Agenda and minutes

Councillors Walsh and Dromey declared a personal interest in Item 6 as

Founder members of the Bakerloo Extension Campaign.

Councillor Copley declared a personal interest in Item 6 as a private tenant.

Councillor Hall a personal interest in Item 12 as a member of Lewisham

Trades Council and as Chair of the Lewisham, Bexley and Greenwich Branch

of the Unite Union.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on January 23 2019 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Nicola Johnson presented a petition bearing more than 5,000 names calling

for the protection of open green space at the junction of Duncombe Hill and

Brockley Rise SE23 1QY.

Heather Gilmore presented a petition bearing 1650 names call for the

community redevelopment of the Old Tidemill land and a change to the plans

already agreed by the Council.

Councillor Hilary Moore presented a petition bearing 330 names opposing a

proposal by CTIL (Vodafone + O2) for the erection of a 15m antenna at the

junction of Winn Road in Lewisham and Guibal Road in Greenwich.

Councillor Patrick Codd presented a petition bearing 94 names expressing

concern that their street is being used by commuters and for long term

parking by non-residents to the detriment of residents and calling on the

Council to carry out a consultation to extend the Hither Green CPZ to the

Woodlands and adjacent streets.

International Women’s Day

Councillor Joan Millbank informed the Council that International Women’s Day

would take place on March 8 2019 under the theme of “Equality for all” and

that the Council’s collaborative participation would see a range of activities

taking place to which all genders were welcome.

Director of Public Health

Councillor Chris Best noted the retirement of the Director of Public Health, Dr

Danny Ruta and praised him for his vision and passion.

Lady Mayoress

The Chair announced that the Bromley and Catford Synagoue were

organising a Shabbat on March 16 to honour the Lady Mayoress Liane Segal

for her year’s service. Further details were to follow.

54 questions were received from members of the public which

were answered by the Cabinet Member indicated. In the time available 25

questioners were given the opportunity 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.

20 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.

The Budget proposals were introduced by the Mayor who concluded that this

was not the budget he would have liked to have offered but was the least

harmful cuts option and came as the result of unprecedented levels of

participation. He predicted that subsequent years would be faced with more

difficult decisions and that the Government’s so called ‘Fair Funding Review’

gave little grounds for optimism. He paid particular thanks to Councillor De

Ryk for her help throughout the process.

The Mayor confirmed that he was proposing a Council Tax rise of 4.99% and

proposed to use Council reserves for the fifth consecutive year in order to

ensure a balanced budget was achieved.

The Mayor confirmed that he did not intend to vary the budget proposals he

had already fully set out at Mayor and Cabinet on February 6 and 13 and

which did not require further amendment.

A motion that the proposals be accepted was moved by the job share Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Amanda De Ryk and seconded by the

Chair of the Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Jim Mallory.

During the debate on the budget the 5 minute limit on speeches for the Mayor

and Councillors De Ryk and Mallory was suspended.

Once the debate was concluded, there was, in accordance with statutory

provisions, a recorded vote on the Mayor’s proposed Budget. The result of the

vote was as follows:

51 Votes In favour of the Mayor’s Budget Proposals

Councillor Obajimi Adefiranye

Councillor Tauseef Anwar

Councillor Abdeslam Amrani

Councillor Chris Barnham

Councillor Paul Bell

Councillor Peter Bernhards

Councillor Chris Best

Councillor Kevin Bonavia

Councillor Andre Bourne

Councillor Bill Brown

Councillor Juliet Campbell

Councillor Suzannah Clarke

Councillor Patrick Codd

Councillor Tom Copley

Councillor Liam Curran

Councillor Janet Daby

Councillor Brenda Dacres

Councillor Amanda De Ryk

Councillor Joe Dromey

Mayor Damien Egan

Councillor Colin Elliott

Councillor Aisling Gallagher

Councillor Leo Gibbons

Councillor Alan Hall

Councillor Carl Handley

Councillor Octavia Holland

Councillor Sue Hordijenko

Councillor Coral Howard

Councillor Mark Ingleby

Councillor Liz Johnston-Franklin

Councillor Caroline Kalu

Councillor Silvana Kelleher

Councillor Louise Krupski

Councillor Jim Mallory

Councillor Joan Millbank

Councillor Hilary Moore

Councillor Pauline Morrison

Councillor John Muldoon

Councillor Olurotimi Ogunbadewa

Councillor Jacq Paschoud

Councillor John Paschoud

Councillor Stephen Penfold

Councillor James Rathbone

Councillor Joani Reid

Councillor Sakina Sheikh

Councillor Jonathan Slater

Councillor Alan Smith

Councillor Luke Sorba

Councillor Eva Stamirowski

Councillor James-J Walsh

Councillor Susan Wise

Votes Against the Mayor’s Budget Proposals nil

Abstentions nil

RESOLVED that:

(1) the recommendations shown below be agreed in respect of the 2019/20

Budget having considered the views of those consulted on the budget, and

subject to consideration of the outcome of consultation with business

ratepayers and subject to proper process, as required,

Capital Programme

(2) the 2018/19 Quarter 3 Capital Programme monitoring position and the

Capital Programme potential future schemes and resources as set out in

section 5 be noted;

(3) the 2019/20 to 2021/22 Capital Programme of £344.7m, as set out in

section 5 and attached at Appendices W1 and W2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Councillor Kevin Bonavia moved that the recommendations be approved

and this was formally seconded by Councillor Jim Mallory and it was then

unanimously:

RESOLVED that:

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

(2) the Directorate Schemes of Delegation (Appendices 2 to 5) as they relate

to non-executive functions be endorsed;

(3) officers be authorised to update the Council’s Constitution accordingly.

Councillor Amanda De Ryk moved that the recommendations be approved

and this was seconded by Councillor Joani Reid and it was then

unanimously:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the approval by Council of a motion that Lewisham Council signs the

Cooperative Party Charter against Modern Slavery be noted (Council meeting

3 October 2018)

(2) the potential impact of adoption of the Charter, the Lewisham Modern

Slavery Protocol, and the draft Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Statement for 2018/19 on current and future arrangements including with

partners as set out be noted;

(3) the Council adopts and signs up to the Co-operative Party Charter on

Modern Slavery;

(4) the Lewisham Modern Slavery Protocol (developed jointly with partners)

be approved;

(5) the Council’s draft Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Statement for

2018/19 be approved.

The Mayor moved that the recommendations be approved and this was

seconded by Councillor Bill Brown and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that the attached Corporate Strategy replace the 2008

Community Strategy.

Albion Green Millennium Trust

Councillor Millbank proposed a nomination and this was seconded by

Councillor Moore and there being no other nominations it was:

RESOLVED that Councillor Sophie Davis be appointed to the Albion Green

Millennium Trust.

The Chair agreed to use her Constitutional discretion and changed the order

of the agenda by taking this motion immediately after Item 5, Public

Questions.

The Head of Law was questioned concerning the legal advice which was

tabled in connection with this motion and she confirmed her advice was purely

facilitative.

The motion was moved by Councillor Rathbone and seconded by Councillor

Moore. Following contributions from Councillors Bonavia, Slater, the Mayor

and Councillor Hall, the motion was then put to the vote and declared to be

unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

Lewisham Council is concerned by the rise in hate crime and racism across

the UK and the wider world. Lewisham is proud of its diverse community, and

works to tackle discrimination in all its forms. As part of this work we believe

that we must establish clear definitions of what is and isn’t acceptable as part

of our Equalities Policy, whether this relates to gender, disability, sexuality or

discrimination against people on the grounds of race, religion or culture.

2017 saw the highest recorded level of antisemitism in over twenty years, with

the recorded level for 2018 being only slightly lower. Antisemitism accounts

for 12% of all religious hate crime in the UK, despite the Jewish population

being less than 0.5% of the total population. Roughly 75% of antisemitic

incidents occur in Greater London and Manchester.

Antisemitism comes in many forms, such as physical violence, vandalism and

criminal damage, but also as verbal and online abuse. It is increasingly

common to see antisemitism disguised as criticism of Israel, or criticism of

Israel expressed via anti-Semitic tropes, conspiracies and language. This

definition does not in any way undermine freedom of speech regarding the

Israeli Government or its actions. Whilst this criticism can be legitimate, that is

not the case if it stems from antisemitism, or is expressed using the tropes

and imagery of antisemitism.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of

Antisemitism and its examples is the only definition supported by the Jewish

community of the UK, as represented by their communal organisations the

Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies. The IHRA Definition

and its examples has already been adopted by the Government of the UK and

over 130 Local Authorities, as well as numerous other national and

international bodies, including both the European Union and United Nations.

It is also noted that nothing in the IHRA definition of Antisemitism, or in other

documents with a bearing on the Authority’s code of conduct and disciplinary

procedures, can be used or interpreted in a way that violates the right to

freedom of expression entrenched in the Human Rights Act 1998.

This Council resolves to:

1. Reaffirm its condemnation of all forms of hate crimes and racism.

2. Adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the working model for

challenging and confronting incidents of this form of hate crime and racism.

3. Ask the Mayor and Cabinet to look into adopting similarly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

The motion was moved by Councillor Anwar and seconded by Councillor

Krupski. Following contributions from Councillors Sorba and Sheikh, the

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

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

Lewisham Council notes:

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of

which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have increased by

1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are

above 400 parts per million (ppm) and continue to rise. This far exceeds the

350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

Without significant and sustained action, the world will exceed the Paris

Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050.  The government’s policies and

programmes to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 are insufficient.

Individual and collective action is needed to make this reduction. Society

needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure and culture to recognise and

meet the full cost of greenhouse gases. 

The public sector has a fundamental role in enabling individuals and

communities to make sustainable low carbon choices.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global

Warming of 1.5°C, published in October 2018, describes the enormous harm

that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise.  The IPCC identify

that limiting global warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious

action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private

sector and local communities;

In Lewisham, the consequences of inaction to address this climate emergency

will include:

•           Increased risk of flooding and damage to buildings, infrastructure and

the local economy.

•           Health problems, particularly for children, older people and those with

pre-existing conditions.

•           Higher living costs including energy, food, travel and insurance costs.

•           Increases in social injustice and inequality.

•           Financial and emotional consequences for residents with families

around the world adversely affected by the impact of a changing climate

Councils around the world, including the Mayor of London and other local

authorities in London and the UK have responded by declaring a ‘climate

emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.

Lewisham Council resolves to:

1.         Declare a ‘climate emergency’

2. Recognise that a changing climate will have severe and enduring social,

economic and environmental implications, and that tackling climate change is

an issue of inequality as the greatest impact will be on the most vulnerable

and those least able to protect themselves.

Call on the Mayor and Cabinet to:

1. Pledge to do everything within their power to make Lewisham carbon

neutral by 2030.

2. Launch a review to report to on delivering a Zero-Carbon Lewisham

including:

•           Publishing a new Lewisham Action Plan on Climate Change, with an

interim draft ready for scrutiny by the Sustainable Development Select

Committee and Mayor & Cabinet before the end of the municipal year

2019/20.

•           Setting specific and measurable targets to reduce carbon emissions for

the Council and for the borough as a whole, including costed milestones to

zero-carbon;

•           Consider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Councillor Copley successfully moved and Councillor Ingleby seconded a

motion without notice that Standing Orders be suspended to allow the

meeting to continue past the 10pm guillotine.

The motion was moved by Councillor Copley and seconded by Councillor

Bernards. Following a contributions from the Mayor, the

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

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

This Council notes:

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a drug taken by HIV-negative people

before sex that reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. If

taken as prescribed, it is highly effective at preventing HIV

PrEP has already been approved for use across the world including in the

United States, Canada and France

PrEP has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization

However, access to the treatment in the UK differs according to the country

you live in:

- In England, the PrEP trial scheme has places limited to just 13,000 people,

leaving thousands across the country who want to protect their health having

to import the PrEP and paying up to £4,200 a year

-  Meanwhile, in Scotland PrEP is available to high-risk groups on the NHS,

while in Wales and Northern Ireland there are trial schemes with no limits on

places

This Council believes:

-          That the founding principles of the NHS are just as important as today

•           That the NHS meet the needs of everyone

•           That it be free at the point of delivery

•           That it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay

- PrEP is a vital tool for public health and achieving zero HIV transmissions

- By failing to make PrEP available on the NHS in England, the founding

principles of the NHS are being broken

- PrEP should be available on the NHS in England and the UK for those who

need it

This Council resolves:

- To work with organisations including the Terrence Higgins Trust to

campaign for PrEP to be available on the NHS in England.

- To call on the government to fund the availability of PrEP on the NHS

in England.

The motion was moved by Councillor Walsh and seconded by Councillor

Kelleher. Following a contributions from Councillor Adefiranye, the

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

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“Russia: End the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya

This Council believes:

-           Chechen Authorities under the auspices of the Russian Government

have been carrying out large-scale arrests of individuals believed to be gay or

lesbian.

-           LGBT people in Chechnya are being abducted, locked up in secret

detention sites, tortured and sometimes killed - purely because of their sexual

orientation.

-           Two people have already been tortured to death during a recent revival

of the crackdown on LGBTI people that started two years ago. This must stop

now.

-           People are living in fear of humiliation, torture and death at the hands

of the authorities. Their passports are being confiscated and destroyed by the

authorities, so even when people are released, they are trapped in Chechnya.

-           Chechen authorities deny that gay people exist but also incite

homophobic violence by telling people to murder their own family members

because of their sexual orientation. This means anyone who is suspected of

being LGBTI in Chechnya is at extreme risk.

This Council further believes:

Lewisham in its aspiration to act as borough of sanctuary, should not only

house those dispossessed by natural disaster, war or persecution, but should

also shine a light on those that create regimes that force those to flee their

country.

This Council resolves:

-           To ensure that our role as a sanctuary borough is fully inclusive, and

welcomes and fully understands the needs of LGBT+ Asylum Seekers.

-           To work with LGBT+ Asylum/immigration charities such as UKLGIG to

help build our understanding, and theirs, as Lewisham as s a sanctuary

Borough

-           For the Mayor of Lewisham to write to the The Secretary of State for

Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs and the The Secretary of State for

International Development & Minister for Women & Equalities, copying their

Shadow Ministerial counterpart, asking how they’re planning on responding to

this humanitarian crisis and to publish that response back to Council.”

The meeting closed at 10.12pm