Labour's cash-strapped Lambeth Council set to lose…

Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth council is burying her head in the sand about the strike hitting council's parking service

GMB, the union for local government workers, has estimated that the current strike being carried out by parking wardens in Lambeth is set to cost the local authority around £300,000 a week in lost revenue.

Lambeth Council's parking contractor Apcoa employs the traffic wardens within the borough, as well as neighbouring boroughs Kingston, Richmond and Wandsworth.

Dozens of members are taking action over a litany of workplace issues, including the fact that some workers have been offered no pay rise at all for 2024.

Alex Etches, GMB Regional Organiser said:

"Lambeth Council and its leader cannot wash their hands of these workers.

"They are providing an essential public service for the council and it is not their fault they have been outsourced.

"If you add up how much Lambeth Council will be missing out on in lost revenue, it amounts to £300,000 a week.

"It is clear to us the council is underwriting the cost of the dispute on behalf of their contractor, which leaves us with one question - how is this going to be paid for?

"Would the local residents prefer for this cost to be reflected in their council tax bill or in cuts to their local services, because presumably it's going to be one of the two."