Statement from the Council Group of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats
In our council group meeting, we agreed these key principles:
- ‘Ensure residents shape decisions that affect them’ - it’s the first plank of our local manifesto, as you know, and it’s crucial! -
- We advance Liberal Democrat proposals to empower ward councillors with real clout to represent residents.
- All parties must commit to a balanced and legal budget, with a plan to return Lambeth to financial stability.
Scrutiny must return to Opposition. For years, Labour marked their own homework, leading both the Council AND the Scrutiny Committees That must end.
These are the principles that have led our negotiations, rather than getting titles or roles. We also decided against forming a coalition with either of the other two parties.
An Extraordinary Council meeting has been called for 1st June, to make constitutional changes that would turn our principles into reality.
For years, the Council has operated under the “Cabinet System” - with Cabinet Members wielding near-absolute power. Lambeth residents have been on the receiving end of this for years, with Labour refusing to listen and imposing decisions in the face of local opinion.
The purpose of the Extraordinary Council is to return to a “Committee System”, where decisions are made by a series of Committees, each of which reflects the balance of power in the Council. We are also pushing hard for new powers for ward Councillors. Our full statement is here.