Southwark Council has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the borough into a more affordable, safer, and greener place for its residents. The vision, adopted by the Council Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, outlines a comprehensive strategy to tackle pressing local issues, including high child poverty rates, the impacts of climate breakdown, and a significant social housing waiting list.
The new Joint Administration, formed by the Green and Liberal Democrat groups, inherits a challenging landscape, with 43.3% of children living in poverty after housing costs and 23,000 households on the social housing waiting list. Additionally, 41% of residents report feeling unsafe at night.
The administration's core principles are centred around three key pillars:
- Affordable: Addressing the cost of living, increasing access to good jobs and affordable homes, and reducing inequality. This includes a commitment to becoming a borough that residents can afford by ensuring everyday essentials are more accessible and that more young people are in good and sustainable jobs and training. The council also aims to tackle the housing crisis by building more council homes, reducing void properties, and ensuring families can afford to live in Southwark.
- Safe: Creating communities where residents feel secure by supporting vulnerable individuals, investing in young people, preventing crime, and maintaining welcoming public spaces. The plan to make Southwark safer includes tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, prioritising prevention and effective enforcement, and specifically addressing violence against women and girls. The council aims to create communities where people feel safe at home and in public, acknowledging that 41% of residents do not feel safe at night, with women, older people, and disabled residents reporting lower levels of safety.
- Green: Tackling the climate and nature emergencies while enhancing daily life through warmer homes, lower energy bills, cleaner air, and greener neighbourhoods.
Significant progress has already been noted in the first 100 days of the Joint Administration, including the launch of a uniform programme for families in need, an accelerated heatwave response, and an investment of £600,000 in Night Time Patrols. The council is also committed to developing a full Borough Action Plan over the next four years to guide its work.
To address the housing crisis and the extensive waiting list, the council is committed to building more council homes, ensuring tenant and leaseholder satisfaction, and reducing the number of void properties and the time they remain empty. The administration also aims to ensure that Southwark's residents can age well, with homes and services that cater to all ages.
The council plans to actively engage residents in shaping their local areas through community councils and by making it easier to contact the council and receive necessary information via one-stop shops. A major borough-wide campaign will be launched ahead of the budget to ensure resident views are central to council decision-making, with a summary of the results to be published.
These ambitious plans are being developed against a backdrop of financial challenges, with the meeting information highlighting a £102 million funding gap attributed to the Labour government's 'fair-funding' review.
The Joint Administration is committed to holding the Labour Government accountable and has resolved to write to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government to discuss Southwark's financial position. They also call on Southwark's MPs to publicly urge the government to reconsider the 'Fair Funding' settlement to ensure Southwark receives a fair deal. The administration is determined to fight back against Labour's brutal austerity that is starving Southwark of the resources it desperately needs.
Further details on the council's priorities and plans can be found in the motion Affordable, Safe, and Green: The Joint Administration's ambitions for Southwark
Public reports pack Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.00 Council Assembly.pdf.
The Council Assembly agenda and minutes are available at Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.00 Council Assembly.pdf and Printed minutes Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.00 Council Assembly.pdf respectively. A supplemental agenda can be found at Supplemental Agenda no. 1 Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.00 Council Assembly.pdf.
