This week in Greenwich:

• The Audit and Risk Management Panel reviewed the council's financial and risk management policies.

Audit and Risk Management Panel - 04 September 2024

The Audit and Risk Management Panel was scheduled to meet to review several of Royal Borough of Greenwich's financial and risk management policies, including the Annual Governance Statement 2023/24, the Strategic Risk Register, and the Internal Audit Charter 2024/25. The panel was also scheduled to note a report on the performance of the Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud team between April and June 2024. The Audit and Risk Management Panel is an independent committee of the council that scrutinises the council’s governance and financial management. It meets six times a year and has the following responsibilities:

• Reviewing the council’s financial statements and the external auditor’s report on those statements.
• Reviewing the council’s risk management framework and the effectiveness of the council’s risk management arrangements.
• Reviewing the council’s internal audit plan and the effectiveness of the council’s internal audit function.

Medium Term Financial Strategy

The panel was scheduled to consider the Royal Borough of Greenwich's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The MTFS was included as a risk because of insufficient government funding combined with inability to make savings quickly and/or safely, and also because of potential significant increase in demand led services. The report noted that the Council set a balanced budget in 2024/25, built in a risk allowance of around 10% to the budget, and is increasing the frequency with which budgets are monitored. The MTFS had previously been discussed at a meeting of the full Council on 24 July 2024, where it was noted that the Council faces a budget gap of £27 million in the 2025-26 financial year.

Demand for School Places

The panel was also scheduled to discuss the demand for school places in the Borough. The risk of insufficient school places, specifically specialist SEN school places (including residential) to meet demand was identified. Several causes of the risk were outlined including an increase in the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans) presenting with additional complex needs, insufficient central government SEND funding to meet the growing demand for school places, and delays in the delivery of capital projects and approval of new academies and free schools. The report noted that the Council is developing a whole system approach to falling rolls and demand for SEND provision and that there will be regular liaison with the Department for Education (DfE). This echoes the Planning Board's decision on 23 July 2024 to grant permission for the development of a new SEN school at the former Kidbrook Park Primary School site in Kidbrooke, which will provide 128 much-needed school places.

Cyber Security & Data Breaches

The panel was scheduled to review a report on Cyber Security & Data Breaches. The report stated that the risk is an event/attack that affects the security or availability of the council's network or associated systems, and gave several possible causes, including IT infrastructure failure, Malware/ransomware attacks, and lack of control on the activities of third parties who have access to the Council's systems. The report highlighted that there is 24/7 cyber monitoring in place, mandatory cyber security awareness training has been implemented for staff, and that a new Network Detection and Remediation service is being evaluated.

Achieving Carbon Neutral by 2030

The panel was scheduled to note that Royal Borough of Greenwich aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. The report highlighted that this is a significant risk because the estimated funding required by the council and other organisations to achieve this target is £1.6bn. The report states that all Directorates will assess the specific climate risks that could impact service delivery and develop Business Continuity Plans (BCP) to ensure continuous service delivery to residents and BCPs will be prioritised. It will be continuously updated in line with changes to climate science, delivery of services and available funds. The report also highlights that the council will issue communications to stakeholders to keep them informed and encourage action on climate change, and that Service Capacity Reviews will be carried out to assess each service's capacity to deliver their actions in the Carbon Neutral Plan.

Business Continuity, Emergency Planning

The panel was scheduled to consider Royal Borough of Greenwich's emergency planning. The report suggested that RBG’s emergency planning should ensure that it has the ability to respond when tested and that appropriate Business Continuity Plans are required to ensure that safeguards and contingency measures are in place to ensure the continuity of services following an incident. The report highlighted the Council's Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Management Strategy and noted that an annual review of this strategy was planned.

Health & Safety, Compliance and Wellbeing Procedures

The panel was scheduled to review the council's Health & Safety, Compliance and Wellbeing Procedures. It was noted in the report that there is a new Corporate Health and Safety Plan being rolled out to standardise and improve directorate controls, and that a corporate Cautionary Contact Register is being introduced to help managers reduce risk to staff when dealing with residents who pose a risk to their officers' safety. The report highlights the Council's lone worker policy and its performance dashboard on the position of Health & Safety compliance.

Key Strategic Partnerships and Supply Chain Security

The panel was scheduled to discuss the security of the council's supply chain. It was suggested in the report that in the current economic climate, the businesses the council partners with to deliver key services (including construction) are at risk of failure potentially with significant impact on outcomes for the Council and our residents. The report highlighted that new contract standing orders that enhance contract management requirements were agreed by Full Council on 26 June 2024, and that contract management training will be rolled out across the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Loss of Life and/or Injury Through Lack of Corporate Estate Building Safety

The panel was scheduled to note that a lack of or poor building maintenance of the corporate estate could result in loss of life or injury to occupiers, residents, visitors, employees or contractors. The report highlighted that DRES is using Concerto database to capture all maintenance and compliance information in one place. Significant time and resources have been invested into ensuring this system captures relevant and as far as is reasonably practicable, accurate information of the corporate estate. A dashboard has been produced and is reviewed regularly. It was also noted that leases and/or occupational agreements with third parties using corporate buildings are being reviewed and that the Council will be launching a Compliance Helpdesk and developing a building compliance dashboard.

Loss of Life and injury through lack of residential building safety

The panel was scheduled to note that the Royal Borough must ensure that Council residential properties are safe and be able to assure itself that the maintenance regime is comprehensive and effective. The report highlighted that Teams Enterprise will enable the monitoring of asbestos inspections, that the Propellor system monitors Fire Risk Assessments and that Northgate will be used for the retention of tenancy and property details. It was also noted that a shared cross boundary contract is in place with Lewisham Council to ensure fire safety work can be undertaken and that an external audit by Savills has been scheduled.

Serious Injury or Death of a Vulnerable Adult

The panel was scheduled to consider the risk of death of, or serious injury to an adult. The report noted that the Council has a comprehensive set of safeguarding procedures that are used across London and that there is a clear set of procedures in place for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. It was also noted that there is ongoing preparation work for an upcoming inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

Compliance with New Procurement Legislation

The panel was scheduled to discuss the council's compliance with new procurement legislation. The report highlighted the fact that following the UK's departure from the European Union, the Government has implemented new legislation that requires the Royal Borough of Greenwich to change how it manages procurement, including the NHS Provider Selection Regime which came into force on 01 January 2024 and The Procurement Act 2023 which comes into force on 28 October 2024. The report suggested that procurement may be delayed as a result of the implementation of the new legislation and noted that the council has purchased a new upgraded eProcurement System and is restructuring and recruiting to new posts in its Procurement Team.

Government Welfare Legislation – Impact on Service Delivery

The panel was scheduled to discuss the impact of Government Welfare Legislation on the delivery of Council services. The report highlighted the risks of increased demand on council resources and potential increases in rent arrears in all housing sectors leading to more homelessness as a result of changes in Government legislation, such as changes to the tax regime for buy to let properties, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the Home Office and Border Agency's response to the War in Ukraine.

Preventable Incident to the Wellbeing of a Child

The panel was scheduled to discuss the risk of a preventable incident to the wellbeing of a child. The report highlighted that Royal Borough of Greenwich promotes and delivers effective safeguarding of children through multi-agency working and noted that Safeguarding practice reviews, robust front door arrangements through the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), and the Ofsted Inspection Framework are helping to mitigate this risk.

Capacity-Workforce Planning

The panel was scheduled to review a report on the council's Capacity-Workforce Planning. The report highlighted that as a large multi-function organisation, the council needs to be able to deliver a diverse range of services and major projects. The report identified several potential causes of risk in this area, such as the failure to recruit, retain and develop a fit for purpose workforce, an aging workforce and lack of succession planning, and failure to deliver on equality, diversity and inclusion. The report noted that a review of the Council's Workforce Strategy is being conducted.

Government Welfare Legislation – Impact on Income Collection

The panel was scheduled to review a report on the impact of Government Welfare Legislation on the Council's ability to collect income. The report noted that the council needs to collect income from residents to maintain/meet its budget obligations to resource the delivery of Council services. The report highlighted that the council will meter and bill heat tariffs and a new collection regime and that it will be undertaking a Hardship Fund review.

Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud – Performance Report April 2024 to June 2024

Finally, the panel was scheduled to note a report on the performance of the Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud team between April and June 2024. This report contained a summary of performance against the 2024/25 Internal Audit Plan, information on anti-fraud activities undertaken during the quarter, and details of the partnership with the London Borough of Bromley for the provision of a fraud investigation service. The report highlighted that Internal Audit are reviewing the methodology by which it reports recommendation implementation to the panel.

Internal Audit Charter 2024/25

The panel was scheduled to note that the annual review of the Internal Audit Charter had been completed. The document defines the nature, role, responsibility, status and authority of Internal Audit within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It was noted that no changes to the charter were required.

The Licensing Review Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 20 August 2024 to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Greenwich Convenience Store, 100 Woolwich Road, SE10 0LE.

Licensing Review Sub-Committee - 20 August 2024

The Licensing Review Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Greenwich Convenience Store, 100 Woolwich Road, SE10 0LE. This follows a test purchase operation on 9 February 2024, when the shop sold a nicotine-based vape product to a person under the age of 18. As in a similar case heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee B on 23 July 2024, the sub-committee will need to weigh any concerns against the four licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The current application was made by Ian Andrews, Head of Trading Standards & Commercial Environmental Health of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in his capacity as a representative of the Trading Standards team. His application seeks the addition of conditions to the shop’s licence. These conditions are similar to those sought in the case heard on 23 July 2024 and mostly relate to:

• Age verification schemes
• Staff training
• Signage
• CCTV.

Licensing authorities, like Greenwich Council, are required to produce a Statement of Licensing Policy.¹ This document sets out how the authority will apply the licensing objectives when considering applications and must be reviewed every five years.

When making decisions on licensing matters, the Licensing Sub-Committee must follow a strict legal process, which gives applicants and objectors the opportunity to be heard, to ask questions, and to present evidence.

The Licensing Review Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 20 August 2024 to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Greenwich Convenience Store, 100 Woolwich Road, SE10 0LE.

Licensing Review Sub-Committee - 20 August 2024

The Licensing Review Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Greenwich Convenience Store, 100 Woolwich Road, SE10 0LE. This follows a test purchase operation on 9 February 2024, when the shop sold a nicotine-based vape product to a person under the age of 18. This is a similar case to one heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee B on 23 July 2024, where residents raised concerns about the potential for crime, disorder and public nuisance emanating from a shop seeking to extend their hours to sell alcohol 24 hours a day.

As in that case, the sub-committee will need to weigh any concerns against the four licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The current application was made by Ian Andrews, Head of Trading Standards & Commercial Environmental Health of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in his capacity as a representative of the Trading Standards team. His application seeks the addition of conditions to the shop’s licence that require it to:

• Implement the ‘Challenge 25’ scheme.
• Keep a refusals log.
• Ensure that staff are trained on their responsibilities when selling age-restricted products.
• Install CCTV.
• Install signage about the dangers of underage drinking and proxy purchasing.
• Ensure that all alcohol sold for consumption off the premises be labelled with the name of the shop.

Licensing authorities, like Greenwich Council, are required to produce a Statement of Licensing Policy.¹ This document sets out how the authority will apply the licensing objectives when considering applications and must be reviewed every five years.

When making decisions on licensing matters, the Licensing Sub-Committee must follow a strict legal process, which gives applicants and objectors the opportunity to be heard, to ask questions, and to present evidence.

The Licensing Sub-Committee B met on Monday 12 August 2024, and was scheduled to consider two licensing applications.

Licensing Sub-Committee B - 12 August 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee B was scheduled to consider two applications: the first, an application for a new licence for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises from the Charlton Post Office and Convenience Store at 10-12 Charlton Church Lane, and the second, an application to vary the premises licence of the Shell Shooters Hill petrol station to permit the sale of alcohol 24 hours a day.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new and varied Premises Licences, and for reviewing existing licences. It must ensure that the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003 are met. These are:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Licensing authorities, like Greenwich Council, are required to produce a Statement of Licensing Policy.¹ This document sets out how the authority will apply the licensing objectives when considering applications and must be reviewed every five years.

When making decisions on licensing matters, the Licensing Sub-Committee must follow a strict legal process, which gives applicants and objectors the opportunity to be heard, to ask questions, and to present evidence.

The Licensing Sub-Committee C convened on Friday 2 August 2024 to consider an application for a new premises licence and to note the memberships held by Councillors on outside bodies. The Overview & Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee met on Wednesday 31 July 2024 to consider a call-in of a decision relating to the West & East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Project. The Standards Committee met on Tuesday 30 July 2024 and noted the annual report for 2023/24 and a list of Councillors' memberships on outside bodies.

Licensing Sub-Committee C - 02 August 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee C was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for GB10 Sports Limited at 177 Footscray Road, Eltham. GB10 Sports Limited was seeking permission to supply alcohol both on and off the premises from 12:00pm until 11:00pm, seven days a week. This application is similar to one considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee B at their meeting on 23 July 2024. In that instance, the applicant for the Everyday Convenience Store in Plumstead was seeking to extend their licence to permit the sale of alcohol for 24 hours a day.

In addition to considering the application, the committee was also scheduled to consider representations made by local residents and a local Councillor. These residents raised a number of concerns, many of which related to the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance.

...music played under the licence will be audible within their homes.

The residents also raised concerns about the potential for antisocial behaviour at the site.

...antisocial behaviour linked with patrons leaving recent events...

This is similar to the concerns raised at the Licensing Sub-Committee B meeting on 23 July 2024, where residents opposing an application to vary a licence also raised concerns about the potential for crime, disorder, and public nuisance. As at that meeting, the Licensing Sub-Committee C will be required to consider the application against the four licensing objectives of the Licensing Act 2003:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Declarations of Interest

The committee was also scheduled to note the memberships held by the borough Councillors on outside bodies. These memberships are declared in accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct for Councillors. This code is based on the seven principles of public life, known as the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. The report pack included a list of all 82 outside bodies that have Councillor members. These included organisations like the Local Government Information Unit, which describes itself as:

...a think tank and leadership network focused on improving local government across the UK.

The list also included the names of the Councillors who sit on the committees of each outside body.

Overview & Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee - 31 July 2024

The Overview & Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet to consider the call-in of a decision by Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment & Transport relating to the West & East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Project – Trial Scheme. This decision relates to a series of proposed traffic calming measures in West and East Greenwich. The decision to implement a trial of the scheme was made following two public consultations: Stage 1 in 2022 and Stage 2 in 2023. This decision is similar to that relating to the redevelopment of the Kidbrook Park Primary School in Kidbrooke which, as reported in a previous email, was the subject of a planning application considered by the Planning Board at their meeting on 23 July 2024.

Councillors Matt Hartley, John Hills, Maisie Richards Cottell, Leo Fletcher and Lakshan Saldin submitted the call-in and were scheduled to be invited to the meeting to speak to the reasons they had given for making the call-in. Councillors have the right to call-in decisions made by the Cabinet if they believe that the decision has not been made in accordance with the Council's constitution, or if they believe that the decision is not in the best interests of the borough. This right is enshrined in the council's constitution, which sets out how the council operates and makes decisions. The constitution can be found on the council's website.

The called-in decision included the decision to:

“Replace hard closures with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera-enforced closures wherever feasible."

The report pack explains that this decision was taken in response to feedback received from emergency services and the council's waste services. The decision also included provisions to:

“Extend the exemptions proposed in the consultation options (emergency vehicles, refuse vehicles, taxis and Blue Badge holders who have applied for an exemption) to also incorporate: • Organisations which qualify for a Blue Badge (with a free permit); • Individual circumstance exemptions (with a free permit); and • Private Hire Vehicles." “Include part-time operation of camera controlled restrictions (such as modal filters and bus gates). These would operate: • weekdays only; and • peak hours only, between 07:00-10:00 (AM) and 3:00-7:00 (PM).”

The reasons given for the call-in related to:

• The consultation process.
• The results of that consultation.
• The impact of the proposals on surrounding areas.
• How the impacts of the scheme would be monitored.
• The need for more information to be provided to support discussion at the meeting.

In addition to the main report, the report pack also included an Addendum to Call in Report - West East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Project Trial Scheme that discussed recently released draft statutory guidance on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and its interaction with the proposals. This guidance, produced by the Department for Transport (DfT), sets out the government’s expectations for how local authorities should design and implement low traffic neighbourhoods. The guidance is not legally binding, but it is likely to be given significant weight by planning inspectors if a decision on a low traffic neighbourhood is appealed.

Declarations of Interests

The meeting report pack included a Declarations of Interest item. This item fulfils the requirements of the Council's Code of Conduct for Councillors to declare any interests that they may have in relation to the matters being discussed. This is to ensure that Councillors do not allow their personal interests to influence their decision-making. The report pack defines a relevant body as:

(a) any organisation, school governing body or outside committee or trust which they have been appointed to by the Royal Borough or by the Leader, or (b) any other voluntary organisation, school governing body or commercial organisation where you are a management committee member, school governor, trustee or director.

The report pack also explains the difference between a personal interest and a financial interest, as well as what the implications are for a Councillor who has either type of interest.

Minutes

The report pack contains the Minutes of Previous Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee meeting held on Monday 24 July 2023. The minutes are a record of the decisions made at a meeting, and they are usually published on the council's website a few days after the meeting. The meeting considered a report on the proposed direct award of a contract for upgrades to properties associated with the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.¹

Standards Committee - 30 July 2024

The Standards Committee met and noted the annual report for 2023/24. This report details the work of the Committee over the past year. The report explained that there was a statutory duty upon the Council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Members under the terms of Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011. The report highlighted the importance of the Nolan Principles in underpinning the Council’s work in promoting these high standards.

The report described the training that had been given to Councillors and stated that the Monitoring Officer would continue to identify and provide training to members. The Committee discussed whether the annual report should be forwarded to Full Council.

The Committee felt that, as the report would be going to Full Council as part of the annual report, it did not need to be a standing item for the Standards Committee to bring to Full Council.

The Committee noted that 9 complaints under the Members’ Code of Conduct had been received since the previous meeting. They also noted that none of these complaints had been sent for investigation.

The Committee noted that, due to the departure of the previous Director of Legal Services, Azuka Onuorah¹, a planned review of the Members’ Code of Conduct had been delayed. They noted that the review would be undertaken in the current year.

Declarations of Interest

The Committee noted the list of Councillors’ memberships (as Council appointed representatives) on outside bodies, joint committees and school governing bodies. The Committee noted that the list does not include bodies with which a Member is involved in a personal or private capacity.

The Licensing Sub-Committee B met on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to consider an application to vary the Premises Licence for the Everyday Convenience Store in Plumstead and to confirm the minutes of two previous meetings. The Planning Board met on the same day to consider a number of planning applications, refusing permission for a major development of 32 flats, but granting permission for the development of a new SEN school. The Cabinet met on Wednesday 24 July 2024, adopting and noting a range of reports, and deciding to continue the council's trading companies beyond March 2025. The Pension Fund Investment & Administration Panel met on Monday 22 July 2024 to confirm the minutes of their previous meeting. The Audit and Risk Management Panel met on the same day and discussed the Council's 2022/23 Annual Audit Letter and a proposal to allocate an additional £1.3m to the Future High Streets Fund programme in Woolwich. The General Purposes Committee met on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to approve a number of new policies, including one to see the Council become a ‘fostering friendly’ employer, and one to provide additional protection for staff who are subject to violence and aggression. The Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday 25 July 2024 to consider its work programme for the 2024/25 municipal year and to receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability, and Transport. Finally, the Pension Board met on Monday 22 July 2024, receiving training on auditing and accounting standards, noting a report on the performance of the Fund's investment managers, and agreeing its annual report for 2023/24. The Council met on Wednesday 24 July 2024, noting a range of financial reports, and approving the appointment of political assistants.

Licensing Sub-Committee B - 23 July 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee B met to consider an application to vary the Premises Licence for the Everyday Convenience Store on Malton Street, Plumstead. The applicant, Mrs Kumutham Parameswaran, sought permission to vary the licence to permit the sale of alcohol for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The application was opposed by four local residents who were concerned about crime, disorder, and public nuisance. The Committee also considered the minutes of two previous meetings.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new and varied Premises Licences, and for reviewing existing licences. It must ensure that the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003 are met. These are:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Licensing authorities, like Greenwich Council, are required to produce a Statement of Licensing Policy.¹ This document sets out how the authority will apply the licensing objectives when considering applications and must be reviewed every five years.

When making decisions on licensing matters, the Licensing Sub-Committee must follow a strict legal process, which gives applicants and objectors the opportunity to be heard, to ask questions, and to present evidence.

Planning Board - 23 July 2024

The Planning Board met to consider two planning applications.

The Board is a committee of the council that is responsible for making decisions on planning applications. It considers applications against the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ² and local planning policies.

The Planning Board refused planning permission for the demolition of a house at 11 Crossmead, Eltham, and the construction of a five-storey development of 32 flats in its place.

The main reasons for refusal were:

• the scale and massing of the proposed building in relation to the surrounding two-storey housing
• the impact on the amenities of the occupiers of the adjoining property
• the lack of affordable housing
• the detrimental effect on views from the nearby Tarn, a local wildlife sanctuary.

The application attracted 135 objections from local residents. The lack of affordable housing in the development was a key concern for many. The applicant's viability assessment concluded that the scheme could not viably provide any affordable housing, though this was challenged by councillors, who highlighted the importance of affordable housing in the London Plan ³, a strategic plan for the development of London. The applicant offered a commuted sum of £232,500 towards the off-site provision of affordable housing. However, this was considered to be insufficient by the board.

Another key concern for many was the impact of the development on the Tarn, which is designated as a Grade 2 Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation.⁴ Local residents argued that the development would cause overshadowing, light pollution, and increased run-off, all of which would damage biodiversity. The applicant’s ecological report concluded that the development would have little impact on the ecology of the site, though this was disputed by local residents and councillors.

Ultimately, the Planning Board voted unanimously to refuse the application.

The Planning Board granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Kidbrook Park Primary School in Kidbrooke to provide a new two-storey Special Educational Needs (SEN) school for 128 pupils.

The development, which received no objections, will meet the “growing demand and the Borough’s statutory duty to provide sufficient school places”. The school, which will achieve a 37% reduction in carbon emissions compared to building regulations, will be heated by an air source heat pump and will have solar panels. Councillor Gardner raised concerns about the provision of 57 parking spaces, in light of the council’s climate emergency declaration. The applicant’s agent explained that the school would require specialist staff who would need to travel from outside of the borough and would need to arrive at a specific time before the pupils arrive. He also committed to implementing a travel plan that would encourage staff to use public transport and to cycle. A financial contribution of £19,189 towards the Council’s carbon offset fund will be secured through a Director's Agreement.⁵

Cabinet - 24 July 2024

The Cabinet met to consider and approve a range of reports, including new strategies for Community Engagement, Children and Young People, SEND, Culture and Air Quality. It also agreed to continue the council’s two trading companies, GS Plus and Greenwich Service Solutions, beyond March 2025.

The Cabinet is the council’s main decision-making body. It is made up of the Leader of the Council and a number of other senior councillors who are each responsible for a particular area of the council’s work, known as a portfolio. Each Cabinet Member has a number of officers who work with them to develop policy, produce reports, and manage the council’s day-to-day operations. The Cabinet makes decisions in public at its Cabinet meetings, which are usually held once a month.

As well as adopting new policies and strategies, the Cabinet also approves the Council’s budget, which sets out how the Council will spend its money each year. It monitors the Council’s financial performance throughout the year, and makes decisions on how to respond to any financial challenges that may arise. The Cabinet is also responsible for overseeing the work of the council’s scrutiny committees. The scrutiny committees are responsible for scrutinising the work of the Cabinet, and for holding the Cabinet to account for its decisions.

Pension Fund Investment & Administration Panel - 22 July 2024

The Pension Fund Investment & Administration Panel met to confirm the minutes of their previous meeting, which took place on 18 March 2024.

The Pension Fund Investment & Administration Panel is a committee of the council that scrutinises the management of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Pension Fund. The Panel meets four times a year and has the following functions:

• To assist the Pension Board in ensuring that the administration of the Pension Fund is carried out effectively and efficiently.
• To make recommendations to the Pension Board on the Fund’s investment strategy.
• To monitor the performance of the Fund’s investment managers.

Audit and Risk Management Panel - 22 July 2024

The Audit and Risk Management Panel met to discuss the 2022/23 Annual Audit Letter. The Panel noted the draft Statement of Accounts 2023/24 and agreed to provide comments at a later date. The Panel also discussed a proposal to allocate an additional £1.3m to the Future High Streets Fund programme in Woolwich.

The Audit and Risk Management Panel is an independent committee of the council that scrutinises the council’s governance and financial management. It meets six times a year and has the following responsibilities:

• Reviewing the council’s financial statements and the external auditor’s report on those statements.
• Reviewing the council’s risk management framework and the effectiveness of the council’s risk management arrangements.
• Reviewing the council’s internal audit plan and the effectiveness of the council’s internal audit function.

General Purposes Committee - 24 July 2024

The General Purposes Committee met to discuss a number of new policies.

The Committee decided to implement a new policy that will see the Council become a Fostering Friendly Employer. The report discussed the high cost of using private fostering agencies and proposed that by encouraging more staff to become foster carers, the Council could reduce its reliance on these expensive agencies. The policy will provide foster carers with an extra five days of leave per year, as well as a £250 bonus for staff who refer someone who is successfully approved as a foster carer. To gain accreditation as a Fostering Friendly Employer, the Council will apply to The Fostering Network, a UK charity that provides advice and support to foster carers. The Committee also agreed to develop a communications plan to launch the policy and, at the request of Councillor Fletcher, agreed to involve foster carers in the campaign.

The Committee also approved a new policy on violence and aggression towards staff. The report recommending the change highlighted the Council’s legal responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its staff at work. Councillor Lekau welcomed the report, highlighting the prevalence of violence and aggression toward staff, particularly those who work on the frontline. The Committee also agreed to appoint Councillor Aidan Smith to two scrutiny panels.

Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel - 25 July 2024

The Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel met to discuss its work programme for the year ahead. The Panel is one of the Council’s scrutiny committees and is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability, and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning, and Housing.

The Panel’s work programme covers a range of topics, including transport, planning, and climate change. The Panel also receives regular updates from Cabinet Members and senior officers. It then makes recommendations to the Cabinet on how to improve the Council’s work in these areas.

Pension Board - 22 July 2024

The Pension Board met to discuss a range of issues.

The Pension Board is responsible for the governance and administration of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Pension Fund. The Board is made up of elected members and representatives of scheme members and employers. The Board meets four times a year, and its responsibilities include setting the Fund’s investment strategy, approving the Fund’s accounts, and appointing the Fund’s investment managers.

The Board received a presentation on auditing and accounting standards from Hymans Robertson, the Fund's investment advisors.

The Board reviewed the Draft Pension Fund Annual Report 2023/24. This report details the financial performance of the Pension Fund for the year ending 31 March 2024. The report highlights that the fund’s total assets are £1.682 billion. The Board noted that the annual report will be published in draft form by 1 December 2024 to comply with legislation. The final report will be published after it has been audited by the Fund’s external auditors.

The Board approved the Annual Report of the Local Pension Board 2023/24. The annual report details the activity of the Pension Board during the previous financial year. This included receiving training on investment performance and risk management, legislative and governance context, and financial markets and product knowledge.

Finally, the Board noted the minutes of the Pension Investment and Administration Panel meeting held on 18 March 2024 and a report on the performance of the Fund’s investment managers for the quarter ending 31 March 2024.

Council - 24 July 2024

The Council met to discuss a range of reports, including the Annual Audit Letter 2022-2023 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-26 update.

The Council is the borough’s main decision-making body. It is made up of 55 elected Councillors, who are responsible for setting the Council’s overall strategy, approving the Council’s budget, and holding the Cabinet to account. Full Council meetings usually take place six times per year.

The Council noted the Annual Audit Letter 2022-2023 from Grant Thornton, the Council’s external auditor. The audit found that the council had two significant weaknesses in its financial management arrangements. The first weakness related to the Council’s financial sustainability and the second weakness related to the Council’s economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The Council approved the adoption of a new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule. The CIL is a planning charge that local authorities can choose to impose on new developments in their area. The money raised through the CIL is used to fund the infrastructure that is needed to support new development, such as new roads, schools and community facilities. The new CIL charging schedule will see higher rates being charged for development, and more types of development will be included within the scope of the Levy.

The Council also debated and then approved a motion to approve the appointment of political assistants for both the majority and the opposition political groups on the council. The report recommending the change argued that political assistants could improve the effectiveness of joint working between Councillors and Officers. Councillor O’Keeffe, the Labour Leader of the Council argued that the decision would “support us in making this Council sharper and more able to deliver.” Councillor Hartley, the Conservative Leader of the Opposition proposed an amendment to defer the decision, arguing that the principle of political assistants was “completely unjustified”. Councillor Hartley also argued that the report’s claim that political assistants had been recommended by the LGA was a falsehood. Councillor O’Keeffe responded by saying that he “can’t speak for any document that Councillor Hartley has” but said that the LGA recommendations had given the Council the opportunity to “shine a light on ourselves and think about how we reform this Council to continue to deliver for our residents.”

Councillor Hartley’s amendment was defeated, and the motion was passed.

Councillor Masi Raman was appointed as the new Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal, and Development. Councillor Raman replaced Councillor Aiden Smith who is stepping down from the role to take up a new job.

Finally, the Council noted the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-26 update, which showed that the Council faces a budget gap of £27 million in the 2025-26 financial year, and outlined plans to make savings of £33 million to close the gap.

The Greenwich council held 3 meetings in the last week.

Audit and Risk Management Panel

The Audit and Risk Management Panel met on Wednesday 17 July 2024. This is a committee of the council that provides independent assurance that the council’s financial controls, policies and procedures are working effectively.

The Panel discussed a range of financial oversight functions and green initiatives. The Panel noted updates on the Internal Audit ¹ and Anti-Fraud plan, reviewed the Council’s external audit, and discussed a new green investment scheme. The Panel's work echoes that of the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel meeting that took place on 9 July 2024, which also considered the council's finances, noting a decline in reserves.

Community Municipal Investment and Green Finance Framework

The Panel reviewed and noted the Council’s plans to launch a green Community Municipal Investment (CMI) in partnership with Abundance Investment. The CMI scheme will invite residents to invest in council projects via an online crowdfunding platform. The money will be used to fund projects that:

• Reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
• Generate cost savings. The Panel also noted the Draft Royal Borough of Greenwich Green Finance Framework, which is a document that sets out the overarching criteria and guidelines as to how the council will issue and manage the CMI. The Council intends to apply to become a signatory to the Local Climate Bond Pledge of the Green Finance Institute (GFI) prior to launching the CMI in September 2024.

Schools Forum

The Schools Forum met on Wednesday 17 July 2024. This forum is made up of elected councillors, headteachers, and representatives of the local authority and governing bodies. It advises the council on the allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), the funding that the government gives councils to fund schools.

The forum was asked to note a predicted overspend on High Needs of £2,739,000 for the 2023-24 financial year. This follows an overspend of £460,000 for the year 2022-23, meaning that there is a £3,200,000 accumulated deficit in the High Needs block. Despite the overspend, the total DSG for 2023-24 is predicted to be £1,476,000 over its allocation, with Early Years underspending by £1,263,000.

High Needs Block

The Forum heard that officers in Children’s Services, in conjuction with finance officers are undertaking an ongoing review of the High Needs Block. This is to understand the reasons for the overspend, and will involve a data cleanse and review of the banding arrangements for allocating High Needs funding. Officers expect this to be complete by Autumn 2024.

Academy Conversions

The forum was asked to approve an increase in the fixed fee the council charges schools to convert to academy status. This was discussed in the context of a report on the financial health of maintained schools that stated that

The overall level of Schools reserves has decreased from £8.89m to £7.67m in 2023-24.

The increase in fees was proposed because, while

The decision to issue an academy order is binding on the Council... there is no dedicated academies team within the Council.

The forum heard that this lack of a dedicated team means that officers in other departments are often required to help schools to convert, while still fulfilling their normal duties. The report also mentioned the use of external legal services to support the conversion process. In the case of Kidbrooke Park Primary School, which became an academy in October 2023, the forum heard that external legal fees alone totalled £130,000.

The forum was asked to approve an increase in the fixed fee from £7,000 to £15,000. The report stated that

Although this is unlikely to adequately cover Council's associated expenses, it is expected that this should be sufficient to cover the legal costs for non-complex academy conversions.

Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel

The Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday 18 July 2024. This panel scrutinises the work of the council's Organisation and Communities directorate. This is the part of the council responsible for things like housing, planning, and environmental health. The panel is made up of elected councillors, and its role is to hold the council's leadership to account.

This meeting received an update from the Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value, and considered the Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel’s work programme for the 2024/25 municipal year. The Panel noted the future reports schedule and considered the scope of future reports.

Work Programme Schedule 2024-2025

The Panel noted the proposed schedule of topics for its future meetings in the 2024/25 municipal year. This will see it scrutinising the performance of the Council's Freedom of Information Act requests process at its meeting on 21st November 2024. This Act gives members of the public the right to request information held by public bodies.

The Local Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 16 July 2024. However, no transcript or recording of the meeting is available.

The Greenwich council held 4 meetings in the last week.

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday 11 July 2024. The Panel heard a report about the challenging financial situation facing adult social care in Greenwich. The council’s own figures predict a funding gap of £14.4 million by 2027, as demand for care rises, and funding from central government is cut. The report discussed plans to reduce the number of people in residential care by providing more care in people's homes, and to reduce the cost of care by negotiating lower prices with care providers. Councillors will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the situation in Northamptonshire, where the County Council effectively declared bankruptcy in 2018.

The panel also heard a presentation about a new scheme providing treatment for Musculoskeletal problems. Musculoskeletal problems are injuries or pain in the body's joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs, neck and back. They are the biggest cause of sickness absence in the UK. The new scheme will see the council working with private health provider Circle Health Group to provide residents with new treatments.

Licensing Sub-Committee C

The Licensing Sub-Committee C met on Monday 08 July 2024 to consider two applications for funding from The Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund. This fund provides grants of up to £10,000 to support community projects.

The committee approved two grants: £9,840 to GB10 Sports Ltd to support their work coaching young people, and £9,999.90 to Greenwich Hospital Market to support their series of markets in Cutty Sark Gardens.

Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel

The Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel met on Tuesday 09 July 2024. Councillors discussed the future of the borough’s garage sites, and whether some of them could be used to build new homes. The council currently lets out around 60% of its 1862 garages across 585 sites. The report considered by the panel suggests that the sites could accommodate up to 400 new homes, though any development would be subject to planning permission.

The panel also agreed their work programme for the coming year, choosing to prioritise a review of the estate regeneration process. Estate regeneration is the process of demolishing and rebuilding existing council estates, and has proved controversial in some London boroughs, with residents of the Aylesbury Estate in Southwark campaigning against their estate’s regeneration for many years.

Blackheath Joint Working Party

The Blackheath Joint Working Party was also scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but no information is available about what was discussed during the meeting, nor is there any information about the duties of the committee.