Agenda and minutes

The Chair said on behalf of the Panel he would like to thank the Policy and Development Manager and the Regeneration Team for taking the full report of the Bakerloo Line extension to Council as requested by the Panel.

RESOLVED  that the minutes of that part of the meetings of the Panel, which were open to the press and public, held on 16 December and 22 December 2014 be confirmed and signed.

The Chair declared a personal interest on item 5 as a member on the Phoenix Board.

Report noted.

Report noted.

Borough-wide 20mph Speed Limit

The Interim Head of Community and Neighbourhood introduced the report. In response to the Chair’s query about what the £1m from reserves would be used for, the Interim Head of Community and Neighbourhood said for calming measures and compliance. The Executive Director for Resources & Regeneration added that the money would also be used for consultation.  The Executive Director for Resources & Regeneration said at the end of the year officers would look at creating reserves for this project and the money would be used as and when required.

The Chair asked whether a budget would be created especially for this project and was told by the Executive Director for Resources & Regeneration that a number of the Council’s expenditures were not regular on-going ones therefore money would be found in the reserves to fund them.

The Chair said that Ward Members should be involved with the consultations, and a specific line should be included in the budget to explain this project’s funding. The Executive Director for Resources & Regeneration said she would ensure this was done. The Chair thanked officers for the report.

RESOLVED that the Mayor’s decision be noted.

River Corridors Improvement Plan

The Planning Policy Manager introduced the report. The Chair said he had noted the report would be going to Council and Sustainable Development Select Committee.

Councillor Curran said he was concerned that the consultation reach seemed narrower than expected. Councillor Curran said he would expect consultation to be wider than described in the report. The Planning Policy Manager said officers had expected to do a wider consultation and were thinking of doubling this consultation with that of the Flood Strategy. Councillor Curran asked the start date of the consultation and was told this had not been decided, as the report would be going to Council on Wednesday 25 February, after which officers would need a week or 2 to prepare the plan. The Chair said considering the limited funds available to the Council, Panel members would welcome a commitment to widen the consultation, especially if linking it with the flood strategy would achieve that.

RESOLVED that the Mayor’s decision be noted.

Local Flood Strategy

The Performance Manager introduced the report. The Chair asked if the consultation plan would be going to Sustainable Development Committee, and was told that the Select Committee will see a report following completion of the consultation. Councillor Curran said following the flooding in Lewisham last year he was surprised to note that Lewisham was not part of the South East London Partnership (SELP). The Performance Manager said that this group was set up by central government for London Boroughs that had been adversely affected by ground water, and Lewisham flooding was not identified as such.

Councillor Curran said this meant that Lewisham would not be kept informed about developments. The Performance Manager said that Lewisham was in the loop as it was in a flood risk partnership with Bexley, Bromley, Croydon and Greenwich who were all part of SELP and they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chair asked the Principal Lawyer to explain the tabled legal advice provided to Panel members by the Head of Law in connection with the Delegated Savings reports. The Principal Lawyer said firstly the Mayor could delegate some of his powers to officers to make decisions as he sees fit, but he has the final decision. The Principal Lawyer added that there were different set of criteria for key decisions. She said that many of the budget delegated decisions were not key decisions, and should not have been brought to the Panel as a result of advice given at a previous meeting. It was noted that this was an unprecedented exercise which officers have learnt from.

The Chair informed Panel members that the delegated savings they would be looking at were not new ones, as they have been subject to scrutiny and have been seen by Mayor and Cabinet.

A7 Cost Effective Care for Mental Health

Business Panel noted the report.

A10 Proposal in Respect of Recouping Health Cost

The Chair asked the Executive Director of Community Services to explain how savings would be made, this was done.

Business Panel noted the report.

A10 Savings in IT Budget

Business Panel noted the report.

J1 School Effectiveness Related Services

The report was presented by the Executive Director of Children and young People. The Chair requested that the Children and Young People Select Committee be kept updated on Education Psychology Service, recharging schools to generate income. He said that Business Panel will look at this again in the 2016/17 Budget.

K1/K3 Recommissioning Drug & Alcohol Treatment Services / Integrated Offender Management Service

Business Panel noted the report.

L2 Salaries Savings Proposal

Business Panel noted the report.

O2 Parking Client Team Restructure

Business Panel noted the report.

O3 Enforcement Agency

The Chair requested a progress report to the Public Accounts Select Committee later in 2015.

E2-E5 Asset Optimisation/ Commercial Estate Optimisation/ Energy Efficiency Measures

Business Panel noted the report.

F1 Business Support

The Chair stated that officers should ensure there was appropriate security for the Council office buildings. The Chair asked whether the Town Hall security was linked to that of the Civic Suite. The Head of Public Services said that security contract was not included in Business Support. He added that the arrangements for the Town Hall was the responsibility of Lewisham Homes. He said that officers would ensure that Catford offices security works well.

The Chair said he understood this was a difficult time, and thanked officers for the report.

G1 Investment Income as Part of 2015/16 Savings Proposal – Income Generation

The Chair requested that the section on improving investment income be referred to the Public Accounts Select Committee, and kept under review by that committee.

The Chair also requested that the section relating to increasing SLA income from schools to be kept under review by the Children and Young People Select Committee. Business Panel members noted that officers would be more informed about the amount of services that schools would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Executive Director for Community Services informed members of two new proposals. The Chair stated that these items would be going to Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee. The Chair requested the new savings, L3 (Cultural & Community Development Service) and L4 (Broadway Theatre) to be looked at by the Public Accounts Select Committee on 5 February 2015, notwithstanding Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee’s consideration  of the items on 3 February 2015. Business Panel was also informed that the Equalities Assessment of all savings would be going to Safer Stronger Select Committee, the following week.

The Chair thanked officers for attending the meeting, and for their patience.

Meeting ended 8.30pm