The honours list, published by the Government on Monday 29, December is granted by the King to deserving people from all walks of life, in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery. It also saw others in Lambeth honoured for their services to education, young people and politics.
Cllr Holland has been the leader of Lambeth Council since 2021 and the chair of London Councils, the representative body for local authorities in the capital, since 2023.
First elected as a councillor in Oval ward in 2014, she led the council out of the Covid-19 pandemic, delivered a £30 million cost of living programme to put money back in residents’ pockets, made Lambeth the first council in London to declare a climate emergency and reset Lambeth’s approach to affordable housing resulting in hundreds of new genuinely affordable homes being in delivery.
Her commitment to supporting young people has been a defining feature of her career, working as a legal aid children’s lawyer for more than 20 years, and first becoming involved in local politics to improve young people’s access to sports.
These values and understanding of the injustices children in care can face were pivotal as she led the council’s response to the publication of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse report. In addition to acting on the report’s recommendations, she has worked to put Lambeth on the path to becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly Community, as well as becoming one of the first boroughs to treat care experience as a protected characteristic.
Cllr Holland said: “I am extremely honoured to be awarded an OBE from His Majesty the King. It is a very humbling and proud moment to be recognised in this way and I am hugely grateful to everyone who has worked with me and supported me throughout my time working in the community and on the council.
“I first got involved in my local community to help turn around my local school into what became a thriving local primary school that provides amazing opportunities for local working class kids. I became a local campaigner and then councillor because I saw those same children denied access to sports facilities, and I have always fought for children’s rights and opportunities.
“I am equally proud to have been elected to represent Lambeth’s communities, to have fought for children’s rights and to have led council’s 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.
“I will use this OBE as motivation to continue working hard on the front line of service delivery, both in Lambeth and across London. I’m committed to providing services to those in the community who most need our support, building a better future for our young people and creating an environment where all Londoners can achieve their ambitions.”
As the chair of London Councils, Cllr Holland has ensured effective cross-party working, working collaboratively to secure unanimous support among the 32 boroughs for a new model of joint decision-making between the Mayor and councils.
She has navigated the opportunities of advocating for a change in devolution arrangements with a new government, providing a strong voice for boroughs in ensuring a fair funding settlement for London while working in partnership with the Mayor on initiatives like the ambitious London Growth Plan.
The New Years Honours List also featured:
- An MBE for Edison David, Executive Headteacher at Granton Primary School, Lambeth for services to education
- A British Empire Medal for Robin Langton-Dodds for services to disadvantaged young people in Lambeth
- A British Empire Medal for Ruth Flynn, director of sixth form at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School, Clapham Park, for services to further education
- A British Empire Medal for Neil Salt, constituency officer for Streatham and Croydon North, Lambeth and Southwark Conservative Federation for political service
