Cllr Lib Peck

I have lived in Thornton ward with my partner and two kids since 1996 and have been the local councillor since 2001.
I started getting active in politics when I was a teenager during the brutal Tory years of the 80s – campaigning against many of the changes Thatcher brought in, and getting active in the campaigns against the arms trade and nuclear weapons.
Later I went to work for Justice, the legal human rights organisation. It was an exciting time to be involved as the newly elected Labour government had just passed the Human Rights Act, and set up of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to look at long standing cases of miscarriages of justice.
Throughout I was interested in local politics, and active locally. I believe strongly in the importance of community. So I was delighted to be elected for the first time in 2001 and have enjoyed being a councillor ever since.
It is great being a ward councillor where I live, my kids go to school and where I know so many of the issues and residents.
During my eight years I have seen many achievements at a local level such as a refunded Agnes Riley Gardens where people can now play sport; the Weir Link a fantastic achievement in itself and a good children’s centre; and some important capital investment into our local housing estates. I have also played a part in the campaigns for a local bus, against climate change, and for improvements to our parking system.
Since 2006 I have been a cabinet member – first for the environment and culture, and now for housing and regeneration. This means that I can decide how to spend money for these areas and how to prioritise key areas for improvement. Given the limited amount of money that local government has to achieve a wide range of functions, and the demands on a borough like Lambeth, this often involves making difficult choices.