“Millions for bureaucrats” decision challenged

Labour councillors oppose decision

Lambeth Council’s plans to spend millions on a new office block for bureaucrats in the north of the borough has been officially opposed by Labour councillors. Sharon Ward, Labour Councillor for Coldharbour and Lead Regeneration Spokesperson is demanding a review of the decision to go ahead with the multi-million pound purchase of Sentinel House in Vauxhall and the sale of Mary Seacole House in Clapham.

Councillor Ward’s statement makes clear that the council is rushing into a huge purchase, funded by borrowing, without exploring all the available options. For example, one option which has not been considered is the temporary decanting of social services staff while the Mary Seacole House site was redeveloped or renovated. Other options could save council tax payers millions of pounds, but Liberal Councillors are determined to rush ahead with the purchase without further consultation.

In addition, the Liberal Democrat/Tory controlled council does not yet know which services will be based in the new office building or even whether any of the council’s services can efficiently be provided from the new building. There is also concern about the impact which the move will have on vulnerable service users. If the purchase goes ahead, people needing various social services will have to travel to the north of the borough (rather than central Lambeth) to access those services.

Cllr Sharon Ward, Labour’s Regeneration spokesperson commented:

“When Labour was calling for money to be spent on the purchase of a site for a new secondary school in the centre of the borough the council claimed it couldn’t afford it. But now it is prepared to borrow millions of pounds to fund this ill-thought through purchase.”

“The Liberals make millions available for bureaucrats and nothing for school kids.”

“I want this huge financial commitment to be properly scrutinised to ensure that all the options have been examined. Lambeth’s Liberal Democrats are gaining a reputation for footloose incompetence when it comes to spending council tax payers money.”

Share you views on this and other local issues in the Lambeth Forum and be kept informed about local issues by emailing subscribe@lambethlabour.com.

To let us know your view on this issue, get help from your local councillor, or discover how you can help Labour in Lambeth, please complete the form below.