Agenda and minutes

Councillor Walsh declared a disclosable prejudicial interest in item 12 relating

to his employment and he withdrew from the meeting during consideration of

this item.

Councillor Moore declared a disclosable prejudicial interest in item 12 relating

to her employment in Further Education and she withdrew from the meeting

during consideration of this item.

Councilor John Paschoud declared a personal interest in Item 12 as a person

who sometimes derived revenue from the Higher Education sector.

Councillor Morrison declared a personal interest in Item 14 as a member of

the LFEPA.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on November 25 2015

be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

None received.

Former Councillor Stephen Padmore RIP

The Chair welcomed members of the family of the late former Councillor

Stephen Padmore to the meeting including his widow and daughter, former

Councillor Sabina Padmore.

The Mayor paid tribute to his 28 years of dedicated service, remembering him

as an original figure who made a difference to the lives of hundreds of people.

The Mayor depicted him as a groundbreaker for BME representation in public

life and that he was unpredictable, funny and challenging.

Councillor Daby recalled she had known him since 2009 and that they shared

a common Guyanese background. She said she still had fond memories of

the support and encouragement she had received from him.

Councillor Muldoon said he had known Stephen for over 20 years and

recalled him as a passionate orator who spoke from the heart and had the

capacity to make people think. He paid tribute to the work he had done for

Moonshot and for the families of the New Cross fire.

Councillor Maslin reported he had made a personal tribute at Stephen’s

funeral but that he also wished now to offer a tribute to his political life. He

said he had been an amazing politician and incredible organiser who strived

to maximise the Labour vote even against token opposition, as he regarded

this as a duty to the electorate. He had been an energetic fundraiser who was

loved in the community and had been able to speak with passion, power and

pace. He believed Stephen regarded politics as almost a close combat sport

and that his role and contribution had never been fully appreciated.

All present observed a 1 minute silence in memory of Stephen Padmore.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Councillor Pauline Morrison spoke about the Council’s continuing commitment

to Holocaust Memorial Day which was to take place on Sunday January 24.

She recalled the horror of a personal visit she had made to Auschwitz with

Councillor Stamirowski.

Councillor Morrison then introduced the Reverend David Rome who

commemorated the event with poem and song before lighting a memorial

candle for all victims of holocausts.

All present then observed a 1 minute silence.

Annual London’s New Year’s Day Parade

The Chair reported Lewisham had finished second in the boroughs section of

the Annual London’s New Year’s Day Parade utilising an ‘Animal Magic’

theme, and winning a trophy and £7,000 which had been donated to the

Mayor’s charity.

68 questions were received from the following members of the public which

were answered by the Cabinet Member indicated. A copy of the questions

and answers was circulated separately and can be viewed on the Council

website with the meeting papers.

8 questions were received from the following Councillors which were

answered by the Cabinet Members indicated. A copy of the questions and

answers was circulated separately and can be viewed on the Council’s

website with the meeting papers.

Councillor Kevin Bonavia moved that the recommendations be approved and

this was seconded by Councillor Jamie Milne and it was:

RESOLVED that

(1) the outcomes of the consultation as set out be noted;

(2) a local CTRS be retained from 1 April 2016 that passes on any reduction

in government funding, reflecting the Council’s financial position following the

announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in November

and the provisional Local Government Financial Settlement (LGFS) in

December; and

(3) the deliver additional support to the most vulnerable residents be

continued through use of the existing provision within Section 13A(1)(c) of the

1992 Local Government Finance Act.

Councillor Kevin Bonavia moved that the recommendations be approved and

this was seconded by Councillor Jamie Milne and it was:

RESOLVED that

(1) the Council Tax Base calculation for 2016/17, as set out in the annual

Council Tax Base government return, be noted;

(2) a Council Tax Base of 78,528.58 band D equivalent properties for 2016/17

be approved;

(3) a budgeted Council Tax collection rate of 96.0% be approved;

(4) the existing policy of a 0% discount for second homes for 2015/16 be

continued for 2016/17;

(5) the existing policy of a 0% discount for empty homes Class A (an empty

property undergoing structural alteration or major repair to make it habitable)

be continued;

(6) the existing policy of a 100% discount awarded for a period of four weeks

and then a 0% discount thereafter, for empty homes – Class C (a substantially

empty and unfurnished property) be continued;

(7) the existing policy of an empty homes premium of 50% in respect of long

term empty properties be continued;

(8) the proposed National Non Domestic Rate (NNDR) estimated net yield of

£49.143m, based on the NNDR3 for 2014/15, be approved; and

(9) consistent with the approach taken in 2015/16,  the Council Tax Reduction

Scheme (CTRS) be implemented where 3.0% is passed onto working age

CTRS recipients.

Councillor Kevin Bonavia moved that the recommendations be approved and

this was seconded by Councillor Jamie Milne and it was:

RESOLVED that

(1) the latest version of the Financial Regulations be approved;

(2) to approve the Directorate Schemes of Delegation (Appendix 2) as they

relate to non-executive functions; and

(3) note be taken that the Mayor has approved the Directorate Schemes of

Delegation as they relate to executive functions.

This item was withdrawn.

The Council agreed to a suspension of Standing Orders to limit all speeches

on motions to a maximum of three minutes.

The motion was moved by Councillor Ibitson and seconded by Councillor Hall.

There was then a debate to which Councillor Britton contributed. The motion

was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“Lewisham Council congratulates the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir on

their Christmas number one charity single ‘A Bridge Over You’ and

commends the choir organisers for the positive effect their musical

endeavours have had in terms of raising the profile of the NHS as a whole,

boosting morale and raising funds for charity.

To ensure that the choir’s victory continues to flourish in the collective

memory of Lewisham and the NHS, and ensure that the national support for

our health services shown by the public who supported the choir remains

current and prominent, council calls upon the Mayor of Lewisham to

undertake the following:

• Write to the choir expressing the council’s thanks for their hard work and

congratulations on their success, both in the recording studio and on the

wards.

• Invite the choir to perform at the Council AGM.

• Follow the example of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Chief Executive Tim

Higginson in thanking singer Justin Bieber for his support for the choir’s

efforts, after his asking fans to buy ‘A Bridge Over You’ gave a major boost to

the choir’s quest for the festive top spot and extend a warm welcome to Mr

Bieber if he wishes to perform at the council AGM.”

The motion was moved by Councillor De Ryk and seconded by Councillor

Brown.

Councillors Moore and Walsh vacated the meeting during consideration of this

item.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“This Council believes:

The Government is in the process of fundamentally changing the Higher

Education Funding settlement agreed by Parliament by increasing costs to

students by the back door. The Government's planned increase in charges,

and removal of Maintenance Grants to students from the poorest households

will adversely affect the widening participation agenda. These changes are

being implemented before the Higher Education White Paper has even been

drafted.

Widening Participation isn't about saving a couple of seats at ivory tower

institutions for a few exceptionally bright kids from the working classes.

Proposals to increase Higher Education costs further and, more

fundamentally, to vary the terms of a contract after it's been agreed by parties

means a student can now never be sure how much they are going to repay.

This will shake the confidence of any future student, particularly those who

come from the poorest backgrounds.

The government has also introduced a cut of 24 per cent to the adult

education budget this year, which will has had and will continue to have

serious ramifications for Further Education provision in England. From IT

literacy courses supporting adults aiming to upskill for the workplace, to arts

courses providing a safe space for vulnerable adults, adult education

provision helps many who missed out on qualifications at school to achieve,

retrain, and re-join the workforce.

That whilst we support increasing the domestic supply of nurses and other

healthcare professionals training and joining the NHS, the idea that this is

achieved by removing NHS bursaries is a flawed one. Whilst we recognise

there is only a finite resource available to government to support trainee

nurses, there are other resource implications, beyond financial capacity, of

increasing trainee nurse places by 10,000 by 2020.

Those representative bodies for the professions have also judged the

Government's plans as ill-conceived. Janet Davies Chief Exec of the Royal

College of Nurses said: "Removing their bursaries will have a serious impact

on them [Nurses] financially and put the future supply of nurses at serious

risk.". Carmel Lloyd, Head of Education at the Royal College of Midwifery

said: "This is a change that has huge implications for both our student midwife

members and an already understaffed maternity service”.

That as a local authority now involved in the London NHS Devolution

programme, we must play an ever greater and more active role in NHS

workforce policy.

“This Council notes:

Currently, students in England who started university from 2012 will pay 9% of

everything earned above £21,000 a year (or £1,750/month pre-tax salary)

once they graduate. In 2010, the Government promised that from April 2017

this repayment threshold would be increased each year in line with average

earnings. It has now backtracked on the promise given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

The motion was moved by Councillor Hooks and seconded by Councillor

Bourne.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“This Council believes:

-           Childcare is an essential component of the infrastructure of the modern

state.

-           High quality, affordable and sufficiently available childcare options are

beneficial both to parents (and guardians and other carers) and children, and

should be available to all families.

-           This Council is proud of our success in supporting children’s

development with 5 year olds in Lewisham, achieving a good level of

development at a higher rate than anywhere else in England. But the position

is not so positive in terms of the support we are able to give to working

families.

-           Many parts of the country have insufficient childcare options to meet

the demands of their residents, particularly parents with “non-standard”

working hours, and changes to the welfare system are likely to exacerbate

this.

-           The affordability of childcare is a particular issue – as the cost of

childcare continues to rise while wages remain static, the cost of childcare

means, for many families, it is not possible for parents and guardians to work.

This Council resolves:

To write to the Secretary of State for Education and request that she:

(i)         make the implementation of a high-quality, flexible and affordable

nationwide system of childcare a government priority;

(ii)        develop a strategy to expand the availability of childcare nationally,

particularly in light of welfare reforms which will lead to more parents working,

and working for longer hours;

(iii)       undertake a thorough assessment of after-school and holiday childcare

provision, accounting for the welfare reforms, and devises a strategy for

ensuring all parents and guardians can access affordable and quality

childcare;

(iv)       extend the review of childcare funding to examine options for reform

and look at how childcare can be made more affordable on a realistic and

sustainable basis across the country; and

(v)        carry out a national programme raising awareness of childcare options.

The motion was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor

Bernards.

There was then a debate to which Councillors Daby and Upex contributed.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“Council notes with concern the current budget consultation being carried out

by the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA)  proposes the

permanent removal of 13 fire appliances including one from Forest Hill fire

station.  These appliances have been removed from normal service for the

last two years to provide contingency cover during the period of industrial

action over firefighter pensions.

As the Council noted in the Public Spending in Lewisham report in 2015 the

absence of Forest Hill’s second appliance has had a negative impact on the

time taken for both the first and second fire crews to arrive across Lewisham.

Since the implementation of Fifth London Safety Plan in 2014 and the closure

ofDownham fire station, the borough has seen an increase of over half a

minute in the arrival of the first fire engine at an incident.

Furthermore, there has been an increase of 41 seconds for the arrival of the

second fire engine; this has gone up from 6 minutes 22 seconds in 2012/13 to

7 minutes 4 seconds in 2014/15.

Bellingham and Crofton Park wards have seen increases of over half a minute

for the arrival of the first fire engine at an incident. Crofton Park, Forest Hill,

Perry Vale and Rushey Green wards have all seen increases of over 1 minute

for the second crew to arrive.  The second fire engine is important as the first

crews cannot enter a building until they have been backed up by a second

crew. The intensity of a fire can quadruple in just two minutes.

Council believes the permanent removal of a fire appliance will only lead to

further deterioration in arrival times.  It is for this reason that the Council

supports the alternative budget proposals supported by the majority of LFEPA

members which would retain the 13 appliances.

Therefore, this Council calls upon the Mayor of Lewisham to respond to the

public consultation and support ‘Option A’ which includes retaining the 13

appliances.”

The movers accepted an amendment deleting the originally published text and inserting the wording shown below The motion was moved by Councillor Walsh and seconded by Councillor

Smith.

There was then a debate to which Councillor Coughlin contributed.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

Amendment Proposed by Councillor Walsh and Seconded by Councillor

Smith.

Delete all and insert:-

“This Council believes:

1. Boris Johnson as Mayor of London has consistently failed to deal with

London’s illegal level of air quality; the situation is so dire now that London

breached its annual air pollution limits within the first week of 2016.

2. That alongside CO2 emissions from all motor vehicles being dangerous to

health, particulates and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel vehicles

cause or exacerbate a significant majority of respiration related health issues

in London.

3. Most new petrol vehicles are equal to diesel for CO2 emissions, but diesel

emissions are significantly more damaging to health than emissions from

petrol vehicles. The vast majority of petrol vehicles emit less harmful

emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) than even the newest diesel vehicles.

4. That as a Council we should support and where possible incentivise local

residents in taking positive action to improve our collective environment and

health.

5. Finally, this Council recognises that our action on its own cannot tackle the

problem of air quality and for this, or any, council to succeed, our policies

must be backed up by strong national legislation and the political will of the

national government.

This Council notes:

1. A recent air quality analysis of Lewisham was undertaken and presented to

the January 2015 Sustainable Development Committee by the London Air

Quality Network, that highlighted the particulate (PM10/2.5) impacts and hot-

spots across the Borough, and noted the areas where the levels was above

the EU-wide legal maxima

2. Diesel emissions have been linked to cancer, heart and lung damage, in

addition to a range of other health issues. The World Health Organisation has

classified diesel emissions as carcinogenic.

3. That air pollution is an equality factor, where the poorest in our Borough are

more likely to feel the effects of it than their better off counterparts.

4. A report commissioned by the GLA last year found that nearly 9,500 people

die prematurely each year because of the capital’s dirty air. An ultra-low

emissions zone is due to begin in 2020 in London to help tackle the problem –

almost 60,000 lives later. Compliance should have been achieved by 2010,

and the Supreme Court ruled that compliance had to be achieved as soon as

possible.

5.  The UK has been in breach of EU NO2 pollution limits for five years now

and again last spring was ordered by the Supreme Court to publish an action

plan on how to tackle this major health crisis. The resulting government plan

was published in December, but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

The motion was moved by Councillor Elliott and seconded by Councillor

Michael.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“This Council Notes –

-           a recent court defeat suffered by the government has highlighted the

unfair impact the current, and future, benefits cap will have on already

struggling carers.  The European Court of Justice ruled that primary care

givers who received carers allowance should be exempt from the benefits

cap, which currently limits the amount a family can receive to £26,000 a year. 

This is set to be further reduced to £23,000 in London.

-           the Judge, Mr Justice Collins deemed the government’s decision

discriminatory; he went on to highlight that neither in the impact statement nor

what was put before parliament raised the effect on the disabled of a loss of a

family carer. 

-           many primary care givers, the majority of whom are women, feel that

they are facing a form of ‘discrimination by association’, as the current policy

recognises those on disability benefits, but fails to exempt people caring for

members of their own family who may live in a different property.

-           the Chief Executive of Carers UK stated that many carers who provide

substantial care to a loved one are struggling to make ends meet, with

additional financial worries impacting on their own health.  All this in spite of

the fact that the economic value of the contribution made by carers in the UK

is estimated to be £119bn per year. 

-           a past survey by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers found that 53%

had borrowed money as a result of their caring role, with 61% having

borrowed from a friend or relative and 41% using their overdraft.

-           the Disability Benefits Consortium is warning the government that their

continued policy is likely to force even more disabled people and their carers

to rely on foodbanks. The government’s emphasis appears to be focussed on

the legality of implementing the benefits cap rather than on how it is excluding

full time carers who already make an immense contribution to the

government, health service and their disabled loved ones.

The Council resolves –

to show our support for the 7 million UK carers by opposing the unfair benefits

cap on full-time carers and join organisations and individuals by lobbying

Members of Parliament to amend the Welfare Reform and Work Bill in this

regard.”

The meeting closed at 9.37pm