The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss the Lewisham Transformation Plan and the borough's economic development strategy, Inclusive Economy Lewisham. The committee will be asked to note the Transforming Lewisham Plan and its intended outcomes, and to comment on updates regarding the Inclusive Economy Lewisham strategy.

Here is what the report pack says will be discussed:

Growing the Local Economy

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on Lewisham Council's adoption of Inclusive Economy Lewisham, the borough's economic development strategy.

Inclusive Economy Lewisham defines the council's vision:

to grow an ambitious, unique, resilient, and authentic economy.

The action plan is segmented into four themes: enterprise and creativity, decarbonisation, young people, and prosperity.

The report pack states that the strategy recognises that the characteristics and needs of the local economy differ across the borough, for example, The Deptford/New Cross activity corridor vs. southern districts like Bellingham.

The four themes of the action plan are:

• Enterprise - establish businesses in Lewisham and help the borough's businesses grow and prosper, building on the Affordable Workspace Strategy adopted in 2023 to safeguard more space for enterprise.
• Decarbonisation - meet the challenges and opportunities of transitioning into a greener economy.
• Young People - equip young people with the skills and confidence to contribute to and eventually lead the economy.
• Prosperity - provide the services, amenities and quality economic opportunities people need to thrive, including ensuring town centres are inviting, with a diverse set of uses that meet local needs.

The report pack states that Inclusive Economy Lewisham does not present an extensive council-led action plan, but that the council's role is to create the conditions in which inclusive growth can take place and maximise the benefits of growth for all Lewisham residents.

The report pack also states that there are ten impact measures provided in the strategy that serve as broad indicators to show if the local economy is growing in a way that reduces inequality and barriers.

The report pack responds to recommendations provided by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following the July 2024 session, and how these recommendations were incorporated into Inclusive Economy Lewisham, including:

• Falling inequality as a central measure of success
• The council's role in advocating for improved transport connectivity, with targeted employment support in areas with low connectivity
• Strategies for creating a viable and attractive environment for large green infrastructure employers
• How heritage, culture and diversity unique to Lewisham can greater support ambitions for Lewisham to become a destination
• Specific support for night-time economies including licensing support for music venues in appropriate locations and with appropriate provision of amenities
• Whether Lewisham should develop a borough specific Good Employer Charter which could address: zero hour contracts, low pay and working conditions, with access to business support conditional on meeting the charter
• The visibility of corporate parenting responsibilities in the strategy
• Placemaking as a part of supporting the growth of local centres
• Work with healthcare providers to address economic inactivity

The report pack also provides an update on project delivery against Inclusive Economy Lewisham, including:

• Enterprise & Creativity
• Decarbonisation
• Young People
• Prosperity

The report pack also discusses the shift towards regional growth, the London Growth Plan, the GLA's Inclusive Talent Strategy, employment devolution reform, the Lewisham Local Plan, the Bakerloo Line extension¹, town centre regeneration frameworks and the role of planning obligations in supporting economic growth. The report pack also discusses the changing high street and local economies, tackling vacant high streets and the Pride in Place programme.

Finally, the report pack discusses the structural barriers to delivering Inclusive Economy Lewisham, including the economic context for London local authorities.

Lewisham Transformation Plan Update

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss the Transforming Lewisham Plan, which sets out the council's approach to strengthening services, improving resident experience and building a more modern and financially sustainable organisation.

The report pack states that Transforming Lewisham brings together the improvements required to support residents better, and enable staff to deliver services more effectively.

The report pack provides an overview of what the plan will mean for residents, staff and services, the outcomes the council aims to deliver, the improvements people will see and how progress will be tracked. It also sets out the main risks that may impact delivery and how these are being managed.

The report pack states that Transforming Lewisham is a key mechanism for delivering the organisation transformation vision and outcomes, driven by a clear organisational ambition:

Transforming Lewisham

Run well. Serve well.

By 2030, Lewisham Council will be a high-performing, residentfocused and efficient organisation, well-equipped to deliver our corporate priorities and achieve the borough's long-term vision.

The report pack states that focusing on running well as an organisation puts the council in the best position to serve its residents well.

The report pack also sets out what residents and staff will experience as a result of the Transforming Lewisham plan.

The report pack states that the Transforming Lewisham plan supports the council's Medium-Term Financial Strategy by improving service stability, productivity and long-term sustainability.

The report pack also sets out the risks, challenges and conditions for success of the plan, including:

• Organisational capacity and workforce pressures
• Dependence on digital and data improvements
• Financial pressures and affordability
• Leadership, governance, and decision making
• Organisational focus and prioritisation

The report pack also sets out how progress and impact will be tracked, including early indicators of change such as the Corporate Accommodation Strategy, the Digital Strategy, an independent data maturity review, the Management of Change toolkit and a repairs transformation new case management system.

The report pack includes appendices on the Transforming Lewisham vision and outcomes, programmes overview and external case studies and learning. The external case studies include:

• Camden Council: Resident insight and service improvement
• Swindon Borough Council: Simply Readable AI Easy-Read solution
• Tower Hamlets: Using T-Levels to address ageing workforce challenges
• North East Lincolnshire Council: Data-led asset rationalisation
• Barnsley Council: Using UPRN² to identify vulnerable individuals