The Council Assembly meeting scheduled for Thursday 28 May 2026 was primarily focused on the annual business of the council, including the election of the Mayor and the establishment of the council's leadership and committee structures for the upcoming year. The meeting also included a review of the previous year's scrutiny activities and nominations for various external bodies.

Election of the Mayor of Southwark

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of the Mayor of Southwark.

Preliminary Business

This section of the agenda included the receipt of apologies for absence, announcements from the Mayor, members of the Cabinet, or the Chief Executive, notification of any urgent items of business, and the disclosure of interests and dispensations. The minutes of the ordinary and extraordinary Council Assembly meetings held on 18 March 2026 were also scheduled for approval.

Reports for Decision

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reports requiring a decision from the Council Assembly. These included:

Election of Leader and Executive Functions 2026-27

This report outlined the process for electing the Leader of the Council and noted the appointment of Cabinet members, deputy Cabinet members, and Cabinet committees. It also detailed the delegation of executive functions to various individuals and bodies. The report indicated that Councillor Sarah King had been appointed Leader of the Council on 9 July 2025, with her term extending to the annual meeting following the next ordinary election on 28 May 2026. The report also discussed the term of office for the Leader, with a recommendation to maintain the current four-year term for stability.

Proportionality and Establishment of Committees, Panels and Related Matters 2026-27

This item concerned the political balance of the council and the allocation of seats on committees, panels, and other bodies for the municipal year 2026-27. It detailed the proposed composition of various committees, including ordinary committees, other committees, and panels, reflecting the political balance following the local elections on 7 May 2026. The report also covered the establishment of the Health and Wellbeing Board, neighbourhood areas, and appointments to the Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly. The proposed dates for Council Assembly meetings in the 2026-27 municipal year were also to be agreed.

Nominations to London Councils Committees, Greater London Employment Forum, Borough Lead Members, London Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Common Investment Vehicle (CIV) Ltd and London Councils Limited 2026-27

This report sought nominations for representatives to serve on various London-wide bodies, including London Councils committees, the Greater London Employment Forum, and the London Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Common Investment Vehicle (CIV) Ltd. It also covered the nomination of borough lead members for specific policy areas and the appointment of a representative to London Councils Limited.

Appointment of Political Assistants/Officers

This item addressed the establishment of political assistant posts under the Local Government Act 1989, to provide assistance to political groups represented on the Council. The report confirmed that the Labour Group, Green Group, and Liberal Democrat Group met the qualifying criteria for an allocation of a political officer.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2025-26

This report provided an overview of the scrutiny activities undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its four scrutiny commissions during the 2025-26 municipal year. It detailed the work of the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission, the Environment, Community Safety and Engagement Scrutiny Commission, the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission, and the Housing Scrutiny Commission. The report highlighted key areas of examination, scrutiny recommendations made to the Cabinet, and Cabinet responses. It also outlined improvements to the scrutiny function, including the adoption of a Cabinet Scrutiny Protocol and the creation of dedicated website pages for scrutiny work.

Amendments

Any member of the council could submit an amendment to a report or motion on the agenda, which would be circulated in a supplemental agenda.

Exclusion Motion (If Necessary)

A motion could be moved to exclude the press and public from the meeting to discuss reports containing exempt information.

Part B – Closed Business

This section was reserved for any closed items identified as urgent at the start of the meeting.

Appointment of Interim Monitoring Officer

This item was to follow if a recommended candidate was available for Council Assembly to consider.