The Council of Lambeth Council held an extraordinary meeting followed by its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 1 June 2026. The extraordinary meeting was convened to consider a change in governance arrangements from a leader and cabinet system to a committee system, but was closed without business due to the withdrawal of the requisitioning councillors' request. The subsequent AGM saw significant debate and votes on the council's governance, including the adoption of a new constitutional framework, the appointment of the Leader of the Council, and the establishment of a members' allowances scheme.

Future Governance and Democratic Reform in Lambeth

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to debating and voting on changes to the council's governance structure. An emergency motion, Future Governance and Democratic Reform in Lambeth, was brought forward by the Green Group. This motion, which aimed to move away from the leader and cabinet model towards a more collaborative system, was debated extensively.

Two amendments were proposed and subsequently passed. The first amendment, from the Liberal Democrats, sought to ensure that the Chairs of Cabinet Committees would be elected by the full council, rather than appointed by the administration. The second amendment, also from the Liberal Democrats, aimed to establish a mechanism where a Cabinet member disagreeing with a recommendation from a Cabinet committee would not be able to make a decision contrary to the committee's view without escalation to the full council.

Following the adoption of these amendments, the substantive motion, as amended, was put to a vote. The motion passed with 32 votes in favour, zero against, and 26 abstentions. This decision signifies a move towards a reformed governance structure, incorporating elements of a committee system while retaining a leader and cabinet model, with enhanced roles for ward councillors and improved scrutiny.

Leader of the Council, Cabinet Portfolios, and Administration Appointments

Following the constitutional changes, the council proceeded to elect the Leader of the Council. Councillor Martin Abrams was nominated for the role of Leader of the Council by the Green Group, with Councillor Ciara Alleyne and Councillor Natalie Kane nominated as Deputy Leaders. The Liberal Democrats indicated their support for the Green Group's leadership, subject to the previously agreed constitutional changes being implemented. The Labour Group stated they would not be supporting Councillor Abrams but acknowledged the Liberal Democrats' position.

Councillor Martin Abrams was elected as the Leader of the Council. The report detailing the cabinet portfolios and other administration and opposition appointments was then noted by the council.

Members' Allowances Scheme

The council then debated the members' allowances scheme. The Labour Group proposed an alternative scheme, which was supported by the Liberal Democrats. Councillor Natalie Kane, speaking for the Green Group, argued against reducing allowances, emphasizing the importance of ensuring public service remains accessible to individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds and highlighting the potential for burnout among councillors with significant responsibilities.

The Labour amendment to the members' allowances scheme was voted on and carried. Subsequently, the substantive motion, as amended, was also passed. This indicates that the council has adopted a members' allowances scheme that aims to support councillors from diverse backgrounds and ensure accessibility to public service.

Review of Allocation of Seats to Political Groups

The council reviewed the allocation of seats to political groups on committees. The Labour Group proposed an amendment to increase the size of scrutiny subcommittees from six to seven members, with a proposed allocation of three seats for the Green Group, three for the Labour Group, and one for the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats also proposed an amendment regarding the establishment of a Finance and Budget Scrutiny Committee.

The Liberal Democrat amendment to establish a Finance and Budget Scrutiny Committee was carried. The Labour amendment to increase the size of the Scrutiny Subcommittee was also carried. Following these amendments, the substantive motion regarding the allocation of seats was voted on and passed. This suggests a revised structure for committee representation, aiming for a more balanced distribution of seats among the political groups.

Constitution, Committee, and Outside Body Appointments

The final item of business concerned the Constitution, Committee, and Outside Body Appointments. Amendments were tabled by the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups regarding committee chairs. The Liberal Democrats spoke in favour of an amendment that would ensure scrutiny committees are chaired by councillors not part of the administration, a principle they have advocated for several years. The Labour Group waived their right to speak, supporting their amendment and the Liberal Democrat request to name nominees at a later date. The Green Group expressed concerns that the proposed amendments, particularly the allocation of statutory committee chairs to the opposition, could lead to an inequitable distribution reflecting the democratic vote and potentially create further costs.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat amendment on the allocation of committee chairs was carried. Subsequently, the substantive motion on the Constitution, Committee, and Outside Body Appointments was also voted on and passed. This indicates a revised approach to the allocation of committee chairs, with a focus on opposition groups chairing scrutiny committees.