The Cabinet of Southwark Council met on Wednesday 6 March 2024, approving the closure of Ann Bernadt Nursery School and a new framework for allocating strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding. The meeting also saw the approval of a draft homelessness and rough sleeping strategy for consultation, and the refreshed Digital and Technology Strategy 2024-2026.

Closure of Ann Bernadt Nursery School

The Cabinet agreed to close Ann Bernadt Nursery School from 31 August 2024 onwards. This decision was made due to the school's declining pupil numbers and resulting financial non-viability. The report presented to the Cabinet highlighted that pupil numbers had fallen by nearly 50% since 2016, leading to a deficit of over £300,000 in the 2022-23 academic year. Despite efforts to mitigate these issues, including federation with other schools and staffing restructures, the school was deemed financially unsustainable.

During the consultation process, no viable alternative suggestions for the school's continuation were proposed. The report indicated that alternative early years provision is available locally, with Nell Gwynn Nursery School and Grove Nursery School having vacancies and sufficient capacity to accommodate displaced pupils. The building itself is intended to be repurposed for other educational or community uses, with a primary consideration given to supporting the Council's SEND strategy.

Draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The Cabinet approved the re-drafted homelessness and rough sleeping strategy for formal consultation. The strategy outlines actions and priorities aimed at addressing homelessness and rough sleeping within the borough. Following the consultation period, the strategy will be brought back to the decision-maker for consideration of the outcomes.

Framework for Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding

A framework for the allocation of strategic CIL funding was agreed. This framework will guide how CIL funds, which are collected from developers to fund infrastructure improvements, are distributed. As part of this agreement, £350,000 was allocated towards the Elephant and Castle overground station and £250,000 towards the Bakerloo Line Extension.

Digital and Technology Strategy 2024-2026

The draft refreshed Digital and Technology Strategy 2024-2026 was agreed. The strategy outlines the council's plans for digital and technology services over the next two years. Authority was delegated to the Cabinet Member for Communities, Democracy and Finance to agree the final strategy and publish it in April 2024.

Procurement Strategy for Temporary Accommodation

The procurement strategy to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the supply and management of temporary accommodation (TA) was approved. This system will be in place for six years from August 2024, with an estimated annual cost of up to £45 million, totalling an estimated £270 million over the period. The DPS will require bidders to provide various forms of temporary accommodation, with leases ranging from three to ten years, as well as nightly paid accommodation. An annual performance report on the location, quality, and financial impact of the accommodation will be provided to the lead member for council homes and sustainable development.

Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Contract

The Cabinet approved the use of a contract for the delivery of an integrated sexual and reproductive health service. This service will be delivered by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a period of up to seven years, with an estimated contract value of up to £10,117,975. The contract, let by Lambeth Council on behalf of Southwark Council, is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2024 and is broken down into three phases, with an initial term of three years and two two-year extensions.

Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The new Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was approved for consultation. This document provides guidance on how planning obligations and CIL contributions will be secured and used to fund infrastructure and community facilities.

Resident Rehousing at Marie Curie

The Cabinet noted the ongoing resident engagement and progress on the rehousing of remaining secure council tenants within Southwark, as well as the buy-back of properties owned by non-resident leaseholders, in relation to the Marie Curie development. It was agreed that any remaining Marie Curie secure tenants beyond 1 May 2024 would be afforded pre-advert, direct offer status to expedite their rehousing by the end of the first quarter of 2024-25. Officers are to report back in four months on the progress of rehousing and to confirm a date for the building's decommissioning. The ongoing cost of maintaining a waking watch, estimated at £400,000 per annum for a building with only seven remaining tenants and four non-resident leaseholders, was noted as not representing best value for money.

Public Questions

During public question time, a resident inquired about the delay of the climate SPD and its implications given the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, explained that the SPD's submission to cabinet is delayed until after the local government pre-election period, with the earliest date being 18 June 2024. She highlighted the SPD's contribution to the council's sustainability goals, covering areas such as energy, flood risk, environmental protection, green infrastructure, and waste reduction. Councillor Dennis also noted that much of the guidance within the Climate SPD can be repurposed under the new Act.

Another question concerned the ambition of the council's technology and digital strategy regarding climate change, suggesting a digital dashboard for tracking climate targets. Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Democracy and Finance, responded by outlining the council's commitment to environmental action through Green IT practices, including virtualised environments, efficient system sizing, and the use of test and backup systems. She also mentioned the encouragement for reduced printing and the use of digital tools to minimise travel. Councillor Cryan added that the Technology and Digital service's performance is tracked through key performance indicators, with a future goal of automating reports.