The Royal Borough of Greenwich Council met on 25 June 2025, and among other business, agreed to prohibit itinerant ice cream trading on King William Walk, and to dispose of the Margaret McMillan Field Study Centre, subject to certain conditions. The council also reviewed its strategic risk register and discussed a number of questions raised by both members of the public and councillors.

Mayor's Announcements

Councillor Linda Bird, the Mayor, began by announcing that the Royal Borough of Greenwich had won two national awards for its work in social housing, safety and compliance. The council's work to tackle mould, damp and condensation had won 'best response to AWAB's law' at the Association of Safety and Compliance Professional Awards 2025. Susan Murray, the Council's Head of Landlord Risk and Compliance, also won an individual Women in Safety and Compliance Award.

The Mayor also highlighted several recent events, including National Volunteers Week, the launch of Greenwich Carers Support Group's New Business Accreditation, Learning Disability Week and Dementia Awareness Week. She also announced that the second round of Greenwich Green investment was now open, offering a 4.1% annual financial return for investments in local, environmentally friendly projects. She also noted the return of the Royal Borough of Greenwich's summer celebration, with over 25 free Royal Greenwich Festival events.

Councillor Linda Bird also noted the death of Mr Alistair, a member of the pension fund, and the fatal plane crash in India on 12 June, and asked for a minute's silence for the victims.

Petitions

Several petitions were submitted by councillors:

• Councillor David Gardner submitted a petition signed by 120 residents calling for a safe pedestrian crossing on Vultorial Way near the junction with Rathmore Road.

• Councillor Charlie Davies submitted four petitions from residents requesting action to maintain road surfaces and fill potholes, and to review the policy of managed decline of roads.

• Councillor Odette McGee submitted a petition from 32 residents of Whetstone Road, asking for a comprehensive impact assessment of the proliferation of HMOs[^1] within the borough, a review and strengthening of the enforcement of Article 4[^2], clearer planning guidelines, prioritisation of sustainable family-orientated housing, and transparent public engagement.

  [^1]: HMOs are Houses in Multiple Occupation. They are defined as properties inhabited by more than one household, with shared facilities. [^2]: An Article 4 direction removes permitted development rights. Where an Article 4 direction is in place, planning permission is required for development that would otherwise have been permitted development.

• Councillor Aidan Smith submitted a petition signed by 49 residents of Maidstone Hill, Winforton Street, Point Hill and surrounding streets, calling for the 24-hour operation of the West Greenwich traffic scheme or hard closures on Maidstone Hill and Winforton Street to deal with issues around noise, speeding and safety outside of the scheme's operating hours.

Public Questions

The council addressed 35 questions from members of the public, covering a range of topics.

Several questions related to investments linked to Israel and Palestine. One member of the public asked if the council still regarded itself as an anti-apartheid zone, and if so, why it invested in Israeli apartheid. Councillor Sandra Bauer, Cabinet Member Equality, Culture and Communities, responded that the country did not have apartheid and that the council was not investing in apartheid abroad.

Another member of the public asked why the council didn't divest £61 million of pensions in domestic companies. Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council, responded that the council had a pension panel and a pension board, and questions should be put to them.

Another member of the public asked whether the Leader of the Council believed that if his answer was published through the council workers and therefore residents of the council, would they actually agree with their opinion. Councillor Anthony Okereke responded that when it comes to pensions, there are clear legal things in place that decide how pensions are used, and that the council is always going to uphold the law.

Other questions included:

• What difference does it make to the overall outcomes in Greenwich at GCSE and A level as a result of these young people learning outside the borough?

• What is the authority doing to alleviate this problem?

• How can the council support our secondary schools to demonstrate that our children can achieve equally well in our secondary comprehensive schools?

• Noting that the situation is chaotic nationally, I'm asking how Greenwich is doing when it's been reported that there's a shortage of places and so on.

• Have this council twinned with any other towns internationally?

• Does this council condemn the practice of ethnic cleansing?

• Did the Council agree about sanctioning Ben-Gavir and Smotrich?

• Could you clarify what mechanisms were used to ensure that the council's investments were in line with international law.

• What specific and who is actually deciding, this is genocide, that is not genocide, that is, we can raise the flag for this community and not that community.

• When will the sustainability team be in place.

• Where do you get the ecological expertise currently?

• Could you confirm this is being investigated by your Planning Enforcement Committee team for planning breaches, please?

Members' Questions

Councillors submitted 33 questions to the cabinet, covering a range of local issues.

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition, asked about the government's spending review and its impact on Greenwich, particularly regarding the DLR extension to Thamesmead. Councillor Anthony Okereke responded that the government was committed to the extension, and that the council had invested money into a feasibility study.

Councillor Matt Hartley also asked about the council's planned sale of council-owned car parks, and whether the Leader would commit to visiting business owners to discuss their concerns. Councillor Anthony Okereke confirmed that officers, himself and the cabinet member would be undertaking that.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked about Royal Artillery Keys, and whether the council's position that there was no evidence of building regulation breaches at the time of construction was hampering the sign-off of remediation works. Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member Community Safety and Enforcement, clarified the council's position, stating that they did not have evidence that would support the use of powers under the Building Act 1984, and that they would not be in a position to adjudicate on any evidence on construction faults.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked about the low take-up of discounts on the Silvertown Tunnel¹, and how RBG could promote those discounts directly through service provision. Councillor Averil Lekau, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, agreed to investigate.

Councillor Matt Hartley also asked about the Greenwich and Blackheath LTNs², and how the profile of fines over the months compared to expectations going into the scheme. Councillor Averil Lekau responded that there was a downward trend which shows there's more compliance, but until she looked at all the data in its entirety, it would be premature for her to comment at this stage.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked about the box junction on Green Lane and William Barefoot Drive, and whether the Deputy Leader would look into that specific junction specifically. Councillor Averil Lekau responded that she could look into it, but couldn't promise anything.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked about flexibility for roads with high pedestrian footfall regarding contamination of blue bins. Councillor Averil Lekau responded that people who are in those kind of areas can order a clip from the team to lock their bin.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked when the future of specific sites of the Adventure Place Centre's review would be known. Councillor Sandra Bauer, Cabinet Member Equality, Culture and Communities, responded that it would take four months once it's started, there or thereabouts, so by the end of the year.

Councillor Matt Hartley asked whether the Army had previously written to the Leader of the Council about the possibility of the King's Troop using the Equestrian Centre. Councillor Anthony Okereke responded that he would have to sit that back and investigate.

Councillor Charlie Davies asked whether the Leader would commit to lobbying the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to ensure RBG receives its fair share of smaller, earlier funds being received by councils. Councillor Anthony Okereke responded that they will always continue to lobby for more funding for housing.

Councillor Charlie Davies asked whether the Council has carried out any analysis of how these leases may impact the private rental market within the borough. Councillor Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, responded that that's going to be part of the process.

Councillor Charlie Davies asked whether leaseholders will receive a response by the end of this week, and mentioned the fact that the Council has now told leaseholders that the eight-year terms that were previously offered will not be available, as this was apparently sent out in error. Councillor Pat Slattery responded that the eight years was an error by a more junior officer, and it cannot be honoured, because it would cost the council something like £500,000.

Councillor Charlie Davies asked what measures will the council put in place or look at to deal with any potential increase in HMO conversion applications prior to the adoption of the new local plan? Councillor Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, responded that currently, as it stands, it is difficult based on government policy, but the council requires mandatory HMO licensing for any conversion for over five or more kind of residents in a HMO.

Councillor Rowshan Hannan asked, given that All Up Street is also a public highway and that we have the powers to introduce traffic orders, could we restrict large delivery vehicles entering the small residential road which has no pavement? Councillor Averil Lekau responded that she was quite happy to just come down and have a visit and with some officers.

Councillor Rowshan Hannan asked, there are other businesses on that same narrow stretch of Trafalgar Road which don't have a back entrance on Orlop Street or indeed any street, they're leaving their waste somewhere, so why can't these businesses with back entrances on Orlop Street follow the same waste disposal procedure? Councillor Averil Lekau responded that if there's an issue on waste, I'm quite happy to ask the waste team to go and have a look at what actions can be taken.

Royal Borough of Greenwich Strategic Risk Register

The council noted the Royal Borough of Greenwich Strategic Risk Register. Councillor David Gardner, Chair of Audit and Risk Management Panel, noted that financial resilience remains the key risk, and that cyber security has been a significant risk in many public sector bodies.

Review of Itinerant Ice Cream Trading at King William Walk

The council resolved to prohibit itinerant ice cream trading in King William Walk. Councillor Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member Inclusive Economy, Business, Skills and Greenwich Supports, introduced the item, explaining that the decision followed a successful legal challenge to the council's previous designation of the area as a prohibited street. She said that the council was not opposed to ice cream trading, but that the prohibition was justified due to the narrow footways and heavy pedestrian use in the area.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution

The council approved proposed changes to the constitution, specifically to Part 3, Schedule E, regarding the terms of reference for the Audit and Risk Management Panel. These proposals follow the changes agreed by the Audit and Risk Management Panel on 22 January 2025, and are intended to ensure that the Council can fully comply with recent CIPFA³ Guidance providing greater clarity detail and structure.

Proposed Freehold Disposal of the Margaret McMillan Field Study Centre

The council agreed to the proposed disposal of the Margaret McMillan Field Study Centre, subject to Heads of Terms in Exempt Appendix B and compliance with Section 121 Charities Act 2011. Councillor Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, introduced the item, explaining that the site was no longer required for the purposes of the Trust, and that sale of the site is in the best interests of the Trust.