Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Millbank declared a personal interest in Item 17 as a member of a

Working Group for the New Cross Gate Trust.

Councillor Millbank declared a personal interest in Item 17 as a member of a

Working Group for the New Cross Gate Trust.

Approved

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on November 11 2015 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

None.

None were raised.

Noted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia and the Cabinet

Member for Health, Well Being and Older People, Councillor Chris Best

and 5 members of the public and a Ward Councillor on the library

proposals, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the actions taken since the 30 September on the proposals

presented insection 7 and set out in Appendices i to viii be noted;

(2) For saving L6 – Libraries and Information Services the

recommendations set out in the separate full report and appendices at

Appendix i be approved; namely:

the results of the consultation set out in sections 6 and 7of the report

and in appendix 1 be noted;

the proposed saving of £1million from the Library and Information

Service budget be approved;

the retention of three hub libraries at Deptford Lounge,

Lewisham and Downham Health and Leisure Centre as set out at

paragraph 5.1 be approved;

 the Lewisham Community Library model as described in paragraph

5.1 be extended to Forest Hill, Torridon and Manor House libraries and

for a formal tender process to be undertaken to identify partner

organisations to work with the council to deliver this. The council will

work with local stakeholders as part of this process;

the development of detailed plans for the reconfiguration of the

library and public reception area at the ground floor of Laurence House

inCatford as set out at para 5.1 and 6.10 be approved;

(3) For saving Q3 a, b, c & e – Sensory teachers, education

psychologists, and carers funding;

(a) any feedback from the scrutiny process since September be noted,

(b) the proposal be approved and the Executive Director for Children’s

& Young People be authorised to implement, subject to completion of

any consultation (public, stakeholder or staff) necessary in relation to

the proposal.

(4) For saving Q5 – Youth Service

(a) the Mayor’s agreement to take £1.4m in February 2015 and any

feedback from the scrutiny process since September be noted;

(b) subject to agreement to the recommendations in the separate

report on

the Youth Service mutual appearing on the same agenda; agree the

proposal to taper funding by £0.3m and authorise the Executive

Director for Children’s & Young People to implement, subject to

completion of any consultation (public, stakeholder or staff) necessary

in relation to the proposal;

(5) For saving A11 – Managing and improving transition plans

(a) any feedback from the scrutiny process since September be noted;

(b) the proposal be approved and the Executive Director for

Community Services be authorised to implement, subject to completion

of any consultation (public, stakeholder or staff) necessary in relation to

the proposal.

(6) For saving A14 – Achieving best value in care packages

(a) any feedback from the scrutiny process since September be noted;

(b) the proposal be approved and the Executive Director for

Community Services be authorised to implement, subject to completion

of any consultation (public, stakeholder or staff) necessary in relation to

the proposal.

(7)  ...  view the full decision text for item 310.

The report was introduced by Councillor Kevin Bonavia who outlined

the overall enormous financial pressures the Council continued to face

and he explained how the measures announced in the government’s

Comprehensive Spending Review would not offer any relief.

The Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration’s

representative reported no new proposals were being made and the list

of savings were as those advised to the September meeting of Mayor

& Cabinet.

Councillor Chris Best introduced the libraries element of the savings

report and said the very detailed report illustrated the value which the

authority continued to place on libraries. She pointed out the feedback

received from extensive consultation had led to modifications of the

original proposals.

The Executive Director for Community Services acknowledged that the

overwhelming majority of consultation responses opposed change but

she believed that the amended proposals presented an evolutionary

offer within a diminished financial envelope and would remain

attractive to users.

Peter Richardson spoke on behalf of the users and friends of Manor

House Library and drew the Mayor’s attention to the high levels of

feedback which had been received opposing change. He claimed the

existing community library model was not a success, with book issues

in such libraries plummeting since their creation.

Sue Widnall made a presentation calling for the retention of Catford

Library and expressed severe reservations about the proposed

integration of the library with other ground floor services in Laurence

House. She perceived a general decline of facilities in Catford and

urged the Mayor to ensure a library at the base of the Town Hall

remained a source of civic pride.

Peter Ridpath of the Defend Torridon Library campaign urged the

Mayor to withdraw all the proposals. He believed the results of the

consultation and the overwhelming opposition had been ignored and

that a library facility without professional staffing would not work.

Michael Abrahams the Chair of the Forest Hill Society, said community

libraries had been an interesting experiment but figures seemed to

show massive reductions in book borrowing. He suggested that the

Mayor consider the option in paragraph 7.6 to deploy some volunteers

in every library so that professional support could be maintained in the

libraries proposed for reorganisation.

Councillor Jim Mallory tabled a paper for the Mayor and cabinet reporting that

Lee Green Assembly had agreed to set up a Manor House Working Group to

respond to the Council’s proposal to convert some of its libraries and

specifically Manor House Library, into a community library. Councillor

Mallory further reported the first meeting of the Group agreed to sustain and

enhance Manor House as a viable community facility that would include a

trained library resource. The Group hoped to meet with officers in the New

Year with a view to ensuring Assembly input to the contract specification and

monitoring conditions.

Tim Parkin of UNISON stated he believed Government cuts were the sole

driver for the library proposals and regarded the community library model as

inferior, as evidenced by a 74% fall in book borrowing.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 310.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that the establishment of an education commission to support the

development of a future vision for education in Lewisham to report in April

2016 as set out be approved.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor, for

the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that the establishment of an education commission to support the

development of a future vision for education in Lewisham to report in April

2016 as set out be approved.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:

(1) the existing arrangements in place for joint commissioning maternity and

children’s services be noted; and

(2) the s75 agreement set out in appendix 1 be approved.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor for

the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the existing arrangements in place for joint commissioning maternity and

children’s services be noted; and

(2) the s75 agreement set out in appendix 1 be approved.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that the report be noted and

the works undertaken in accordance with Schedule 10 of the S106 Agreement

dated 24 May 2010 and the S96a application granted 10 February 2015 be

acknowledged.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that the report be noted and the works undertaken in accordance

with Schedule 10 of the S106 Agreement dated 24 May 2010 and the S96a

application granted 10 February 2015 be acknowledged.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that the content of the AMR

2014-15 be noted and publication and placement on the Council’s website be

approved.

The Mayor recognised the efforts of the Head of Planning, John Miller, who

was retiring after 35 years with the Council. The Mayor observed the

Borough’s impressive housebuilding record was facilitated by its Planning

policies. The Mayor said a huge debt of thanks was owed to the Head of

planning whose vision on placemaking had left Lewisham an extraordinary

legacy.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that the content of the AMR 2014-15 be noted and publication

and placement on the Council’s website be approved.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the delivery and achievements of the Work and Skills Strategy 2013 –

2015, and the lessons learned be noted; and

(2) the attached Work and Skills Strategy 2015 – 2017 be approved;

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the delivery and achievements of the Work and Skills Strategy 2013 –

2015, and the lessons learned be noted; and

(2) the attached Work and Skills Strategy 2015 – 2017 be approved;

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

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

(1)  the outcomes of the consultation set out in appendices 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.

Having considered an officer report, 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)  the outcomes of the consultation set out in appendices 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.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that the Instrument of Government for The King Alfred Federation of

Schools be made by Local Authority order.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor, for

the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that the Instrument of Government for The King Alfred

Federation of Schools be made by Local Authority order.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:

(1) the persons set out below be nominated as Local Authority governors;

Tom Mutton St. Mary’s CE Primary

Karen Denyer St. Joseph’s RC Primary

Abigail Knipe Horniman Primary School

(2) the information concerning the recommended nominated governors be

Noted.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

RESOLVED that:

(1) the persons set out below be nominated as Local Authority governors;

Tom Mutton St. Mary’s CE Primary

Karen Denyer St. Joseph’s RC Primary

Abigail Knipe Horniman Primary School

(2) the information concerning the recommended nominated governors be

noted.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Health, Well Being and Older People, Councillor Chris Best the

Mayor agreed that:

(1) the approach taken in Lewisham to the implementation of the Care Act be

noted;

(2) the progress made to date be noted;

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

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Health, Well Being and Older People, Councillor Chris Best, the

Mayor:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the approach taken in Lewisham to the implementation of the Care Act be

noted;

(2) the progress made to date be noted;

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

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that the responses from the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration to the Sustainable

Development Select Committees be approved and forwarded to the

Sustainable Development Select Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that the responses from the Executive Director for Resources

and Regeneration to the Sustainable Development Select Committees be

approved and forwarded to the Sustainable Development Select Committee.

Having considered an officer report, the full text of the confidential Business

Plan, a referral from the Children & Young People Select Committee and a

presentation by the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, Councillor

Paul Maslin, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the plan to run a ‘mutuals only’ tender process under Regulation 77 of

the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for the services be approved;

(2) the current Lewisham youth services team bid for this contract and, if

successful in the process, would form a charitable community benefit society

as its legal structure; and

(3) the outline timelines and resource requirements as set out be noted.

In introducing the report Councillor Maslin recognised that the proposals

advanced a new model of service delivery run by former Council staff on a not

for profit basis. He acknowledged the Business Plan held a certain degree of

risk especially with regard to future funding and that the process would be

evolutionary.

The Executive Director for Children & Young People’s reported the proposals

had been the subject of pre decision scrutiny by the relevant Select

Committee and that their concerns had been addressed in the report laid

before the Mayor.

The Chief Executive added that the proposals were novel but represented an

avenue from which the organisation could learn and could become an

important option across the entire organisation, if done properly.

Having considered an officer report, the full text of the confidential Business

Plan, a referral from the Children & Young People Select Committee and a

presentation by the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, Councillor

Paul Maslin, the Mayor for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the plan to run a ‘mutuals only’ tender process under Regulation 77 of

the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for the services be approved;

(2) the current Lewisham youth services team bid for this contract and, if

successful in the process, would form a charitable community benefit society

as its legal structure; and

(3) the outline timelines and resource requirements as set out be noted.

Having considered both an open and a confidential officer report, and a

presentation by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan,

the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the progress in developing an outline proposal for new homes, health

and community provision on the development site at Besson Street be noted;

(2) the options for developing the site, including the commercial and legal

advice, and the views of participants in a soft market testing exercise,

contained in the confidential section be noted;

(3) the principle that the site should be developed through a Joint

Venture Partnership between the Council and an experienced private sector

Partner be approved, subject to further detailed due diligence in that regard;

(4) further decisions be required to finalise the arrangements

proposed, including approvals for the structure and governance of the

Joint Venture Partnership, and the proposed approach to selecting an

investment partner and that a further report be brought back to Mayor and

Cabinet in the spring of 2016.

(5) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Customer Services to

develop proposals for a ‘meanwhile’ use of the site for the commercial

elements at the northern end of the site.

(6) the confidential financial and commercial advice provided to date be noted;

(7) the proposed project budget as set out in the confidential section be

approved.

The Executive Director for Customer Services representative reported a

further public consultation had taken place the week before and the proposals

had received a much better reception.

Having considered both an open and a confidential officer report, and a

presentation by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan,

the Mayor for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the progress in developing an outline proposal for new homes, health

and community provision on the development site at Besson Street be noted;

(2) the options for developing the site, including the commercial and legal

advice, and the views of participants in a soft market testing exercise,

contained in the confidential section be noted;

(3) the principle that the site should be developed through a Joint

Venture Partnership between the Council and an experienced private sector

Partner be approved, subject to further detailed due diligence in that regard;

(4) further decisions be required to finalise the arrangements

proposed, including approvals for the structure and governance of the

Joint Venture Partnership, and the proposed approach to selecting an

investment partner and that a further report be brought back to Mayor and

Cabinet in the spring of 2016.

(5) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Customer Services to

develop proposals for a ‘meanwhile’ use of the site for the commercial

elements at the northern end of the site.

(6) the confidential financial and commercial advice provided to date be noted;

(7) the proposed project budget as set out in the confidential section be

approved.

Agreed.

RESOLVED that in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local

Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to

Information)(England) Regulations 2012 and under Section 100(A)(4)

of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded

from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds

that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined

in paragraphs [3, 4 and 5] of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, and

the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public

interest in disclosing the information

19.       Draft Business plan for Youth and employee led Mutual Youth

Service.

20.       Besson Street Private Rented Sector Development Part 2.

21.       Housing Led Regeneration Hillcrest and High Level Drive.

Noted.

A copy of the Business Plan was considered in conjunction with the report in

the open session of the meeting.

As shown in Item 17 on open agenda.

As shown in Item 17 on open agenda.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Mayor agreed

that:

(1) officers explore options for infill housing development on the High Level

Drive Estate;

(2) the potential synergies between this project and the proposed lease

extension detailed be noted;

(3) the valuation and commercial advice obtained as detailed be noted;

(4) the Hyde Lease over the Hillcrest Estate be extended; and

(5) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Regeneration and

Resources, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Asset

Management and the Head of Law, to negotiate the terms of a lease

extension for the Hillcrest Estate with Hyde Housing Group, including

agreement of the premium to be paid to the Council by Hyde.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Mayor, for the

reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) officers explore options for infill housing development on the High Level

Drive Estate;

(2) the potential synergies between this project and the proposed lease

extension detailed be noted;

(3) the valuation and commercial advice obtained as detailed be noted;

(4) the Hyde Lease over the Hillcrest Estate be extended; and

(5) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Regeneration and

Resources, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Asset

Management and the Head of Law, to negotiate the terms of a lease

extension for the Hillcrest Estate with Hyde Housing Group, including

agreement of the premium to be paid to the Council by Hyde.

The meeting closed at 8.33pm.