Councillor David Oxley

Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday 8 July 2025 7.00 pm

The Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision, elective home education, and to receive an Ofsted update. The sub-committee agreed to receive an update on the results of the annual families survey and report back at the next milestone, to include awareness of the process of elective home education in the corporate safeguarding training, and to circulate a breakdown of the demographic data in relation to children who were electively home educated and the reasonings parents provided for electively home educating their children. The sub-committee also agreed to note the content of the Ofsted update report and that the pupil place planning report scheduled for October include an update on the lessons learned from the school adjudicators decision.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 20 May 2025 7.00 pm

The Lambeth Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss invoices, debts owed to the council, and the management of council assets. The committee agreed to improve communication with advice agencies, reduce the use of bailiffs, and ensure timely payments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They also discussed the need for greater transparency and a more uniform approach to lease agreements for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations.

Annual Council, Council - Wednesday 23 April 2025 7.00 pm

The annual meeting of Lambeth Council saw Councillor Adrian Garden elected as Mayor and Councillor Christine Banton as Deputy Mayor for the 2025-26 municipal year, while also addressing committee appointments, the council's constitution, and member allowance schemes. The council voted to approve the recommendations in reports regarding the allocation of seats to political groups, the constitution, and the members allowances scheme, all despite some dissent.

Corporate Parenting Board - Wednesday 16 April 2025 6.00 pm

The Lambeth Council Corporate Parenting Board met to discuss updates on services for children in care and care leavers, including health, education, and support programmes. Key discussion points included promoting sibling contact, health summaries, mentoring schemes, and support for care leavers who are parents. The board also addressed challenges such as placement stability and educational attainment, and explored ways to improve communication and engagement with children in care and foster carers.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 11 March 2025 7.00 pm

The meeting discussed and agreed to recommendations on three key issues: a review of library services; how the Council supports cultural and performing arts; and the night-time economy in the borough. There was concern that plans to cut £1 million from the libraries' revenue budget would affect staffing, the range of books available and opening hours. In relation to the Council's support for culture and performing arts, the Committee recommended that it should do more to promote the borough's cultural provision, especially to raise the profile of grassroots organisations. Finally, the Committee recommended that the Council do more to increase the police presence and develop security partnerships to address safety concerns in key night-life areas and on public transport at night.