- Local Anger: Erupted over Lambeth council boss’s OBE.
- Council: Most complained-about in Lambeth residents’ view.
- Award: OBE received by the council boss.
- Reaction: Strong backlash from local residents.
- Context: Highlights ongoing complaints about council performance.
Claire Holland, the Labour leader of Lambeth Council in south London, received recognition for her contributions to local government in the New Year’s honours list.
However, statistics indicate that Lambeth is among the city’s most complained-about councils.
Holland’s council has been accused of serious maladministration and has been judged to have behaved illegally twice in the past year.
Holland responded to the news by saying she was “extremely honored” and that she intended to use her OBE as
“motivation to continue working hard on the front line of service delivery.”
Residents are shocked by the revelation; on the local news website BrixtonBuzz, one person called the honor a “joke.”
In May of last year, the High Court determined that Lambeth had violated the law by establishing a low-traffic neighborhood (LTN) in spite of locals’ objections.
A week later, in a different case, the court determined that the council had similarly violated the statute by approving many music festivals in Brockwell Park in spite of locals’ objections.
Two months later, the Housing Ombudsman listed Lambeth as one of the poorest performers in a report detailing years of neglect to complete vital social housing repairs.
The case of a child’s bedroom window, which had been boarded up for more than three years despite the council’s recognition that it was decaying and presented a fall danger, was one of the instances of serious maladministration mentioned.
The Ombudsman previously chastised Lambeth Council for lodging a seriously disabled kid for two years in a house too tiny to accommodate her wheelchair through the front entrance, forcing her mother to leave it outside.
Two years after taking over the council in 2021, Holland was chosen to serve as chair of London Councils, representing the 32 London borough councils.
She was appointed in spite of Lambeth’s inferior adult social care performance than 90% of councils and the fact that the local government ombudsman upheld more complaints from Lambeth than from any other council save Croydon.
Homes for Lambeth incurred a staggering £10.5 million in staff expenses during that time, including a £217,000 pay for the chief executive, who resigned to support
“ethnic diversity in housing leadership,”
according to the Times.
The council has always struggled with salary control. 51 executives get over £100,000 annually, including a £160,000 wage for a “director of climate and inclusive growth,” according to the company’s most recent financial statements.
Additionally, Lambeth Council has nearly £1 billion in debt, which has compelled it to take drastic steps to save spending, such as proposing to lower streetlights at night.
The top-rated comment said:
“What a joke. It’s because of appointments such as this that I just don’t believe in the honours system.”
When Lambeth shared the news on X, it disabled public comments.
In a statement, Holland said:
“I am proud to have been elected to represent Lambeth’s communities, to have fought for children’s rights and to have led councils across London through what has been a challenging time for local government, but one in which we have forged a new partnership between councils, the mayor and the government.”
What specific complaints have been made against Lambeth Council?
Lambeth Council has drawn sharp review through multiple upheld ombudsman rulings and court opinions pressing systemic failures in casing repairs, business schemes, and complaint handling under leader Cllr Claire Holland’s term.
The casing Ombudsman proved severe maladministration in cases like a child’s bedroom window left boarded up for over three times despite conceded fall pitfalls, and an oppressively impaired child housed in a property too small for her wheelchair, forcing out-of-door storehouse for two times.
High Court judgments in May 2025 ruled unlawful a low- business neighbourhood( LTN) perpetration ignoring resident enterprises, and approvals for Brockwell Park music carnivals despite neighbourhood expostulations.
