Lambeth’s new Green leader unveils ‘cabinet committee’ model as Lib Dems set the limits

Three weeks on from one of the most jubilant election counts in living memory, Lambeth’s new leader Cllr Martin Abrams has named the first ever Green Cabinet at the town hall, announcing a ten-strong team to lead the borough under a new ‘cabinet committee’ model intended to open up decision-making and strengthen scrutiny.

Cllr Abrams was elected Leader of the Council last night at a reconvened Annual Council meeting, ending Labour’s twenty-year hold on Lambeth. His Cabinet was confirmed in the same sitting, with Cllr Ciara Alleyne and Cllr Natalie Kane elected as co-Deputy Leaders.

Cllr Abrams said he was “deeply honoured” to be the first ever Green Leader of Lambeth and promised his administration would “work every day” to deliver decent homes and a thriving environment for residents.

The Greens had campaigned on a manifesto pledge to move Lambeth to a full committee system. However, according to a statement issued by the Greens following Abrams’ appointment, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April, closed that route by effectively banning councils from adopting one.

Officers have been tasked with drafting constitutional amendments to place committees alongside the Cabinet, strengthening scrutiny and cross-party working, and reversing the Labour-introduced ban on discussing motions related to Gaza and other international issues.

Cllr Zviko Chihoro, the Greens’ new Cabinet Member for Finance, said Lambeth Greens had “led the way” on the model change. Under Labour, he said, “one party dominated every aspect of the Council, with weak scrutiny functions leading to poor decisions which harmed residents and wasted resources.”

The new administration begins under public scrutiny from within the working arrangement. Posting on Brixton Buzz, Lib Dem group whip Cllr Simon Cordon said his group had pushed amendments in the chamber to constrain a Green draft that had given the Cabinet power to appoint committee chairs and to ignore committee recommendations.

Cordon (above left) was at pains to point to legal advice both parties had received advising that a full committee system was lawful and could have stood for at least five years, concluding that the Greens were “definitely on probation.”

Abrams takes office facing a long wishlist of Green commitments to deliver against the constraints of cross-party working. The return of the Lambeth Country Show, the future of International House, and above all Lambeth’s housing crisis all sit waiting on the new administration.

The fight over the future of the Central Hill dementia day centre is live as the new Cabinet takes its seats.

With election celebrations behind them and so many councillors new to the chamber, much of the early work may fall to experienced old hands. The options are abundant with former group leader Cllr Scott Ainslie, returning councillor Cllr Pete Elliott and former co-leader of the party Cllr Jonathan Bartley, while Abrams himself navigates the new boundaries set by his Lib Dem partners.

But the borough’s future sits with the new generation of Councillors like Kane, Alleyne and Chihoro now stepping up to senior office.

Appointments

•  Leader of the Council – Cllr Martin Abrams
• Deputy Leader (Climate Emergency and Future Generations) – Cllr Ciara Alleyne
• Deputy Leader (Inclusion, Democracy and Culture) – Cllr Natalie Kane
• Housing – Cllr Pete Elliott
• Planning and Development, Built Environment, Parks and Public Realm – Cllr Scott Ainslie
• Finance and Community Wealth Building – Cllr Zvikomborero Chihoro
• Economy, Cost of Living and Empowered Communities – Cllr Michael Chessum
• Health and Adult Social Care – Cllr Jeremy Isaacs and Cllr Sam Dorney-Smith (job share)
• Children and Young People – Cllr Alice Weavers
• Transport, Environment and Climate Crisis – Cllr Ciara Alleyne and Cllr Alan Andrews (job share)
• Safer, Thriving Neighbourhoods – Cllr Jonathan Bartley