Agenda and minutes

Timothy Andrew (Interim Overview and Scrutiny Manager) opened the meeting and asked Members to confirm the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Resolved: that Councillor Handley be confirmed as the Chair and Councillor Bernards be confirmed as the Vice-Chair of the Select Committee.

Councillor Johnson-Franklin asked for a clarification on the minutes relating to the nominations for the Church Grove self-build project and to the current numbers of people living in temporary accommodation.

Genevieve Macklin confirmed that the numbers in temporary accommodation were 1750 and would send details of nominations for the Church Grove self-build project.

Resolved: that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record of the meeting held on 9 March 2016.

Councillor Slater declared a non-prejudicial interest as a member of the board of Phoenix Community Housing.

Councillor Reid declared a non-prejudicial interest as a member of the board of Lewisham Homes.

Timothy Andrew (Interim Overview and Scrutiny Manager) introduced the report, the following key points were noted:

·         The Committee was asked to review their draft annual work programme and to identify priority issues as well as to put forward additional suggestions and give consideration to the capacity for items to be added or removed from each meeting.

·         A meeting of the Committee had been scheduled on 23 June which was the date of the EU referendum. The Committee may wish to consider moving this meeting date – and that on 10 May.

·         Time had been scheduled in the agenda for the Committee to carry out an in-depth review.

The Committee discussed the work annual work programme with additional input from Timothy Andrew and Genevieve Macklin. The following key points were noted:

·         Suggestions for additions to the work programme included: scrutiny of arrangements for housing vulnerable people. The Committee discussed the difficulties that some families with children faced if they had to move away from their children’s schools to access housing. The issue of housing and health was also raised as well as housing and support for vulnerable people. The Committee also discussed the importance of multi-agency working.

·         The Sustainable Development Select Committee had agreed to focus closely on the delivery of the Catford programme. The proposal for a joint meeting of the Housing and Sustainable Development select committees would concentrate on Lewisham’s implementation of Housing Action Zones.

·         The Committee discussed the decent homes standard. Members were advised that Lewisham Homes would be able to provide additional information on progress at a future meeting.

·         The importance of prioritising items on the work programme was considered. It was agreed that the Committee would review the priority of items at each meeting as part of its review of the work programme.

·         It was agreed that further discussion on potential topics for in-depth review would be carried out with the Chair.

·         The Committee would request additional information on the Council’s landlord licensing scheme as part of the review of that agenda item.

Resolved: that the suggestions put forward for the work programme be agreed and that possible alternative dates for the meetings scheduled to be held on 10 May and 23 June be circulated to the Committee.

There were none.