Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

None were made.

Approved.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on January 13 2016 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Call in of decision – Management Arrangements Shared Communications

Service

Having considered a call-in report presented by the Chair of Overview and

Scrutiny, Councillor Alan Hall and receiving the further advice of the Cabinet

Member for Policy and Performance, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Mayor

agreed that the decisions taken by him on January 13 be confirmed.

Call in of decision – Management Arrangements Shared Communications

Service

The written formal call-in was presented by Councillor Alan Hall who stressed

the decision to require the Mayor to reconsider his original decision was a

unanimous one made at a Business Panel discussion involving multiple

contributions from members of that committee. He added that the Business

Panel included considerable communications expertise and their firm

conclusion was that further consideration of the proposals was required.

In response the Mayor observed that he had also formerly worked in the

communications sector. He sought clarification from the Head of Law as to the

adequacy of the legal advice on which he had based his original decision. She

stated the legal advice was totally adequate for the appointment of an interim

manager on a shared basis.

The Mayor said he had agreed an interim arrangement to allow future

consideration of a more permanent arrangement. He observed that shared

communications services were not uncommon and that while it was prudent to

be wary of conflicts of interest, if Westminster and Southwark could work

together successfully, then Lambeth and Lewisham ought to involve fewer

challenges

The Mayor believed an interim solution would allow all practical implications to

be resolved before permanent consideration was made. The Mayor reaffirmed

his belief that communications was a service to the entire Council and both

executive or non executive councillors had considerable interest in seeing the

achievement of a competent communications service. The Mayor added that

any final decision on the proposal would look carefully at both the legal and

practical implications.

The Mayor received advice from Councillor Dromey who stated he had

explored other options but had concluded a like for like replacement could

cost more money and given that this would be for a back office function when

front line services were under so much pressure, he did not think that was

sustainable. He said a temporary arrangement would allow careful evaluation

before any final decision was made. He expressed a belief that in general the

Council should be sharing services wherever possible.

In conclusion the Mayor observed that part time postholders at senior levels

within the Council were not unprecedented and that he remained open

minded about proposals on shared services. He added that governance

questions were becoming more complex and that efficient management of

services being run with a variety of other authorities was required at a time

when additional funds were not available for expanded governance.

Having considered a call-in report presented by the Chair of Overview and

Scrutiny, Councillor Alan Hall and receiving the further advice of the Cabinet

Member for Policy and Performance, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Mayor

RESOLVED that the decisions taken by him on January 13 be confirmed.

Noted.

The Mayor observed one response had been produced ahead of schedule.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

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

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

the pay policy statement be recommended to Council for approval.

The Mayor asked the Head of Human Resources to thank all the members of

the Independent Executive Remuneration Panel for their service to the

authority, noting they were local residents with relevant expertise who made a

valuable contribution to the process.

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 the pay policy statement be recommended to Council for

approval.

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

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

1 the comments of the Public Accounts Select Committee of 27 January 2016

be received;

2 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 and consultation, as required, the Mayor:

Capital Programme

3 notes the 2015/16 Quarter 3 Capital Programme monitoring position as set

out in section 5;

4 recommends that Council be recommended to approve the 2016/17 to

2019/20 Capital Programme of £337.2m, as set out in section 5 and attached

at Appendices W1 and W2;

Housing Revenue Account

5 Council be asked to note the consultation report on service charges to

tenants’and leaseholders in the Brockley area, presented to area panel

members on 17 December 2015, and subsequent postal consultation, as

attached at Appendix X2;

6 Council be asked to note the consultation report on service charges to

tenants’ and leaseholders and the Lewisham Homes budget strategy

presented to area panel members on 17th December 2015, as attached at

Appendix X3;

7 Council be recommended to set a decrease in dwelling rents of 1.0% (an

average of £0.99 per week) – as per the requirements from government as

presented in section 6;

8 Council be recommended to set a decrease in the hostels accommodation

charge by 1.0% (or £0.39 per week), in accordance with Government

requirements;

9 Council be recommended to approve the following average weekly

increases for dwellings for:

(a) service charges to non-Lewisham Homes managed dwellings (Brockley);

 caretaking 1.80% (£0.06)

 grounds 1.80% (£0.03)

 communal lighting 1.80% (£0.01)

 bulk waste collection 1.80% (£0.02)

 window cleaning 1.80% (£0.09)

 tenants’ levy -30.0% (-£0.03)

(b) service charges to Lewisham Homes managed dwellings:

 caretaking 1.20% (£0.07)

 grounds 68.0% (£0.66)

 window cleaning No increase

 communal lighting -10.7% (-£0.13)

 block pest control -4.3% (-£0.07)

 waste collection No change

 heating & hot water 23.1% (£1.85)

 tenants’ levy -30.0% (-£0.03)

 bulk waste disposal new service (£0.81)

 sheltered housing new service (£23.62)

10 Council be recommended to approve the following average weekly

percentage changes for hostels and shared temporary units for;

 service charges (hostels) – caretaking etc.; 2.90% (£2.09)

 no energy cost increases for heat, light & power; 0.0% (£0.00)

 water charges decrease; -5.26% (£0.01)

11 Council be recommended to approve an increase in garage rents by Retail

Price Inflation (RPI) of 0.80% (£0.09 per week) for Brockley residents and

0.80% (£0.09 per week) for Lewisham Homes residents;

12 Council be asked to note that the budgeted expenditure for the Housing

Revenue Account (HRA) for 2016/17 is £167.6m which includes the capital

and new build programmes;

13 Council be recommended to endorse the HRA budget strategy savings

proposals in order to achieve a balanced budget in 2016/17, as attached at

Appendix X1;

Dedicated Schools Grant and Pupil Premium

14 Council be recommended to agree, subject to final confirmation of the

allocation, that the provisional  ...  view the full decision text for item 352.

The report was presented by Councillor Bonavia who said a balanced budget

had been set within the changed statutory framework imposed by central

government. He noted that despite the mandatory increase in Council Tax

and the enforced use of reserves the Council was still facing additional cuts of

£15 million pa for the next three years.

Councillor Best advised the Mayor that the Public Health funding position was

still unknown and the Budget was being advanced on the best assumptions

available.

In agreeing the recommendations, the Mayor thanked Officers for their work in

compiling the Budget and for the helpful discussion that had taken place at

the Public Accounts Select Committee. Looking forwards, the Mayor observed

that the final Government Settlement had offered some clarity on the savings

required for the next three years and he asked Officers to commence work on

a three year budget addressing the totality of savings required.

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

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor, from the options

available and for the reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

1 the comments of the Public Accounts Select Committee of 27 January 2016

be received;

2 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 and consultation, as required, the Mayor:

Capital Programme

3 notes the 2015/16 Quarter 3 Capital Programme monitoring position as set

out in section 5;

4 recommends that Council be recommended to approve the 2016/17 to

2019/20 Capital Programme of £337.2m, as set out in section 5 and attached

at Appendices W1 and W2;

Housing Revenue Account

5 Council be asked to note the consultation report on service charges to

tenants’and leaseholders in the Brockley area, presented to area panel

members on 17 December 2015, and subsequent postal consultation, as

attached at Appendix X2;

6 Council be asked to note the consultation report on service charges to

tenants’ and leaseholders and the Lewisham Homes budget strategy

presented to area panel members on 17th December 2015, as attached at

Appendix X3;

7 Council be recommended to set a decrease in dwelling rents of 1.0% (an

average of £0.99 per week) – as per the requirements from government as

presented in section 6;

8 Council be recommended to set a decrease in the hostels accommodation

charge by 1.0% (or £0.39 per week), in accordance with Government

requirements;

9 Council be recommended to approve the following average weekly

increases for dwellings for:

(a) service charges to non-Lewisham Homes managed dwellings (Brockley);

 caretaking 1.80% (£0.06)

 grounds 1.80% (£0.03)

 communal lighting 1.80% (£0.01)

 bulk waste collection 1.80% (£0.02)

 window cleaning 1.80% (£0.09)

 tenants’ levy -30.0% (-£0.03)

(b) service charges to Lewisham Homes managed dwellings:

 caretaking 1.20% (£0.07)

 grounds 68.0% (£0.66)

 window cleaning No increase

 communal lighting -10.7% (-£0.13)

 block pest control -4.3% (-£0.07)

 waste collection No change

 heating & hot water 23.1% (£1.85)

 tenants’ levy -30.0% (-£0.03)

 bulk  ...  view the full minutes text for item 352.

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

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

that

(i) the results of the ‘Let’s Talk Rubbish’ consultation and Waste Regulations

(TEEP) Assessment;

(ii) a subscription garden waste service be introduced from June 2016 at an

annual fee of £60 p.a.;

(iii) a weekly food collection service be introduced and refuse collections be

reduced to fortnightly ( with an earliest implementation date of Autumn 2016);

(iv) a weekly comingled recycling service be retained whilst options to share

services and contracts with neighbouring boroughs are further explored.

In presenting the proposals, Councillor Onikosi pointed out the high response

rate to the consultation with a clear outcome calling for increased recycling

and a simple overall system.

The Deputy Mayor suggested the Council should move to a situation where

waste was regarded as a commodity with value as it could be used as fuel for

incinerators thereby providing heat and power.

The Mayor concluded this was the right time to change a very successful

service and he was pleased food waste now formed part of the offer. He said

he expected some hiccups in the transition to the new service but was

confident there was support for the proposals given the extensive consultation

and response.

Having considered an officer report, 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

(i) the results of the ‘Let’s Talk Rubbish’ consultation and Waste Regulations

(TEEP) Assessment;

(ii) a subscription garden waste service be introduced from June 2016 at an

annual fee of £60 p.a.;

(iii) a weekly food collection service be introduced and refuse collections be

reduced to fortnightly ( with an earliest implementation date of Autumn 2016);

(iv) a weekly comingled recycling service be retained whilst options to share

services and contracts with neighbouring boroughs are further explored.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation from the Deputy

Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that the response prepared

by the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be approved and

reported 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 response prepared by the Executive Director for

Resources and Regeneration be approved and reported to the Sustainable

Development Select Committee.

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

Overview & Scrutiny 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 Chair of Overview and Scrutiny was in attendance but did not wish to add

to the written report of his Committee.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor:

RESOLVED that the views of the Overview & Scrutiny 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.

Approved.

RESOLVED that 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, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)

(Access to Information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006 and the

public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in

disclosing the information:-

11.       Estate Cleansing and Bulky Waste Collection Services on Lewisham

Homes Estates

12.       Catford Stadium Redevelopment – Funding of Additional Footbridge

CostsApproved.

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

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

agreed that:

(1) the rationale for enabling Lewisham Homes to directly deliver Estate

Cleansing and Bulky Waste Collection Services in areas in which it is

providing housing management services be noted;

(2) Lewisham Homes will provide these services directly from 1st April 2016

and that on that basis officers now commence a period of staff consultation

ahead of the transfer; and

(3) as the Management Agreement between the Council and Lewisham

Homes is currently being reviewed and that if this service transfer is agreed

officers will ensure that the new Agreement reflects that, ahead of final

consideration by Mayor and Cabinet in March 2016.

Having considered a confidential officer report, 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 rationale for enabling Lewisham Homes to directly deliver Estate

Cleansing and Bulky Waste Collection Services in areas in which it is

providing housing management services be noted;

(2) Lewisham Homes will provide these services directly from 1st April 2016

and that on that basis officers now commence a period of staff consultation

ahead of the transfer; and

(3) as the Management Agreement between the Council and Lewisham

Homes is currently being reviewed and that if this service transfer is agreed

officers will ensure that the new Agreement reflects that, ahead of final

consideration by Mayor and Cabinet in March 2016.

Having considered a confidential officer report and a presentation from the

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor agreed that:

(a) the current estimated shortfall in resources required to deliver the

installation of a new pedestrian footbridge be forward funded as part of the

Catford Stadium redevelopment. Capital reserves will be used to finance the

expenditure prior to the anticipated receipt of Community Infrastructure Levy

(CIL) contributions; and

(b) the stipulated capital programme budget to meet the current estimated

shortfall be approved in order for the scheme to proceed.

The Deputy Mayor mentioned an approach he had received from the Crofton

Society suggesting the neon Catford sign currently in storage could be

included within the scheme. Officers carefully noted the suggestion.

Officers confirmed the drawings provided with the report were utilitarian and

the final product would be of a high aesthetic quality.

Having considered a confidential officer report and a presentation from the

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that:

(a) the current estimated shortfall in resources required to deliver the

installation of a new pedestrian footbridge be forward funded as part of the

Catford Stadium redevelopment. Capital reserves will be used to finance the

expenditure prior to the anticipated receipt of Community Infrastructure Levy

(CIL) contributions; and

(b) the stipulated capital programme budget to meet the current estimated

shortfall be approved in order for the scheme to proceed.

The meeting closed at 7.22pm