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Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 22nd October, 2025 6.00 pm
October 22, 2025 Mayor and Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Mayor and Cabinet of Lewisham Council met on Wednesday 22 October 2025 to discuss a range of important issues affecting the borough. Key decisions made included the approval of revised housing policies, the adoption of an Active Travel Strategy, and the extension of contracts for vital public health services. The meeting also addressed the future management of Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields and the procurement of essential hard facilities management services.
Housing Policies and Private Rented Sector Regulation
The council approved a set of revised housing policies aimed at streamlining decision-making within the housing department. These include the Disabled Facilities Grant, Homeowners Grant, Tenant Aids and Adaptations, and Required Access policies, designed to improve clarity and efficiency for residents and staff. Councillor Will Cooper, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, highlighted the importance of these policies in making housing services simpler and clearer for everyone.
Furthermore, the council adopted new policies for the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to further raise standards and improve compliance. Councillor Cooper stated that these policies aim to further raise standards and improve compliance within our private rented sector, which we know has not been to a high enough standard across London and across the whole of the country.
The approved policies include the Licensing and Enforcement Policy, which for the first time incorporates a selective licensing scheme and minimum energy efficiency standards, as well as policies on Civil Penalty Notices, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms, and Electrical Safety.
Active Travel Strategy
A significant decision was the approval of the Active Travel Strategy (ATS), which sets out a comprehensive plan to improve walking and cycling routes across the borough. Councillor Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Action, expressed her pleasure in introducing the strategy, stating it clearly sets out how we intend to improve walking and cycling routes across the borough.
The strategy was developed following extensive public consultation and prioritises 21 active travel corridors, aiming to make these modes of transport safer and more enjoyable for all residents.
Public Health Services and Contract Extensions
Several public health services received contract extensions and approvals. The Stop Smoking Service contract was extended for two years, recognising its successful delivery with consistently high quit rates. Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, noted that the service consistently achieved an average outcome rate of 53.2%, which is huge.
Additionally, the council approved participation in a multi-authority procurement for online sexual and reproductive health services, led by the City of London. This initiative aims to improve access, efficiency, and health outcomes for residents. The NHS Health Checks contract was also extended for two years, ensuring continued provision of this vital preventative health service. Councillor Bell highlighted that NHS Health Checks are a free statutory service for adults with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke and dementia.
Housing and Temporary Accommodation
Lewisham Homes received approval to enter into a long-term lease agreement for 35 flats at 485 New Cross Road to be used as temporary accommodation for homeless households. Councillor Cooper explained this initiative as another tool we are using to bring down numbers in insecure, nightly paid accommodation.
This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on expensive nightly-paid placements and provide more stable housing solutions.
Facilities Management and Building Fabric Services
The council approved the procurement of new contracts for Hard Facilities Management services, covering Mechanical, Electrical, Building Fabric, and Fire & Security. Councillor Amanda De Ryk, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Procurement, noted that the current expenditure on these services is just over £1 million annually, and the new contracts, valued at up to £14 million over five years, will require additional budget allocation.
Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields Transfer
A decision was made to transfer the management and maintenance of Whitefoot Lane School Playing Fields to Bonus Pastor Secondary School. Councillor Edison Huynh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, stated that this transfer would allow the school to manage the site for the continued benefit of their pupils and the local community.
The lease agreement will include provisions to safeguard community use outside of school hours.
Treasury Management and Corporate Performance
The council reviewed its Treasury Management Outturn for 2023/24 and approved the Mid-year Treasury Management report for 2024/25. Councillor De Ryk confirmed that borrowing limits had not been breached and that the council's investments were providing a return of 4.3%. The meeting also received an update on Quarter 1 corporate performance for 2024/25, noting progress against objectives while identifying areas requiring improvement, such as repairs performance and council tax collection rates.
Other Matters
The council also discussed the Ladywell Playtower restoration, noting the withdrawal of the original restoration partner due to viability issues and agreeing to a new process to find an alternative partner. Additionally, the council approved changes to the bulky waste disposal service, including reduced collection charges and revised opening hours for the Household Waste Recycling Centre, aimed at increasing usage and reducing fly-tipping. The council also agreed to extend the Advice Services Grant to Citizens Advice Lewisham for 12 months to maintain service continuity while a new commissioned service is developed as part of a broader Financial Resilience Strategy.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Permission to enter into a long-term lease agreement with L&Q for 35 flats to be used as temporary accommodation
Recommendations Approved...to enter into a long-term lease agreement with L&Q for 35 flats to be used as temporary accommodation.
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Apologies for Absence
Recommendations Approved -
Private Rented Sector Enforcement and Regulation Policies
Recommendations Approved -
Permission to procure - Hard Facilities Management - Mechanical, Electrical, Building Fabric and Fire & Security Services
Recommendations Approved...to procure and award 3-year contracts, with a possible two-year extension, for Mechanical, Electrical, Building Fabric, and Fire & Security services, delegating authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources to select providers and finalize contracts.
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Treasury Management Outturn and Mid-Year Review 2025/26
Recommendations Approved -
The Library Consortium Courier Services - Framework Agreement contract extension and Approval to procure - Part 2
Recommendations Approved...to extend the Library Consortium Courier Services Framework Agreement contract and approve procurement for Part 2.
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Advice Services Grant Extension
Recommendations Approved -
Quarter 1 - Corporate Performance Update
Recommendations Approved -
Housing: Knowledge and Information Management Strategy
Recommendations Approved -
Exclusion of Press and Public
Recommendations Approved -
Matters Raised by Scrutiny and other Constitutional Bodies
Recommendations Approved -
Declarations of Interests
Recommendations Approved -
Minutes
Recommendations Approved...to approve the minutes of the Mayor and Cabinet meeting held on 10 September 2025 as an accurate record, and to make several decisions regarding housing policies, repairs, regeneration projects, financial monitoring, contract extensions, business plans, a Better Care Fund agreement, school roof remediation, housing quality investments, library operations, the Surrey Canal station, complaint handling, and building security services.
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Permission to enter into a long-term lease agreement with L&Q for 35 flats to be used as temporary accommodation
Recommendations Approved...to approve Lewisham Homes entering a long-term lease for 35 flats from L&Q to be used as temporary accommodation and delegate authority to relevant directors to finalise the agreement and a nominations agreement with Lewisham Homes.
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Permitted Contract Extension of the Stop Smoking Service
Recommendations Approved...to extend the contract for the Stop Smoking Service with Lewisham & Greenwich Trust for two years, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, at an annual cost of £416,481.
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Authority To Procure & Award Sexual Health Services in Primary Care
Recommendations Approved...to procure and award contracts for local Primary Care Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) provision, commencing on 1 April 2026 for five years, with a total contract value of £1,200,000, and to delegate authority for provider selection and contract agreement.
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Ladywell Playtower - withdrawal of restoration partner and identification of alternative restoration solution
Recommendations Approved...to terminate the agreement for lease with Guildmore (Ladywell) Ltd for the Ladywell Playtower restoration due to viability issues, withdraw reserve bidder status from RJK Properties, and initiate a new process to find a replacement restoration partner.
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Re-procurement of the online sexual and reproductive health services (E-Service)
Recommendations Approved...to participate in a multi-authority procurement exercise led by the City of London for online sexual and reproductive health services and to extend the Inter Authority Agreement to access the current contract for these services by 12 months, with expenditure of up to £1,200,000.
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Transfer of Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields to Bonus Pastor School
Recommendations Approved...to transfer the management and maintenance of Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields to Bonus Pastor Secondary School via a long-term lease, subject to Secretary of State authorisation, and to delegate the lease terms negotiation to the Executive Director for Children and Young People in consultation with the Executive Director of Place.
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Housing Assistance, Adaptations, and Required Access Policies
Recommendations Approved...to approve a set of revised housing policies concerning housing assistance, adaptations, and required access.
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Changes to Bulky Waste Disposal Service
Recommendations Approved...to reduce fly-tipping and encourage proper waste disposal, the Mayor and Cabinet approved a reduction in bulky waste collection prices, a pilot free bulky waste amnesty in two wards, and an in-principle change to Household Waste Recycling Centre opening hours, delegating final decision authority to the Executive Director Place after staff consultation.
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Active Travel Strategy
Recommendations Approved... to approve the Active Travel Strategy for adoption and authorize its implementation.
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NHS Health Checks Contract Extension
For Determination...to extend the contract with One Health Lewisham for the provision of NHS Health Checks for two years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028, at a cost of £299,684 per year.
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The Library Consortium Courier Services - Framework Agreement contract extension and Approval to procure
For Determination...to extend the current Library Courier Services Framework Agreement with CitySprint for five months, approve the procurement of a new four-year Courier Services Framework Agreement for The Libraries Consortium, and delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place to approve the contract award and call-off contracts.
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