The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Lambeth Council met on Wednesday 19 November 2025 to discuss the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy savings proposals and the management of parks and open spaces across the borough. Key decisions included the review of significant savings proposals aimed at addressing the Council's financial challenges, and a detailed examination of parks management, including community involvement, commercial uses, sustainability, and the future of specific green spaces.

Finance Planning and Budget Proposals

The committee reviewed the first tranche of savings proposals amounting to £28.269 million across the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) period, with £14.249 million to be realised in 2026/27. These proposals are part of a plan to return the Council to financial sustainability, addressing significant demand and cost pressures, particularly in temporary accommodation and adult social care, exacerbated by 15 years of austerity and cuts to government funding. Councillor Judith Kavanagh, acting Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted that these savings are a series of efficiencies and proposals to increase income, all of which have undergone scrutiny by the Equity of Justice Panel, with mitigations being considered for any adverse impacts.

Trade union representatives from GMB and Unison raised concerns about the Council's reliance on consultants and agency staff, citing high expenditure and a negative impact on staff morale and internal expertise. They also highlighted the detrimental impact of the proposed cuts on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, and the potential conflict with the Council's net-zero ambitions due to increased energy-intensive AI programs.

Members questioned the realism of the budget assessments, particularly in light of the auditor's report noting the Council's failure to budget for demand pressures in temporary accommodation and the budgeting for savings previously not realised. Officers explained that the budget process had started earlier to allow for more thorough work on savings development and deliverability, with external reviews and a strict savings tracker process in place.

Discussions also touched upon the SEND high needs deficit override, with assurances that Lambeth is not currently in a position requiring its use, unlike many other local authorities. The committee also explored the process for developing and assuring mitigations for equality impacts, the current processing times and targets for accommodation cases, and the rationale behind the faster processing of temporary accommodation cases.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the potential impact of these savings on residents with protected characteristics and the Council's commitment to equality. The frequency of in-year monitoring was debated, with a suggestion for monthly or even weekly reporting. The single biggest barrier to realising savings was identified as the Council's capacity to deliver at pace, particularly the time it takes for savings to be felt, especially in demand-led areas.

Concerns were raised about the potential long-term impacts of cuts, particularly regarding assets that might be sold to raise funds. The committee also questioned the process for judging appropriate increases in fees or service charges, with assurances that inflationary increases and benchmarking against comparator authorities are undertaken, alongside full cost recovery. The compatibility of front-loaded fees and charges with profiling and adjustments for inflation was also discussed.

The use of consultants and agency staff was a recurring theme, with a call to review their necessity and to provide acting-up opportunities for permanent staff. The risk associated with IR35 contracts was also raised. The Council stated that agency spend had significantly reduced and was on a downward trajectory, with rigorous approaches to recruitment and a focus on fixed-term contracts over agency staff.

The withdrawal of the community sports budget was questioned, with concerns about its impact on under-18s and potential mitigations. The Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, explained that these were hard decisions, and the intention was to work with grant funders to provide alternative models.

The committee also discussed the proposal for faster processing of temporary accommodation cases, with the aim of reducing the number of nights people spend in such accommodation. This would be achieved through increased resourcing, improving the supply of private rented accommodation, and completing assessments more quickly.

Parks in the Borough

The committee received a report outlining Lambeth's current approach to managing and maintaining its parks and open spaces, including the delivery of events. Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, highlighted the crucial role of local groups and volunteers in maintaining these spaces.

Witnesses from community park groups, including Anne Kingsbury from Brockwell Park Community Partners, Marjorie Landells from Myatt's Fields Park Project (MFPP), and Rita from Friends of Kennington Park, shared their experiences and concerns. Key issues raised included the vital importance of parks for residents' well-being, particularly for those without access to private green space. Concerns were voiced about the financial constraints on park upkeep, the delays and broken promises regarding the renovation of the old depot at Myatt's Fields Park, and the need for better project and contract management. The potential for parks to become incubators for green enterprise and food hubs was also discussed.

The committee heard about the significant income generated from commercial uses of parks, such as events and dog walking licences, indicating that parks are not solely a financial drain. There was a strong emphasis on the value of parks for public health, with estimates suggesting millions of pounds in health benefits annually.

Specific concerns were raised about the future of the old depot at Myatt's Fields Park, the delays in its renovation, and the potential loss of funding and opportunities. The Friends of Kennington Park highlighted battles over the TfL NLE site, repeated procurement processes without progress, and the lack of coordination and project management. Issues with commercial events causing damage and the ongoing problem of pizza boxes from cafes not being properly disposed of were also mentioned. The decision not to close park gates at night was noted as increasing the number of rough sleepers and causing damage.

The Parks Service performance against KPIs was discussed, with a lack of up-to-date benchmarking data from Park for London noted. Performance data for member inquiries, complaints, litter, and general cleansing was presented, with general cleansing and maintenance identified as an area needing improvement. The importance of sharing KPIs with community stakeholder groups was also highlighted.

Discussions also covered the management of assets within parks, including one o'clock clubs and cafes, with a recommendation to prioritise community-led initiatives for their use. The potential for introducing deposits for tenants of council assets was suggested to ensure contractual obligations are met.

The issue of biodiversity was raised, with a question about how council estate green spaces are classified and managed. The Council stated that 35% of its land is managed to enhance biodiversity, including local nature reserves and wildflower meadows. The potential for introducing a carbon budget for the parks service to meet net-zero targets by 2030 was debated.

Community safety in parks was discussed, with a focus on the balance between security measures, such as lighting and fixed penalty notices, and access. The trial of not closing park gates at night was noted as not leading to an increase in vandalism.

Finally, the committee discussed the work programme, with a reminder that the next meeting might be a training session and that the developer contributions paper would be taken next year.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for the upcoming year. Key items included:

• Finance Planning and Budget Proposals: A detailed review of savings proposals to address the Council's financial challenges.
• Parks in the Borough: An examination of park management, community involvement, commercial uses, sustainability, and specific site development plans.
• Work Programme: Review and agreement of future scrutiny topics.

The committee also noted legacy items from previous work programmes, including developer contributions, air quality, highway maintenance, and the transition of Homes for Lambeth. Several potential future scrutiny topics were also identified, such as the use of parks for commercial events, environment enforcement, and the accessibility of council services.

The committee agreed to keep OSC updated on the tracking and delivery of proposed savings, particularly in relation to temporary accommodation and social care. Recommendations were made to ensure the findings of Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) are considered and made public, to reduce the use of consultants and agency staff, and to reconsider the withdrawal of community sports budgets for under-18s if grant funding is unavailable. Increases in service fees and charges were to be reviewed for reasonableness and affordability, with phasing considered to minimise impact. Mitigations for the impact of PCNs on vulnerable residents were also to be explored.

Regarding parks, recommendations included providing performance data more widely, ensuring PIL funds are carried over and allocated with stakeholder consultation, and reviewing paused capital projects in conjunction with friends groups, seeking alternative funding. The committee also recommended exploring longer leases for community groups, considering deposits for contracts, prioritising biodiversity, and examining the possibility of a carbon budget for the parks service.

The committee also noted the ongoing financial challenges facing local government and the need for a sustainable solution to these issues.