Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – An independent review team commends Lambeth Council’s performance in key areas after a four-day assessment, highlighting its commitment to equity and justice.
The Local Government Association (LGA) conducted the results of a “Corporate Peer Challenge” during its November 2024 visit to Lambeth.
The results will be reviewed by the Council’s Cabinet on February 24. Members of the cabinet will also think about a plan of action to implement the suggestions.
How is Lambeth Council leading the way in equity and justice?
The council’s strong organizational and political leadership, as well as its unwavering commitment to attaining fairness and justice, “shines through” Lambeth’s ambitious vision for the borough, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) “peer challenge.”
Additionally, the LGA team stated that Lambeth was consistently increasing performance in important public sectors like children’s services and housing.
According to the peer team, the council is taking the lead with creative practices and has demonstrated excellent leadership on climate change and net zero.
Like other local authorities, the council has made a lot of effort to lessen the severe financial difficulties it faces, according to the study. However, it is advised that the council take even more and move more quickly to secure the council’s financial stability in the future.
“Lambeth has a clear and ambitious borough plan, Lambeth 2030, in which equity and justice shines through.
The vision is well-understood by members, staff and key partners alike, and is underpinned by a new performance framework which the recently established Communities, Governance and Change (CGC) directorate is working with service directorates to embed”,
the Peer Challenge report concluded.
Local authorities are urged to participate in peer evaluations, a voluntary assurance and improvement process.
Stephen Evans, the chief executive of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, the leader of Hounslow Council, were part of the Lambeth LGA Peer Team.
How did the cabinet respond to the peer challenge?
Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council, said that the hosting of this review brings a fresh perspective to look at how they work, how they prioritise and where we must increase the pace of our work. There’s some really useful feedback here.
He added:
“As well as that as part of their feedback the review team highlighted that Lambeth’s greatest strength is the diversity of its workforce and its elected members, that partnership working is a key strength and that equity, diversity and inclusion is a clear focus through Lambeth 2030’s golden thread of equity and justice.
I thank the peer review team for their time and look forward to taking our work to the next level to deliver for our residents.”
Given the council’s severe financial constraints, the council requested guidance and insight from the LGA peer team on how to continue to drive delivery in order to fulfill the goals of Lambeth 2030.
In order to accomplish this, the study team examined a large number of papers and conducted focus groups and interviews with over 90 individuals, including citizens, frontline employees, anchor institutions, senior council leaders, and partners from the community and voluntary sectors.
Additionally, the LGA team noted that Lambeth’s involvement in multiple community partnerships was “a key strength for the Council” and that there was “solid political leadership and stability at the Council and good relationships between officers and members.”
The report added:
“The Council was noted to have strong political stability, and the Leader and Cabinet were widely praised, with Cabinet members described as ‘having a keen interest, in-depth understanding of their areas, and supportive’.”
The council’s reaction is outlined in four themed categories in the action plan, with important measures falling under each of the peer review team’s recommendations.
In the fall, they will go back to Lambeth to conduct a follow-up review and track the activities’ progress.
A comprehensive action plan detailing the council’s plans to implement the LGA peer team’s recommendations will be presented to the Cabinet for consideration. This plan will act as a guide for carrying it out.