This week in Lewisham:

Traveller Site Proposal Sparks Debate Amid Housing Needs

The Planning Committee A met on Tuesday to discuss a range of planning applications, including a proposal for traveller pitches at Pool Court, Fordmill Road. The plan involves creating a new traveller site with up to three pitches or dwellings.

• Site Allocation: The land is earmarked in the emerging local plan for gypsy and traveller accommodation.
• Community Concerns: While the planning officer raised no objections in principle, citing alignment with the emerging plan, the proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Nine individual objections and a petition were submitted by residents, while two responses supported the plan. The Culverley Green Residents Association also objected to the development.
• Conservation Considerations: The Council's Conservation Officer noted the site's proximity to the Culverley Green conservation area, emphasizing the importance of open spaces and landscaping.
• Ecological Support: The Council's Ecology officer supports the use of native planting, living roofs, and other measures to protect and enhance the local environment.

Council Grapples with Pension Fund Investments Amidst Government Reforms

The Pension Board convened on Monday to discuss the government's response to the consultation on Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) reforms, outlined in the 'Pensions Investment Review Final Report 2025'. These reforms could significantly impact how Lewisham manages its pension fund.

• Pooling Mandate: The government is pushing for all Administering Authorities (AAs) to delegate investment implementation to their asset pool by March 31, 2026. This includes transferring all assets to the pool's management and taking principal investment advice from the pool.
• Local Investment Focus: The reforms also emphasize collaboration with local authorities and regional mayors to set target ranges for local investment and report annually on its impact.
• Transition Plans: The Treasury and Investment Manager are scheduled to update the Board on transition plans with the London LGPS CIV Limited (London CIV)¹ to ensure the entire fund is under London CIV management by the deadline.
• Pension Fund Business Plan: The Pension Board was also expected to review and note the Lewisham Pension Fund Draft Business Plan 2025/26, outlining goals and objectives for managing the pension fund over the coming year.

Corporate Parenting Group Focuses on Strategy Refresh and Support for Care Leavers

The Corporate Parenting Group met on Tuesday to discuss a refresh of the Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2025-27, outlining how Lewisham Council cares for children in care and care leavers².

• Strategy Priorities: The refreshed strategy focuses on ensuring stable homes for children in care, improving their educational outcomes, and supporting care leavers to live independently.
• Education, Training, and Employment: The group also discussed a report on Education, Training and Employment (ETE) for care leavers, highlighting barriers they face in accessing ETE and the support provided by Lewisham Works.
• Health Updates: The Corporate Parenting Group was scheduled to receive updates on health-related matters, including a Health Leads Report Update and a verbal update on the CAMHS³ / Orbit Report.

Other Matters

• The Housing Select Committee was scheduled to review the council's performance as a social housing landlord for the 2024/25 financial year, including Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) and compliance with Consumer Standards for Social Housing.
• The Sydenham Assembly meeting on Saturday included discussions on the Sustainable Streets programme, air quality in Sydenham, updates from the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team, and community updates from local groups.
• The Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) met to discuss the Agreed Syllabus Conference, feedback from the NASACRE⁴ Conference and AGM, and the Young Mayor's project.

Upcoming Meetings

• Licensing Committee - Wednesday 02 July 2025
• Health and Safety Committee - Tuesday 01 July 2025
• Planning Committee A - Tuesday 24 June 2025
• Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday 25 June 2025
• Public Accounts Select Committee - Wednesday 25 June 2025
• Schools Forum - Thursday 26 June 2025

This week in Lewisham:

Cuts to Youth Services and School Repairs on the Table as Council Seeks Savings

Lewisham Council is facing tough choices as it aims to bridge a £30 million budget shortfall, with potential cuts to youth services and school repairs under consideration. The Children and Young People Select Committee met on Tuesday to discuss draft proposals for budget reductions in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

• Youth Service Budget Under Pressure: A proposed reduction of £100,000 in 2025/26 and £200,000 in 2026/27 to the Youth Service Budget could be implemented by redesigning the new Youth Offer and bringing the delivery of youth service in-house.
• School Repairs Could Be Scaled Back: The committee also discussed a potential £50,000 reduction in both 2025/26 and 2026/27 in repairs and maintenance spending from the School Estates budget, achieved through reducing ongoing spend outside of the Department for Education (DfE) Capital Grant.
• Assembly Programme Faces the Axe: As previously reported, the council is also considering ending funding for the council-run Assembly Programme, leading to annual savings of £203,000 from 2026/27. The Equalities Impact Assessment for this proposal acknowledges that the lack of a structured consultation process at the ward level may create a gap in terms of agreeing needs and use of funds at ward level between the Council and residents.
• The Bigger Picture: These cuts are part of a wider effort to identify £30m of savings to avoid relying on reserves to set a balanced budget. A draft report presented to the committee indicated that there was still a savings gap of £0.750m for which measures needed to be identified.

Ombudsman Finds Fault Causing Injustice in Council's Handling of Children's Social Care Complaints

The Children and Young People Select Committee also reviewed the findings of a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO)¹ investigation into the council's handling of statutory children's social care complaints.

• Delays and Denied Access: The investigation found fault causing injustice due to delays and denial of access to the full complaints procedure.
• Recommendations for Improvement: The LGSCO made four recommendations, including inviting complainants who were affected by the delays to proceed to stage two of the procedure and ensuring staff understand the requirements for progressing a complaint to stage two.
• Action Plan in Place: The council has developed an improvement action plan to address the issues raised by the LGSCO.

Sustainable Streets Programme Aims to Reduce Car Use and Improve Air Quality

The Sustainable Development Select Committee met on Wednesday to receive an update on the Sustainable Streets Programme², an initiative designed to improve road safety, reduce car dependency and enhance the environmental quality of local streets.

• Policy Context: The programme aligns with Lewisham's Corporate Strategy (2022-2026), Future Lewisham (2021), the Climate Emergency Action Plan (2019), and the Air Quality Action Plan (2022-2027), as well as regional and national policies.
• Programme Goals: The programme aims to reduce unnecessary car journeys, improve road safety and air quality, increase accessibility, and respond to resident feedback.
• Mixed Engagement: Engagement levels with residents have been mixed, with some areas showing high engagement and others showing very little.

Pension Fund Investments Performing Well on Climate Risk, But Challenges Remain in Achieving Net Zero

The Pensions Investment Committee convened on Thursday to discuss a range of issues, including climate risk and the fund's progress towards net zero emissions.

• Significant Emissions Reduction: The fund's investments have reportedly cut their absolute emissions by about 93% since 2019.
• Net Zero Challenges: Achieving Net Zero by 2030 or 2040 will require a focus on investments that actively remove carbon from the atmosphere.
• Member Survey Planned: The fund intends to undertake a member survey to gather information useful in terms of both administration and investment management and policy development. This follows counsel advice that the views of its members must be reflected within its ESG policies, and not those of its trustees (the Committee).

Other matters

• The Sustainable Development Select Committee also discussed draft budget reduction proposals for 2025/26 and 2026/27, designed to address a £30 million budget shortfall.
• The Pensions Investment Committee also discussed the draft annual business plan.

Upcoming Meetings

• Corporate Parenting Group - Tuesday 17 June 2025 - Corporate Parenting Strategy refresh, Virtual School annual report, and employment and training for care leavers.
• Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) - Tuesday 17 June 2025 - Holocaust Memorial Day update, Agreed Syllabus Conference, and feedback on the NASACRE Conference and the Lewisham as Places of Belonging conference.
• Housing Select Committee - Wednesday 18 June 2025 - Budget savings, housing performance, the Housing Allocation Policy, and select committee work programme.
• Pension Board - Monday 16 June 2025 - LGPS pooling and government reforms, draft business plan, and general update.
• Planning Committee A - Tuesday 24 June 2025
• Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday 25 June 2025
• Public Accounts Select Committee - Wednesday 25 June 2025
• - Thursday 26 June 2025

This week in Lewisham:

Facing the Squeeze: £30 Million Savings Target Looms Over Lewisham's Budget

Lewisham Council is grappling with a significant £30 million budget shortfall, prompting a review of services and potential cuts across various departments. The Healthier Communities Select Committee met on Thursday and the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met on Wednesday to discuss draft proposals for budget reductions in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

• The Stakes: To balance the books, the council is considering using £21.895 million from its reserves for the 2025/26 General Fund Budget. However, this is a short-term solution, and the council aims to identify and implement £30 million in savings before 2026/27.
• Where the Axe May Fall: The Healthier Communities Select Committee considered proposals impacting adult social care, public health, and adult learning, including potential increases to the Linkline service charge and managing vacancy factors across adult social care. The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee considered proposals relating to community services management efficiencies.
• Equalities Impact: The council says that it has used its Equalities Analysis Assessment Toolkit to assess whether each proposal has a high, medium, low, or neutral impact on service users and socio-economic inequality.
• Assembly Programme at Risk: One previously agreed saving involves ending funding for the council-run assembly programme, potentially saving £203,000 annually. This would affect eight staff roles. The council constitution states that 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. The council is considering alternative community engagement approaches.

Reimagining Day Services: A 100 Day Challenge to Modernise Support for Vulnerable Adults

Lewisham is embarking on a transformation of day services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and older adults with eligible needs. The Healthier Communities Select Committee was scheduled to receive an update on this initiative.

• The Goal: To create more flexible, person-led services integrated with NHS and community partners, focusing on individual outcomes.
• The 100 Day Challenge: Running from May to September 2025, this engagement programme uses interviews, workshops, and ethnographic approaches to gather insights from current and potential service users.
• Two Strands: One focuses on people with learning disabilities and/or autism, branded as designing ‘A Life of Opportunity,’ and the other on older adults/people living with dementia.
• What's Next: Findings from the 100 Day Challenge will inform future commissioning strategies, service design proposals, and capital investment decisions for day services.

Other matters

• The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee was also scheduled to discuss the main grants consultation and its work programme. No details of what was to be discussed were included in the report pack.

Upcoming Meetings

• Children and Young People Select Committee - Tuesday 10 June 2025 - Budget savings, Ofsted focused visit, LGSCO complaint handling recommendations, and select committee work programme.
• Sustainable Development Select Committee - Wednesday 11 June 2025 - Budget savings proposals, Sustainable Streets Programme update, and select committee work programme.
• Pensions Investment Committee - Thursday 12 June 2025 - LGPS reform and pooling, climate risk and net zero, and draft annual business plan.
• Pension Board - Monday 16 June 2025
• Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) - Tuesday 17 June 2025
• Housing Select Committee - Wednesday 18 June 2025

This week in Lewisham:

• The Mayor and Cabinet were scheduled to discuss CPZ reviews, Microsoft licences, and a new contact centre contract.
• The Licensing Committee meeting was cancelled.

Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday 21 May 2025

The Mayor and Cabinet were scheduled to discuss a new contract for providing a Contact Centre as a Service, the procurement of Microsoft licences, and existing Controlled Parking Zone reviews.

Sustainable Streets Programme and CPZ Reviews

The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of the Sustainable Streets Programme, specifically regarding existing Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) reviews. The report pack included a recommendation for Mayor Brenda Dacres and the Cabinet to agree to allow the Executive Director of Place to use their delegated powers to consider any objections received during statutory consultation on the permanent traffic order and make any applicable decision as a result.

The report notes that the Sustainable Transport and Parking Improvements programme was approved by Mayor and Cabinet on 7 December 2022 with the aim of encouraging active travel in Lewisham through sustainable transport measures alongside parking controls. According to the report, approximately 60% of the borough is not yet covered by CPZs.

The report pack states that the council undertook public consultations on amendments to existing CPZs, to align them with the Sustainable Streets Programme. The outcome of the public consultations were scheduled to be discussed at the meeting.

The report pack also notes that no waiting at any time junction protection markings (double yellow lines) are proposed to be introduced at junctions for all roads consulted, extending 10m from the junction, in line with guidance from the Highway Code.

The report pack states that a review of the Sustainable Streets zone will take place approximately six to twelve months after implementation to understand its impacts and allow for revisions if necessary.

The report pack states that there is a widely recognised need to reduce car dependency in London to improve air quality, public health, reduce congestion and improve road safety.

The report pack notes that air pollution has a distinct impact on life expectancy and is linked to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancers and neurological impairments.

The report pack states that the council aims to reduce car dependency and encourage a mode shift to sustainable transport methods by improving the public realm and implementing measures that support walking, cycling, public transport use and more sustainable transport. This includes schemes which incorporate pedestrianisation, increasing the cycle network, access to cycle hire and road safety. The Sustainable Streets programme will meet these aims by proposing the following measures in areas that it consults: Cycle hangars, Electric vehicle charging points, More street tree planting, Increased car club coverage, Safer junctions and crossing points, Controlled parking measures.

Procurement of Microsoft Licences

The Mayor and Cabinet were scheduled to discuss and note the procurement strategy and process for a new Microsoft Licences agreement led by the Shared Technology Services (STS). The report pack included a recommendation to approve expenditure of up to £4,791,740.40 for the contract period of three years, and to approve Brent entering into the contract on behalf of the Council provided the expenditure is within authorised limits. The report pack also included a recommendation to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Corporate Resources to approve the final expenditure provided it is within authorised limits.

The report states that all three Councils which constitute the Shared Technology Services use Microsoft licences to provide its staff with access to key business applications, including Outlook, Teams, Viva Engage, Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and more recently Co-Pilot.

The report pack notes that these Microsoft licences are subscription based, with an annual fee covering their usage and ensuring access to future software updates for each application managed under the contract.

The report pack states that the procurement and report specifically covers the main Microsoft licencing agreement which expires in October 2025. These include licences related to Azure, power Business Intelligence (BI)¹, Teams and other Microsoft applications.

The report pack states that the current Microsoft Licencing Agreement (covering the main set of Microsoft products) expires in October 2025. As part of the Inter Authority Agreement, the STS procurement team are leading on a new procurement to contract with a reseller for new contract to replace the existing arrangement.

The report pack notes that STS currently contract with Bytes Software Services and utilises Microsoft licences for all staff. These licences provide standard access to applications such as Outlook, Teams, Yammer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more recently, Co-Pilot.

New Procurement Call-off Contract for Contact Centre as a Service

The Mayor and Cabinet were scheduled to discuss and approve the procurement of a provider for a contact centre solution through the use of Lot 4c of Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Network Services 3 (RM6116) with an estimated value of £1.7m excluding VAT, for a period of 5 years with optional extension periods of up to 24 months at the Council’s discretion.

The report included a recommendation to approve the use of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Network Services 3 (RM6116) Framework Agreement, and to approve the award of a contract to the preferred provider in relation to a Contact Centre Solution, provided the contract values are within authorised limits. The report pack also included a recommendation to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources (in consultation with the Director of Law and Corporate Governance and Head of Corporate Customer Relations ) to select the preferred provider in accordance with the selection and award criteria published in the tender documentation and agree on the final form of contract.

The report pack states that officers are requesting that the new contract be awarded on the following weighted criteria 45% price, 45% quality, and 10% social value.

The report pack notes that implementation and migration to a potential new provider, which is expected to be complex, is likely to take an estimated six months to complete.

The report pack states that Shared Technology Services (STS) is a collaboration between three London local authorities, Brent, Lewisham, and Southwark as well as the GLA, to provide IT infrastructure and services to the three boroughs.

The report pack notes that STS procured 8x8 Virtual Contact Centre (VCC) as a Call Centre Telephony Solution for the three boroughs in 2017 for a period of five years. All possible extensions to the contracts have now been exhausted with the 8x8 VCC contract expiring on 30th April 2025. A new 12 month contract was awarded by the Executive Director for Corportate Resources on the 24 March 2025 to enable continuation of service between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026.

The report pack states that for Lewisham, the 8x8 VCC is used by the Customer Service Centre along with a number of smaller front-line Council Teams and handles over 850,000 calls per year plus an additional 220,000 call-backs.

Licensing Committee - Thursday 22 May 2025

The Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 22 May 2025 was cancelled.