Southwark Council has unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance affordability, safety, and environmental sustainability across the borough, following the establishment of a new Joint Administration by the Green and Liberal Democrat groups. The Council Assembly has adopted a motion outlining the administration's vision, which directly addresses significant local challenges including high child poverty rates, the escalating impacts of climate breakdown, and a substantial social housing waiting list.
The new administration inherits a council grappling with a £102 million funding gap, which they attribute to national austerity measures, and a housing department previously rated as having serious failings
by the Regulator of Social Housing. The Joint Administration's core principles aim to make Southwark:
- Affordable: Tackling the cost of living crisis by ensuring residents find it easier to afford everyday essentials and increasing access to good, sustainable jobs and training for young people. This includes becoming
a borough we can afford
. - Safe: Fostering secure communities by supporting vulnerable individuals, investing in young people, preventing crime, and maintaining welcoming public spaces. In its first 100 days, the administration has already invested £600,000 in Night Time Patrols and launched
one stop shops
to help residents resolve issues face-to-face. - Green: Addressing the climate and nature emergencies while improving daily life through warmer homes, lower energy bills, cleaner air, greener neighbourhoods, and climate justice. The administration aims to deliver a step change in local adaptation measures with a focus on climate justice, enhance biodiversity and green spaces, further reduce the borough's emissions, and significantly increase recycling rates.
The administration acknowledges the enormous strain the previous administration left the council under
and the severe financial pressures.
To address the £102 million funding gap, they are Challenged the Government and Southwark's MPs to demand more support
and have worked with other councils through an Anti-Austerity Summit to fight for a fair deal for Southwark.
They are committed to do everything in our power to fight back against Labour's brutal austerity that is starving Southwark of the resources it desperately needs.
In its first 100 days, the administration has also launched a uniform programme for families in need, accelerated the heatwave response, created a new voids taskforce to tackle the empty homes backlog, and saved funding for the Nest and Dementia Advisor services. Furthermore, they are Announcing the return of community councils, letting residents shape decisions that affect their lives and local areas.
The Joint Administration inherits a grim legacy from the previous Labour administration – including a housing department rated as having 'serious failings'.
To tackle this, they have committed to build more council homes, ensuring council tenants and leaseholders are satisfied with the service they receive, and reducing the number of void properties and the length of time properties are empty.
A commitment has been made to develop a comprehensive Borough Action Plan over the next four years. The administration resolves to turn these priorities into a full Borough Action Plan guiding the Joint Administration's work over the next four years.
They also commit to engage in a major borough-wide campaign engaging with residents ahead of the budget, ensuring their views run through the heart of council decision-making.
A summary of the engagement results will be published, clarifying how resident input has shaped the budget.
This new direction aims to demonstrate that even in the face of severe financial pressures, the Green–Liberal Democrat change of administration will mean a change in priorities, a change in culture and tangible improvements to people's lives.
