The Governance Committee of Lewisham Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss significant reforms to planning decision-making, amendments to pension committee terms of reference, and minor adjustments to the council's scheme of delegation. Key decisions included the approval of constitutional amendments to align with national planning reforms, the adoption of revised terms of reference for pension committees, and the approval of changes to the scheme of delegation concerning policy approvals and appointments to outside bodies.

Planning Committee Reform

The committee discussed and recommended to the full council significant constitutional amendments to implement the government's national reforms to planning decision-making. These reforms mandate a national scheme of delegation, replacing local referral thresholds. Under the new system, applications within Schedule 1 must be determined by officers, while Schedule 2 applications can only be considered by a planning committee if a statutory gateway test is satisfied.

To comply with these changes, the council will replace its current Planning Committees A and B with a single Planning Committee, retaining a Strategic Planning Committee for major applications. The report detailed the proposed revised terms of reference for these committees and amendments to the scheme of delegation to reflect the national requirements. A key aspect of the reform is the introduction of a gateway test, which will be operated by the Chief Planning Officer, acting as the nominated officer, in consultation with the Chair of the relevant planning committee, who will act as the nominated member. The process for applying and recording this gateway test was also outlined, emphasizing transparency and an auditable process.

During the discussion, councillors raised questions about the definition of significant in relation to the gateway test, the process for consulting with committee chairs, and the communication plan for residents. Jeremy Chambers, the Monitoring Officer, explained that the Chief Planning Officer would be responsible for defining significant and that a communications plan would be developed. He also confirmed that the changes were mandated by national legislation and that the council had no choice but to implement them. The committee approved the recommendations, with an additional recommendation for a communications plan to be developed.

Amendments to Pension Investments Committee and Pension Board Terms of Reference

The committee also considered and recommended amendments to the terms of reference for the Pension Investments Committee and the Pension Board. These amendments are necessary to ensure compliance with recent national pension reforms, including the Pension Schemes Act 2026 and related regulations.

A key change is the renaming of the Pension Investments Committee to the Pensions Committee to better reflect its broader responsibilities, which extend beyond investment activity to encompass the administration, governance, and investment management of the Lewisham Local Government Pension Fund. The revised terms of reference for both the Pensions Committee and the Pension Board were presented, incorporating updated legal requirements and best practices, including the explicit inclusion of fiduciary duties for the Pensions Committee.

Councillor Aaron Regisford questioned the inclusion of fiduciary duties, and Jeremy Chambers clarified that while it's a new explicit mention, it has always been an overriding obligation. The committee agreed to recommend these revised terms of reference to the full council for approval.

Minor Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation

Finally, the committee discussed minor amendments to the council's scheme of delegation. The first amendment aimed to clarify the process for approving policies, plans, and strategies, ensuring that matters reserved to the full council are first considered by the Mayor and Cabinet before being recommended to the council. The proposed wording clarifies that the consideration of proposals for specific plans, such as the Children and Young People's Plan and the Local Transport Plan, and all other policies, plans, and strategies reserved to the council, must be made by the Mayor to the council.

The second proposed amendment addressed the appointment of members or officers to outside bodies. Currently, such appointments, except for relevant professional associations, require approval from the Mayor and Cabinet. The amendment proposed to exempt the appointment of officers as directors to council companies from this requirement, delegating this to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor and the Monitoring Officer. This change was intended to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary delays, particularly for operational appointments to council-owned companies like Lewisham Homes.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about the potential for delays and the practical implications of the current delegation rules. Councillor Ruth Persian highlighted that Mayor and Cabinet meetings occur ten times a year, and missing a deadline could lead to significant delays. Councillor Oliver Matejka expressed discomfort with approving the amendment regarding company director appointments, leading to a separate vote on this specific item. Ultimately, the amendment concerning policies, plans, and strategies was carried, while the amendment regarding the appointment of officers to council companies was not approved.