Aliya Sheikh - Councillor for Lewisham (Lewisham Central)

Councillor Aliya Sheikh

Labour Party Lewisham Central

Email: Aliya.Sheikh@lewisham.gov.uk

Council: Lewisham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Council (Committee Member) Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Committee Member) Healthier Communities Select Committee (Chair) Standards Committee (Committee Member) Lewisham Central Assembly (Committee Member) Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Call-In) Corporate Parenting Group Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) (Committee Member) Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Audit and Risk Committee (Committee Member) Mayor and Cabinet Improving Scrutiny Task and Finish Group Public Accounts Select Committee (Guest) Health and Wellbeing Board (Committee Member) South East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Planning Committee B (Committee Member)

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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary

Last updated: about 15 hours ago

Aliya Sheikh has demonstrated a consistent commitment to Lewisham council matters, particularly focusing on health, community well-being, and cultural initiatives. Her involvement has deepened and become more impactful in recent years, especially in 2025.

Key Themes and Priorities:

  • Healthcare Access and Equity: A central theme throughout her service, with a strong emphasis on ensuring vulnerable residents have access to quality healthcare, particularly dental care and adult social care. This includes scrutinizing budget proposals and service delivery to mitigate negative impacts on these groups.
  • Community Engagement and Digitalization: Championing resident involvement in council initiatives, exploring best practices for engagement, and promoting digital inclusion.
  • Cultural Promotion: Supporting cultural initiatives like the Scene Festival and recognizing the importance of community assets like the Lewisham Library.
  • Transparent Governance and Scrutiny: Advocating for transparent reporting on service changes and emphasizing the importance of monitoring and evaluation.

Evolution of Focus:

In 2024, Sheikh's activity was primarily centered around committee participation, laying the groundwork for her more active and impactful role in 2025. While her presence was noted across various committees, the specifics of her contributions were less documented. In 2025, her role as Chair of the Healthier Communities Select Committee allowed her to more directly influence policy and advocate for her priorities. Her focus shifted from general participation to active advocacy and scrutiny, particularly concerning budget impacts and service accessibility.

Significant Contributions (Especially in Recent Years):

  • Chairing the Healthier Communities Select Committee (2025): This role provided a platform to actively scrutinize budget proposals and service delivery, directly advocating for vulnerable residents.
  • Advocating for Healthcare Access (2025): Raising concerns about the impact of budget cuts on leisure facilities and the accessibility of dental services, particularly for specific communities. For example, in January she voiced concerns that >even small price increases could be significant barriers for some individuals.
  • Promoting Community Engagement and Digitalization (2025): Drawing on examples from other boroughs to suggest best practices for resident engagement in digitalization efforts.
  • Participating in SACRE (2025): Emphasizing the importance of positive influences in the curriculum, stating that >the committee needed to think about how families, the media and children's peers influence them, and the need for some positive influence in the curriculum.
  • Scrutinizing Development Proposals (2025): Raising concerns about the impact of specific developments on the area's character, privacy, and sunlight.

Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest:

Sheikh consistently demonstrates a commitment to health and community well-being. Her focus on vulnerable populations, transparent governance, and community engagement is a recurring theme throughout her service. Her recent emphasis on healthcare access and the impact of budget cuts suggests a growing concern for equity and social justice within the community.

Yearly Activity Timeline

In 2025, Councillor Aliya Sheikh was actively involved in Lewisham council matters, demonstrating a strong focus on healthcare access, community engagement, and cultural promotion. As Chair of the Healthier Communities Select Committee, she consistently advocated for vulnerable residents, scrutinizing budget proposals and service delivery, particularly concerning dental care and adult social care. She raised concerns about the impact of budget cuts on leisure facilities, the accessibility of dental services for specific communities, and the need for transparent reporting on service changes. For example, in January she voiced concerns that >even small price increases could be significant barriers for some individuals. In September, she emphasized the importance of monitoring, evaluation, and transparent reporting to protect service users. In November, she actively engaged in discussions regarding dental health, access to services, and the inclusion of vulnerable communities.

Sheikh also championed community engagement and digitalization, advocating for resident involvement in council initiatives. She drew on examples from Waltham Forest to suggest best practices for resident engagement in digitalization efforts. She also supported cultural initiatives, announcing the return of the Scene Festival and highlighting the importance of Lewisham Library to the community.

Furthermore, Sheikh participated in various committees, including SACRE, Standards, Audit & Risk, and Planning. She seconded motions, was appointed to sub-committees, and raised concerns about specific developments, such as the proposed development at 23 Mercia Grove, citing concerns about its impact on the area's character, privacy, and sunlight. At the SACRE meeting in November, Cllr Sheikh emphasized that >the committee needed to think about how families, the media and children's peers influence them, and the need for some positive influence in the curriculum.

Monthly Activity in 2025

In November 2025, Aliya Sheikh participated in three council meetings. As Chair of the Healthier Communities Select Committee, she actively engaged in discussions regarding dental health, access to services, and the inclusion of vulnerable communities. Her concerns included the lack of support for annual dental checkups, the interpretation of dental activity figures, and the difficulty vulnerable communities face in accessing NHS dentists. She also questioned data sharing practices, triage systems for vulnerable groups, and the involvement of minority communities in the codesign of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs). Furthermore, she summarized the Adult Social Care Performance item and suggested future agenda topics. At the SACRE meeting, Cllr Sheikh emphasized the importance of considering external influences on children and the need for positive influence within the curriculum, stating that >the committee needed to think about how families, the media and children's peers influence them, and the need for some positive influence in the curriculum. She was also present at the Standards Committee meeting, but no specific actions or statements were attributed to her.

Meetings in November 2025
Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) - Tuesday, 25th November, 2025 6.30 pm - 25 November 2025

Cllr Aliya Sheikh emphasized the importance of considering external influences on children and the need for positive influence within the curriculum.

Cllr Sheikh emphasised that the committee needed to think about how families, the media and children's peers influence them, and the need for some positive influence in the curriculum.

Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

66 meetings · Page 2 of 14

Healthier Communities Select Committee Chair

Healthier Communities Select Committee - Tuesday, 11th November, 2025 7.00 pm

The Healthier Communities Select Committee met to discuss the Lewisham Neighbourhood 2 Central 24/7 Community Mental Health Centre, and to hear the findings and feedback from the Reimagining Day Opportunities project. The committee also reviewed its work programme for the year and discussed items for the next meeting.

November 11, 2025
Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) Committee Member

Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) - Tuesday, 21st October, 2025 6.30 pm

The Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) met on 21 October 2025, at Emmanuel Church, Lee. The agenda included a safeguarding update, discussion of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, and an update on Inter Faith Week 2025. The meeting also included an opportunity for members to discuss current events and their impact on local communities.

October 21, 2025
Health and Wellbeing Board Committee Member

Health and Wellbeing Board - Monday, 13th October, 2025 3.00 pm

The Lewisham Health and Well-Being Board convened to discuss several key initiatives, including updates on health inequalities, flu vaccination campaigns, sexual health strategies, and the implementation of the NHS 10-Year Plan. The board approved the Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley and Bexley sexual health strategy, and delegated approval of the neighbourhood health plan to the chair of the board. Members also received updates on the Birmingham Lewisham African Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR), the flu vaccination campaign, and the Better Care Fund.

October 13, 2025
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm

Lewisham Council met to discuss a range of issues, including increasing councillor allowances, the use of substitutes on committees, and motions on childcare and public ownership of Thames Water[^2]. Councillors agreed to increase their basic allowance by 3.2% to £13,201 per year, and approved the use of substitutes on certain committees to ensure meetings can proceed even if some members are absent. A motion supporting the Labour government's plan for 30 hours of free childcare was passed, as was an amended motion calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership.

September 24, 2025
Standards Committee Committee Member

Standards Committee - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.00 pm

The Standards Committee met to appoint two new independent persons to play a consultative role in investigating complaints against councillors, as required by the Localism Act 2011[^2]. Following interviews, Katie Prestedge and Kalwant Grewal were recommended for appointment to the roles. The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting and noted that there were no declarations of interest.

September 24, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

87 decisions · Page 1 of 18

Statement of Accounts 2024-25

From: Council - Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 7.30 pm - November 26, 2025

... to note the contents of the report, approve agreed audit adjustments to the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts and Pension Fund Accounts, approve delegation to the Section 151 Officer to agree changes to audit adjustments, the final Statement of Accounts for publication, and changes to the Auditor’s Annual Report, and note the management representation letters and the Auditor’s Annual Report.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 66

Average per Month: 3.3

Decisions Recorded: 87