Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Mayor declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 4 as a Board

Member of the Surrey Canal Sports Foundation.

Councillor Joe Dromey declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 8

as a member of the Deptford Neighbourhood Forum.

The Mayor declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 4 as a Board

Member of the Surrey Canal Sports Foundation.

Councillor Joe Dromey declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 8

as a member of the Deptford Neighbourhood Forum.

A reference from the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel on the Budget was

considered as part of Item 5

A reference from the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel on the Budget was

considered as part of Item 5.

Having considered an officer report, two tabled addendums, written

representations from the Save the 18 campaign and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, Councillor Rachel Onikosi, the Mayor

agreed that:

(1) the continuation of work on the restoration of Beckenham Place Park be

approved, and that this will include:

a) Public consultation about park design and facilities.

b) On-going design work and accompanying technical work by consultants, to

be funded by the HLF grant.

c) Submission of a phase 2 bid to the HLF for approval of the detailed plans

(2) the closure of the existing golf course by 31st December 2016 be

approved.

The report was presented by Councillor Rachel Onikosi who urged the Mayor

to accept the recommendations saying there was an opportunity to achieve

substantial investment in the park.

Councillor Egan pointed out a written representation had been received from

the Save the Eighteen campaign which contained a user survey claiming

support for the continuation of golf in the park. Officers did not dispute this

finding but pointed out it focused only on current park users and not the much

wider potential audience of park users in the borough.

Councillor Daby advised the Mayor that as a Councillor in the nearby

Whitefoot Ward, she had only received one objection to the proposals.

Councillor Bonavia received an assurance that efforts had been made over

several years to attract a golf partner and increase income but that these had

proved unsuccessful.

Councillor Dromey asked where the nearest municipal golf courses were and

was informed there were two in the London Borough of Bromley.

The Mayor recalled that he had been deeply involved with Beckenham Place

Park since 1984 when he was Chair of the Leisure Services Committee. He

said the park had never enjoyed its expected usage but now there appeared

to be scope to radically improve this. The Mayor acknowledged there had

been multiple representations demanding that golf be retained and that he

had listened to these carefully but it seemed to be beyond doubt that the use

of the golf course has steadily declined. The Mayor concluded that the best

way forward for the use of open spaces had to be found and he was agreeing

the proposed recommendations but he took no pleasure in the decision to

cease golf.

Having considered an officer report, two tabled addendums, written

representations from the Save the 18 campaign and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, Councillor Rachel Onikosi, the Mayor,

for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the continuation of work on the restoration of Beckenham Place Park be

approved, and that this will include:

a) Public consultation about park design and facilities.

b) On-going design work and accompanying technical work by consultants, to

be funded by the HLF grant.

c) Submission of a phase 2 bid to the HLF for approval of the detailed plans

(2) the closure of the existing golf course by 31st December 2016 be

approved.

Having considered an officer report and an oral update from the Head of Law,

the Cabinet, in the absence of the Mayor agreed that the item should be

withdrawn.

The Mayor left the meeting room during consideration of this item. Councillor

Best was in the Chair for this item only.

The Cabinet was advised by the Head of Law that this item should be

withdrawn pending further inquiries.

Councillor Best advised the Cabinet to accept this advice and said she

expected the developer, Millwall FC and Council Officers to seek a resolution

to their differences without any unnecessary delays.

Councillor Dromey mentioned that he had received a petition with more than

15,000 signatures from the Defend the Den Campaign which he would be

presenting at Council on February 24./cf

Having considered an officer report and an oral update from the Head of Law,

the Cabinet, in the absence of the Mayor, agreed that the item should be

withdrawn.

Having considered an officer report, a referral presented by the Chair of

Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Alan Hall and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) Council be recommended to agree a Band D Council Tax for 2016/17 of

£1,102.66 for the Council’s element. This is an increase of 3.99% (including a

social care precept of 2%), based on a General Fund Budget Requirement of

£236.218m for 2016/17.

(2) Council be asked to note an overall increase in the total Council Tax for

2016/17 of 3.99% to include the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept

being reduced by £19 to £276, a 6.4% reduction from its 2015/16 level as

proposed.

(3) Agrees to recommend to Council on 24 February 2016, the statutory

calculation of the Budget Requirement for Lewisham for 2016/17, attached at

Appendix A.

(4) Council be recommended to agree on 24 February 2016, the motion on

the budget, attached at Appendix B, including modifications made to the

proposals published in the 2016/17 Budget Report.

.

(5) Notes the provisional and estimated precept and levies from the GLA and

other bodies as detailed in Appendix C and delegate authority to the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration to include any changes to

these in the report for Council.

(6) the final settlement figure of £146.691m announced on the 8 February

2016 be noted, which is the same as the provisional settlement figure.

(7) there were no responses from Business rate payers to the consultation on

the draft Budget which took place from 21 January 2016 to 4 February 2016.

(8) the updated equalities implications as set out for the introduction of the

Social Care precept as part of proposed Council Tax increases be noted; and

(9) the Section 25 Statement from the Chief Financial Officer attached at

Appendix D be received.

The Mayor accepted this as a late and urgent item having received an

explanation that given the significance of the financial constraints that the

Council faces over the coming years, it was essential that the Mayor and

Cabinet were updated on any changes affecting the 2016/17 Budget prior to

presenting it to Council. The reason for lateness was to ensure that any

decisions taken by the Mayor & Cabinet on 10 February 2016 could be

appropriately considered within this report.

Having considered an officer report, a referral presented by the Chair of

Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Alan Hall and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) Council be recommended to agree a Band D Council Tax for 2016/17 of

£1,102.66 for the Council’s element. This is an increase of 3.99% (including a

social care precept of 2%), based on a General Fund Budget Requirement of

£236.218m for 2016/17.

(2) Council be asked to note an overall increase in the total Council Tax for

2016/17 of 3.99% to include the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept

being reduced by £19 to £276, a 6.4% reduction from its 2015/16 level as

proposed.

(3) Agrees to recommend to Council on 24 February 2016, the statutory

calculation of the Budget Requirement for Lewisham for 2016/17, attached at

Appendix A.

(4) Council be recommended to agree on 24 February 2016, the motion on

the budget, attached at Appendix B, including modifications made to the

proposals published in the 2016/17 Budget Report.

.

(5) Notes the provisional and estimated precept and levies from the GLA and

other bodies as detailed in Appendix C and delegate authority to the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration to include any changes to

these in the report for Council.

(6) the final settlement figure of £146.691m announced on the 8 February

2016 be noted, which is the same as the provisional settlement figure.

(7) there were no responses from Business rate payers to the consultation on

the draft Budget which took place from 21 January 2016 to 4 February 2016.

(8) the updated equalities implications as set out for the introduction of the

Social Care precept as part of proposed Council Tax increases be noted; and

(9) the Section 25 Statement from the Chief Financial Officer attached at

Appendix D be received.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that

(1) the successful conclusion of a series of contractor engagements and

consultations in partnership with the Education Funding Agency and the final

agreed building proposal be noted;

(2) the requirement to consult more widely with Councillors, the governing

body, parents and neighbouring boroughs had been met;

(3) the decision to expand Sir Francis Drake Primary from 1 to 2FE for

2017 be ratified in accordance with the building proposals concluded in

partnership with the Education Funding Agency; and

(4) additional expenditure to a maximum of £225,000 be approved to support

additional site and planning requirements.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that

(1) the successful conclusion of a series of contractor engagements and

consultations in partnership with the Education Funding Agency and the final

agreed building proposal be noted;

(2) the requirement to consult more widely with Councillors, the governing

body, parents and neighbouring boroughs had been met;

(3) the decision to expand Sir Francis Drake Primary from 1 to 2FE for

2017 be ratified in accordance with the building proposals concluded in

partnership with the Education Funding Agency; and

(4) additional expenditure to a maximum of £225,000 be approved to support

additional site and planning requirements.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that

(1) The nursery, primary, secondary and sixth form admissions arrangements

for Lewisham’s community mainstream schools as set out in Appendix A to H

be approved; and

(2) The pan London Admissions Schemes for reception and secondary

transfer and a local scheme for in year admissions as detailed in Appendix I

be approved.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) The nursery, primary, secondary and sixth form admissions arrangements

for Lewisham’s community mainstream schools as set out in Appendix A to H

be approved; and

(2) The pan London Admissions Schemes for reception and secondary

transfer and a local scheme for in year admissions as detailed in Appendix I

be approved.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that

(1) the designation of the DNA Neighbourhood Area as set out at Annex 3 be

approved;

(2) the Deptford Neighbourhood Action Neighbourhood Forum be designated

as set out at Annex 2.

(3) the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be authorised to

undertake the required publicity of the designations.

Councillor Dromey withdrew from the meeting while this item was considered.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that

(1) the designation of the DNA Neighbourhood Area as set out at Annex 3 be

approved;

(2) the Deptford Neighbourhood Action Neighbourhood Forum be designated

as set out at Annex 2.

(3) the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be authorised to

undertake the required publicity of the designations.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Cabinet

Member for Community Safety, Councillor Janet Daby, the Mayor agreed that

the response be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Cabinet

Member for Community Safety, Councillor Janet Daby, the Mayor

RESOLVED that the response be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny

Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor agreed that

(1) the policy context for devolution in England and the background to the

London devolution discussions and

(2) the response be forwarded to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that

(1) the policy context for devolution in England and the background to the

London devolution discussions be noted and

(2) the response be forwarded to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that the submission of

a bid for a Catford Housing Zone to the GLA be approved.

The Mayor stressed he was keen to support this bid and he was led to believe

that a Catford bid stood a strong chance of being one of the ten new zones to

be agreed by the Mayor of London.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that the submission of a bid for a Catford Housing Zone to the

GLA be approved.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that the views of the

Select Committee be received and the Executive Director for Resources and

Regeneration be asked to prepare a response for Mayoral approval and

reporting to the Committee.

The Mayor indicated he would write to Ian Chalk to thank him for producing

this presentation.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that the views of the Select Committee be received and the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be asked to prepare a

response for Mayoral approval and reporting to the Select Committee.

The meeting closed at 7.24pm.