Agenda and minutes

Councillors John Paschoud and Brenda Dacres both declared a personal

interest in Item 6 as members of the British Computer Society which was a

Royal Charter body awarding IT qualifications.

Councillor Liam Curran declared a personal interest in Item 6 as a Baring

Trust member; a local environmental and heritage organisation.

Councillor John Muldoon declared a personal interest in Item 9 as a volunteer

for three and a half hours per week with the Wildcat Wilderness Timeshare

project.

Councillor Susan Wise declared a personal interest in Item 6 as a Perry Vale

Ward member who had an allotment on a Lewisham self managed site.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on July 15 2020 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

No petitions were presented.

COVID-19 Response

The Mayor outlined the latest steps being taken by the Council in response to

the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

Black History Month

The Council received a visual presentation from Rose Sinclair, Goldsmiths

Lecturer in Design, to our meeting. She was the driving force behind the

‘Caribbean Living Room’ exhibition which could be seen at the Broadway

Theatre.

Etienne Joseph, next spoke about the Asquith Gibbes archive commission 

and explained what the research and archive entailed and oh his involvement

with decolonising the archive. 

The Young Mayor, Femi Komolafe, concluded the item by reading the

following Maya Angelou poem:

“ note the obvious differences
In the human family.
Some of us are serious,
Some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived
As true profundity,
And others claim they really live
The real reality.

The variety of our skin tones
Can confuse, bemuse, delight,
Brown and pink and beige and purple,
Tan and blue and white.

I've sailed upon the seven seas
And stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world
Not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women
Called Jane and Mary Jane,
But I've not seen any two
Who really were the same.

Mirror twins are different
Although their features jibe,
And lovers think quite different thoughts
While lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,
We weep on England's moors,
And laugh and moan in Guinea,
And thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
Are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
In major we're the same.

I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type,
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.

Lewisham Mayor’s Awards 2020

Councillor Joan Millbank outlined the scope of the Awards scheme and its

links with works being undertaken in combating the Covid-19 menace.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020

The Council recorded its congratulations to a Lewisham recipient of the MBE, Trevor Elliott. 

Award to Lewisham’s Youth Offending Service

Councillor Barnham announced the gain of a national award and

congratulated everyone involved with the Youth Offending Service.

2020 Planning Awards

Councillor Bell announced the winning of several Planning related awards by

organisations in Lewisham.

164 questions were received from members of the public which were

answered by the Cabinet Member indicated. Thirty minutes were made

available at the meeting for questioners to raise supplementary questions.

A copy of the questions and answers was circulated separately and can be

viewed on the Council website with the meeting papers.

14 questions were received from 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 Bill Brown moved that the recommendation to receive be approved

and this was seconded by Councillor Sophie Davis and it was then

unanimously:

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Mid Term Review report be received.

Councillor Susan Wise moved that the recommendations be approved and

this was seconded by Councillor Kevin Bonavia and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that

(1) the report and draft minutes of the Constitution Working Party dated 8

October 2020 be noted;

(2) the proposed amendments to the Constitution in relation to Overview &

Scrutiny task and finish groups be approved;

(3) officers be asked to ensure that the amended Constitution is publicly

available.

The Mayor moved that the recommendations be approved and this

was seconded by the Deputy Mayor and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that

(1) Representation by Lewisham Clinical Commissioning Group at the Board

be replaced by representation from the South East London Clinical

Commissioning Group with effect from 1st April 2020 and to agree that the

Council’s Constitution be updated to reflect this change;

(2) The Chief Executive of Rushey Green Time Bank be formally approved by

Council as a permanent member of the Board, representing the voluntary and

community sector;

(3) an additional voluntary and community sector representative will be

identified by the Board at the earliest opportunity to support its work

programme priorities and deliverables and to become a permanent Board

member, subject to approval by Council;

(4) the Health and Wellbeing Board has been performing the function of the

Local Outbreak Engagement Board since September 2020 and that this

responsibility should continue.

The Mayor moved that the recommendation to note be approved and this

was seconded by the Councillor Barnham and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that a variation to the Mayoral Scheme of Delegation be noted.

The Speaker moved that the recommendation to note be approved and this

was seconded by the Deputy Speaker and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that the actions taken by the Speaker of Council be noted.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm