View source for Lambeth London Borough Council

{{Short description|Local authority in Greater London, England}}
{{Redirect|Lambeth Council|the 1900 to 1965 council|Lambeth Metropolitan Borough Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Lambeth London Borough Council
| native_name =
| transcription_name =
| legislature =
| coa_pic = Coat of Arms of the London Borough of Lambeth.svg
| coa_caption = Coat of arms
| coa_res = 100px
| logo_pic = Lb_lambeth_logo.svg
| logo_caption = Council logo
| logo_res = 100px
| coa-pic =
| coa-res =
| house_type = London borough
| body = 
| houses =
| leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1 = Adrian Garden
| party1 = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election1 = 23 April 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 April 2024 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=16349 |website=Lambeth Council | date=24 April 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Claire Holland
| party2 = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election2 = 2 June 2021
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3 = Ian Davis
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = 24 March 2025<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cobb |first1=Jason |title=Lambeth's new Chief Exec to earn £230k amid school closures and special urgency decisions |url=https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/01/lambeths-new-chief-exec-to-earn-230k-amid-school-closures-and-special-urgency-decisions/ |access-date=24 May 2025 |work=Brixton Buzz |date=17 January 2025}}</ref>
| members = 63 councillors<ref name="opencouncildata.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/council.php?c=247&y=0|title=Open Council Data UK – compositions councillors parties wards elections|website=opencouncildata.co.uk|access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref>
| structure1 = File:Lambeth_Council_May_2025.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1 = 
;Administration (57)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (57)
;Other parties (6)<ref>https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/05/greens-edge-out-labour-in-herne-hill-and-loughborough-junction-upset-as-valentine-claims-council-seat/</ref>
:{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}| border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (3)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (3)}}
| committees1 = 
| committees2 = 
| joint_committees =
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| voting_system2 =
| last_election1 = [[2022 Lambeth London Borough Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| session_room = Lambeth Town Hall.jpg
| session_res = 250
| meeting_place = [[Lambeth Town Hall]], Brixton Hill, London, SW2{{nbsp}}1RW
| website = {{URL|www.lambeth.gov.uk}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Lambeth London Borough Council''', which styles itself '''Lambeth Council''', is the local authority for the [[London Borough of Lambeth]] in [[Greater London]], England. It is a [[London borough]] council, one of the 32 in [[London]]. The council has been under [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] majority control since 2006. The council meets at [[Lambeth Town Hall]] in [[Brixton]] and has its main offices at the nearby Civic Centre.

==History==
There has been an elected Lambeth local authority since 1856 when the [[vestry]] of the [[ancient parish]] of [[Lambeth]] was incorporated under the [[Metropolis Management Act 1855]]. The vestry served as one of the [[List of London vestries and district boards|lower tier authorities]] within the area of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]], which was established to provide services across the [[metropolis]] of London.<ref>[[Metropolis Management Act 1855]] (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120)</ref> In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the [[County of London]]. In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|metropolitan boroughs]], each with a borough council, which saw the parish of Lambeth become the [[Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth]].<ref>[[London Government Act 1899]] (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14)</ref>

The larger London Borough of Lambeth and its council were created under the [[London Government Act 1963]], with the first election held [[1964 Lambeth London Borough Council election|in 1964]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=London Government Act 1963|chapter=33|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's two outgoing authorities, being the councils of the two metropolitan boroughs of Lambeth and [[Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth|Wandsworth]] (the latter only in respect of the [[Clapham]] and [[Streatham]] areas that were to be transferred to the new Lambeth borough).<ref name="Youngs 1979">{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=Royal Historical Society | location=London | isbn=0901050679}}</ref> The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.<ref name="Youngs 1979"/>

The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Lambeth".<ref>{{cite web |title=Insurance London Consortium Agreement |url=https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/documents/s19225/List-14%20Del%2081-11app.pdf |website=Sutton Council |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref>

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the [[Greater London Council]]. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, [[flood prevention]], and [[refuse disposal]]; with the boroughs (including Lambeth) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and [[refuse collection]]. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref> Lambeth became a [[local education authority]] in 1990 when the [[Inner London Education Authority]] was dissolved.<ref>[[Education Reform Act 1988]] (c. 40)</ref>

In 1979, the administration of [[Ted Knight (politician)|Edward ("Red Ted") Knight]] organised the borough's first public demonstration against the Thatcher government.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-red-teds-loony-lefties-1593657.html|title=The rise and fall of Red Ted's loony lefties| website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=29 July 1995}}</ref><ref name="briandeer.com">[http://briandeer.com/kate-hoey.htm Kate Hoey MP and Lambeth Labour Party – Brian Deer investigates]. Briandeer.com (8 August 1993). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref>

In 1985, the council joined other left-wing councils in a [[rate-capping rebellion]], although only Liverpool and Lambeth refused to set a legal budget.<ref>''Not the echo! Liverpool Labour News'', (a newspaper published by the Labour Party in 1985), '6,0000 jobs threatened', p1. The article was written by Militant member Felicity Dowling.</ref> All 34 Labour councillors present voted on 7 March 1985 not to set a rate.<ref name="Lambeth no rate">Stewart Morris, "No Surrender", ''South London Press'', 12 March 1985, p. 21.</ref> On 9 September 1985 the district auditor for Lambeth gave notice that the delay in fixing the rates was wilful misconduct and so the councillors were required to repay the £126,947 costs as a surcharge. The amount per councillor was over £2,000 and therefore they were also disqualified from office.<ref name="Liverpool Lambeth surcharge">Hugh Clayton, Peter Davenport, "Rebel councillors' £233,000 penalty", ''The Times'', 10 September 1985, p. 1.</ref><ref name="Lambeth wilful misconduct">Grant, "Rate Capping and the Law", p. 71-2.</ref> The surcharged councillors from Lambeth appealed against the surcharges.<ref name="Lambeth court submission">"Rates fight 'legal'", ''South London Press'', 21 January 1986, p. 2.</ref> The High Court delivered its judgment on 6 March 1986, finding heavily against the councils; Lord Justice [[Iain Glidewell|Glidewell]] described the stance of the councillors as "mere political posturing"; [[Bernard Caulfield (judge)|Mr Justice Caulfield]] described the evidence of wilful misconduct as "crushing" and the councillors' stance as having "reached a pinnacle of political perversity".<ref name="High Court judgment">"Judges rap rebels for wilful misconduct", ''South London Press'', 7 March 1986, p. 3.</ref> The councillors were disqualified on 30 March.<ref name="Lambeth disqualified">Stewart Morris, "Power bid by Tories hit by rule change", ''South London Press'', 2 April 1986, p. 2.</ref><ref name="Lambeth surcharge payments scheme">Hugh Clayton, "Lambeth rates rebels given time to pay surcharge of £105,000", ''The Times'', 31 July 1986.</ref>

In 1991, Joan Twelves' administration failed to collect the [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|poll tax]] and opposed the [[Gulf War]].<ref name="independent.co.uk"/><ref name="briandeer.com"/> The following year, Twelves and 12 other councillors were suspended from the local Labour Party by regional officials for advocating non-payment of the poll tax and other ideas.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Will|title=The rise and fall of Red Ted's loony lefties|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-red-teds-loony-lefties-1593657.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=29 July 1995}}</ref><ref>[http://www.glatuc.org.uk/news_gn.php GLATUC News]. Glatuc.org.uk. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref> During this period, Lambeth became known the archetype of what critics described as a "[[loony left]]" council.<ref name="Radical Lambeth">{{cite web| title=Radical Lambeth| url= https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/events/radical-lambeth | date= 21 September 2021| website= Lambeth London Borough Council| accessdate= 12 July 2023 }}</ref>

Since 2000 the [[Greater London Authority]] has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the [[Local government in England|English local government system]] the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}</ref>

In July 2021 the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] published a report that was highly critical of the council and which said serious abuse had been allowed to occur in five of Lambeth's children's homes between the 1960s and 1990s; over 700 children had suffered cruelty and sexual abuse,<ref name= "BBC 27 July 2021">{{cite web| last= Easton| first= Mark| authorlink= Mark Easton| title= Culture of cover-up saw hundreds of children abused in Lambeth, report finds | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57984924 | date= 27 July 2021| website= [[BBC News Online]]| accessdate= 27 July 2021 }}</ref> although the Inquiry believed that the figure was likely to be significantly higher.<ref>{{cite web| last= Butler | first= Patrick| title= Hundreds of children abused while in care of Lambeth council, inquiry finds| url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/27/hundreds-of-children-abused-while-in-care-of-lambeth-council-inquiry-finds |date= 27 July 2021| website= [[The Guardian]]| accessdate= 28 July 2021 }}</ref> The Inquiry found that a "culture of cover-up" had led to the abuse continuing over decades; the Council made an "unreserved apology to the victims".<ref name= "BBC 27 July 2021"/>

Lambeth Council has faced significant criticism over their failure to deliver affordable housing and to properly administer housing they own and manage. Like a number of local authorities, in 2017, it set up a wholly owned company—Homes for Lambeth—to build new housing in the borough. An independent report commissioned by the council by [[Bob Kerslake]], former head of the Civil Service, reported in 2022 that the delivery of new homes in the borough had been "very poor" and recommended closing the company,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council to fold housing company back in-house after review slams 'very poor' delivery |url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/council-to-fold-housing-company-back-in-house-after-review-slams-very-poor-delivery-79233 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Inside Housing |language=En}}</ref> which Lambeth accepted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ing |first=Will |date=2022-11-29 |title=Lambeth Council set to wind up unpopular housebuilding arm |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/lambeth-council-set-to-wind-up-unpopular-housebuilding-arm |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Architects’ Journal |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, the [[Housing Ombudsman]] opened an investigation into the council's housing provision following numerous incidents judged by the ombudsmen to be "severe maladministration" and stated they need to "radically improve".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-15 |title=Lambeth Council: Disabled father left without toilet for three weeks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64649782 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Patrick |date=2023-04-12 |title=Council's failures left disabled child in chronic pain for three years, watchdog finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/13/council-failures-disabled-child-chronic-pain-three-years-watchdog |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Michael Gove]], then minister for the [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities]], stated that the Lambeth Council's behaviour towards residents was "completely unacceptable" and fell below "the most basic level of decency" owed to tenants.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-08 |title=Michael Gove hits out at Lambeth Council over housing |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64886732 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Following further investigations, the Housing Ombudsman accepted that Lambeth had made improvements, but "too many residents" still get "an unacceptable service" from the council. Lambeth Council was also the first local authority housing provider to become the subject of an in-person inspection from the Housing Ombudsman over repeated failures to properly handle complaints from tenants and residents.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-13 |title=Lambeth Council inspected by Housing Ombudsman over complaint |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66180643 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Mark |date=2023-07-10 |title=Lambeth Council inspection into complaint handling |url=https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/2023/07/11/lambeth-council-to-undergo-inspection-into-complaint-handling-from-ombudsman-after-concerning-reoccurrence-of-cases/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Housing Ombudsman |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Feeney |first=Jackie |date=2022-02-01 |title=Special Report on Lambeth |url=https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/2022/02/01/housing-ombudsman-issues-special-report-on-lambeths-complaint-handling/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Housing Ombudsman |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, Lambeth Council was criticised for trying to force residents into [[non-disclosure agreement]]s when settling complaints from leaseholders overcharged for repairs, building works and service charges.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Lambeth Council refunded £1.5m to 'gagged' leaseholders |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22x59zlxzo |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In June 2024 the CEO of Lambeth Council, Bayo Dosunmu, was charged by the police with possession of a Class A drug, failing to stop after a road accident, driving above the proscribed alcohol limit and using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance. He subsequently resigned from his £190,000 a year job.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-26 |title=Lambeth Council boss charged with drug and driving offences |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnkk4d7kznxo |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Subsquently, in July 2024, the Director for Adult Social Care at the Council, Fiona Connolly became the Acting Chief Executive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Lambeth |date=2024-07-09 |title=Love Lambeth |url=https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/statement-lambeth-council-chief-executive-2/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Love Lambeth |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In December 2024, Lambeth Council’s Appointments Committee has recommended that Ian Davis be appointed as the council’s new Chief Executive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Lambeth |date=2024-12-09 |title=Love Lambeth |url=https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/lambeth-council-names-new-chief-executive/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Love Lambeth |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Governance==
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a [[Billing authorities in England|billing authority]] also collects precepts for [[Greater London Authority]] functions and business rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://counciltaxrates.info/councils|title=Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities|publisher=Council Tax Rates|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly.  It is a [[local education authority]]  and is also responsible for [[Council house|council housing]], social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/who-we-work/local-plan-responses-within-and-outside-london|title=Local Plan Responses – within and outside London|publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2006.

The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Lambeth" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1965–1968
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1968–1971
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1971–1982
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1982–1986
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1986–1994
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1994–1998
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1998–2002
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2002–2006
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2006–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of Mayor of Lambeth is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1965 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=London Boroughs Political Almanac: London Borough of Lambeth |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/lambeth/2018/ |website=London Councils |access-date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116190401/https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/lambeth/2018/ |archive-date=16 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Passmore |first1=Michael |title=The responses of Labour-controlled London local authorities to major changes in housing policy, 1971–1973 |date=2015 |publisher=King's College London |location=London |page=280 |url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/40459000/2015_Passmore_Michael_1069330_ethesis.pdf |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Archie Cotton || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1965 || align=right|1968
|-
| Bernard Perkins<ref>{{cite news |title=Council will not raise 'totting' offer |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=24 February 1969 |page=15}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1968 || align=right|1971
|-
| Charles Dryland || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1971 || align=right|1973
|-
| [[David Stimpson]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1973 || align=right|1978
|-
| [[Ted Knight (politician)|Ted Knight]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1978 || align=right|26 May 1982
|-
| Robin Pitt<ref>{{cite news |title=Rebel mayor ousts Labour |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Daily Mirror |date=27 May 1982 |page=5}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|26 May 1982 || align=right|Nov 1982
|-
| [[Ted Knight (politician)|Ted Knight]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Philip |title=Knight back in control at Lambeth |work=The Times |date=13 November 1982 |location=London |page=2}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|Nov 1982 || align=right|1986
|-
| [[Linda Bellos]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1986 || align=right|1988
|-
| Dick Sorabji || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1988 || align=right|1989
|-
| Joan Twelves || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1989 || align=right|1993
|-
| Steve Whaley || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1993 || align=right|1994
|-
| colspan=3|No leader || align=right|1994 || align=right|1998
|-
| [[Jim Dickson (politician)|Jim Dickson]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1998 || align=right|2000
|-
| Tom Franklin<ref>{{cite news |title=Double blow for Labour |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6335883.double-blow-for-labour/ |access-date=24 May 2025 |work=News Shopper |date=9 May 2002}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|2000 || align=right|May 2002
|-
| Peter Truesdale<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 23 May 2002 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/Data/Council/20020523/Agenda/Minutes%20-%2023-05-2002.pdf |website=Lambeth Council |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lib Dems hold Waterloo but Labour take control of Lambeth |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2147 |access-date=24 May 2025 |work=London SE1 |date=5 May 2006}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|23 May 2002 || align=right|May 2006
|-
| [[Steve Reed (politician)|Steve Reed]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2006 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=142&MeetingId=5584&DF=24%2f05%2f2006&Ver=2 |website=Lambeth Council |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Alice |title=Steve Reed signs off as Lambeth council leader |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10085651.steve-reed-signs-off-as-lambeth-council-leader/ |access-date=24 May 2025 |work=Your Local Guardian |date=3 December 2012}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|24 May 2006 || align=right|3 Dec 2012
|-
| Lib Peck<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 30 January 2013 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=8101 |website=Lambeth Council |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/lib-peck-to-lead-violence-reduction-unit |title=Lib Peck appointed to lead London's new Violence Reduction Unit|date=14 January 2019|publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|30 Jan 2013 || align=right|13 Feb 2019
|-
| Jack Hopkins<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 February 2019 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=10518 |website=Lambeth Council |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9815 |title=Jack Hopkins to replace Lib Peck as Lambeth leader|date=30 January 2019|publisher=London SE1|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Slingsby|first=Alan|date=2021-05-10|title=Lambeth Council leader Jack Hopkins steps down|url=https://brixtonblog.com/2021/05/lambeth-council-leader-jack-hopkins-steps-down/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=Brixton Blog|language=en-GB}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|13 Feb 2019 || align=right|2 Jun 2021
|-
| Claire Holland<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cllr Claire Holland set to be new Leader of Lambeth Council|url=https://www.lambeth-labour.org.uk/2021/05/25/cllr-claire-holland-set-to-be-new-leader-of-lambeth-council/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=Lambeth Labour|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 2 June 2021 |url=https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=15494 |website=Lambeth Council |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|2 Jun 2021 || align=right|Present
|-
|}

In 1986, Linda Bellos was the second Black woman to become leader of a British local authority, after Merle Amory in the  London Borough of Brent.<ref name=MasonJohnpxv>{{cite book|last1=Mason-John|first1=Valerie|title=Talking Black: Lesbians of African and Asian Descent Speak Out|date=1995|publisher=Cassell|page=xv}}</ref>

===Composition===
Following the [[2022 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2022 election]] and changes of allegiance and by-elections up to May 2025, the composition of the council was as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Jason |date=2024-02-28 |title=Lambeth faces by-election as Labour Councillor Sonia Winifred resigns amidst Gaza ceasefire controversy |url=https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2024/02/lambeth-faces-by-election-as-labour-cllr-sonia-winifred-resigns-amidst-gaza-ceasefire-controversy/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cobb |first1=Jason |title=By-election success for Labour with Streatham Common & Vale and Knight's Hill both returning Labour candidates |url=https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2024/05/by-election-success-for-labour-with-streatham-common-vale-and-knights-hill-both-returning-labour-candidates/ |access-date=4 May 2024 |work=Brixton Buzz |date=3 May 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|57
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|3
|-
! colspan=2| Total !! 63
|}
The next election is due in May 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lambeth |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=lambeth |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref>

==Elections==
{{see also|Lambeth London Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 63 [[councillor]]s representing 25 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The London Borough of Lambeth (Electoral Changes) Order 2022|year=2022|number=37|access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> The wards are:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Electoral ward boundary review {{!}} Lambeth Council |url=https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/voting-elections/electoral-ward-boundary-review |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=beta.lambeth.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Brixton Acre Lane (ward)|Brixton Acre Lane]] (3) 
*[[Brixton North (ward)|Brixton North]] (3) 
*[[Brixton Rush Common (ward)|Brixton Rush Common]] (3)
*[[Brixton Windrush (ward)|Brixton Windrush]] (2) 
*[[Clapham Common and Abbeville (ward)|Clapham Common and Abbeville]] (2) 
*[[Clapham East (ward)|Clapham East]] (2) 
*[[Clapham Park (ward)|Clapham Park]] (3) 
*[[Clapham Town (ward)|Clapham Town]] (3) 
*[[Gipsy Hill (ward)|Gipsy Hill]] (2)
*[[Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction (ward)|Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction]] (3)
*[[Kennington (ward)|Kennington]] (3) 
*[[Knight's Hill (ward)|Knight's Hill]] (3) 
*[[Myatt's Fields (ward)|Myatt's Fields]] (2) 
*[[Oval (ward)|Oval]] (3) 
*[[St Martin's (Lambeth ward)|St Martin's]] (2) 
*[[Stockwell East (ward)|Stockwell East]] (2) 
*[[Stockwell West and Larkhall (ward)|Stockwell West and Larkhall]] (3) 
*[[Streatham Common and Vale (ward)|Streatham Common and Vale]] (3) 
*[[Streatham Hill East (ward)|Streatham Hill East]] (2) 
*[[Streatham Hill West and Thornton (ward)|Streatham Hill West and Thornton]] (2) 
*[[Streatham St Leonard's (ward)|Streatham St Leonard's]] (3)
*[[Streatham Wells (ward)|Streatham Wells]] (2) 
*[[Vauxhall (ward)|Vauxhall]] (3) 
*[[Waterloo and South Bank (ward)|Waterloo and South Bank]] (2) 
*[[West Dulwich (ward)|West Dulwich]] (2)
{{div col end}}

==Premises==
[[File:Brixton, Lambeth Civic Centre - geograph.org.uk - 6001425.jpg|thumb|Lambeth Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2{{nbsp}}1EG: Council's main offices since 2018]]
The council meets at Lambeth Town Hall on [[Brixton Hill]] in Brixton, which was completed in 1908 for the old Lambeth Borough Council.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1080534|desc=Lambeth Town Hall|grade=II|access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> The council's main offices are at Lambeth Civic Centre at 6 Brixton Hill, a short distance south of the Town Hall. The civic centre was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your New Town Hall - Lambeth Civic Centre |url=https://www.glhearn.com/projects/your-new-town-hall-lambeth-civic-centre/ |publisher=GL Hearn |access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Olive Morris House, Brixton Road SW2 - geograph.org.uk - 2996215.jpg|thumb|Olive Morris House, 18 Brixton Hill: Council's offices 1978–2018, since demolished]]
The civic centre replaced the council's previous main offices at 18 Brixton Hill, which had been built in 1978 and was named 'Olive Morris House' in 1986 after [[Olive Morris]] (1952–1979), a local community leader and activist.<ref name="Fawcett">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/blog/black-history-month-power-olive-morris|title=Black History Month: The Power of Olive Morris|last=Osborne|first=Angelina|date=2 August 2020|website=[[Fawcett Society]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423083130/https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/blog/black-history-month-power-olive-morris|archive-date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Olive Morris House |url=http://www.engdesign.co.uk/projects/olivemorrishouse.html |website=Engdesign |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref>

==Notable councillors==
===Green Party===
*[[Jonathan Bartley]], councillor for [[St Leonard's (ward)|St Leonard's ward]] between [[2018 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2018]] and 2022, former Co-Leader of the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].
*[[Scott Ainslie]], councillor for [[St Leonard's (ward)|St Leonard's ward]] since [[2014 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2014]] and [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] for [[London (European Parliament constituency)|London]] from 2019 to 2020.

===Liberal Democrats===
*[[Anthony Bottrall]], former British diplomat and councillor for [[Stockwell (ward)|Stockwell ward]] from [[1994 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1994]] to [[2006 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2006]].
*[[Roger Liddle, Baron Liddle|Roger Liddle]], British political adviser and member of House of Lords, and councillor for [[Prince's (ward)|Prince's ward]] from [[1982 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1982]] to [[1986 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1986]] and [[1994 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1994]] to 1995.
*[[Mike Tuffrey]], former member of the [[Greater London Council|GLC]] and [[London Assembly]], and councillor for [[Prince's (ward)|Prince's ward]] from [[1990 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1990]] to [[2002 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2002]].

===Conservative Party===
*[[John Bercow]], former councillor for [[St Leonard's (ward)|St Leonard's ward]] ([[1994 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1994]]–[[1998 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1998]]) and Speaker of the [[House of Commons]] from 2009 to 2019.
*[[Charlie Elphicke]], former councillor for [[Gipsy Hill (ward)|Gipsy Hill]] from 1994 to 1998 and Member of Parliament for [[Dover]] from 2010 to 2019. 
*[[John Major]], former councillor for [[Ferndale (Lambeth ward)|Ferndale ward]] ([[1968 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1968]]–[[1971 Lambeth London Borough Council election|1971]]) and former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] from 1990 to 1997.

===Labour Party===
* [[Ibrahim Dogus]], councillor for [[Bishop's (ward)|Bishop's ward]] since [[2018 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2018]] and entrepreneur and restaurateur. 
*[[Jim Dickson (politician)|Jim Dickson]], councillor for [[Herne Hill (ward)|Herne Hill]] and former Leader of [[London Borough of Lambeth|Lambeth Council]].
*[[Steve Reed (politician)|Steve Reed]], former councillor for [[Brixton Hill (ward)|Brixton Hill]] ([[2006 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2006]]–2012) and [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] since [[2012 Croydon North by-election|2012]].
*[[Florence Eshalomi]], former councillor for [[Brixton Hill (ward)|Brixton Hill]] ([[2010 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2010]]–[[2018 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2018]]), Member of the [[London Assembly]] ([[2016 London Assembly election|2016]]–[[2021 London Assembly election|2021]]) and [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] for [[Vauxhall (UK Parliament constituency)|Vauxhall]] since [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]].
*[[Marsha de Cordova]], former councillor for [[Larkhall (Lambeth ward)|Larkhall ward]] (2014–2018) and [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] for [[Battersea (UK Parliament constituency)|Battersea]] since [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]. 
*[[Dan Sabbagh]], former councillor for [[Vassall (ward)|Vassall ward]] (2010–2014) and associate editor of ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper.
*[[Kitty Ussher]], former councillor for [[Vassall (ward)|Vassall ward]] (1998–2002) and former [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] for [[Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)|Burnley]] ([[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]–[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]).
*[[Jonathan Myerson]], former councillor for [[Clapham Town (ward)|Clapham Town]] ([[2002 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2002]]–[[2006 Lambeth London Borough Council election|2006]])
*[[Tom Rutland]], former councillor for [[Streatham Common and Vale (ward)|Streatham Common and Vale]] from 2022 to 2024.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Local authorities in London}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Local authorities in London]]
[[Category:London borough councils]]
[[Category:Politics of the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Leader and cabinet executives]]
[[Category:Local education authorities in England]]
[[Category:Billing authorities in England]]