The Council of Lewisham met on 16 July 2025, and agreed to consider a petition regarding divestment from Palestine, adopted the Lewisham Local Plan, and approved the Lewisham Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. The council also paid tribute to two former councillors who had recently died, and heard announcements on Lewisham schools, the return of the Blackheath fireworks display, and funding for care experienced employment.

Here are the key topics discussed:

Divestment from companies complicit with Israel's alleged war crimes and genocide

Following a debate, the council agreed to commission further investigation into the Divest for Palestine petition by the Pension Investment Committee. The petition, signed by over 3,000 residents, called for the council to:

• Divest from companies complicit in Israel's oppression of Palestinians.
• Introduce exclusionary criteria to stop investing in these companies.
• Create a new ethical fund that does not profit from apartheid.
• Drop Barclays Bank and find an ethical alternative.

Maddy, who works for Lewisham Council, told the meeting that the council's pension fund has over £65 million invested in companies that are complicit in Israel's oppression of Palestinians, including military suppliers like Palantir and Israeli banks funding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. She said that this contradicts Lewisham's own responsible investment policy.

Trevor Pybus, who has worked and volunteered in Lewisham, said that he was horrified by what was happening in Gaza and did not want his pension tied up in the Israeli genocide and apartheid. He reminded councillors that attitudes change, and that people used to defend apartheid in South Africa.

Councillor Sian Eiles said that she wholeheartedly and unequivocally condemned the barbarous actions of Israel and stood beside the Palestinian people in their grief. She said that Lewisham has been taking steps to integrate responsible investment principles into its pension strategy, and that she had initiated the development of a new exclusion framework to redirect investments away from companies operating in disputed territories.

Councillor Eva Kestner said that every loss of human life is a tragedy and every violation of human rights and international law must be condemned. She added that real, lasting change must be grounded in long-term work, legal responsibility and the careful use of powers available to the council.

Councillor Hau-Yu Tam said that Lewisham was leading the way in terms of divesting, but that this was because of the efforts of individual councillors, and not the party as a whole.

Following the debate, Councillor Eiles proposed that the council commission further investigation into the matter by the Pension Investment Committee, which was seconded by Councillor Kestner and agreed by the council.

Later in the meeting, Councillor Liam Shrivastava proposed a motion on divestment from companies complicit with Israel's alleged war crimes and genocide. Councillor Shrivastava said that Israel has been engaged in a systematic collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza, with extensive evidence of human rights abuses, war crimes and genocide. He added that the Labour government has not only failed to prevent genocide, but is actively facilitating it.

Councillor Tam seconded the motion, reminding the council of its history of taking action against apartheid in South Africa. She said that this tradition of solidarity had been broken, and that it must be reinstated.

Councillor Eiles proposed an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Jack Lavery. Councillor Eiles said that the council was taking the issue seriously and acting accordingly. She added that she had been engaging with other chairs and the London Collective Investment Vehicle about whether they were interested in looking at new exclusion criteria.

Councillor Shrivastava said that if the council was serious about divestment, then it would accept the original motion. He added that the amendment was absolving the council of its legal obligations and responsibilities.

Following a vote, the amendment became the substantive motion. The amended motion was then approved by the council, with some abstentions.

Lewisham Local Plan

The council adopted the Lewisham Local Plan following a report from Councillor James-J Walsh. The plan sets out a vision for how the borough will grow fairly and sustainably. It includes ambitious targets for affordable housing, and supports small businesses, cultural industries and economic growth. It also embeds climate action across every policy area. Councillor Walsh said that the plan had been through rigorous independent scrutiny and had been found legally sound by the planning inspectors.

Councillor Jack Lavery seconded the adoption and said that the plan was full of exciting plans to make Lewisham an even better place to live for decades to come.

Lewisham Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule

The council approved the Lewisham CIL Charging Schedule, following a report from Councillor James-J Walsh. The CIL is a levy that is charged on new developments to help fund infrastructure improvements in the borough. Councillor Walsh said that the existing CIL rates were now a decade old and no longer reflected current land values or viability across the borough. He added that the updated schedule would ensure that when developers benefit from growth, the community shares in those benefits too.

Councillor Lavery seconded the approval.

Tributes to former councillors

The council paid tribute to two former councillors who had recently died:

• Pauline Morrison, who was a councillor for Ladywell and worked in member services in the council. Councillor Paul Bell described her as someone with a passion for her community, her grandchildren, her children, and the Labour Party.
• Godfrey Gayechi, who served as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Blackheath.

Announcements

The council heard announcements on:

• Lewisham schools topping the list of London boroughs participating in the Rights Respecting Schools Award[^1], with 42 schools receiving the award. [^1]: The Rights Respecting Schools Award is an award given by UNICEF UK to schools that create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children's talents are nurtured and allowed to thrive.
• Alfelny Primary School in Bellingham becoming a national inclusion champion.
• The return of the Blackheath fireworks display on 1 November.
• £391,000 of pilot funding to help shape the Mayor of London and the Labour government's new youth guarantee for young people who are seeking employment, education or training.
• Sujan Katua, founder of Panas Gurkha Restaurant in Blackheath, being awarded an MBE[^2] in the King's Honours List for his public service during the COVID-19 pandemic. [^2]: MBE stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire, and is an award given by the King to recognise outstanding service to the community.
• Mayor Brenda Dacres being awarded an OBE[^3] for political and public service in the King's Honours List. [^3]: OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and is an award given by the King to recognise a major local role, or one which is inspiring in its field, through achievement or service to the community.
• Urban Synergy as the Mayor's charity for the year, and the presentation of a cheque for £25,193.82.
• Lewisham Donation Hub as the Mayor's new charity for the year.

Public questions

The council answered questions from members of the public on a range of issues, including:

• Community toilets in Deptford.
• Fly tipping.
• Non-disclosure agreements.
• Shipping containers on green open spaces.
• Planning policy.
• The Livesey Memorial Hall in Belle Green.
• Lewisham Homes Unlimited.
• A house without a roof on Elladale Street in Ladywell.
• Speculative developers attempting to purchase properties off market around proposed HMO[^4] developments. [^4]: HMO stands for House in Multiple Occupation, which is a property rented out by at least 3 people who are not from 1 household but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.
• The services provided by Drumby Outreach.
• Investments in a country that is going down the drain because of genocide.

Member questions

The council answered questions from councillors on a range of issues, including:

• Call waiting times for the housing service.
• The healthy neighbourhood program.
• The stock condition survey.
• Welfare reform.
• Building more homes faster.
• Improving children's social care.
• The Scene Festival.
• The Catford Weekender.
• Prioritising the voices of care experienced young people.
• The amount of officer and council post to hold by-elections.
• Ensuring that the situation at Ladywell preschool nursery does not arise again.

Allocation of seats and appointments to committees

The council agreed the allocation of seats and appointments to committees. Councillor Liam Shrivastava acknowledged that the Lewisham Green Party had taken a number of seats on several committees.

Appointment to Joint IT Committee

The council appointed Councillor James-J Walsh to the Joint IT Committee.

Appointment of a trustee to the Deptford St Paul's Charity

The council agreed the appointment of the reverend Grant Balton Debbage as nominative trustee of the Deptford St Paul's Charity.

Support national gaming reform

The council unanimously supported a motion calling on the government to urgently reform the Gambling Act 2005. Councillor Mark Jackson said that the act tied the council's hands and forced it to approve new betting shops, even where there was strong local opposition or clear risks to local public health and community safety. Councillor Yemisi Anifowose seconded the motion. Councillor Hau-Yu Tam encouraged the councillors to remind the Labour government that there are several members of Parliament who take money from the gambling lobby.