Councillor Charlie Smith

Corporate Parenting Committee - Wednesday 26 February 2025 2.00 pm

The Corporate Parenting Committee noted the adoption performance annual report 2023-2024, noted the verbal update from SpeakerBox, noted the Virtual Headteacher update on absenteeism, and agreed the approach and work plan as set out in the report.

Budget and council tax setting meeting, Council Assembly - Wednesday 26 February 2025 7.00 pm

The Council Assembly approved the proposed budget for 2025-26 as amended by the Liberal Democrat group. It also approved the associated council tax increase of 4.99% and agreed to continue existing local schemes for war disability and war widow/widower housing benefit. In addition, the Capital Strategy and the Treasury Management Strategy were approved without amendment.

Extraordinary meeting, Council Assembly - Wednesday 26 February 2025 9.00 pm

Southwark Council held an extraordinary meeting to discuss a motion of no confidence in the leader of the council and the cabinet member for finance in relation to the performance of the Housing Department. An amendment to the motion, proposed by the Labour Group, was passed and the substantive motion, as amended, was also passed.

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 13 February 2025 10.00 am

This meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee had three applications for new premises licences on the agenda. The applications were for a Caribbean Restaurant in Peckham, an exhibition and events space in Surrey Quays and a bar in East Dulwich.

Licensing Committee - Tuesday 11 February 2025 6.00 pm

The Licensing Committee of Southwark Council had two substantive items on the agenda for their meeting. Firstly they were scheduled to decide whether to adopt the council's new statement of gambling policy, which would set out the council's approach to the licensing of gambling premises between 2025 and 2028. Secondly, they were scheduled to decide on a protocol for whether or not the committee's licensing sub-committee hearings should continue to take place remotely, or whether they should return to being held in person.