Councillor Chris Best
Email: chris.best@lewisham.gov.uk
Council: Lewisham
Council Profile: View on council website
Committees:
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Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
278 meetings · Page 1 of 56
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 19th March, 2026 7.30 pm
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to review the delivery of the Corporate Strategy 2022-2026 and discuss lessons learned for the development of the next strategy. Key themes emerging from the discussion included the need for greater agility, innovation, and a stronger focus on outcomes rather than just outputs, particularly in light of significant external challenges faced by the council.
BUDGET, Council - Wednesday, 4th March, 2026 7.30 pm
The Council of Lewisham met on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, to discuss a range of significant issues, including the Council Budget for 2026/27 and temporary changes to polling places for the upcoming May 2026 elections. The meeting also included a review of the Statement of Licensing Policy.
Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - Tuesday, 24 February 2026 - 7.00 pm
The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met on Tuesday 24 February 2026 to discuss policing updates, initiatives for an age-friendly borough, and the implementation of recommendations from the Disabled People's Commission. Key decisions included a commitment to improving public trust in the police through enhanced community engagement and a focus on developing co-production frameworks to ensure disabled residents have a greater say in policy and service design.
Governance Committee - Wednesday, 4th February, 2026 7.00 pm
The Governance Committee met to discuss proposed changes to polling places for the May 2026 elections and to consider delegating authority to the Returning Officer for future urgent temporary amendments. The committee recommended that the Council approve these changes, including a temporary move for a polling district in Sydenham, and agreed to a review of polling districts in that area after the elections.
Decisions from Meetings
68 decisions · Page 1 of 14
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
Members' Allowances
From: Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm - September 24, 2025
...to increase the basic allowance for members by 3.2% to £13,201 and all existing Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) by 3.2%, both effective from 1st April 2025, and to instruct the Monitoring Officer to review the Council's current allowances and implement the decision.
Recommendations Approved
Appointment of Independent Persons
From: Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm - September 24, 2025
...to appoint Kalwant Grewal and Katy Prestedge as two independent persons to the Standards Committee.
Recommendations Approved
Dispensation under Section 85 Local Government Act 1972
From: Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm - September 24, 2025
...to grant Councillor Coral Howard a dispensation from the meeting attendance requirements of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 until May 7th, 2026, due to illness.
Recommendations Approved
Use of Substitutes
From: Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm - September 24, 2025
...to include the temporary arrangements for the use of substitutes in committees, previously approved on January 22nd, 2025, into the Committee Procedure Rules under Part 4 of the Constitution.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 278
Average per Month: 1.5
Decisions Recorded: 68 Not all decisions are recorded, so this may significantly underestimate the number of decisions actually made.