Lambeth Council has approved a significant budget for adult social care, allocating £250 million towards services for the borough's most vulnerable residents. This funding is part of the wider Revenue and Capital Budget for 2026/27, which was passed during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
The budget, introduced by Councillor Judith Cavanagh, Cabinet Member for Finance (Acting), aims to achieve financial resilience and stability while upholding Lambeth's values. The £250 million for adult social care and health is a substantial portion of the council's overall investment, which also includes £130 million for children and families' services, £98 million for housing and homelessness services, and £52 million for council housing.
During the meeting, amendments proposed by the Green and Liberal Democrat groups to the budget were defeated. The Green Group's amendment sought to reallocate funds towards frontline services and generate revenue through increased fees on higher-polluting vehicles. The Liberal Democrat Group's amendment focused on efficiency savings, such as sharing back-office functions with neighbouring boroughs, and introducing a late-night levy on licensed premises.
While the specific reasons for the rejection of these amendments were not explicitly stated, the original budget recommendations were approved by a majority vote. The full details of the council's budget can be found in the Public reports pack for the meeting, which also included the Agenda frontsheet.
