Derek Anderson leaves Lambeth Council

On the day we highlighted a report that showed the percentage of senior BME personal in top Whitehall departments is falling, the only Black local authority CEO in London and possible the country has announced he’ll be standing down.

Derek Anderson has been at the helm of Lambeth Council as its Chief Officer for over a decade. In 2012 he was awarded Leader of the year by the Guardian newspaper.

In his resignation letter he said:

This has been an extremely rewarding role but it is the right time for me to pursue my other passions.

I’ve always been driven by an ambition to change the world – I believe I’ve been doing this in a small way in Lambeth – and I hope to build on this in tackling issues which matter not just locally but internationally."

One suspects there are other issues at play here, which we’ll perhaps never know. One thing is for sure that this is another bitter blow to the reputation of Lambeth Council which instead of being a shining light for Black leadership seems to stumble from one crisis to another when it comes to BME leadership.

Many of the readers here will recall the witch hunt that forced out would-be Black councillor Adeline Aina from standing in the local elections.

And in a Borough that has near to 24% African/Caribbean and mixed heritage population, very few either elected or non elected hold positions of real power. In the leaders Cabinet the only Black person there is Cllr Jennifer Braithwaite, who proudly represented Lambeth at the Labour Party hearing which ousted Adeline Aina from standing. The other positions offered to BME councillors are all Deputy Cabinet roles, and the Council’s Mayor, which of course is ceremonial position rather than having a budget and a portfolio to head up council services.

As a Black man leaving a very powerful post we first wish Derek well with his new pastures, but we also must hope that in leaving he reminds Lambeth Leadership about their obligation to meaningful representation, and community involvement. That would be the greatest legacy Anderson could leave.

Whether or not the Lambeth leadership would listen is another question.

Simon Woolley