Agenda item

MEMBERS' MOTIONS

To consider the following motions:

 

·  Support Southwark residents, support Southwark staff

·  Southwark’s commitment to trans, non-binary, and intersex inclusion

·  Southwark's Place in Europe

·  National Year of Reading - making Southwark a borough of readers

·  Defending sanctuary in Southwark

·  Standing Up For Southwark

·  Building a Care System That Works: Southwark and the National Conversation on Care

·  A clean energy future for Southwark

Minutes:

Motion 1: Support Southwark residents, support Southwark staff

 

This motion was considered prior to the guillotine having fallen. 

 

Councillor Sarah King moved the motion. The guillotine fell at this point.

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

The amended motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

  1. Council Assembly notes:

 

  1. The diligence and commitment of the 5000 council staff who, across every department, deliver the services our residents rely on and do the essential work necessary for the functioning of society

  2. The impact of the Labour government’s so-called Fair Funding Review, which Southwark Labour failed to adequately oppose, which is leaving Southwark with a gap of £102 million

 

  1. The failure of the previous administration to prepare for this reality, instead opting for an irresponsible election budget which overspent by £34 million, failed to consider temporary accommodation pressures in its future forecasts and kicked difficult decisions down the road

 

  1. That the previous administration opted to hide this truth from the residents of Southwark, making zero mention of this funding gap in their manifesto despite knowing that any future administration would be under enormous budgetary pressure.

 

  1. Council Assembly recognises:

 

  1. The achievements of the joint administration in its first 100 days despite these budget pressures, including but not limited to:

  i.  Organising the distribution of 7000 pieces of school uniform for the children in Southwark who need them most

  ii.  Launching one stop shops to make it easier for residents to resolve issues by talking to officers face to face

  iii.  Creating a new voids taskforce to tackle the empty homes backlog

  iv.  Tens of millions invested in new council homes, using money that Labour failed to spend

  v.  Saving the Nest and Dementia Advisor services – funding for which Labour left to lapse

  vi.  £600k of new money invested in the Night Time Uniform Patrol Service

  vii.  Announcing the return of community councils, letting residents shape decisions that affect their lives and local areas

  viii.  Negotiating a flat fee for Southwark residents with the main e-bike operators

  ix.  Standing with other progressive councils against Labour’s cruel immigration raids & anti-trans politics

  x.  Investing £3 million in road safety to work to eliminate deaths on Southwark’s roads

  xi.  Accelerating Southwark's heatwave response via a borough-wide plan

  xii.  The launch of Community Skips, which will help communities across the borough enjoy cleaner and greener streets.

 

  1. Council Assembly believes:

 

  1. The residents of Southwark deserve a council who will be honest with them and have a right to know the truth about the enormous strain the previous administration left the council under

 

  1. That residents should have a genuine opportunity to shape the budget – so that their priorities are reflected in the decisions made by this administration

 

  1. That the council of Southwark should be accountable to the residents of Southwark, not parties in Westminster.

 

  1. Council Assembly resolves:

 

a.  To deliver for residents, demonstrating 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

 

b.  To work with residents to tackle the challenges we face together and, unlike the previous administration, be honest with residents about the shape and scale of those challenges, providing clear context and information so that residents and councillors can properly understand the choices before us

 

c.  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. We will publish a summary of the results, and be clear about how resident engagement has shaped the budget.

 

d.  To do everything in our power to fight back against Labour’s brutal austerity that is starving Southwark of the resources it desperately needs.

 

Motion 2: Southwark’s commitment to trans, non-binary, and intersex inclusion

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There were no amendments to the motion. 

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

1.Council assembly notes that:?

 

  1. Southwark has been declared a Borough of Sanctuary, and is committed to being a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for all residents regardless of their background or identity. This includes trans, non-binary, and intersex people.? 

 

  1. As the High Court has recently affirmed, the Supreme Court's judgment on the definition of "sex" in the Equality Act in For Women Scotland (2025) does not require service providers to exclude trans people from services, nor does it countermand the Council's legal responsibility to provide safe and equal services to trans people and all residents. The revised Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, laid before Parliament in May 2026, reaffirms that organisations have discretion in how they design and deliver equal services.? 

 

  1. The Government’s own Equalities Impact Assessment on recent EHRC Guidance has confirmed that the revised guidance may adversely impact trans people, disabled people and those who are less likely to meet conventional notions of "female" and "male”. These notions of conventional appearance are also shaped by culturally specific and predominantly white, Western norms, meaning this guidance may present a heightened risk of misapplication for ethnic minorities.

 

  1. Trans, non-binary, and intersex residents of Southwark, including those who are also women, migrants, asylum seekers, or from marginalised communities, face compounding barriers to accessing services safely.? 

 

  1. The Supreme Court has defined “sex” as “biological sex” and “sex at birth”. However, the medical and scientific use of these terms is inherently probabilistic and relies on contextual interpretation, and there is currently no agreed identification to substantiate the “biological sex” or “sex at birth” of an individual, absent self-identification. 

 

  1. Asking an individual intrusive questions about “biological sex” or “sex at birth” is a potential breach of data protection legislation, their privacy rights, and human dignity, and is unlikely to be necessary and justified in most ordinary circumstances. Moreover, the exclusion of those with protected characteristics from essential facilities or services will rarely be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, although this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.? 

 

  1. The council has a statutory duty under the Public Sector Equality Duty to have due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations for people with protected characteristics, which includes the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. Multiple rulings have confirmed that the protected characteristic of gender reassignment applies to any trans person at any stage of transition.? 

? 

2.Council believes that:? 

 

a.  Trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities are valid and should be recognised. This is consistent with, and not in conflict with, the council's commitment to equality for all residents.? 

 

b.  Every resident of this borough deserves?to access?council services safely, with dignity, and free from discrimination or harassment.? 

 

c.  In many circumstances?it is not practical for council representatives or employees to be expected to infer or decide the sex of another person other than?by means of?polite inquiry?or collected data. 

? 

3.Council assembly resolves to:? 

 

a.  Publicly reaffirm its commitment to trans, non-binary, and intersex inclusion as a Borough of Sanctuary and as an authority bound by the Public Sector Equality Duty.? 

 

b.  Commission a review of all relevant council policies, service specifications, and procurement conditions to ensure they explicitly affirm protection from discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment, reporting back to the relevant scrutiny committee within six months.

 

c.  Requests that the head of paid service ensure that trans awareness and inclusion form part of mandatory equalities training for all staff and elected members, and that the council's HR policies - including on name, prefix, and pronoun use, facilities access, and dress codes - are updated to reflect best practice. 

 

d.  Commit that, in the spirit of ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, including data protection, health and safety, and non-discrimination against those with protected characteristics, self-identification should be sufficient in normal circumstances for the purposes of access to and use of any of the London Borough of Southwark’s facilities and services. As examples, this?principle?need?not?apply?when there is a reasonable suspicion of danger to a service user, bystander, or employee, or where there is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.? 

 

e.  Commit that all new and refurbished council-owned public buildings, leisure centres, and civic spaces will include non-gendered toilet and changing facilities where practicable, in addition to facilities provided for people who are disabled, and to bring forward a report on the feasibility and phasing of retrofitting existing council buildings.

 

f.  Work with NHS partners to identify and address barriers faced by trans, non-binary, and intersex residents in accessing appropriate healthcare in the borough.

 

g.  Celebrate Trans Day of Visibility across the Council. 

? 

4.Furthermore:? 

 

  1. Council assembly encourages the provision and expansion of non-gendered safe and private spaces in the private sector (such as toilets and changing room facilities) where it is?appropriate?and practical to do so, including individual lockable rooms. Council assembly further encourages that these be in addition to spaces for people who are disabled, where it is practical to do so.? 

 

  1. Council assembly applauds the work in The Borough of Southwark of the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, Southwark Pride, The Outside Project, and the many other people and community-led groups supporting our trans, non-binary, and intersex residents locally. 

 

Motion 3: Southwark's Place in Europe

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment B was put to the vote and declared lost.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

  1. Council Assembly notes:

 

  1. The significant contribution that the European Union has made to London's economic development through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), Horizon research programmes and financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), supporting investment in infrastructure, innovation, skills, employment and business growth.

 

  1. That the European Investment Bank (EIB) has played a major role in financing London's transport infrastructure, including:

  i.  A £1 billion loan to support the construction of Crossrail, now the Elizabeth Line.

  ii.  Further EIB financing for Crossrail trains and maintenance facilities.

  iii.  Investment supporting wider improvements to London's transport network, including the London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Thameslink and major Underground station upgrades.

 

  1. That Southwark residents benefit directly from these transport investments through improved connectivity to employment centres, educational institutions and economic opportunities across London.

 

  1. The contribution of European Social Fund programmes to skills development, employment support and social inclusion initiatives across London.

 

  1. The contribution of EU-funded research programmes to London's world-leading universities and research institutions, including King's College London, whose researchers have led and participated in major Horizon-funded international research projects addressing health, technology and global challenges.

 

  1. The contribution of London's universities, including institutions serving Southwark residents such as King's College London and London South Bank University, to international collaboration, skills development and innovation.

 

  1. The educational and cultural opportunities previously available to UK students through the Erasmus+ programme, and that the UK's withdrawal from Erasmus+ in 2021 reduced opportunities for educational exchange and cooperation until agreement was reached for UK re-association from 2027.

 

  1. The enormous contribution made by European citizens living and working in Southwark and across London, particularly within healthcare, social care, education, construction, hospitality and the creative industries.

 

  1. That workforce data has demonstrated the importance of international and European staff to healthcare provision in Southwark, including at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

 

  1. That Southwark is one of the most diverse and internationally connected boroughs in the United Kingdom, with communities drawn from across Europe, the Commonwealth and the wider world.

 

  1. That in the 2016 referendum on EU membership, Southwark voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, with 72.8% voting Remain, whilst London as a whole also voted clearly to Remain.

 

  1. That Southwark Council's Brexit Panel found that approximately 41,000 non-Irish EU citizens lived in the borough and highlighted concerns about Brexit's impacts on local businesses, labour markets, public services, education and future funding.

 

  1. That analysis published by the Greater London Authority has concluded that Brexit has exerted pressures on London's economy and has been detrimental to long-term growth and prosperity.

 

  1. That the Liberal Democrats have consistently and proudly campaign for the UK to stay in Europe – throughout the referendum, negotiations, elections, and post-Brexit.

 

  1. Council Assembly believes:

 

  1. That ten years on from the 2016 referendum, the economic benefits promised by Brexit have not materialised, while businesses, universities, public services and residents continue to face barriers that did not previously exist.

 

  1. That the UK’s exit deal with the EU recklessly thrown together by the Conservatives and now maintained by Labour has been catastrophic for London and the UK as a whole.

 

  1. That Southwark's prosperity relies upon openness, international cooperation, research collaboration, investment, skilled workers and strong economic links with Europe and the wider world.

 

  1. That London's success has always been built upon its ability to attract talent, businesses, investors, students, academics, entrepreneurs and visitors from across the globe.

 

  1. That Southwark's diverse communities, cultural institutions, educational centres and globally recognised healthcare and research organisations make the borough uniquely placed to strengthen international partnerships.

 

  1. That rebuilding closer relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union is in the economic, educational, scientific, environmental and cultural interests of Southwark residents.

 

  1. Council Assembly resolves:

 

  1. To work with:

  i.  The Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority;

  ii.  London Councils;

  iii.  Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates based in London;

  iv.  Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Districts and trade organisations;

  v.  King's College London, London South Bank University and other higher and further education institutions;

  vi.  Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and other major local institutions;

  vii.  Community and diaspora organisations representing Southwark's diverse communities; and

  viii.  Public and private sector organisations with significant international links.

 

  1. To:

  i.  Support closer economic, educational, scientific and cultural cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union, with the view to having the UK eventually rejoin the EU as a full member.

  ii.  Campaign for the Government to drop its red lines on resetting our relationship with the EU, including being open to a customs union.

  iii.  Support efforts to remove barriers to trade, research collaboration, educational exchange and cultural cooperation between the UK and European partners.

  iv.  Welcome the UK's long-awaited return to participation in Erasmus+ from 2027 and encourage local institutions to maximise opportunities arising from international educational partnerships.

  v.  Support participation in Horizon Europe and other international research and innovation programmes that benefit London universities, businesses and public institutions.

  vi.  Promote educational, training and research partnerships between institutions in Southwark and partners across Europe.

  vii.  Work with Southwark's diaspora communities to strengthen cultural links and identify opportunities for trade, investment and business development.

  viii.  Support opportunities for Southwark businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to access European and international markets.

  ix.  Encourage greater participation in international city networks focused on economic development, climate action, culture and innovation.

  x.  Advocate for policies that maintain London's position as one of the world's leading centres for business, culture, healthcare, education and scientific research.

 

  1. Further, Council Assembly commits to ensuring that this outward-looking international ambition is matched by local action, including stronger engagement with businesses, universities, healthcare institutions, investors and community organisations, support for skills and employment, and the promotion of Southwark as a welcoming, international borough at the heart of a global city.

 

Motion 4: National Year of Reading - making Southwark a borough of readers

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment C was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

The amended motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

1.  Council Assembly notes:

 

a.  The worrying national decline in reading for pleasure among children and young people, with just 36% of 8-18-year-olds saying in 2026 that they enjoy reading in their free time and only one in five reading daily, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds less likely to read for pleasure.

 

b.  The particularly important role played by public libraries in ensuring that reading is accessible to everyone, irrespective of income or background, and the Education Committee's warning about the impact nationally of reductions in library provision.

 

c.  The incredible benefits to the children of the borough that the council’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has brought, including:

i)  The gift of over 40,000 books to 6,000 children across the borough since 2016

ii)  Enabling children to receive their own age-appropriate book every month from birth until their fifth birthday, helping families to build a library of books in their own homes.

 

d.  Dolly Parton's extraordinary contribution to children's literacy internationally through the Imagination Library, and the contribution of the Dollywood Foundation and its partners in making the scheme possible in Southwark.

 

e.  The enormous pressure that Southwark’s libraries – and the council’s finances more broadly – are under, thanks to the £102 million gap caused by the Labour Government’s austerity, which the previous administration knew was coming yet failed to prepare for.

 

2.  Council Assembly believes:

 

a.  Reading for pleasure should be available to every child, regardless of their family's income, background or circumstances, and access to books at home, at school and in public libraries is fundamental to achieving this.

 

b.  The National Year of Reading provides an opportunity not simply to celebrate reading during 2026, but to establish a lasting reading legacy in Southwark.

 

c.  The council should understand who currently benefits from its reading programmes and where there are gaps in participation, including whether participation varies according to deprivation, so that activity and resources can be targeted particularly towards children and communities who are least likely to read for pleasure.

 

3.  Council Assembly resolves:

 

  1. To do everything possible to protect library services across Southwark from the Labour Government’s austerity and, unlike the previous administration, be fully transparent with the people of Southwark whilst we do so.

 

  1. To continue the promotion of reading for pleasure – through schools, libraries, and local partners.

 

  1. To work with partners across the borough and champion new initiatives such as the Marlborough Storyhouse which will ensure the children of Southwark have access to a diverse range of reading environments

 

Motion 5: Defending sanctuary in Southwark

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment D was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

The amended motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

1.Council Assembly notes:

 

  1. That Southwark is a proud Borough of Sanctuary. People from across the world have made Southwark their home and are valued, and valuable, members of our borough, our history and our future.

 

  1. The personal courage to seek sanctuary when it is needed, and the political leadership to defend that sanctuary. Leaving behind everything you know, learning a new language, starting a new school or job, trusting a new community takes personal courage. Protecting the space for sanctuary in a political climate of division and fear demands political leadership.

 

  1. The vital work of Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, migrant-led organisations, faith groups, advice services, volunteers and the wider voluntary and community sector in helping people find safety, friendship, opportunity and community, and making sanctuary real in Southwark every day.

 

  1. That displacement does not always end when somebody reaches sanctuary. Migrant and refugee communities who have built lives in Southwark are being displaced again by unaffordable and insecure housing, separating people from families, schools, friends, faith communities, businesses and support networks.

 

  1. The decision made by Southwark, Lewisham and Lambeth councils in 2019 to remove Home Office immigration officers embedded within the council and take action against the then Conservative government’s “hostile environment” policies.

 

  1. Cllr Jasmine Ali’s hard work, alongside voluntary and community sector and partner organisations, to make Southwark a proud Borough of Sanctuary and her impassioned drive to speak truth to power when it comes to standing up for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who make Southwark their home.

 

  1. The council’s commitment to anti-racism, embodied by Southwark Stands Together, which aims to amplify diverse voices within our organisations and address structural inequalities.

 

  1. That in 2025, the Labour Administration approved new funding of £100,000 per year for the next four years to support asylum seekers, refugee settlement and community cohesion, issuing grants to fantastic partners such as Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, Citizens Advice Southwark, Southwark Law Centre and Panjshir Aid.

 

  1. With deep concern the increasingly hostile and racist atmosphere surrounding migration in British politics, and rhetoric which scapegoats migrants and refugees for the housing crisis, poverty and pressure on public services they did not cause.

 

  1. The sharp increase in Home Office immigration enforcement activity. On 12 January 2026, the Home Office reported that immigration enforcement visits had increased by 77% between July 2024 and the end of December 2025, with arrests increasing by 83%, including more than 17,400 visits to businesses. Fear created by raids reaches beyond those directly targeted, undermining trust and potentially deterring people from reporting exploitation or abuse or seeking help.

 

  1. That Southwark already does not share discretionary information with the Home Office for immigration enforcement purposes, and welcomes the work of officers and partners to protect the safety of residents and their trust in public services.

 

  1. That on 17 June 2026, Lambeth announced a review of its cooperation with immigration enforcement and called for a “corridor of sanctuary” across London; and on 22 July 2026, Lewisham Council passed “Building an anti-raids Sanctuary Corridor in and beyond Lewisham”, committing to refuse assistance to Home Office immigration raids wherever legally possible.

 

  1. Southwark’s consistent advocacy as a Borough of Sanctuary across administrations. The previous administration responded to the Home Office consultation “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement”, which closed on 12 February 2026. On 18 June 2026, the new administration wrote to the Home Secretary following the consultation “Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns”, raising concerns including family destitution, the protection of children and families, care-experienced young people and physical intervention during enforced family returns. The Government has responded in writing, but Southwark has not yet been offered the requested meeting with the Minister.

 

  1. That the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 was introduced in the House of Commons on 30 June 2026, received its Second Reading on 13 July 2026, and is now proceeding to Committee Stage, providing a further opportunity for Southwark to make representations.

 

2.Council Assembly believes:

 

  1. Sanctuary cannot simply mean somewhere to arrive. It must mean somewhere you can build a life, put down roots and be safe.

 

  1. Nobody should be afraid to approach their council, send their child to school, report exploitation or abuse, or seek help from children’s services, adult social care or other essential services because they fear immigration enforcement. Immigration status does not remove the Council’s responsibilities to protect children from harm or its statutory responsibilities towards adults with care and support needs.

 

  1. Local authorities should not act as an extension of Home Office immigration enforcement. Where Southwark has lawful discretion, it should use it to protect residents and the trust on which public services depend.

 

  1. That displacement can break the networks which hold communities together and support vulnerable residents. Being forced away from an established community can mean losing trusted neighbours, family and friends, schools, faith and cultural networks, carers and other sources of practical and emotional support. Protecting these relationships matters for community cohesion and for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable residents.

 

  1. Southwark rejects a politics which turns migrants, refugees and people seeking sanctuary into scapegoats. Our borough will defend sanctuary not only in words, but in action.

 

3.Council Assembly resolves:

 

  1. To protect the firewall between Southwark services and immigration enforcement, reaffirming that Southwark does not share discretionary information with the Home Office for immigration enforcement purposes; committing not to facilitate Home Office immigration enforcement activity where there is no legal requirement to do so; and reviewing council systems, processes, contracts, data-sharing arrangements and service agreements to identify and end any other discretionary assistance with immigration enforcement.

 

  1. To make sure nobody in Southwark faces immigration enforcement alone, working with Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, migrant and refugee organisations, the voluntary and community sector, faith groups and specialist advice organisations to provide clear information about people’s rights, routes to independent advice and support following raids, and appropriate support where children or adults at risk are affected.

 

  1. To make protection from displacement part of Southwark’s commitment as a Borough of Sanctuary, requiring the impact on established migrant and refugee communities, including the loss of family, school, faith, cultural and support networks, to be considered in relevant housing, regeneration and neighbourhood decision-making; and working with affected communities and the voluntary and community sector to identify practical measures to reduce displacement and preserve community networks.

 

  1. To build from a south London Sanctuary Corridor towards a London-wide position, working with Lewisham, Lambeth, London Councils, Central London Forward, the Mayor of London and other boroughs towards common commitments on discretionary data sharing, cooperation with immigration enforcement, child protection, adult social care and access to essential services, so that protection does not disappear at a borough boundary.

 

  1. To defend the integrity of child protection and social care from immigration enforcement, making formal representations during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 against measures which would make access to essential support for children and families dependent on immigration compliance, or allow immigration status or enforcement objectives to override decisions based on a child’s needs, welfare and best interests.

 

  1. To oppose proposals for physical intervention against children during enforced family returns, including restraint, carrying and handcuffing, and the temporary separation of children from their families; and to press Government to ensure that the welfare and best interests of children remain a primary consideration in every decision affecting them.

 

  1. To challenge the impact of Home Office immigration enforcement on social care, including raids on care providers and their workforce, and to make representations to Government on the consequences for workforce stability, continuity and quality of care, and the people who depend upon those services.

 

  1. To continue Southwark’s representations on settlement and family returns, building on the previous administration’s response to “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” and the new administration’s representations of 18 June 2026 on family returns; and to renew Southwark’s request for a meeting with the relevant Home Office Minister to discuss these concerns directly.

 

  1. To call on the Government to end the escalation of immigration raids and on politicians of all parties to reject racist and dehumanising rhetoric and the scapegoating of migrant and refugee communities.

 

Motion 6: Standing Up For Southwark

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

Councillor Richard Livingstone, having declared an interest, did not vote on this motion.

 

There were no amendments to the motion. 

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

1.  Council Assembly notes:

 

a.  Since taking control of Government in July 2024, the Labour Government under Keir Starmer and now Andy Burnham have failed to deliver positive change for the residents of Southwark. Instead Labour politicians have been mired in controversy, including:

 

  i.  The former Chancellor of the Exchequer failing to follow Southwark’s landlord licensing rules, which the Prime Minister refused to take action over, and Southwark Labour’s own former Cabinet Member for Housing also falling foul of these rules – resigning after the Liberal Democrats called for an investigation.

  ii.  The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, who was forced to resign due to unpaid stamp duty during Keir Starmer’s government has been rehabilitated by Andy Burnham.

  iii.  The emerging scandals around the activities of pro-Starmer Labour faction “Labour Together”

  iv.  Appointing the former Lord Mandelson to the most senior ambassadorial role despite his known continued association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

  v.  Cutting winter fuel payments for older residents before a budget was even announced

 

b.  The Labour Government has carried out numerous major U-turns

  i.  Abandoning plans to delay local elections after legal and political pressure from the Liberal Democrats.

  ii.  Scaling back proposed digital ID requirements.

  iii.  Dithering, and eventually climbing down, on welfare and disability benefit reforms.

  iv.  Reversing its position on the two-child benefit cap following a Liberal Democrat campaign, a campaign not backed by Southwark Labour.

  v.  Further cutting overseas aid to fund defence commitments after signalling a different direction.

 

c.  The Labour Government has failed in numerous areas, such as:

  i.  Continuing to allow arms sales for too long to Israel whilst Israel commits genocide in Gaza.

  ii.  Contributing to rising unemployment, in part thanks to the national insurance rise for employers.

  iii.  Instituting the family farm tax, punishing those who keep Britain fed.

  iv.  Failing to provide compensation for WASPI women despite promising otherwise.

  v.  Dealing with the prison capacity crisis by allowing hundreds of early releases, rather than fixing the root of the problem.

 

d.  Most detrimentally in Southwark, Labour has committed to a policy of deep austerity for many Inner London boroughs.

 

e.  That Labour’s austerity will hit Southwark hard, with officers predicting a financial black hole of £102 million.

 

f.  That through making this political choice, Labour will be responsible for the single largest round of austerity-forced savings in Southwark’s history.

 

g.  These savings – imposed by the Labour government – will put public services, often relied on by the most vulnerable, at risk in inner-London authorities.

 

  1. Council Assembly further notes:

 

  1. That three of Southwark’s five Labour MPs have been appointed to senior roles in Andy Burnham’s Government. These are:

  i.  Miatta Fahnbulleh (Peckham), Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

  ii.  Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green), Minister of State for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith

  iii.  Ellie Reeves (Lewisham West and East Dulwich), Attorney General for England and Wales, Advocate General for Northern Ireland

 

  1. That despite this, no Southwark Labour MP has yet publicly spoken against Labour’s new policy of austerity which will do massive harm to Southwark and its residents.

 

  1. That despite three of Southwark’s five MPs holding senior roles in the new Burnham Government, they have failed to stand up to the Prime Minister on issues such as:

  i.  The housing crisis – Southwark’s housing waiting list is now around 23,000 and climbing because of the Government and Southwark Labour’s failure to build affordable housing.

  ii.  Immigration – despite Southwark being a Borough of Sanctuary, Southwark Labour Councillors and MPs have done nothing to stand against the Government’s various proposed reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain, asylum applications and more – changes which will have devastating impacts for many residents in Southwark.

  iii.  Climate and energy – as the climate crisis continues Labour has failed to invest in clean energy. Southwark Labour has left the Council off-track to deliver its net zero by 2030 goal, and the Labour Government is reportedly open to the idea of allowing new licences for drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, despite knowing of the horrendous consequences this will have for our climate.

  iv.  Trans rights – despite being a party which has previously lauded itself for its progressive stances, trans rights have only gone backwards under this Labour Government, with the recent EHRC Guidance approved by Labour Ministers effectively banning trans people from public life by forcing service providers into impossible positions.

 

  1. That despite its countless failures, Southwark’s Labour MPs continue to support their Government.

 

  1. That Neil Coyle MP (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) was so intent for Keir Starmer to remain as Prime Minister despite the rest of his party recognising his failure, that he was the only MP to nominate someone other than Andy Burnham for the leadership.

 

  1. That Southwark Labour whilst in control of the Council failed to spend £43 million in right to buy receipts, almost resulting in the forfeiture of the money with interest.

 

  1. That in the midst of a housing crisis, failing to spend this money, especially with the only reason for this failure being national Labour Party policy, is nothing short of a dereliction of duty.

 

  1. That in May 2026, Southwark residents voted clearly for change – denying Labour of a majority in the borough for the first time in 16 years.

 

  1. That residents have sent a clear message that they want a council administration that will stand up to this disastrous Labour Government.

 

  1. Council Assembly believes:

 

  1. That Southwark residents want and deserve better than a Government who talks London down and who will take our borough for granted.

 

  1. That Labour’s new policy of austerity for Inner London represents a betrayal of our residents, over a third of whom live in areas classified as among the most deprived in England.

 

  1. That Labour’s austerity is a political choice, not a necessity – the overall amount of money sent to councils in England is not shrinking, rather Southwark’s funding is being redistributed at our expense.

 

  1. That Southwark Council’s former Labour administration, despite having the ear of the then Prime Minister and being close political allies with him, failed to effectively stand up for Southwark and its residents – instead allowing Keir Starmer and his Government free reign to vandalise our borough’s finances.

 

  1. This Joint Administration answers to the residents of Southwark, not Andy Burnham or any other party leader.

 

  1. Council Assembly therefore calls for:

 

  1. Southwark Council’s new Green and Liberal Democrat Joint Administration to continue their work holding the Labour Government to account.

 

  1. The Leadership of the Joint Administration to write to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss Southwark’s financial position.

 

  1. Southwark Council’s Executive, especially the Executive Member for Finance and General Purposes, to continue their work creating a fair and balanced budget that can deliver the savings being forced upon the Council whilst continuing to protect our most vulnerable residents and our key services.

 

  1. Southwark Council’s new Executive, unlike the previous Labour administration, to always put the needs of residents ahead of political convenience.

 

  1. The five Labour MPs representing Southwark to meet with the Leadership of the Joint Administration to discuss the impact of the government’s unprecedented cuts on Southwark residents.

 

  1. The Southwark MPs to publicly call on Andy Burnham and his Government to undertake an urgent re-think of the so-called “Fair Funding” settlement, in order to ensure that Southwark gets a fair deal.

 

  1. Miatta Fahnbulleh, Florence Eshalomi, and Ellie Reeves MPs to not allow their new senior positions in Andy Burnham’s Government to hinder or limit their support for the people of Southwark.

 

Motion 7: Building a Care System That Works: Southwark and the National Conversation on Care

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment E was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

The amended motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

  1. Council Assembly notes:

 

  1. Social Care is one of the biggest issues of our time and the system is unsustainable – for patients, their families, communities and councils.

 

  1. Sir Ed Davey’s long-standing leadership on this issue – advocating for a fair deal for paid and unpaid carers, fighting for better outcomes for those receiving care, and pushing for a cross-party settlement to fix the care crisis.

 

  1. The Prime Minister has committed to fixing the broken social care system by finding common ground across party lines, setting out a new approach to politics based on problem-solving rather than point-scoring, and drawing a line under decades of governments leaving this issue unaddressed.

 

  1. Baroness Louise Casey, who chairs the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, has launched the Big Conversation on Care, a new online platform giving the public the chance to share their views and help shape the future of adult social care in England, starting with what values and principles a care system should be built on.

 

  1. The scale of the challenge is significant: there are an estimated 1.46 million adult social care workers and 4.7 million unpaid carers in England; in June 2026 an average of 13,600 people a day were medically fit to leave hospital but unable to do so, partly due to the availability of social care; and around 3,000 instances of corridor care are occurring daily as a result of pressures on hospital capacity.

 

  1. The number of A&E attendances by people aged 65 and over has risen from 3.3 million in 2011/12 to 5.8 million in 2024/25, growth far outstripping the increase in the older population, and cuts to social care funding between 2010 and 2018 are estimated to have driven around half a million additional A&E attendances a year among people aged 65 and over.

 

  1. The development of a plan for Adult Social Care, education, and skills within the Borough Action Plan, as noted in the vision for Southwark, published in July 2026.

 

  1. Council Assembly welcomes:

 

  1. The pace and drive shown by the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care in working to bring forward its reporting timetable by a year, recognising the urgency felt by residents, carers, care workers, Unions and Local Government who cannot afford to wait for lasting reform.

 

  1. The Prime Minister's willingness to reach across party lines, and the engagement of the opposition parties with this process, in the belief that a problem of this scale and longevity can only be solved through a settlement built to outlast any single Parliament.

 

  1. The impact of initiatives such as the Ethical Care Charter and Residential Care Charter, which has measurably improved quality of care and working conditions in Southwark’s care sector.

 

  1. Council assembly resolves to:

 

  1. Promote the Big Conversation on Care to residents, staff, carers, providers, Unions and local partners, and encourage the fullest possible local participation in it.

 

  1. Offer Southwark Council's full support and participation in the national conversation in whatever way is most useful to the Commission and the Government — whether that is through local engagement events, sharing local data and case studies, or any other means the Commission considers helpful.

 

  1. Continue to work constructively with all political groups represented on this Council, and with neighbouring authorities, health partners and Unions in the same spirit of problem-solving over point-scoring set out by the Prime Minister — recognising that social care reform will only endure if it is built on cross-party consensus, not the priorities of one administration.

 

  1. Continue the work developing a positive plan for Adult Social Care in Southwark as a priority for the Joint Administration, both in the round and within its Borough Action Plan.

 

  1. Call on the Prime Minister to follow through with his commitment to solve this issue on a cross-party basis by expanding talks on care to all parties, including the Green Party.”

 

Motion 8: A clean energy future for Southwark

 

This motion was considered after the guillotine had fallen. 

 

There was one amendment to the motion. 

 

Amendment F was put to the vote and declared lost.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the executive for consideration.

 

1.Council assembly notes:

 

  1. Southwark Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and all parties remain absolutely committed to reducing emissions and protecting residents from the impacts of climate change.

 

  1. The climate emergency is already being felt across Southwark: more than half of our borough could face regular overheating with just 1.5°C of global warming; our low-lying communities face growing risks from flooding and rising sea levels; this summer has brought stark evidence of increasing drought and water stress; and poor air quality continues to damage the health of our residents.

 

  1. The continued burning of fossil fuels is driving climate breakdown, while reliance on fossil fuels also exposes Southwark’s households and businesses to volatile international energy prices.

 

  1. The UK has significant potential for renewable energy generation. The transition to clean energy, as one of the cheapest forms of electricity, presents an opportunity to improve energy security, reduce household energy bills, create good green jobs and build a healthier and more resilient economy.

 

  1. Approving new oil and gas drilling will not make a difference to residents; bills here in Southwark, and would commit the UK to further fossil fuel extraction for decades at a time when investment and policy should instead be accelerating the transition to clean energy.

 

  1. Local authorities have an important role to play in tackling climate change, but councils across the country are operating under significant financial constraints. Southwark Council faces a £102 million funding shortfall over the coming years.

 

  1. The scale of the climate challenge therefore requires national government to provide the investment, policy framework and support necessary for councils, communities and households to make the transition to clean energy. Empowering and funding councils to accelerate rooftop solar on people’s homes would relieve pressure on the grid and is also the fastest way to bring down people’s bills.

 

  1. Tackling the climate and nature emergencies also requires the public to have access to clear, authoritative and evidence-based information about the risks we face and the opportunities presented by decisive action. The National Emergency Briefing initiative is calling on UK parliamentarians to support a prime-time, cross-channel televised briefing by trusted independent experts to help build public understanding and support for a collective national response.

 

2.Council assembly believes:

 

  1. There should be no new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Public policy should be moving the UK away from fossil-fuel dependence, not locking in further extraction.

 

  1. This Government must not invest in new fossil-fuel extraction, it should instead invest in a more rapid and fair transition to clean energy: accelerating renewable energy generation; improving energy efficiency and reducing energy demand to make homes warmer, energy bills lower and the UK more energy secure; and ensuring that workers and communities currently dependent on fossil fuels benefit from secure green jobs and investment in the industries of the future.

 

  1. Councils should be enabled and properly supported to contribute to the transition without placing unsustainable additional financial pressures on already stretched local government budgets.

 

  1. Climate action should be treated as a core responsibility of government at every level, supported by clear statutory duties, targets, and accountability rather than relying solely on voluntary commitments.

 

  1. The public should have access to clear, authoritative information about the scale of the climate and nature emergencies and the actions that can be taken in response, including through a prime-time National Emergency Briefing.

 

3.Council assembly resolves:

 

  1. To call on the Government to:

  i.  Not approve new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, and instead to prioritise national investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and the infrastructure required for a clean energy system.

  ii.  Significantly increase support for home insulation, energy efficiency, and clean heating, enabling households to reduce both their energy bills and carbon emissions.

  iii.  Ensure that workers and communities currently dependent on the fossil fuel industry are supported through a properly funded just transition, including retraining and access to secure green jobs.

  iv.  Introduce a statutory duty on public bodies to take action to tackle the climate crisis and deliver legally binding emissions reduction and climate adaptation objectives, with the long-term funding and powers necessary to deliver their contribution to the climate and energy transition.

 

  1. To write to Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, asking her to support these objectives in Parliament.

 

  1. To reaffirm Southwark Council's commitment to doing everything within its powers and available resources to reduce emissions, tackle the climate emergency and protect residents from its impacts.

 

  1. To continue to identify opportunities for Southwark to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy generation where these can be delivered within the Council's financial constraints and alongside its other statutory responsibilities.

 

  1. To publicly support the National Emergency Briefing initiative’s call for a live, televised national emergency briefing hosted by the Prime Minister and the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser and delivered by independent experts; make council-operated venues available for community screenings of, and discussions around, the People’s Emergency Briefing; and write to Southwark’s Members of Parliament, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Neil Coyle, Helen Hayes, Florence Eshalomi and Ellie Reeves MPs, Assembly Member Marina Ahmad, and Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to urge them to support the parliamentary call for a live, televised emergency briefing.

Supporting documents: