Rachel Onikosi - Councillor for Lewisham (Bellingham)

Councillor Rachel Onikosi

Labour and Co-operative Party Bellingham

Email: Rachel.Onikosi@lewisham.gov.uk

Council: Lewisham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Council (Committee Member) Licensing Committee (Committee Member) Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee (Committee Member) Bellingham Assembly Healthier Communities Select Committee (Committee Member) Licensing Sub Committee D (Committee Member)

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Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

52 meetings · Page 2 of 11

Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Committee Member

Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - Tuesday, 6th January, 2026 7.00 pm

The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met to discuss the Corporate Equalities Update and progress on tackling domestic violence and violence against women and girls (VAWG). Key decisions included noting the progress on the Single Equalities Framework and the ongoing work to improve representation and accessibility within the council and the borough.

January 06, 2026
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 7.30 pm

The Lewisham Council meeting on 26 November 2025 confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting and addressed declarations of interest. Key discussions included a community safety update, announcements on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, planning service recognition, Lewisham Parks Awards, and secured funding for better bus infrastructure. The council also discussed free SIM cards for low-income residents and funding for youth clubs and adventure playgrounds. A petition was presented regarding traffic calming measures on Sunny Dean Street, and public questions covered various council services and planning decisions. Member questions delved into specific council initiatives and policies, and the meeting concluded with the approval of the Statement of Accounts for 2024-25 and the consideration of two motions: one recognising the contribution of British West Indian and Global Majority Service Personnel, and another recognising the Latin American community in Lewisham.

November 26, 2025
Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Committee 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
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
Licensing Committee Committee Member

Licensing Committee - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 9.00 pm

The Licensing Committee convened to address several key items, including the approval of minutes from previous meetings, adjustments to sub-committee memberships, and a decision regarding a premises licence application. The committee approved the minutes from the meetings held on 21 and 23 July 2025. Additionally, Councillor Rachel Onikosi was appointed to Licensing Sub-Committee D, replacing Councillor Natasha Burgess, and Councillor Kim Powell was nominated to the Licensing Urgency Sub-committee, replacing Councillor Bill Brown.

September 24, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

61 decisions · Page 1 of 13

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

Motions

From: Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm - September 24, 2025

...to support Labour's 30 Hours of Free Childcare and to bring Thames Water back into public ownership.

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

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

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

Summary

Meetings Attended: 52

Average per Month: 2.2

Decisions Recorded: 61