Agenda and minutes

Councillor Kevin Bonavia declared a personal interest in Item 5 as Chair of

the Local Democracy Working Group.

Councillor Mark Ingleby declared a personal interest in Item 6 as Chair of the

Friends of Grove Park Nature Reserve.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on May 13 2020 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Head of Business & Committee confirmed the Overview & Scrutiny

Business Panel had considered the Youth Services Contract in private

session and had supported the original decision.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Mayor introduced the second virtual Mayor and Cabinet meeting since

the lockdown. He thanked all the key workers who were on the frontline,

fighting the virus and supporting the most vulnerable and all the council staff

who are continuing to work hard. He stated a focus was on critical services

and a number of staff have been redeployed on our phone lines, community

support team and elsewhere where they were needed most.

The Mayor continued by highlighting the protests across the country in

response to the death of George Floyd in America which had prompted a

much wider discussion about the challenges that black people continue to

face in this country. Lewisham, with a large and diverse black community had

recently seen concerning footage of apparent excessive force by police

officers. Along with Cllr Dacres, Cllr Campbell and our MPs, the Mayor had

urgently met with the Borough Commander to seek concrete reassurances

about appropriate police conduct in the borough. The incidents were being

investigated and the Mayor recorded his thanks to Councillor Dacres for her

excellent work on this issue.

The Mayor went on to report Lewisham had partnered with Birmingham City

Council to launch a review into health inequalities in black African and

Caribbean communities.

The Mayor also reported on discussion about landmarks and statues in cities

that have links to slavery and racism. He had asked officers to identify those

in Lewisham. The Mayor strongly affirmed that Black Lives Matter in

Lewisham – today and always.

Councillor De Ryk introduced the report highlighting vastly increased

expenditure in supporting local businesses and communities while at the

same time facing a drastic drop in income.

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

next addressed Mayor & Cabinet. He reported that Select Committee

members, in conjunction with senior officers, had met informally in order to

stay abreast of the Council’s developing financial situation.

The Mayor noted the national leaders telephone call with Government at the

onset of the crisis where the mantra had been ‘Do what it takes’ to the more

recent worrying pronouncements that councils should ‘share the burden’.

The Mayor noted that Councillor Mallory was due to retire as Chair of Public

Accounts Select Committee in July and he thanked him for all the efforts he  

had put into the role.

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by the Cabinet

Member for Finance & Resources, Councillor Amanda De Ryk, and the Chair

of the Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Jim Mallory, the Mayor

and Cabinet, following a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that the update be received.

The Mayor confirmed to the Cabinet that the arrangements were

temporary and subject to review in three months time.

Planning Officers tabled a late addendum containing the latest

representations received from consultees on the proposals.

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

the Mayor and Cabinet, for the reasons set out in the report, by a roll

call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) temporary modifications be made to the Council’s Statement of

Community Involvement (SCI) to enable the following:

• Threshold for applications being required to go to Planning

Committee for decision to be raised from 3 to 5;

• Any application with an amenity society objection to be subject to

case review with Chair to determine whether it is referred to planning

committee for a decision;

• Any application with 5-9 objections to be subject to case review with

Chair to determine whether it is referred to planning committee for a

decision;

• Invitations to planning committee meetings and other communications

and information (including publication of agendas) relating to planning

committee meetings be carried out electronically wherever possible;

• Make it explicit that people wishing to speak at planning committee

meetings will need to register to speak in advance of the meeting and

will need to submit written copies of their speeches in advance of the

meeting;

•A new online format for Local Meetings to be developed and

implemented;

• Make any necessary amendments regarding the publication of

agendas and decisions

• Above changes to working practices to be reviewed after a 3 month

period following introduction.

The Strategy was introduced by Councillor Sophie McGeevor who highlighted

the crucial role played by parks and open spaces during the pandemic crisis.

Councillor Jonathan Slater welcomed the Strategy, particularly the

involvement of the Disabled Peoples Commission.

Councillor Chris Barnham said he was encouraged to see walking was being

promoted and he urged the signing of the Ramblers Charter. Councillor

McGeevor responded by saying a Walking Charter had been prepared and it

just needed official approval from the Ramblers Association.

Councillor Mark Ingleby raised specific concerns about laying documented

foundations in the Local Plan, alongside necessary references to the Urban

National Park in the Open Spaces Strategy.

The Chair of the Grove Park Neighbourhood Planning Forum, Stephen

Kenny, provided Councillor Ingleby with a link to the documentation for the

Urban National Park, which has the boundary evidence required for the Local

Plan at:

https://grovepark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/db3d5-urban-national-park-landscape-vision.pdf

Councillor Ingleby continued by saying the Urban National Park  was originally

a Lewisham Council idea from the later 70's early 80's which was never

completed and which the Grove Park Neighbourhood Forum, policies and

plan supported. He added Grove Park Nature Reserve needed to complete

the[FK1]  process of being declared a statutory nature reserve.

Also the LBL SINC (Sites of Important Nature Conservation) needed to be

amended to include the priority habitat wetwoodland/swamp forest at Willow

Carr, near Northbrook Park, that the Mayor visited in October 2018.

Councillor Ingleby asked that his submissions go into the official record, to

complement and preserve current pieces of ongoing land assembly.

Documentary protection was required if the Willow Carr and wet woodland

were not officially identified and recorded in the ecological data/ SINC reviews

and the appropriate parts of the Local Plan.

Councillor Liam Curran, the Chair of the Sustainable Development Select

Committee, welcomed the report, which he believed could have a major

impact. He introduced the referrals made by his Select Committee. He was

supported by Councillor Louise Krupski who believed the Select Committee

process had been very thorough and had raised multiple issues for

consideration. The Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and

Environment  promised that full account would be taken of the views of the

Select Committee.

Having considered an officer report and presentations by the Cabinet Member

for Environment & Transport, Councillor Sophie McGeevor, the Chair of the

Sustainable Development Select Committee, Councillor Liam Curran, and by

Councillors Louise Krupski and Mark Ingleby, the Mayor and Cabinet, for the

reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that the Parks and Open Space Strategy 2020-2025 be adopted

into Council Policy and that Officers prepare a response to the views of the

Sustainable Development Select Committee.

The report was presented by Councillor Paul Bell who received confirmation

from Councillor Jonathan Slater that the local Councillors supported the

proposals

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

Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Bell, the Mayor and Cabinet, for the

reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the progress of the Excalibur Estate Regeneration Scheme as set out be

noted;

(2) the rationale be noted for including the land at the former Tenant

Management Organisation (TMO) office at 1 Baudwin Road and neighbouring

property at 3 Baudwin Road in conjunction with the Excalibur Estate

Regeneration Scheme;

(3) the inclusion of the land at the former TMO office at 1 Baudwin Road and

neighbouring property at 3 Baudwin Road in conjunction with the Excalibur

Estate Regeneration Scheme be approved;

(4) Subject to agreement of the above recommendation and the Phase 3 land

being transferred to L&Q, the transfer be approved of the land at 1 & 3

Baudwin Road to L&Q for development subject to the development  of Phase

3 going ahead;

(5) Subject to agreement of the above recommendation, authority be

delegated to the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and

Environment in conjunction with the Director of Law to negotiate and enter

into a legally binding agreement with L&Q requiring the land of 1 and 3 Baudwin Road to be used to deliver 3x2 and 1x3 bedroom houses to be let at social rent; and

The report was presented by Councillor Paul Bell who reminded Cabinet of

the overwhelming ballot majority achieved on a high turn out. Councillor Joe

Dromey praised the steps taken by Lewisham Homes to involve residents in

scheme design and development.

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

Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Bell, the Mayor and Cabinet for the

reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the progress of the Achilles Street estate regeneration scheme be noted;

(2) the response to the consultation carried out under s105 of the Housing Act

1985 between 17 March 2020 and 15 April 2020 be noted;

(3) Having considered the responses to the consultation, with the plans to

redevelop the Achilles Street Estate be continued;

(4) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration

and Environment in conjunction with the Head of Law to serve Initial

Demolition Notices on all secure tenants on the Achilles Street Estate

pursuant to paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 5A of the Housing Act 1985 (as

amended) at such time as deemed appropriate;

(5) the suspension of letting secure tenancies on the Achilles Street Estate[FK1]  be

approved;

(6) officers will commence full housing assessments for all secure tenants of

the Achilles Street estate;

(7) any secure tenant on the Achilles Street estate who receives an offer of

alternative accommodation and moves out of their property in advance of the

decant officially commencing receives a discretionary payment equivalent to

the statutory home loss payment and reasonable disbursement costs they

would otherwise have been entitled to;

(8) the potential requirement be noted for the Housing Needs Manager to

exercise their discretion to award additional priority to secure tenants and

resident leaseholders of the Achilles Street estate when specialist or large

properties become available for letting.

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 paragraph 3 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

10.       Excalibur Land Assembly and Construction

11.       Achilles Street Land Assembly

12.       CCTV IP Upgrade

13.       Dry Recycling Contract award

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

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Bell, the Mayor and Cabinet

for the reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the viability issues relating to Phase 3 and the work being undertaken

between the Council, L&Q and the GLA to improve the financial position be

noted;

(2) the financial position in terms of the Council’s land assembly be noted;

(3) an increase to the Phase 3 land assembly budget by a stated sum for the

reasons outlined be approved;

(4) the transfer the land at 1 & 3 Baudwin Road to L&Q on the basis set out in

the Part 1 report for nil consideration be approved;

(5) Subject to approval of the above recommendation, authority be delegated

to the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment in

conjunction with the Director of Law and Director of Corporate Resources to

agree the final terms for the transfer of the land to L&Q.

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

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Bell, the Mayor and Cabinet

for the reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the financial position in relation to the land assembly budget for the Achilles

Street Estate scheme be noted; and

(2) the land assembly aspect of the budget to the full projected budget for the

land assembly of the Achilles Street Estate scheme be approved as outlined

in the Mayor and Cabinet report of 18 September 2019.

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

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Brenda Dacres, the Mayor

and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that: the commencement of the procurement of a supplier

to upgrade the CCTV cameras, transmission and CCTV control room

equipment be approved.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Environment & Transport, Councillor Sophie McGeevor, the

Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by a roll call vote of

10-0:

RESOLVED that a contract be awarded to Bywaters (Leyton) Ltd. for the

provision of processing, sorting and selling of Lewisham’s dry

recyclables, based on their tender, for a period of 5 years with a possible

extension for another 2 years upon M&C agreement at a stated estimated

annual cost.

The meeting closed at 7.28pm