This week in Lewisham:

• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Call-In) was cancelled.
• The Governance Committee considered proposed changes to the council’s constitution and to polling districts.
• The Strategic Planning Committee meeting was cancelled.

Governance Committee - Wednesday 18 December 2024

The Governance Committee of Lewisham Council met on 18 December 2024. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the possible adoption of a number of proposed changes to the council's constitution, as well as the council's recently completed review of polling districts and places.

Review of Polling Districts and Places

Councillors were asked to consider and make recommendations on the Returning Officer's initial proposals for changes to polling districts and places, ahead of the publication of the final proposals on 10 January 2025.

The report from Electoral Services provided an overview of the proposed changes to the polling scheme in each ward, and sought feedback on any concerns raised in the representations.

The council is required to undertake a statutory review of polling districts and polling places every 5 years.

The last review was in 2021, and the current review began on 13 September 2024.

Each ward was listed in the report, along with a summary of the reasoning behind the proposed changes.

The full list of proposals, which were not included as part of this article, included maps and other supporting documentation.

Constitutional Update

The main item on the agenda was a report from the council's Monitoring Officer on a number of proposed changes to the council's constitution.

The Constitution is the document that governs how the Council makes decisions, how scrutiny operates, how the public engages with the Council and how the Council operates.

The proposed amendments relate to the following areas:

Senior Management Structure

It was proposed that an organisational chart be added to the constitution, to more clearly set out the reporting structure of the most senior officers in the council.

Scrutiny Executive Protocol

The council adopted a new Scrutiny Executive Protocol in March 2022 and this was proposed to be appended to the constitution, along with a reference to the protocol being added to article 6 of the main constitution document.

Scrutiny of health matters

Councillors were asked to consider a number of minor changes to the wording of the constitution to remove references to the now defunct right of councils to refer certain health matters to the Secretary of State.

Scheme of Delegation

The report explained that a number of inconsistencies had arisen between the council's actual management structure and the documented scheme of delegation. For example:

the schemes include authority given to the Executive Director of Community Services, a role that no longer exists.

Councillors were asked to note that the Monitoring Officer was seeking approval to make changes to the Scheme of Delegation to reflect the current management structure of the Council.

The report also proposed to clarify the process that should be followed if the Monitoring Officer needed to make immediate changes to the scheme of delegation:

This provision shall not apply where in the professional opinion of the Monitoring Officer the Constitution requires amendment without delay.

Deputations

The report noted that the constitution, in its current form, allows members of the public to make deputations to committees. It was proposed that all references to deputations be removed from the council's constitution.

Substitutes

Currently the council's constitution only allows for substitute members to be appointed in a limited number of situations. It was proposed to allow substitutes to be appointed to many more committees, including all planning committees, all licensing sub-committees, the governance committee and the standards committee.

It was proposed that for all committees where substitutes were allowed:

2 substitute members for each group to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.

Council meetings during any Pre-election Publicity Period

It was proposed to add a new rule to the constitution that would mean that, during any pre-election period:

The meeting will only consider reports relating to the decisions needed that necessitated the calling of the meeting

Future Work Programme

The Monitoring Officer set out an indicative timetable for a full review of the constitution to be completed in time for the next Annual General Meeting of the council, scheduled for 7 May 2025.

The report explained that this holistic review was requested by the Monitoring Officer and the Mayor of Lewisham, in consultation with other senior officers and councillors.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Pension Board noted updates on training, administration and the Pension Regulator's General Code of Practice.
• The Planning Committee A granted planning permission for eight new homes at 27 Longton Avenue, Sydenham and for a mixed-use development of eight flats at 52 Deptford Broadway
• The Standards Committee discussed the appointment of councillors to its sub-committees, training requirements for committee members, and a new model code of conduct published by the Local Government Association (LGA).
• The Appointments Committee met on Thursday 12 December 2024 but no details about the meeting were published
• The Audit and Risk Committee discussed a number of reports, including external and internal audit updates and the Corporate Risk Register
• The Licensing Committee refused an application to vary the Premises Licence for Meta Fried Chicken & Pizza at 640 Downham Way
• The Lewisham Schools Forum discuseds the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund, and the High Needs Block.
• The Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee received an update on the performance of the joint PFI contract for street lighting in both boroughs.

Pension Board

The Pension Board met to discuss a variety of matters relating to the Lewisham Pension Fund. This included receiving updates on compliance with the Pension Regulator’s General Code of Practice, the administration of the Fund, and the procurement of new actuarial services. The board also noted a draft of the Pension Fund’s Annual Report for 2023/24, and agreed that the Council should review the style, structure and content of the report for next year.

The board was provided with an update on the activity of the Pensions team. This included an update on the transfer of 450 staff from Lewisham Homes to the Council, the completion of the 2024 Annual Benefit Statements, and the purchase of the Heywood ISP service in preparation for the Pensions Dashboard.

The Board moved into closed session to consider the General Update - Part Two report, which was not included in the public papers.

Planning Committee A

The Planning Committee A met to discuss two applications for planning permission. The committee voted to grant planning permission for a proposal to demolish an existing house and build eight maisonettes at 27 Longton Avenue in Sydenham. They also voted to grant planning permission for a proposal for a mixed-use development including a shop and eight flats at 52 Deptford Broadway.

You may recall that the committee considered a similar proposal to demolish an existing house at 27 Longton Avenue in 2020.

The application to build flats at 52 Deptford Broadway received objections from local residents and the Deptford Society, an amenity society that campaigns to preserve the Deptford High Street & St Pauls Conservation Area. They objected on the grounds that the proposal was out of character with the area, and would cause harm to the setting of nearby listed buildings. The committee decided that this harm was ‘less than substantial’ and approved the scheme.

Standards Committee

This meeting of the Standards Committee was scheduled to discuss a number of different matters relating to the conduct of councillors. The committee was scheduled to receive an update on recent complaints made under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. It was also scheduled to receive a report about a new Model Code of Conduct that has been published by the LGA, in response to recommendations made in their Local Government Ethical Standards Report 2019.

The new code is intended to enhance the consistency and quality of local authority codes of conduct. It is not mandatory, but the report recommends that the Standards Committee consider adopting it.

Finally, the committee was scheduled to discuss a report on its future programme of work. The report recommended that the committee undertake a “formal consideration of the Model Code of Conduct” at its next meeting, and consider any changes to the existing code in time for the Council AGM in May 2025.

Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee met to discuss the performance of the Council's Internal Audit function, external audit updates, and to approve the new Internal Audit Charter. The Committee received verbal updates from KPMG, the Council’s external auditors, on the progress of the 2023/24 audit of the Council’s accounts, and the Value for Money (VFM) audit. The VFM audit identified two significant risks in relation to the Council's Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The first was that the HRA budget was overspent by £6.1m in 2023/24, and that the current HRA reserve stood at £7.4m. The second was in relation to the Council’s governance of its housing stock, following its self-referral to the Regulator of Social Housing in December 2023.

Licensing Committee

The Licensing Committee met to consider an application from Meta Fried Chicken & Pizza to vary their Premises Licence. The applicant sought permission to sell alcohol off the premises from 11am until 1:30am Sunday to Thursday and 11am until 2am Friday to Saturday.

The committee received representations from the Metropolitan Police and a local resident. The Police Licensing Officer said that he could not support the application because “Downham Way is a very busy road and a highly residential area many shops have residential flats above it and surrounded by other residential premises”. He also highlighted concerns about the potential for street drinking and anti-social behaviour, saying that “the local Safer Neighbourhood Team currently have an issue with anti-social behaviour in Grove Park and part of this is coming from street drinkers. They are hanging around the local shops and train station drinking, begging and causing anti-social behaviour in general”.

The committee voted to refuse the application, arguing that:

“Although the area has a lot of business premises there are residential premises above the shops and are surrounded by residential premises. Allowing this shop to sell alcohol will only increase the amount of reported incidents caused by unruly drunkenness and force residents to remain in their properties.”

Lewisham Schools Forum

The Lewisham Schools Forum met on Thursday 12 December 2024 and was scheduled to discuss a variety of issues relating to the funding of schools in the borough.

The Forum was scheduled to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which is the main source of funding for schools.

The Forum was also scheduled to discuss the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF).

The report recommended that the Forum adopt a new approach to allocating funding from the SENIF from September 2025 onwards. This would involve dividing the funding into three bands, with funding allocated to each band based on the level of need amongst children accessing the funding. The report also proposed transferring £200,000 from the DSG high needs block to cover the costs of the new model.

Finally, the forum was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the High Needs Block. This is the funding that is used to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee

The Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee met to receive an update on the performance of the PFI contract for maintaining street lighting in both Croydon and Lewisham. The report to the committee described the performance of the contractor as good, noting that the installation of LED street lighting had reduced CO2 emissions by 65% over 7 years. The committee was scheduled to note the performance of the contractor and approve budgets for the coming year.

The committee was also scheduled to appoint a new Chair and Vice Chair.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Appointments Committee met on Tuesday 03 December 2024 and appointed a new Director of Strategy, Transformation, Equalities and Performance.
• The Mayor and Cabinet discussed a wide range of topics at their meeting on Wednesday 04 December 2024 including the procurement of a new framework for services for adults with learning disabilities, a revised Sustainable Streets Programme, the award of the Primary Care Recovery Service contract to the Humankind Charity, and a proposal to procure a new Leisure Management contract.

Appointments Committee - Tuesday 03 December 2024

This meeting of the Appointments Committee considered the appointment of a new Director of Strategy, Transformation, Equalities and Performance, before voting to approve the minutes of their meeting on 09 September 2024. The meeting agenda also included the election of a new chair, but no information about this is included in the minutes.

Appointment of Director of Strategy, Transformation, Equalities and Performance

The most significant item on the meeting agenda was the appointment of a new Director of Strategy, Transformation, Equalities and Performance. This is a senior role within the council, with responsibility for developing and implementing the council’s overall strategy. Before making the appointment, the committee voted to exclude the press and public from the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

The committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 09 September 2024. As always, the minutes of this meeting do not include any information about what was discussed during the closed session.

Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday 04 December 2024

This meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet covered a broad range of topics, with reports about adult social care, housing, economic development, parking charges, leisure centres and the council’s finances.

Building for Lewisham (BfL) - Procurement Strategy and Programme Update

The report pack included a proposal to procure an investment partner to help deliver its major housing developments, such as the Achilles Street regeneration and Thomas Lane Yard. This would mean establishing a longer-term relationship with a single contractor, for the delivery of pre-contract design services and for construction works. The report pack also advised that the Council had submitted a bid for additional grant funding from the London Estate Regeneration Fund.¹

Procurement of a new framework agreement for the provision of services to adults with learning disabilities

The meeting was also scheduled to include the proposed procurement of a new framework agreement for services for adults with learning disabilities. The framework agreement would run for four years from 1 October 2025 and would cover the procurement of supported living services for adults with learning disabilities. The report pack explains that the framework will provide an overarching agreement with potential suppliers to establish general terms and conditions governing supported living contracts during the life of the Framework. It also estimates that the total value of the subsequent call-off contracts from the Framework will be £49.2m over the four year framework period.

Catford and Crofton Park review and revised Sustainable Streets Programme

The meeting included the proposed revision and expansion of the Sustainable Streets Programme across the Borough and the expansion of existing Controlled Parking Zones. This was informed by a range of public consultations undertaken over a two year period to promote and encourage active travel, to create safer roads and to improve the public realm, as part of a programme of measures to deliver net-zero carbon in the Borough by 2030. The report pack explains that the proposed policy will convert all ‘limited waiting’ parking bays into ‘short term pay to park’ bays to ensure that these are not misused, and that a multi-vehicle ownership levy will be introduced for resident parking permit holders to incentivise the transition to car-free living. The report pack also sets out the need for the expansion of the Sustainable Streets measures in Honor Oak to Tatnell Road, Lessing Street, Grierson Road, Gabriel Street, Honor Oak Park, and Riseldine Road. It further proposes the amendment of the programme's Implementation Procedure to allow officers to directly review, consult, and implement or amend parking restrictions within clusters of up to four streets to respond more efficiently to requests to deliver the programme.

Permission to procure a 15-year Leisure Management Contract

Finally, the report pack included a proposal to approve the procurement of a new Leisure Management contract for all of Lewisham’s leisure centres. The contract is intended to commence on 1 April 2026 and run for 15 years. This is intended to replace the current contract, operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (trading as ‘Better’), which expires on 31 March 2026.

The report pack also suggests that the Council considered bringing the service in-house, but that the Leisure Consultants FMG advised against it, on the grounds that it would significantly increase costs.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Public Accounts Select Committee met on Thursday 28 November 2024.
• The Sydenham Assembly met on Friday 29 November 2024.
• The Brent, Lewisham and Southwark IT Committee met on Tuesday 26 November 2024 to discuss the performance of the Shared Technology Service and its Cyber Security arrangements.
• The Licensing Committee met on Tuesday 26 November 2024 and granted a new licence to China Ark Market and granted a late night refreshment licence to Savalan Kebab.
• The Planning Committee B met on Tuesday 26 November 2024 and approved the demolition of a house and the construction of seven flats on Lowther Hill, as well as the part-retrospective conversion and extension of a building on New Cross Road to a 14-room HMO.
• The Council met on Wednesday 27 November 2024 and considered a motion affirming the Labour Group's commitment to tackling the climate emergency, as well as the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report, and a report on Members' Allowances.
• The Downham Assembly met on Tuesday 26 November 2024.

Brent, Lewisham and Southwark IT Committee - Tuesday 26 November 2024

This meeting was a meeting of the Joint IT Committee, a committee that oversees the shared IT service of Brent, Lewisham and Southwark Councils, known as Shared Technology Services (STS). Two reports were scheduled to be discussed: an update on the performance of the Shared Technology Service, and an update on the Cyber Security status, threats, and mitigations identified in relation to the Shared Technology Services.

Shared Technology Service Update

The report pack included for discussion an update on the performance of the Shared Technology Service.

The report provides an update on the performance of the service in several key areas.

The report states that the Shared Technology Service has:

• seen a drop in its Service Level Agreement performance, meaning it is meeting its targets for resolving IT problems less often
• made progress migrating Brent and Lewisham to a new mobile phone provider
• finished migrating all servers that were due to move from the old VMware environment to the new Nutanix system
• awarded the Laptop Refresh contract to CDW
• begun pilot schemes in Brent and the London Borough of Greenwich to migrate laptop management to Microsoft Intune
• awarded the Managed Security Operations Centre contract via the government's G-Cloud framework
• begun work on the procurement of its Service Desk Telephone Support

The report also details the performance of each of the council's IT services. In particular it mentions:

• that eight priority one incidents occurred in this reporting period, two of which were not resolved within the target time

  In this reporting period (July 2024 to October 2024), there were eight P1 incidents related to STS infrastructure, six of which were resolved within SLA.

• that the volume of calls is growing, due in part to an increase in the number of staff that are using the service, and in part to the age of their laptops

• that, as part of its programme of continuous improvement, the service is trialling a new way for staff to ask for help from the on-site team, and is looking at improving the induction process for new starters. It is also planning to buy a new, more comprehensive IVR system¹

  Shared Technology Service Cyber Security Update Report

  The report pack includes an update on the Cyber Security status, threats, and mitigations identified in relation to the Shared Technology Services.

The report provides an update on the Shared Technology Service's cyber security arrangements.

The report states that:

• Shared Technology Services is preparing to present its Cyber Security Strategy to the Joint Committee in its next meeting.
• Shared Technology Services has been working with Crowdstrike on their identity protection tool.

The report pack also includes the minutes from the previous meeting of the committee, which was held on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

The minutes record that the Committee:

• noted the Shared Technology Service's performance
• noted that the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI), an organisation set up by the London Councils group to share best practice in the use of digital technologies, was in the process of benchmarking Shared Technology Services against other local authority IT services
• requested a report on the procurement process for the laptop refresh project
• requested a report on the Shared Technology Service's approach to using biometrics as a security feature² The minutes also state that, before moving into closed session, the Committee considered a report on the Shared Technology Service's Cyber Security status, threats, and mitigations. The minutes do not reveal the contents of this report.

Licensing Committee - Tuesday 26 November 2024

The Licensing Committee of Lewisham Council met on 26 November 2024 and agreed to confirm the minutes of their meetings on 26 March and 19 September 2024.

Application for a new licence for China Ark Market, Unit K Gothenburg Court, Bailey Street SE8 5EY

Asian Food CW Ltd applied for a new Premises Licence¹ for China Ark Market at Unit K Gothenburg Court, Bailey Street, SE8 5EY. The application was for permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Two objections to the application were received from local residents, citing concerns about public nuisance, public safety, and the protection of children from harm. The residents also pointed out that there was an open case with the council about the conduct of the business.

I am writing to formally object to the alcohol licence application... As a resident of this building, I have significant concerns that granting this licence would further disrupt the peace of the local community and adversely affect the well-being of the residents. My objections are based on the following licensing objectives:

1. Prevention of Public Nuisance
2. Public Safety
3. Protection of Children from Harm ... I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the shop in question has already demonstrated a lack of care for local residents and their concerns. There is an open case with the council (Acolaid Case ENF/24/00067), which highlights previous issues with the shop's conduct and their disregard for the well-being of the local community. This ongoing case should be taken into consideration as evidence that the shop has failed to act responsibly towards residents, further supporting the argument that granting them an alcohol licence would not be in the best interests of the neighbourhood.

The Metropolitan Police also made a representation about the application.

After discussions between the applicant, the police and the council officers, the Metropolitan Police withdrew their objection, and a number of conditions were placed on the Licence. These included that CCTV must be in operation at the premises, that a challenge 25 scheme must be in place, that all staff must receive regular training on preventing the sale of alcohol to minors, that no super-strength alcohol can be sold and that notices asking customers to leave the area quietly must be displayed.

Savalan Kebab, 289 Sydenham Road, SE26 5EW

The committee considered an application by Admitat Ltd for a new Premises Licence for Savalan Kebab at 289 Sydenham Road, SE26 5EW. The application was for permission to serve late night refreshment² from 11pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday, and from 11pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday. The meeting heard from Mr Luke Elford, a representative of the applicant, who stated that this was a small business that had been operating without problems, and that the application was to allow them to trade for extended hours. He argued that there was no evidence to suggest that the applicant would be unable to uphold the four licensing objectives.

Councillor Chris Best, who represents the Sydenham ward in which the business is located, spoke at the meeting in opposition to the application. Councillor Best argued that the extended opening hours would increase noise and anti-social behaviour in the area. She also expressed concern about the potential for the premises to become a magnet for street drinkers, and noted that there had been a recent stabbing in the area. She stated that:

Residents who live above takeaways have a good rapport with traders because they have lived there for a number of years. Late night trading would bring more noise and anti-social behaviour and residents did not have confidence that this could be managed.

After hearing from both parties, the committee went into private session to reach a decision.

The committee decided to grant the application but limited the terminal hour to midnight Sunday to Thursday. The Licence was also subject to a number of conditions, including the production of an external management plan to address the concerns raised by Councillor Best.

The committee explained its decision in a letter to the applicant.

The Licence Committee has decided to grant the Premises Licence subject to the following: a. The hours permitted for the provision of late-night refreshments approved by the Licensing Committee are Sundays to Thursdays from 23:00 hours to 00:00 hours and Fridays and Saturdays from 23:00 hours to 01:00 hours. b. All conditions offered in Part M of the application and the conditions agreed with the Licensing Authority, as responsible authority, to attach to the Premises Licence. c. The additional condition offered in the Applicants written submissions, relating to the External Management Plan, shall also attach to the Premises Licence...

Planning Committee B - Tuesday 26 November 2024

The Planning Committee B of Lewisham Council met on 26 November 2024 and approved two planning applications.

Council - Wednesday 27 November 2024

The most recent meeting of the full Council of Lewisham Council included a motion affirming the commitment of the Labour Group to addressing the climate emergency and included a review of the activities of the council's Overview and Scrutiny committees.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Wednesday 20 November 2024 and approved the publication of a supplementary statement to the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for Lewisham.
• The Pensions Investment Committee met on Wednesday 20 November 2024 and agreed changes to the Lewisham Pension Fund's Responsible Investment Beliefs Statement to address concerns about investments in companies involved in the arms trade and human rights abuses.
• The Children and Young People Select Committee met on Thursday 21 November 2024 and discussed proposed budget reductions to address the council's projected £36 million overspend.
• The Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) was scheduled to discuss the provision of religious education in Lewisham's schools at its meeting on Wednesday 20 November 2024.
• The Housing Select Committee approved an average rent increase of 2.7% for council tenants in Lewisham, as well as significant increases to service charges at its meeting on Thursday 21 November 2024.
• The Healthier Communities Select Committee received updates on progress towards developing Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in Lewisham and on the performance of the Council’s Physical Activity Strategy at its meeting on Tuesday 19 November 2024.

Health and Wellbeing Board - Wednesday 20 November 2024

The Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss a range of issues, including a new protocol for joint working between housing, health and adult social care services, an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), and a report on the progress of the new Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Councillor Paul Bell raised concerns about the draft Housing, Health and Adult Social Care Joint Working Protocol, and its lack of focus on the needs of rough sleepers. The Director of Housing for Lewisham Council responded, explaining that rough sleepers are supported by the council’s Rough Sleeping Initiative.

Pensions Investment Committee - Wednesday 20 November 2024

The Pensions Investment Committee met to discuss a range of issues relating to the Lewisham Pension Fund, including its investments in companies involved in the arms trade and human rights abuses, its approach to climate change, and the performance of the Fund's administrators.

This was a significant meeting for the council, as it considered how the Lewisham Pension Fund can meet its responsibilities to both its members and to the wider community.

Pension Fund review of restrictions and exclusions

The most significant topic on the agenda was the review of the Fund’s restrictions and exclusions policy. This discussion was in response to a motion tabled at the previous meeting by Councillor Tauseef Anwar, calling for the Fund to review its investments in companies involved in the arms trade, human rights abuses, and those operating in occupied territories. The motion also asked the committee to agree on a definition of the arms trade for the purposes of the Fund’s investment policy.

The committee received a report from Hymans Robertson, the Council’s pension advisors, which showed that the Fund had limited exposure to these types of investments. The report noted that the Fund had very low exposure to the defence sector, with just two companies comprising 0.01% of the Fund's total assets.

However, despite the report’s findings, the Committee agreed to strengthen the Fund’s existing Responsible Investment Beliefs Statement, with a new commitment to exclude companies involved in controversial weapons, human rights abuses and any company with significant operations within an area considered occupied territory under international law. The Committee also agreed to a new belief relating to investments in tobacco, pornography and gambling.

Transition to Net Zero

The Committee also received a report on the Lewisham Pension Fund’s progress towards achieving its target of net zero emissions by 2050. The report highlighted the progress made in reducing emissions from the Fund's investments, but noted that further action will be needed to meet the 2050 target.

Children and Young People Select Committee - Thursday 21 November 2024

The Children and Young People Select Committee received reports on a range of matters relating to children’s services in Lewisham. This included reports on the performance of Lewisham’s schools, its services for children missing education, and its Youth Justice Service.

The Committee also considered the Council’s proposed budget reductions for 2025-26, and provided feedback on how these proposals might impact on children and young people in the borough. The report pack revealed that, in order to balance its budget, Lewisham Council is facing having to make savings of £25 million.

Housing Select Committee - Thursday 21 November 2024

This meeting of the Housing Select Committee included a presentation of the Council’s draft Housing Retrofit Strategy, a discussion about the budget for 2025/26, and consideration of a report from the Local Government Ombudsman. The committee approved rent increases of 2.7% for council tenants.

Healthier Communities Select Committee - Tuesday 19 November 2024

This meeting of the Healthier Communities Select Committee included presentations on three different aspects of the Council’s work. It is important to note that the information included in this summary is based on documents that were prepared for the meeting but were not part of the meeting itself. As such, this article describes what was scheduled to be discussed in the meeting, not what was actually discussed or decided.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee discussed proposed budget cuts at their meeting on Wednesday 13 November 2024.
• The Appointments Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 14 November 2024 was cancelled.
• The Sustainable Development Select Committee discussed budget cuts, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and active travel on Thursday 14 November 2024.

Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - Wednesday 13 November 2024

This meeting of the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee considered draft budget proposals for 2025/26. The committee also received reports on the Main Grants Programme, the Library and Information Service and reviewed their work programme.

Budget Savings 2025/26

This was the most significant topic scheduled to be discussed during the meeting. The committee received a report on proposals for cost savings and budget reductions across the council. The report pack for the meeting includes a number of proposed cost savings to address the council's overspend, and the projected budget shortfall of £20 million. This echoes similar concerns raised in previous weeks about the performance of some council services.

Five proposals to reduce the General Fund Budget that fall within the remit of this committee were considered:

• CX06 – People and Organisation Development Savings Proposal: This would reduce the People and Organisation Development team's budget for 2024/25 by £166,000. For 2025/26 and onwards, a further £100,000 of savings are proposed.

• P01 – Ending the Funding for the Council run Assembly Programme: This proposal would see all funded and officer supported Assembly¹ functions cease, delivering annual savings of £203,000.

  Assemblies are a commitment in the Council’s Constitution. The Constitution states: “The Council has established a consultative network of [nineteen] local assemblies. Though they are not decision-making bodies, the local assemblies are an important consultative mechanism and provide a conduit to the Council and other public service providers through which the local community can prioritise local issues and advise the Council, including on the determination of the locality funding.”

• P02 – Centralisation of back-office functions for Adult Learning Lewisham and the Library and Information Service: The proposal is to centralise back office functions for both the Library and Information Service and Adult Learning Lewisham, delivering savings of £211,472.

• P03 – Reduced Leisure Concessions: Savings of £80,000 per year are proposed by reducing the discount on leisure centre memberships and sessional activities offered to residents under the Be Active programme.

• P05 – Reduction to the Main Grants Programme: This would see a reduction of £217,000 from the budget for the Main Grants Programme. The reduction would be applied from 1 April 2026.

Main Grants Programme Impact Report

The committee received a report reviewing the impact of the Main Grants Programme 2022-2025 in its second year of delivery.

Library and Information Service – Annual Report

The committee considered the performance of the Library and Information service in the last 12 months.

Select Committee Work Programme Report

The committee reviewed their work programme for 2024/25.

Sustainable Development Select Committee - Thursday 14 November 2024

The Sustainable Development Select Committee received reports on budget cuts, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and active travel.

Budget Savings

The Sustainable Development Select Committee was asked to review and provide comment on proposals for cost savings and budget reductions across the council.

Two proposals were considered within the scope of the Sustainable Development Select Committee:

• Parking Services – Additional Yellow Box Junction Enforcement & Moving Traffic Contravention by CCTV: This proposal would see capital investment in an additional fifteen CCTV cameras to monitor ten yellow box junctions and five moving traffic contraventions across the borough.
• EV Charging Points / Stations: This proposal suggests using land owned by the council to install electric vehicle charging points.

The report pack additionally highlights eight proposed cost savings that will need to be approved by the Mayor and Cabinet. One of these relates directly to the Sustainable Development Select Committee:

• Ending the Funding for the Council run Assembly Programme: This proposal suggests ending the council's funding for its Assembly Programme¹ and deleting the eight staff posts associated with it. The report notes that assemblies are a commitment in the council's constitution.

CIL Charging Schedule Review

The Sustainable Development Select Committee received an update on the process to review and update the Lewisham CIL Charging Schedule.

Active Travel Update

The Sustainable Development Select Committee received an update on the active travel schemes currently being delivered or in development within the borough.

The report provides data on the use of the dockless bike scheme operated in the borough by Lime.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee was scheduled to receive a performance update on their Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contractor for maintaining street lighting in both Croydon and Lewisham.
• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed anti-social behaviour (ASB), community-led housing and the Mayor's response to adopting a 'trauma-informed approach' to delivering council services on Tuesday 05 November 2024.

Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee - Tuesday 05 November 2024

The Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the performance of their Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contractor. A new Chair and Vice Chair for the committee were also scheduled to be appointed.

Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting PFI 2024/25 Update

The Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting Joint Committee was scheduled to receive a report describing the performance of the PFI contractor that maintains street lighting in the boroughs of Croydon and Lewisham.

PFI contracts are a way for the public sector to pay for major infrastructure projects like schools, hospitals and roads. Under a PFI, a private sector company designs, builds, finances and operates the project for a set period of time, typically 25-30 years. The public sector then pays the private sector company a monthly fee for the use of the facility.

The use of PFIs by local councils has been controversial, with critics arguing that they are poor value for money. In recent years, the government has moved away from using PFIs to fund new projects. However, many local authorities are still tied into long-term PFI contracts that were signed in the past.

The report, titled The Joint Street Lighting PFI Update and prepared by John Algar, the Street Lighting Manager, described the service provider as continuing to perform well against the contract.

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal to approve a unitary charge of £2.905m for Croydon and £1.634m for Lewisham for 2024/25.

The anticipated cost for 2024/25 is expected to be £11.699m. The proposed unitary charge in 2024/25 for Croydon and Lewisham works out at £2.905m and £1.634m respectively (based on agreed 64% to 36% split), with the remaining contribution derived from PFI credits provided by the Department for Transport, the report to the committee said.

The committee was also scheduled to note the conclusion in the report that the installation of LED street lighting had reduced CO2 emissions by 65% over 7 years.

It was scheduled to consider approving a budget of £179,000 for Croydon and £101,000 for Lewisham for 2024/25 for the costs of managing and monitoring the PFI contract.

Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair

The committee was scheduled to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair for the municipal year 2024/25. The Chair of a committee is responsible for chairing meetings of the committee, ensuring that meetings are conducted in accordance with the council's constitution, and representing the committee at meetings of the council and other bodies. The Vice Chair is responsible for chairing meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair, and for supporting the Chair in their role.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 05 November 2024

The Overview and Scrutiny committee were scheduled to discuss how the council responds to anti-social behaviour, how it could support community-led housing, and the Mayor's response to the committee's recommendations on how the council could adopt a trauma-informed approach to delivering its services.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees are responsible for scrutinising the decisions of the Mayor and Cabinet. They can make recommendations to the Mayor and Cabinet, and can also call in decisions for further scrutiny.

The meeting also received the final report of a 'task and finish group' that had been set up to look into how scrutiny in the council could be improved.

Task and Finish Groups are set up by Overview and Scrutiny Committees to look into specific issues in more detail. They are made up of councillors and members of the public.

Anti-Social Behaviour

A proposal to set up a new 'task and finish group' to look into anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the borough was included in the report pack. The proposal suggested that the task and finish group should investigate the causes of ASB in the borough, and what the council's response to it should be.

The proposal suggested that the group should meet over 8 months, gathering evidence from council officers, residents and external partners. The proposal suggested that the group could benefit from hearing from the Youth Justice team in Lewisham.

Community-led Housing

A proposal for a 'task and finish group' to look into how the council can support community-led housing initiatives was included in the report pack.

The proposal identified three particular types of community-led housing that the group could look into, including:

• Co-operatives
• Self-build schemes
• Community Land Trusts

Community Land Trusts are non-profit organisations that own and manage land for the benefit of the community. They are a way of providing affordable housing that is owned and controlled by the community.

The proposal suggested that the group should look into what support community-led housing groups require from the council, as well as how the council can ensure that community-led housing schemes are high quality and sustainable.

The proposal suggested that the group could gather evidence from existing community-led housing groups in the borough, as well as organisations that have experience of supporting them.

Mayor and Cabinet response to referrals

Trauma-informed approach

The meeting considered the Mayor and Cabinet's response to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny committee on adopting a 'trauma-informed approach' to the delivery of council services. The response was provided in a report titled 'Response to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on adopting a trauma-informed approach to delivery services'.

The report included a definition of 'trauma-informed practice':

Trauma-informed practice is an approach to health and care interventions which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact an individual’s neurological, biological, psychological and social development.

The report highlighted the council services that have already adopted a trauma-informed approach, including:

• Housing Needs & Refugee Service
• Children’s Social Care
• Adult Social Care

The report also set out the council's plans to implement a trauma-informed approach more widely. The council intends to deliver trauma-informed training to all staff, as well as managers. The council also plans to encourage its partners and contractors to adopt a trauma-informed approach.

The response also set out the council's plans to engage with the Lewisham Strategic Partnership on the issue.

Task and Finish Group Reports

Improving Scrutiny

The meeting received the final report of the 'Improving Scrutiny' task and finish group.

The report, which was agreed by the group at their meeting on the 24th July 2024, contained a number of recommendations on how scrutiny in the council could be improved. The group noted in the minutes for their final meeting that:

It was recognised that many of the things that had been identified as good practice were already within the remit of scrutiny members to adopt and implement.

The minutes of the meeting went on to highlight the importance of public engagement with scrutiny, noting:

The importance of public engagement with scrutiny.

The meeting also received the final reports of task and finish groups that had been set up to look into Youth Provision and the Private Rented Sector in Lewisham, but the substance of these reports was not included in the public report pack.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Mayor and Cabinet discussed a variety of topics on Wednesday 23 October 2024 including a report on the performance of council services, the regeneration of Catford, community space in Brockley and a proposal to bring the Youth Service in-house.
• The Strategic Planning Committee considered planning applications for the redevelopment of the former Bell Green Gas Works and Scott House, Deptford on Tuesday 22 October 2024.
• No video was provided for the Ladywell Assembly on Tuesday 22 October 2024.
• The Schools Forum received updates on several topics relating to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), as well as updates on Early Years and High Needs provision on Thursday 24 October 2024.

Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday 23 October 2024

This meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet included a wide range of reports about the activities and performance of the council.

Quarterly Performance Report

The most significant item on the agenda was a report about the performance of Lewisham Council’s services during Quarter 1 of the 2024/25 financial year. The report measured the council’s progress against its own targets in seven key areas: “Cleaner and Greener”, “A Strong Local Economy”, “Quality Housing”, “Children and Young People”, “Safer Communities”, “Open Lewisham” and “Health and Wellbeing”.

The report identified a number of areas where the council was performing well. For example, 106.3% of charges owed by leaseholders for Major Works had been collected, exceeding the council’s target of 40%. The average call waiting time for landlord services (excluding calls about repairs) was 2.2 minutes, which was well below the council’s target of four minutes. And turnover at the council was just 9.2%, lower than the council's target of 13% or less.

However, the report also highlighted a number of areas where the council was not meeting its targets. For example, only 25.8% of household waste was sent for reuse, recycling, or composting, falling short of the council’s 35% target. Only 6.8% of adults with a learning disability in Lewisham are in paid employment, which is below the council’s target of 8%. And only 37.3% of leaseholders were satisfied with the service they received from the council, significantly lower than the council’s target of 45%.

This report echoes similar concerns raised in previous weeks about the performance of some council services, and it will be interesting to see if the council is able to improve its performance in these areas in the coming months.

Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited Business Plan

The Mayor and Cabinet also considered a report about the Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL). CRPL is a company that was set up by Lewisham Council to acquire and regenerate property in Catford. Lewisham Council is the sole shareholder in CRPL.

The report introduced CRPL’s Business Plan for 2024–2027, which outlines how the company intends to manage and operate its assets, including the Catford Shopping Centre. The report pack doesn’t tell us if the Mayor and Cabinet approved the Business Plan.

The report also requested that the council provide additional investment to CRPL, as the company is currently unable to repay the loan that the council has already made to it. The report pack does not say whether the Mayor and Cabinet agreed to provide this additional investment.

Response to Brockley Local Assembly Referral on Community Space

The Mayor and Cabinet also considered a report about community space in Brockley ward. The report was written in response to a referral from the Brockley Local Assembly.

Local Assemblies are forums where residents can meet with councillors and council officers to discuss local issues. They are a key part of the council’s commitment to local democracy.

The Brockley Local Assembly had referred this issue to the Mayor and Cabinet because they felt that not enough was being done to protect community space in Brockley. They asked the Mayor and Cabinet to make it more difficult for community spaces in Brockley to be used for other purposes. They also asked the council to prevent the loss of community space when a site is redeveloped.

The report pack does not provide any information about how the Mayor and Cabinet responded to the Brockley Local Assembly's recommendations.

Proposal for a New Strategic Youth Offer and Strategy

The Mayor and Cabinet also considered a report entitled 'Proposal for a New Strategic Youth Offer and Strategy', which included details about how the council intends to improve its youth services. The report pack does not tell us whether any of these proposals were approved.

One of the most significant proposals was for the council to bring in-house the youth services currently being provided by Youth First, arguing that this would “improve service quality and accountability”.

Procurement of contracts

The meeting also included several reports about the procurement of new contracts for council services. The reports covered a range of services, including electric vehicle charging, garden waste disposal and treatment services, and a contract to provide storage services for homeless applicants who are moving into temporary accommodation. The report packs for these items do not tell us what decisions were made.

Strategic Planning Committee - Tuesday 22 October 2024

This meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee considered two planning applications for the redevelopment of sites in Bell Green and Deptford.

Land at the former Bell Green Gas Works

The first application concerned the development of a 0.995 hectare site at the former Bell Green Gas Works on Alan Pegg Place, Bell Green. The application proposed building six blocks of flats, ranging in height from six to 14 storeys, that would include 780.8sqm of ground floor retail and workspace, as well as new landscaped public areas and playspaces. The application, submitted by Barratt London, attracted a significant number of objections during the consultation period, with many residents raising concerns about the size and scale of the development, its impact on the nearby Livesey Memorial Hall, and the level of affordable housing provided. The report pack does not say whether planning permission was granted for the development.

Scott House

The committee also considered a planning application for the redevelopment of Scott House, 185 Grove Street, Deptford. The application, from Tribe Grove Street Limited, requested permission for the partial demolition of Scott House, retaining its northern and eastern elevations, and the construction of a 31-storey building containing 502 student rooms and 1,072 sqm of employment floorspace. This application also attracted a number of objections from local residents, with many raising concerns about the height of the proposed building, the impact on local services, and the loss of the existing building, which is locally listed. The report pack does not say whether planning permission was granted for the development.

Schools Forum - Thursday 24 October 2024

The Schools Forum discussed a variety of financial and planning matters related to schools in Lewisham. This included receiving an update on the final 2023-24 Dedicated Schools Grant and the provisional 2024-25 Dedicated Schools Grant.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is a ring-fenced grant that the government provides to local authorities to fund schools.

The forum was asked to approve the transfer of £245,000 to cover an overspend on the High Needs Block. This is a recurring theme, and in previous weeks we have seen that the council is having to find significant sums of money to meet the increasing costs of providing support to children with special educational needs.

This week in Lewisham:

• No video was provided for the Grove Park Assembly on Saturday 19 October 2024.
• The Planning Committee A considered planning applications at 68 Ravensbourne Park Crescent, Sydenham High Senior School and the former Marvels Lane Boys Club on Tuesday 15 October 2024.
• The Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 17 October 2024 was cancelled.
• No video was provided for the Appointments Committee meeting on Thursday 17 October 2024.
• The Council Urgency Committee met on Monday 14 October 2024 to discuss the future of Milford Towers.

Planning Committee A - Tuesday 15 October 2024

We do not have a video recording for this meeting, so it is not possible to know whether any decisions were made, or what was discussed. The agenda for the meeting included the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting, an addendum report on a previously approved planning application at 68 Ravensbourne Park Crescent, and planning applications at Sydenham High Senior School and the former Marvels Lane Boys Club.

Council Urgency Committee - Monday 14 October 2024

The Council Urgency Committee met to consider a report about the future of Milford Towers in Catford. The report included a request to extend the lease of 181 flats in Milford Towers to Notting Hill Genesis.

Milford Towers Lease Extension

The meeting considered a request to approve an application to the Secretary of State for consent to extend the lease of 181 flats in Milford Towers to Notting Hill Genesis, a housing association.

The report explains that Notting Hill Genesis currently leases 197 flats in Milford Towers on individual leases that expire on 14th November 2024. 16 of those flats are in the process of being returned to Lewisham Council for use as temporary accommodation.

The report explains that this decision needed to be made by the Council Urgency Committee because it is time-sensitive. Decisions made by the Council Urgency Committee need to be reported to the next meeting of the full council for ratification.

Lewisham Council and Notting Hill Genesis have reached an in principle agreement to extend the leases on the remaining 181 flats, but because the flats were previously council homes, the Secretary of State's consent is required before Lewisham Council can extend the lease. This is because of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which places restrictions on the disposal of land by local authorities. In this case, extending the lease of the flats to Notting Hill Genesis is considered to be a disposal of land, even though Lewisham Council would still own the freehold of the property.

The report explains that the extension is necessary to ensure that Notting Hill Genesis can continue to provide housing for the existing tenants while Lewisham Council develops its plans to regenerate Catford town centre, which have been delayed due to a number of factors.

The report also notes that there is currently a shortage of private rented accommodation in Lewisham and across London, and that many of the Notting Hill Genesis tenants in Milford Towers would struggle to find alternative accommodation in the private rented sector.

The report seeks authority for officers to make an application to the Secretary of State for consent to extend the leases, and to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Housing to agree the final terms of the lease extension.

This is similar to the situation at the Excalibur Estate in 2012, when Southwark Council sold a large part of the estate to Notting Hill Housing Trust (as it was then called). In that instance, the sale of the estate was opposed by many of the residents, who were concerned about being priced out of the area.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Corporate Parenting Group was scheduled to discuss the support provided to children in care in Lewisham at their meeting on Tuesday 08 October 2024.
• The Hither Green Local Assembly Meeting was held on Monday 07 October 2024. No video was provided.
• The Lee Green Assembly met on Tuesday 08 October 2024. No video was provided.
• The Standards Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday 09 October 2024 was cancelled.
• The Health and Safety Committee met on Thursday 10 October 2024 to discuss defibrillators on council premises, the number of slip and trip incidents on council pavements, the recruitment of a new health and safety manager, and to approve the minutes of their previous meeting.
• The Private Rented Sector in Lewisham Task and Finish Group met on Thursday 10 October 2024 to consider the final report of the Task and Finish Group, and to agree on the recommendations that would be submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet.

Corporate Parenting Group - Tuesday 08 October 2024

This meeting was about the support provided to children in care in Lewisham. The agenda for the meeting included reports on a range of areas, including health, social care and education. Councillors were also scheduled to review the council's strategy for ensuring there are enough places for children in care.

Sufficiency Strategy

The meeting was scheduled to consider a report on the council's Sufficiency Strategy. The report notes that:

The purpose of the Sufficiency Strategy is to ensure that there are sufficient, suitable, sustainable, and safe placements for Lewisham’s children in care and care leavers, that meet their individual needs and deliver good outcomes.

— Page 26 of the Public reports pack 08th-Oct-2024 18.00 Corporate Parenting Group

The report says that the strategy is based on four strategic priorities, these are:

• Place children with their parents, where it is safe to do so.
• Place children in Lewisham wherever possible.
• Place children in good quality, safe homes.
• Ensure stability and continuity for children.

Health and Safety Committee - Thursday 10 October 2024

The Health and Safety Committee met to consider a report on the Corporate Health and Safety Board, and to confirm the minutes of their previous meeting. The report was provided by Rich Clarke, Lewisham Council's Head of Assurance, and covered issues raised in previous meetings, as well as accident and incident statistics. The previous minutes being considered for approval were for a meeting held on 23 May 2024.

Corporate Health and Safety Board Update

The report included an update on a number of matters that had previously been discussed by the Health and Safety committee.

Defibrillators

The committee had previously requested a list of all of the defibrillators on Council premises. The report listed 18 defibrillators located in a variety of council buildings, including Brockley Rise, the Civic Suite, Granville Park, and Laurence House. It explained that these were all potentially accessible to the public, as they were registered with the London Ambulance Service.

Slips and Trips

The report provided an update on the number of incidents of slips and trips on Council pavements that had been reported to the council. It noted that the information was incomplete, because they were not classed as “at work” incidents.

Private Rented Sector in Lewisham Task and Finish Group - Thursday 10 October 2024

This meeting was to consider the final report of the Private Rented Sector in Lewisham Task and Finish Group, which was set up to review the Council’s support for residents of, and landlords in the borough's private rented sector.

Private Rented Sector in Lewisham Task and Finish Group Draft Report

The final report of the Private Rented Sector in Lewisham Task and Finish Group (Appendix A of the Draft Report and Recommendations) was scheduled to be discussed. The report contains 18 recommendations made to Lewisham Council about how to improve its support for both private tenants and landlords in the borough, as well as a number of case studies of what other London boroughs are doing in this area.

This week in Lewisham:

• The Pension Board was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 24 September 2024 to discuss the performance of the London Borough of Lewisham Pension Fund.
• The Strategic Planning Committee considered a planning application for the development of a site at Bell Green Gas Works during its meeting on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
• The Public Accounts Select Committee met on Thursday 26 September 2024. The meeting was scheduled to include discussions about the financial health of the council, and updates on children’s social care, and adult social care.
• The Lewisham Central Assembly met on Thursday 26 September 2024. No video was provided.

Pension Board - Tuesday 24 September 2024

This meeting was about reviewing the activities and performance of the London Borough of Lewisham Pension Fund since the previous meeting. It included consideration of reports about training, accounts, risks, procurement, the Pension Regulator’s new General Code of Practice, and other general updates about the activities of the fund. A significant proportion of the meeting was also scheduled to be held in private.

General Update Part One

This was the most significant topic scheduled to be discussed during the meeting. It covered a variety of topics about the day-to-day operation of the Pension Fund.

Draft Pension Fund Annual Report

The report pack includes the draft Pension Fund accounts for 2023/24, which were published at the beginning of June 2024. The accounts were scheduled to be audited by the newly appointed auditors KPMG, with the main audit work taking place in September and October 2024. The draft accounts show that the total value of the Pension Fund increased by £180m in 2023/24 to £1.837bn. This is attributed to changes in global markets mainly caused by the lowering of inflation and better global trading forecasts.

The pack also included a draft of the Pension Fund Annual Report. This details the financial position of the Pension Fund, how its investments have performed and is intended to be a comprehensive summary of its activities, enabling the public to understand how the fund is managed. Both the Annual Report and the audited accounts were scheduled to be presented to the Pension Investment Committee on 20 November 2024.

Procurement of Actuarial, Governance and Advisory Services

The invitation to tender for these services was published on 20 August 2024 using the National LGPS framework. The closing date for submissions was 4 October 2024, with the new contract expected to start on 1 December 2024.

Risk Register

The Pension Investment Committee is responsible for reviewing the Pension Fund’s Risk Register every six months. However, the two most recent meetings of the committee were cancelled because of restrictions in place during the pre-election period. The Risk Register was reviewed by members of the Pension Investment Committee on 19 September 2024, with any comments made being recorded in the meeting minutes.

The report pack describes the purpose of the Risk Register as follows:

Its design is based on a template provided by the Pensions Regulator. Risk ratings fall into four categories: RISK NUMBER CATEGORY HOW THE RISK SHOULD BE MANAGED OF RISKS Red 0 (16-25) Immediate action required, senior management involved Amber/Red Senior management attention needed and 7 (10-15) management responsibility specified Amber/Green Manage by specific monitoring or response 21 procedures (5-9) 8 Green Manage by routine procedures, unlikely to need specific or significant application of resources (1-4)

The report pack also details a number of changes made to the risk ratings of individual risks within the Register. The risk score for Environmental Social and Governance risk was increased from 4 to 9. This is because:

by following investments that meet higher ESG criteria (protection of consumers, labour rights, diversity and inclusion policies, human rights, health and safety etc.) there is a risk that the pension fund will obtain lower investment returns.

The risk rating for Financial Risk was reduced from 9 to 4. This is because the fund has a new policy and procedures for reporting late payment of contributions to personal pension schemes, and the fact that Lewisham Homes transferred its staff to the Council in October 2023, meaning that:

[Lewisham Homes is] the biggest external employer in the fund... which has further reduced the risk of pension payment failures.

The risk rating for Fraud or Fraudulent Behaviour was also reduced from 6 to 3. This is because:

the recent internal and external audits have not required the management to make any changes to its current working practices and procedures therefore we have confidence that this is being monitored satisfactorily.

Annual Business Plan

The Annual Business Plan sets out the major milestones for the fund in 2024/25 and lists the policies and reports that will be presented to the Pension Investment Committee during the year. It also lists all of the fund’s policies with their review dates.

The Pension Investment Committee is responsible for reviewing the Annual Business Plan each June, however, this year’s meeting was cancelled because of the pre-election period. The Annual Business Plan was instead reviewed by the members of the Pension Investment Committee on 19 September 2024.

The Annual Business Plan lists the following milestones for the 2024/25 financial year:

Milestone Date Review and Evaluation of the Business Plan September 2024 Administration Strategy November 2024 Data Improvement Plan November 2024 Engagement Policy September/November 2024 Draft Pension Fund Accounts presented November 2024 Approval of the Pension Fund Annual Report November 2024 Actuarial and advisory procurement contract Sept – Nov 2024

The plan also included a commitment to reporting on the performance of fund managers each quarter, reviewing the Net Zero Pathway Report and Climate Risk Report in September 2024, and holding training sessions for committee members. The business plan also lists the following targets for the administration of the Pension Investment Committee:

• Members to attend at least 75% of Pension Committee meetings each year. • Draft committee minutes to be issued within seven weeks of a meeting • Committee papers to be sent out at least five working days before a meeting. • To regularly review and agree changes to strategy/policy documents. All strategy/policy documents will be considered by Committee at least every three years, even if no changes are recommended.

The Pension Regulator’s General Code of Practice

This topic was the second most significant issue scheduled to be discussed during the meeting. It concerned a report about the Pension Regulator’s new General Code of Practice, which came into effect in March 2024. It described some of the new requirements contained in the Code, including:

New obligations include a requirement to establish an effective system of governance (ESOG) and, for schemes with 100 members or more, to complete their own risk assessment (ORA) to examine the effectiveness of the ESOG, note any risks and determine how these potential risks are mitigated.

It also described the steps officers had already taken to comply with the new requirements, including the use of a “GCOP tool checker”, purchased from Hymans Robertson. The tool had identified areas where the fund was fully compliant, but had also shown that further work is needed in other areas.

The Pension Board was scheduled to receive the GCOP tool checker in December, along with a report being presented to the Pension Investment Committee on 20 November 2024 setting out:

The GCOP Action Plan with associated timescales...

Training Log

This item concerned a report providing an update on the training log for members of the Pension Board between March 2022 and September 2024. The report pack included a list of training courses attended by the Chair of the Pension Board, Stephen Warren, the Employer Representatives Sherene Russell-Alexander and Mark Booker, and the Scheme Representatives Mark Adu-Brobbey and Gary Cummins. It also included a list of suggested training events and conferences, with details of dates, locations, cost and website links.

Actions Log

The report pack included a list of rolling actions to be taken by the Pension Board following previous meetings. It listed the actions, who was responsible for them, a description of any comments made about them, the expected completion date, and whether they had been completed.

Breaches Log

The report pack included a note that there were no breaches to report.

General Update Part Two

This part of the meeting was scheduled to be held in private. The report pack describes the grounds for excluding the press and public from this part of the meeting as follows:

It is recommended that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006:- Item 11. General Update – Part Two s:\msb\word\teams\msb\newcttee\open\o&sbuspan\2019\18 june\item 7 exclusion of the press and public.doc

Work Programme

This concerned a report about the Pension Board’s Work Programme. It listed the operational and strategic tasks scheduled for the Board over the next four quarters. This included an update on the Pension Fund’s Statement of Accounts and Annual Report, monitoring investment performance, reviewing the arrangements for pooling the Fund’s assets, considering the Risk Register, reviewing the Data Improvement Plan, the Administration Strategy and the Annual Business Plan, reviewing the Terms of Reference and Membership of the Board, and receiving updates about the Pension Regulator’s Code of Practice.

Declarations of Interest

The report pack includes a reminder that members of the Pension Board are required to declare any personal interests they have in any item on the meeting agenda. There are three types of interest:

(1) Disclosable pecuniary interests (2) Other registerable interests (3) Non-registerable interests.

The report pack explains each type of interest, the requirements for declaring them, and what impact declaring an interest has on a member’s ability to participate in the discussion and vote on a decision.

Strategic Planning Committee - Tuesday 24 September 2024

This meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee included the consideration of the minutes of the previous meeting and a planning application for the development of a site at Bell Green Gas Works.

Land at the Former Bell Green Gas Works, Bell Green, London, SE26

This application, submitted by Barratt London, requests permission to build 262 new homes in blocks of 6 to 14 storeys on the site of the former Bell Green Gas Works.

The application has been submitted with a large number of supporting documents, including reports about the potential impact of the development on the local environment and transport network.

The most significant topic discussed was the application's impact on the Grade II Listed Livesey Memorial Hall. The report pack includes the following concerns:

the height of Block E to the rear of the Livesey Memorial Hall creating a dominant overwhelming presence in the immediate setting of the listed building and its bowling green.

and:

the comparable height of blocks B&E creating a continuous built form which fails to respond to the layout of the Livesey site or allow appreciation of this element of its significance to be read.

The report pack also notes that the proposed brickwork for blocks B and E is a similar colour to the Livesey Memorial Hall, and as such is considered harmful.

The application attracted significant comment during the consultation period, particularly with respect to the height of the proposed buildings, and the level of affordable housing included in the scheme. Minutes from a meeting on 26 March 2024 between local residents, the applicant, and the council¹ are included in the report pack, and summarise the objections that were made to the proposals.

The report pack notes that only 30% of the habitable rooms² in the proposed development would be designated as affordable housing, and details a viability assessment justifying why the percentage of affordable housing would be lower than the council's 35% target.

TfL raised a number of objections to the application, and the report pack includes a number of their letters. In a letter dated 7 May 2024, TfL requested that the applicant conduct a night-time Healthy Streets Audit³ of the area, and provide a robust assessment of the distribution of bus trips.

The report pack includes a number of recommended conditions to be attached to the planning permission, including requirements to submit a full Construction Logistics Management Plan, and a Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan. The report pack also recommends the applicant be required to enter into a Section 106 Agreement with the council, including financial contributions towards a number of local initiatives including off-site play facilities and bus service enhancements. The applicant would also be required to ensure that all residents have access to a car club for 3 years.

The report pack recommends that planning permission be granted for the application, subject to the conditions and obligations listed in it.

Public Accounts Select Committee - Thursday 26 September 2024

The most significant item scheduled to be discussed during this meeting of the Public Accounts Select Committee was the financial health of the council. Also scheduled for discussion were children’s social care spending, an update on commissioning and contracting arrangements for adult social care, and the committee’s work programme for the year.

Financial Monitoring

The meeting was scheduled to receive a report on the council’s financial position. The document prepared for the committee noted that the council was reporting a forecast overspend on general fund activities of £27.4 million for the 2024-25 financial year.

The document noted that a budget gap of £20 million was identified as part of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, and that it was proposed that £8 million of savings would need to be delivered across the general fund in 2024-25. The report broke the savings down by directorate, and included a red, amber, green (RAG) rating of the likelihood of their delivery, saying that:

At this early stage of the year, £6.8m of the savings are expected to be delivered and are on track, £1m require further work or verification of delivery and £0.2m are not expected to be achieved in 2024/25.

The report detailed how the overspend is broken down by directorate, and noted that £36 million of pressures funding had been added to the 2024-25 budget to address those overspends, but that as a result of continuing pressures:

the extended leadership team are working towards £31.5m of cost avoidance/reductions measures in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to address the General Fund pressure reported in this report, as well as £20m of savings measures from 2025/26 onwards to address the budget gap in the MTFS.

The document contained a breakdown of the cost avoidance measures proposed by the council’s leadership team, noting which of the proposals were included in the reported financial position for the meeting, and which were not yet included because they are still being developed.

The report also considered the dedicated schools grant (DSG) budget, which is ringfenced for spending on schools. It noted an overspend of £2.4 million against the high needs block, driven by the “place led element in respect of those placements made in other LA’s by Lewisham and vice versa (known as import/export adjustment) and also for those schools that have academised and will now be funded directly by the Education and Skills Funding Agency in respect of the place funding element”.

The financial position of the Housing Revenue Account was also scheduled to be considered during the meeting. The report noted a forecast overspend of £6.5 million “due to the volume and value of repairs and maintenance works exceeding the budgeted level”. The report suggested a number of ways that this overspend could be addressed, including seeking a contribution from the council’s general fund, or by reducing the HRA’s contributions to the capital programme. The report stated that:

EMT and the Housing Transformation governance are continuing to manage this closely and will be engaging with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that they are appraised of the financial position of the HRA.

The document also contained an update on the delivery of the council’s capital programme, which is the money the council invests on long term projects, like building new schools and homes. It noted that for the 2024-25 financial year there was an allocation of £211.8 million split into £110.1 million for the general fund and £101.8 million for the HRA.

The report noted that the collection rate for council tax was below the level needed to achieve the budgeted level of income for the year, but that the collection rate for business rates was above the required level.

The final section of the report looked at the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, which looks at the council's finances over a four year period. The report noted that the strategy had identified £20 million of savings that need to be made over that period, and that work was already underway to identify and implement them.

Children’s Social Care and Budget Pressures

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the budget for Children’s Social Care services. The document prepared for the meeting noted the “exceptional pressure on budgets” caused by a combination of factors including the cost of living crisis, inflationary pressures, and “considerable increases in the cost of externally commissioned placements”.

The document highlighted the increase in the number of children needing support from children’s social care, noting that:

In the national context, with rising demand for support and protection services locally, Lewisham has managed the impact through the CSC improvement programme.

The report detailed how the council has worked to improve the service and reduce the need for children to be taken into care. In particular, it highlighted the impact of the council’s decision to “in-house” the services previously provided by the Meliot Family Centre, and how the expansion of that service has:

Successfully reduced reliance on more expensive agency staff with permanent staffing rising from 64% in 2018 to 80% in 2024.

The report included a table showing how the cost of different types of placement has changed in recent years, highlighting the increased costs of residential care in particular. The report noted that:

At present Lewisham has no local council run children’s homes and a relatively small pool of in-house Foster Carers, so internal placement sufficiency is limited.

The document outlined a series of steps the council is taking to address these challenges, including joining a pilot scheme to explore how delays in the family court can be reduced. It noted that:

As part of this pilot combined with the DfE Family First Pathfinder programme, we are introducing a Court Progression Officer post to contribute to moving CYP through court proceedings without delay.

The report also noted that the council is considering a number of options to reduce reliance on externally commissioned placements, including building its own children's homes, and that:

In September a proposal is being put to Mayor and Cabinet to re-purpose current buildings in the CYP Directorate asset register, to create and manage a series of council run small children’s residential homes in Lewisham.

Commissioning and Contracting in Adult Social Care

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on commissioning and contracting arrangements for adult social care. The document prepared for the meeting noted the financial pressures facing the adult social care sector, and the challenges of providing high quality care to an ageing population.

The report contained a summary of the key duties of local authorities under the Care Act 2014, including the duty to assess people’s needs and decide how to meet them. It noted that:

After the assessment, the local authority must determine using the national minimum threshold (which is set out in regulation) whether the Client is eligible for care and support. If deemed eligible, the Local Authority must meet these needs, regardless of resources available.

The report explained that the council has taken a number of steps to reduce the costs of providing adult social care, including working with providers to deliver services in a more cost-effective way. In particular, it noted the impact of the council’s decision to “cap” the budget for the Maximising Wellbeing at Home service, saying that:

The capitated budget fixes the Fair Cost of Care rate for the five years of the contract. Quality is enhanced through access of staff to Solution Focused coaching which enables Wellbeing Workers to develop innovative solutions to enable Clients to maximise their wellbeing as well as improving their terms and conditions by being fully compliant with the UNISON Ethical Care Charter.

The report contained a section on “Risk Implications”, setting out the key risks facing the service and how the council is working to address them. This included the risks of rising costs, increasing demand, workforce shortages, and maintaining the quality of provision.

Select Committee Work Programme Report

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on its work programme for the year. The document provided for the meeting contained the committee’s terms of reference, which detail the areas the committee is responsible for scrutinising. It also included a list of the items the committee had already decided to look at during the year, and a forward plan of key decisions that the council is expected to take over the next four months. The report recommended that the committee:

Look at the forward plan of key decisions at Appendix E to consider whether there are any items for further scrutiny.

It also recommended that the committee:

Consider the items for the next meeting and specify what evidence is required, including being clear about the information the committee wishes to be included in officer reports.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled to take place on 28 November 2024. The report noted that:

The following items are scheduled for the next meeting. For each item, the Committee should clearly define the information and analysis it wishes to see in officer reports. If the Committee has designated one of its members as a climate change champion, that member should work with the Chair to ensure that officers are given appropriate steers in relation to the reports, to ensure they include relevant climate change considerations.

The Committee should also consider whether to invite any expert witnesses to provide evidence, and whether site visits or engagement would assist the effective scrutiny of the item.

Agenda Item Review type

Budget cuts Standard item

Financial monitoring Performance monitoring

HR budget Standard item

Lewisham Central Assembly - Thursday 26 September 2024

No video was provided for this meeting.

Appointments Committee - Thursday 26 September 2024

This meeting was cancelled.

Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) - Thursday 26 September 2024

The meeting of Lewisham SACRE on 26 September 2024 included for discussion a range of matters arising from the previous meeting and an update from a public health consultant about reducing health inequalities. It concluded with the first part of a self-evaluation of the work of the SACRE.

Jewish Life Exhibition

The meeting was to include a discussion of the Jewish Life Exhibition, due to be hosted by the Catford Synagogue¹ in November 2024. Information packs and booking details have already been circulated to all schools in the borough.

Vicki Ashmore, an ex-headteacher and a member of the Bromley SACRE, was scheduled to attend the meeting to answer questions about the exhibition. She was involved in the exhibition when it was hosted by Bromley Synagogue and reported that 650 people visited over the two weeks it was open.

Review of the Lewisham Agreed Syllabus

The meeting was to include the first discussion of the review of the Lewisham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education². The Agreed Syllabus is used by schools to teach Religious Education. All members were asked to re-read the current syllabus and consider if it was still an appropriate representation of their faith group. The review, which will be scoped and costed, will formally begin in the Autumn term. Once it is complete, a formal request will be made to Lewisham Council to establish an Agreed Syllabus Conference.

Standards in schools – exam results initial overview

The meeting was also scheduled include an initial overview of this year's exam results from Anthony Doudle.

Reducing health inequalities through working with faith groups

The meeting was to include a presentation about reducing health inequalities through working with faith groups. This was due to be delivered by Lisa Fannon, Senior Project Manager at BLACHIR ³ and Kerry Lonergan, Public Health Consultant at Lewisham Council.

Matters arising

A number of matters arising from the previous meeting, which took place at the London Sivan Kovil⁴ in July, were scheduled to be discussed. These included:

• An update on the arrangements for Holocaust Memorial Day, and whether the SACRE will be represented on the organising group;
• Confirmation that a meeting of secondary RE leads will take place in the next term;
• Feedback from Cllrs Johnston-Franklin and Tam, who attended the NASACRE⁵ Annual Conference and AGM; and
• A report on the response the Chair received from candidates in the recent General Election to his ‘Manifesto for RE and SACREs’.

This week, the Lewisham Council held several meetings. Due to the cancellation and postponement of most meetings, the primary focus was on the Schools Forum meeting on Thursday, 27 June 2024.

Schools Forum Meeting

The Schools Forum meeting discussed several key financial and planning issues related to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and school improvement funding.

Dedicated Schools Grant 2023/24 Outturn:

The final outturn position for the 2023/24 DSG was reported, showing an overall overspend of £4.114m (1.3%) against the revised budget. This overspend will be met from the DSG reserves.

Dedicated Schools Grant 2024/25 Budget:

The 2024/25 DSG for Lewisham is £324.810m, representing an increase of £17.7m or 5.8% compared to the 2023/24 budget. This increase aligns with the council's ongoing efforts to support education and school funding.

Schools Forum Workplan 2024/25:

The workplan for 2024/25 was approved, outlining key priorities such as monitoring the implementation of the new funding formula, reviewing the use of Pupil Premium funding, and considering the implications of the new SEND Code of Practice[^1^].

Proposed De-delegation for Lewisham Learning School Improvement 2024/25:

The council proposed de-delegating the Element 3 and Element 4 School Improvement funding for maintained schools. However, no decision was made during the meeting.

The Council is proposing to de-delegate the Element 3 and Element 4 School Improvement funding for maintained schools for 2024/25.

Element 3 funding covers school improvement services, including school-to-school support, while Element 4 funding covers centrally retained costs.

Other Meetings

• Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) on Tuesday, 25 June 2024. No video was provided.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Call-In) on Tuesday, 25 June 2024. This meeting was cancelled.
• Governance Committee on Tuesday, 25 June 2024. This meeting was cancelled.
• Public Accounts Select Committee on Thursday, 27 June 2024. This meeting was postponed.

Implications and Themes

The focus on the Dedicated Schools Grant and school improvement funding reflects the council's commitment to supporting education and addressing budgetary challenges. The increase in the DSG for 2024/25 is a positive development, indicating more resources for local schools. The ongoing discussions around de-delegation of funds highlight the complexities involved in managing school improvement services and ensuring effective use of resources.

This week, the Lewisham Council held several meetings, with the most impactful being the Planning Committee A meeting on Tuesday, 11 June 2024. Here are the key points and implications of the meeting:

Planning Committee A Meeting

68 Ravensbourne Park Crescent Development:

The committee reviewed an application for the construction of five two-story, three-bedroom dwelling houses at 68 Ravensbourne Park Crescent. This proposal included cycle parking, refuse storage, and associated landscaping. The application received 14 individual objections, primarily concerning the loss of amenity space and potential impacts on the local environment and community.

Key points discussed included:

• Principle of Development: The council determined that the amenity land was redundant or oversupplied based on a CCTV survey and local open space analysis. This decision aligns with the borough's housing targets and the housing delivery test, which presumes in favor of granting permission.
• Urban Design and Impact on Heritage Assets: The proposed development was considered high quality and contextually appropriate, with no detriment to nearby Grade II listed buildings.
• Impact on Adjoining Properties: Measures such as obscure glazed windows and privacy screening were secured to protect neighboring properties from overlooking and privacy impacts.
• Transport and Sustainability: The proposal included provisions for cycling and refuse facilities, sustainable drainage, and carbon emission mitigation measures.
• Public Health and Safety: The design complies with Secured by Design principles, enhancing natural surveillance and secure access.

The committee approved the application, emphasizing the need for detailed conditions on materials and articulation to ensure high-quality development.

Mayor and Cabinet Meeting

The Mayor and Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 12 June 2024, addressed several key issues:

• Cycle Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging: The council approved procurement for cycle parking and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, reflecting ongoing efforts to promote sustainable transport.
• Community Integrated Equipment Service Contracts: The council awarded contracts to support community health services, ensuring continued access to essential equipment.
• Adventure Playgrounds: The council awarded contracts for the management and maintenance of adventure playgrounds, aligning with the place strategy to enhance community spaces.
• Housing Delivery Test Action Plan: The council reviewed and approved the action plan to meet housing delivery targets, addressing the borough's housing needs.

Other Meetings

• Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee on Thursday, 13 June 2024. No video broadcast was provided.
• Planning Committee B on Thursday, 13 June 2024. The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarized.
• Healthier Communities Select Committee on Thursday, 13 June 2024. This meeting was postponed.
• Public Transport Liaison Forum on Wednesday, 12 June 2024. This meeting was cancelled.

Implications and Themes

The focus on urban development and community welfare continues to be a recurring theme. The approval of the Ravensbourne Park Crescent development highlights the council's commitment to meeting housing targets while ensuring high-quality design and sustainability. The Mayor and Cabinet's decisions on transport infrastructure and community services further emphasize the council's efforts to enhance public amenities and support sustainable growth.

These meetings underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing development with community needs, a theme that will likely remain central in future council decisions.

This week, the Lewisham Council held three meetings. The most impactful was the Health and Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, 23 May 2024. The committee focused on several critical health and safety issues within the council, including defibrillator policies, emergency evacuations, and health and safety incidents. Here are the key points and implications of the meeting:

Health and Safety Committee Meeting

Defibrillator Policy:

The committee discussed the defibrillator policy, which has been approved by the Executive Management Team. Councillor Chris Best emphasized the need for a comprehensive list of defibrillators across the council estate and suggested that public spaces like libraries and shopping centers should have defibrillators. Rich Clark, the council's head of assurance, mentioned that the policy focuses on supporting sites that have or want to acquire defibrillators and ensuring they are properly maintained. The committee expressed disappointment that the policy would be reviewed in a year's time due to resource constraints and urged for more immediate action.

Emergency Evacuations:

Rich Clark reported on the ongoing efforts to improve emergency evacuation procedures, particularly in the Catford complex[^1^]. The council is working on consolidating its approach into a written procedure to be applied across other sites. Compliance with evacuation drills has generally been good, and the council aims to continue monitoring and reporting on these exercises.

Health and Safety Inspections:

The committee reviewed the results of health and safety inspections across various council buildings. Issues identified included wedged doors, moss formation in garden areas, and unrecorded monthly checks of water tap temperatures. Councillor Carol Webley-Brown raised concerns about the Crofton Park Library[^2^], which is managed by B22, and the need for better reporting of incidents in public areas. Rich Clark agreed to look into the matter.

Health and Safety Resources:

Rich Clark announced that the council has received in-principle agreement to reorganize health and safety resources, which will increase the capacity to deliver health and safety improvements. This reorganization is expected to be detailed in future meetings.

Health and Safety Incidents:

The committee reviewed health and safety incidents reported in the last six months. There was a notable decline in reported incidents from schools, which is being investigated. Councillor Chris Best inquired about housing incidents, specifically related to damp and mold, and how they are reported. Rich Clark clarified that such incidents are handled by the property compliance team within the housing directorate.

RIDDOR Incidents:

The committee reviewed RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)[^7^] incidents, which are more serious and require specific reporting to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)[^6^]. The council has centralized its reporting to the HSE to ensure consistency and quality.

Meeting Time Adjustment:

The committee agreed to change the meeting time to 6 PM to accommodate members with full-time jobs while being mindful of officers' work schedules.

Future Agenda Items:

Members were invited to suggest additional topics for future meetings, with a plan to canvas for ideas a month before the next meeting on October 10th.

Implications and Themes

The focus on health and safety within council buildings and public spaces reflects a recurring theme we've discussed before: the importance of maintaining public safety and ensuring that resources are adequately managed. The discussions around defibrillator policies and emergency evacuations highlight the council's ongoing efforts to enhance safety measures and preparedness.

Other Meetings

• Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Call-In) on Tuesday, 21 May 2024. We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
• Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday, 22 May 2024. We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Call-In) on Tuesday, 21 May 2024. We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.

Overall, this week's meetings underscore the ongoing challenge of managing health and safety within council operations while ensuring that resources are effectively utilized. This theme will likely continue to be relevant in future council decisions.

This week, the Lewisham Council held five meetings. The most impactful was the Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday, 14 May 2024. The committee deliberated on a premises license application by McEosolots UK Limited for a bingo premises at 53 Sydenham High Street, SE26 5EY. Here are the key points and implications of the meeting:

Licensing Committee Meeting

Premises License Application for Bingo Premises at 53 Sydenham High Street:

• Applicant's Presentation: Gerald Greay, representing McEosolots UK Limited, emphasized that the application was comprehensive and aimed to address all concerns raised. He highlighted that the premises would operate 24/7 and cater to a trickle of customers, including night shift workers. He argued that the measures proposed were reasonable and in line with the Gambling Act 2005. He also noted that there were no objections from responsible authorities and that the premises had a good track record with no reviews or issues in other locations.

• Committee Questions: Councillor Howard questioned the need for a 24-hour license and how the applicant could ensure there were no issues in their 230 other locations. Gerald Greay responded that the 24-hour operation was based on demand and that the premises had a good track record with no reviews. Councillor Harding asked about the balance between bingo and other gambling activities, to which Greay explained that the only way to offer bingo was through a bingo license, even though the primary operation would be as an adult gaming center.

Objectors' Concerns:

• Councillor Chris Best: Representing Sydenham Ward, Councillor Best raised concerns about antisocial behavior, noise, and the impact on vulnerable residents. She highlighted the presence of other gambling premises in the area and the potential negative impact on the high street's vitality. She also mentioned the proximity to facilities catering to vulnerable adults and children, such as Ignition Brewery and Sydenham Arts.

• Annabelle McLaren: Representing the Sydenham Society, McLaren echoed concerns about the negative impact on the high street and the concentration of vulnerable individuals in the area. She emphasized the need to protect children and vulnerable adults from potential harm.

• Ruth: Another objector, Ruth, highlighted the specific vulnerabilities of the local community, including high levels of social housing and the presence of addiction and recovery services. She questioned the applicant's claim of no issues in other locations and pointed out that the Gambling Commission was investigating McEosolots for exploitation of a vulnerable customer in Stockport.

Committee Deliberation:

The committee members confirmed their presence throughout the meeting and proceeded to deliberate in another room. The decision on the application would be sent out within five working days.

Implications and Themes

The focus on the potential impact of the proposed bingo premises on the local community, particularly concerning antisocial behavior, noise, and the protection of vulnerable individuals, reflects a recurring theme we've discussed before: balancing community welfare with business interests. The applicant argued that the measures in place were sufficient, while the objectors raised significant concerns about the suitability of the location and the potential negative effects on the community.

Other Meetings

• Council Meeting on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarized.
• Council Meeting on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarized.
• Appointments Committee Meeting on Thursday, 16 May 2024. We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.

Overall, this week's meetings underscore the ongoing challenge of managing urban development while maintaining community welfare, a theme that will likely continue to be relevant in future council decisions.

This week, the Lewisham Council held three meetings, with the most impactful being the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 08 May 2024. The council addressed several critical issues ranging from public safety to community engagement and support services. Here's a detailed look at the decisions and their implications:

Mayor and Cabinet Meeting

1. Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Implementation: The council agreed to implement a PSPO to address anti-social behavior. This decision underscores a progressive approach to governance, emphasizing education and behavior change before enforcement. The implications are significant as it aims to enhance community safety and quality of life by curbing undesirable behaviors through a structured approach.

2. Interpreting, Translation, and Transcription Services Contract: A new contract was awarded to ensure continued support for residents needing language assistance. This decision promotes inclusivity and equal access to council services, reflecting the council's commitment to accessibility for all residents.

3. Millwall Football Club Lease: Approval was given to proceed with lease negotiations with Millwall Football Club. This could lead to enhanced sports facilities and community activities, potentially stimulating economic growth in the area.

4. Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Service Re-procurement: The council agreed to re-procure services for supporting victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence. This decision aims to strengthen the support network for victims, improving outcomes and providing more robust protection and advocacy.

5. Autism Strategy Action Plan Update: The council reviewed the progress of the Autism Strategy Action Plan, aiming to ensure that initiatives remain effective and responsive to the needs of autistic residents, promoting better integration and support services.

Licensing Committee Meeting

The Licensing Committee deliberated on a premises license application for Zulian Hidden Village. The decision to grant the license, with conditions, reflects an attempt to balance business interests with community welfare. This meeting highlighted competitive tensions and safety considerations in shared commercial spaces, a theme that echoes past discussions on urban development and community impact.

Themes and Patterns

This week's meetings reflect a consistent theme of balancing community welfare with development and support initiatives. From public safety measures like the PSPO to community engagement through sports and cultural activities, the council is actively shaping Lewisham's social and economic landscape. These decisions not only address immediate community needs but also set the groundwork for long-term community development and support, a recurring theme in our discussions.

Overall, the council's actions this week demonstrate a comprehensive approach to governance, with a clear focus on enhancing community life and ensuring support for all residents.

This week, the Lewisham Council's Standards Committee convened to address routine matters and a significant new proposal regarding honorary titles. The meeting on Wednesday, 01 May 2024 was marked by efficiency and a noteworthy first-time proposal that could set a precedent for recognizing distinguished service within the council.

Key Points from the Standards Committee Meeting:

1. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: The committee approved the minutes from their previous meetings without any disputes, indicating a clear consensus on the recorded discussions and decisions.

2. Declarations of Interest: No conflicts of interest were declared, which streamlined the discussion, particularly around the main agenda item.

3. Proposal for Honorary Titles: The committee discussed a proposal to award honorary titles to several former councillors, recognizing their contributions to public life. This is a significant development as it introduces a formal mechanism for acknowledging the service of past council members. The proposal was recommended without opposition, suggesting strong support for institutionalizing such honors.

This decision sets a precedent as it's the first instance of such titles being proposed in the division, potentially influencing future recognitions and formal acknowledgments of service.

This quote emphasizes the potential long-term impact of the decision, as it may influence how future contributions by council members are recognized.

Implications and Themes:

The introduction of honorary titles is not just about recognizing past contributions but also about setting a standard and expectation for future council members. It reflects a broader theme of formal recognition and institutional memory within the council—a theme we have touched upon previously when discussing the importance of maintaining detailed and accurate meeting records.

This meeting's decisions, particularly around the honorary titles, could enhance the council's tradition of honoring distinguished service, thereby enriching the council's cultural heritage and providing a model for other divisions or councils.

In summary, the Standards Committee's latest session was straightforward yet impactful, with decisions that could influence the council's approach to recognition and honor in the future.

This week, the Lewisham Council held two notable meetings. The first was the Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, which focused on a significant decision regarding Sip City Lounge's application for extended operational hours and other license variations.

The Licensing Committee faced a contentious decision balancing the interests of Sip City Lounge and the concerns of local residents and law enforcement. The applicant sought to extend operational hours for alcohol sales, recorded and live music, and late-night refreshments. The committee heard from various stakeholders, including the police and a community safety officer, who raised issues about noise, public nuisance, and past mismanagement.

The police and residents provided evidence of past disturbances attributed to the venue, while the applicant emphasized recent improvements and compliance efforts.

This quote from the meeting highlights the central tension in urban nightlife management—balancing business interests with community peace and safety. The decision's implications are significant, as they will influence future business operations and residential tranquility in the area.

The second meeting was the Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) on Wednesday, 24 April 2024. Unfortunately, the notes from this meeting have not yet been summarized, so we cannot provide a detailed account at this time.

The Licensing Committee's deliberations reflect a recurring theme we've discussed before: the challenge of managing urban development while maintaining quality of life for residents. This theme will likely continue to be relevant in future council decisions, especially as urban areas evolve and the balance between commercial and residential needs becomes increasingly complex.