Lewisham Council met to discuss a range of issues, including increasing councillor allowances, the use of substitutes on committees, and motions on childcare and public ownership of Thames Water¹. Councillors agreed to increase their basic allowance by 3.2% to £13,201 per year, and approved the use of substitutes on certain committees to ensure meetings can proceed even if some members are absent. A motion supporting the Labour government's plan for 30 hours of free childcare was passed, as was an amended motion calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership.

Announcements and Communications

The council meeting began with several announcements:

• Karen Duggan, trustee and treasurer of the Lewisham Irish Community Centre, was awarded an MBE for services to early years.
• Councillor Sakina Sheikh, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities, Libraries and Sports, promoted the Scene Festival, a celebration of art, culture, music, and dance by Lewisham residents, which would run from 3-12 October. She highlighted the festival's mentoring programme for young artists and its alignment with Black History Month.
• Councillor Edison Huynh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, announced that Lewisham Council had secured funding from the Department of Education to develop a new children's home in Lewisham, aiming to accommodate six vulnerable children with complex needs by the summer of 2026. He also congratulated Lewisham schools on improved GCSE and A-level results, citing a report from the Institute of Government that recognised Lewisham as the most improved local authority in the country from 2019 to 2024.
• Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, reported an increase in cancer screening rates in Lewisham, attributing this to a public awareness campaign. He urged residents to attend their screenings and thanked officers for their work.
• Councillor Ese Erheriene, Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Skills, announced the return of the Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards, with a record number of nominations received. She encouraged residents to vote for their favourite businesses online.
• The council mourned the passing of Barbara Veal, a Labour activist and campaigner, and Christine Castro, a stalwart of the Labour movement and co-founder of the Positive Ageing Council. A minute's silence was observed in their memory.

Public Questions

Several members of the public posed supplementary questions to councillors:

• Dave Levy asked about the success of the community toilet scheme in Deptford and the monitoring of street cleaning requests. Councillor Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor and Environment, Transport and Climate Action, responded that the community toilet scheme was a compromise due to budget constraints and that the street cleansing service is routinely evaluated.
• Mark Morris inquired about steps to increase prosecutions for fly-tipping. Councillor Krupski detailed measures such as expanded CCTV coverage, increased penalties, and community engagement.
• Mark Bennett raised concerns about non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and whether the council takes unfair advantage of leaseholders or tenants without legal representation. Councillor Will Cooper, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, stated that he was unaware of any specific case but would investigate if provided with details.
• Alan Hall asked about representations the council has made regarding planning policy and the forthcoming changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. Councillor James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, stated that submissions have been completed and that relevant documentation is available upon request.
• Julia Webb sought confirmation that landowners APEX Capital Partners had acknowledged receipt of an Urgent Works Order and what sanctions are available if they fail to act. Councillor Walsh said that he could not comment on live enforcement issues.
• Sonia Arscott asked about the impact of potential staffing reductions at Drumbeat Outreach on the delivery of key projects. Councillor Huynh affirmed the council's ongoing support and funding commitment to Drumbeat, noting that the Service Level Agreement (SLA) has been increased.

Member Questions

Councillors also posed questions to cabinet members:

• Councillor Rudi Schmidt, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, raised concerns about high call waiting times for housing services. Councillor Cooper responded that bringing housing services in-house had reduced call waiting times.
• Councillor Suzannah Clarke asked for details on improving housing conditions. Councillor Cooper reported improvements in the stock condition survey and reductions in non-compliance with the Decent Homes Standard².
• Councillor Susan Wise requested updates on the impacts of welfare reform. Councillor Bell promised to provide the information.
• Councillor Dawn Atkinson asked about accelerating home building. Councillor Walsh mentioned an increase in housing targets in the new Local Plan and several projects underway.
• Councillor Chris Barnham, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, expressed concerns about maintaining progress in children's services. Councillor Huynh emphasized ongoing efforts and recent awards for the Youth Justice Team.
• Councillor Joan Millbank asked about improvements for the SEEN festival. Councillor Sakina Sheikh announced an expanded schedule and mentoring program for 2025.
• Councillor Aliya Sheikh requested an update on Lucium Library, which Councillor Sakina Sheikh confirmed would be reopening next year.
• Councillor Liam Shrivastava, Leader of the Lewisham Green Group, inquired about including New Cross Gate in the Healthy Neighbourhood Programme and its impact on congestion and air quality. Councillor Krupski stated that no specific locations have been confirmed yet and decisions will be data-driven.
• Councillor Hau-Yu Tam, Deputy Leader of the Lewisham Green Group, questioned the council's decision to disallow questions mentioning genocide. Councillor Amanda De Ryk, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance, explained that the rules around public questions had been correctly applied.

Members' Allowances

The council approved a 3.2% increase in members' allowances, aligning with the National Joint Council (NJC) pay award for staff. This raised the basic allowance to £13,201 per year. Councillor Shrivastava supported the principle of increasing allowances but noted that a uniform percentage increase would result in higher-paid members receiving the largest monetary increase. He also referenced a previous intention to increase the standard allowance, which was later withdrawn. Mayor Brenda Dacres stated that the council would work to ensure equity among Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) and align with other local authorities.

Use of Substitutes

The council agreed to formally include temporary arrangements for the use of substitutes in the Committee Procedure Rules. This allows committees to have up to two substitute members from each group, ensuring meetings can proceed even if some members are absent.

Appointment of Independent Persons

The council approved the appointment of Darwance Grabel and Katie Prestage as independent persons to the Standards Committee. Councillor Shrivastava raised concerns about the previous lack of an independent person and the potential impact on handling member complaints.

Dispensation Under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972

The council approved a dispensation for Councillor Coral Howard under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, due to ill health. This prevents Councillor Howard from losing her position due to failure to attend meetings.

Motions

Support Labour's 30 Hours of Free Childcare

Councillor Luke Warner proposed a motion to support the Labour government's commitment to delivering 30 hours of free childcare per week for working parents. The motion recognised the benefits of high-quality early years provision and the positive impact on families in Lewisham. Councillor Sophie Davis seconded the motion.

Councillor Shrivastava proposed an amendment to include a resolution to demand the government scraps the two-child benefit cap³, arguing that the childcare scheme is insufficient and excludes the most financially vulnerable families. Councillor Hau-Yu Tam seconded the amendment. The amendment was defeated, and the original motion was passed.

Bring Thames Water Back Into Public Ownership

Councillor Shrivastava proposed a motion calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership, citing the company's debt, underinvestment, and pollution record. Councillor Tam seconded the motion.

Councillor Mark Jackson moved an amendment to recognise the Water Special Measures Act of 2025 and highlight the Labour government's actions to regulate the water industry. Councillor Hilary Moore, Chair Standards Committee, seconded the amendment, which was carried. The amended motion, recognising the government's actions and calling for public ownership if Thames Water fails to improve, was then passed.