October Council Update
Win: Full Council support for Lib Dem motion to tackle fly-tipping
Imagine a world where Lambeth Council tackles fly-tipping with the same vigour as unauthorised parking! Fly-tipping, litter and uncollected waste are among the issues residents raise with us most often. We hear your frustrations, and we know how much cleaner streets matter to our communities.
That’s why the Liberal Democrats brought a motion to Full Council in October calling for tougher enforcement, more CCTV, a review of public litter bins and a stronger waste contract, with meaningful penalties for poor performance.
Our research revealed that in 2024–25, Lambeth investigated just 38% of reported fly-tipping incidents and issued fines in only 6% of cases. Because of high levels of non-payment, the average fine actually paid was a measly £45. The legal maximum is £5,000.
Our motion to address these issues was passed unanimously.
Following our decision to raise this issue, the Green administration confirmed that a Megaskip Pilot Scheme will launch in November 2026. We welcome this step. The results of the pilot will inform a full scheme, and Lib Dems are calling for implementation by June 2027. We’ll also continue pressing for stronger enforcement and a waste contract that holds Serco to account.
Ongoing: Fighting for greater accountability at Lambeth Council
Lambeth Council is currently in “No Overall Control”. This means no single party has an overall majority on the Council.
As the largest party, the Greens currently run the Council as a “minority administration” (not in coalition with any other party). But despite this, they want absolute power to make virtually all of the decisions! As Liberal Democrats, we believe this is undemocratic.
Residents deserve a Council where the councillors they elected have a meaningful say in decisions affecting their lives. This means changing Lambeth’s constitution to make it truly democratic and accountable. As a resident, you’ll get better-quality decision-making.
The question is: will the Green Party honour that?
The devil is in the detail. During the local elections, the Green Party committed in their manifesto to a full so-called “Committee System”, with true cross-party decision-making – an idea supported by the Liberal Democrats. But after the election, the Greens backed away, saying it was too difficult to achieve. Instead, they insisted, the Council would have to agree on a “Cabinet Committee System”, which is in effect a hybrid.
For this to work, Cabinet Committees must be able to refer issues to Full Council when they cannot agree with the relevant Cabinet Member. Without that power, they risk being toothless. But the Greens are now insisting the Committees should be “advisory” only…
As Lib Dems, we’re fighting this hard, and raised an amendment to restore this crucial escalation power at Full Council. But our amendment was blocked from debate.
Rest assured, we’ll continue pressing for a new constitution that gives councillors a genuine voice, strengthens scrutiny and makes the Council more accountable to local people. Further battles lie ahead…
Other business
Lambeth Labour raised a motion in support of the work of the RNLI, promoting Thames water safety and opposing attempts at intimidation by the Far Right. (Tower RNLI Station, near Waterloo Bridge, is the RNLI’s busiest lifeboat station.)
The Green Party raised a motion for debate on the need to protect Lambeth’s residents, children and workers from the climate emergency. In light of recent (and future) heatwaves, the Lib Dems secured an amendment to hold a summit of schools in the borough within four months, to discuss measures to protect pupils and staff from extreme heat.
A further Green motion on Palantir and the NHS passed without debate, while the Greens withdrew their proposed motion on Palestine.
See the footage of the meeting and council papers here.