Oana Olaru-Holmes - Councillor for Lewisham (Downham)

Councillor Oana Olaru-Holmes

Labour Party Downham Cabinet Member for Refugees, Safer Lewisham and Equalities

Email: Oana.Olaru@lewisham.gov.uk

Council: Lewisham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Council (Committee Member) Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee (Cabinet Member) Mayor and Cabinet (Committee Member) Downham Assembly Appointments Committee Strategic Planning Committee Planning Committee B Sustainable Development Select Committee Works Council

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Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

37 meetings · Page 1 of 8

Mayor and Cabinet Committee Member

Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 3rd December, 2025 6.00 pm

The Mayor and Cabinet of Lewisham Council met to discuss a range of issues, including housing, social care, waste management, and financial performance. They approved measures to increase the supply of affordable housing, improve waste collection services, extend contracts for social care services, and set the council tax base for the upcoming financial year. The cabinet also agreed to procure new IT systems for the Revenue and Benefits Service and approved a contract for print and multifunctional devices.

December 03, 2025
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 7.30 pm

The Council of Lewisham met on Wednesday 26 November 2025, addressing community safety concerns, celebrating achievements in planning and parks, and approving the annual accounts. The council also discussed petitions, public and member questions, and motions related to recognising the contributions of British West Indian service personnel and the Latin American community in Lewisham.

November 26, 2025
Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Cabinet Member

Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - Wednesday, 12th November, 2025 7.00 pm

The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met to discuss budget equalities monitoring, resident engagement and consultation, and the committee's work programme. The meeting was also scheduled to include declarations of interest from committee members.

November 12, 2025
Mayor and Cabinet Committee Member

Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 22nd October, 2025 6.00 pm

At a meeting on 22 October 2025, Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet agreed to extend the advice services grant, implement changes to bulky waste disposal, and transfer management of Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields to Bonus Pastor School, among other decisions. The cabinet also approved a new active travel strategy and discussed ways to improve housing policies and services.

October 22, 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

Decisions from Meetings

232 decisions · Page 37 of 47

The change of use of open space adjacent to Watergate School to enable the construction of a new school building

From: Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 04, 2024

...to approve the change of use of open space adjacent to Watergate School to enable the construction of a new school building.

Recommendations Approved

Catford and Crofton Park review and revised Sustainable Streets Programme

From: Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 04, 2024

...to approve an updated Sustainable Streets Programme, expand the Honor Oak Sustainable Streets area, amend implementation procedures for Sustainable Streets, update the parking policy to convert limited waiting bays to pay-to-park, and introduce a multi-vehicle ownership levy for resident permit holders.

Recommendations Approved

Re-procurement and award of the Primary Care Recovery Service (Adult Substance Misuse Service)

From: Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 04, 2024

...to approve the procurement and award of a two-year contract, costing a maximum of £1,612,706, to the Humankind Charity for the Primary Care Recovery Service (Adult Substance Misuse).

Recommendations Approved

Building for Lewisham (BfL) - Procurement Strategy and Programme Update

From: Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 04, 2024

...to procure an Investment Partner for major development projects under the Building for Lewisham program, delegate authority to bid for grant funding for specific regeneration projects, and note the progress, risks, and challenges impacting the program, including the impact of changes to Right to Buy.

Recommendations Approved

Setting the Council Tax Base 2025/26

From: Mayor and Cabinet - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 04, 2024

...to recommend to the Council the Council Tax Base, collection rate, Council Tax Reduction Scheme, discounts, and premiums for various property types for 2025/26, as well as noting the estimated National Non-Domestic Rate yield and delegating approval of the final NNDR1 form.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 37

Average per Month: 1.9

Decisions Recorded: 232