Final Local Government Finance Settlement (FLGFS) was expected to be published week commencing 9 February 2026, and assumptions in the MTFS would be updated accordingly.