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: 3 days 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 3 of 14

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Committee Member

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025 7.30 pm

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the 'No Wrong Front Door' (NWFD) programme, which aims to make Lewisham the most accessible council in London. Councillors reviewed the programme's progress, challenges, and future plans, and agreed to note the report and its appendices. The committee made recommendations for a resident outcomes framework, digital inclusion for residents for whom English is not a first language, a dependency map, and a resourcing and investment plan for phase two.

September 23, 2025
Committee Committee Member

Agreed Syllabus Commitee - Monday, 15th September, 2025 6.30 pm

The Lewisham Council Agreed Syllabus Committee (ASC) met to discuss membership, elect a chair and vice-chair, and outline their future work. The committee was also scheduled to discuss training for members and the application of a code of conduct. The meeting was scheduled to take place at the Civic Suite Rushey Green in Catford.

September 15, 2025
Healthier Communities Select Committee Chair

Healthier Communities Select Committee - Thursday, 4th September, 2025 7.00 pm

The Healthier Communities Select Committee met to discuss dentistry services, primary care access, integrated neighbourhood teams and adult social care performance in Lewisham. The committee noted reports on each of these topics. They also approved the minutes of the previous meeting, and confirmed there were no declarations of interest, or responses from the Mayor and Cabinet.

September 04, 2025
Audit and Risk Committee Committee Member

Audit and Risk Committee - Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025 7.00 pm

The Lewisham Council Audit and Risk Committee convened to elect a chair and vice-chair, review audit plans and risk management strategies, and discuss external audit updates. Councillor Ava Kessner was elected as chair, and Councillor Luke Sauber as vice-chair. The committee also approved the internal audit plan for 2025-26 and noted the updated corporate risk register.

July 22, 2025
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 16th July, 2025 7.30 pm

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.

July 16, 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