Agenda item

The following proposals fall within the remit of the Committee:

CYP   6          Cease funding for former CYP funded post in VAL

COM 10         Crime, Enforcement & Regulation Reorganisation

COM 11         Hub Libraries cuts to staffed opening hours

COM 13         Reduction in Arts, Development and Events funding

COM 16         Cultural and Community Development Staffing Structure

COM 17         Ending the Small and Faith Fund

RES  7           Reduce Corporate Apprenticeship Salary Budget

RES 10          Cease Graduate Programme

In addition to these, the following proposals will be considered

by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee but are of particular relevance

to this Committee:

COM 12         Cut to Main Grants Budget

COM 14         Reduce Local Assemblies Budget

RESOLVED:

The Committee resolved to advise the Public Accounts Select Committee of the following:

COM 10: Crime Enforcement and Regulation Reorganisation

The Committee stated that whilst they understood the severity of the budget situation, they felt a decision should not be made on the part of this saving proposal relating to the review of CCTV Service (£161k (20/21)), without a complete assessment of the full impact of this cut. This should include consideration of how often CCTV is used to stop crime taking place as it happens and retrospectively in prosecutions, as well as the extent to which the capacity being reduced would affect residents and partner organisations.

COM 11: Hubs Libraries Cuts to staffed opening hours

The Committee felt the proposals in their current form were unacceptable and further consultation was necessary before a decision could be made. A full Equalities Impact Assessment should also be undertaken. The Committee highlighted that section 9 of the budget pro-forma stated that those affected included “some of the most vulnerable in our society (who) will have been signposted to the library service by other public sector bodies such as Job Centre Plus, Central Government Departments, council services, GP etc.”

COM 12: Cuts to main grants budget

The Committee were concerned that the proposed cut of 30% was too high and there should be further consideration as to whether the scale of the cut could be reduced before a final decision was made.

COM 14: Local Assemblies Fund and COM 17: Ending the Small and Faith Fund

            The Committee felt that these two proposals should be considered together. The Committee stated that the retention of some form of small grant programme, accessible to community and neighbourhood groups, was essential to building strong communities. The Committee believed that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money could not achieve this and that not all wards would receive regular CIL money. As such the Committee felt a new scheme must be created that would provide funds for small groups/initiatives and that this funding should be subject to approval of Ward Assemblies to retain local democracy and accountability.

4.1      Selwyn Thompson introduced the report to the Committee and highlighted that for the next two years, pending the Comprehensive Spending Review in summer 2019, the level of cuts needed were estimated at £30m, (£17m and £13m in 19/20 and 20/21 respectively). This round of cuts proposals were for proposals totalling just under £21m for 19/20 and 20/21.

4.2      Paul Aladenika highlighted that each savings proposal would need to consider equalities implications.

4.3      Sara Williams, Executive Director for Children and Young People introduced cut proposal CYP 6 “Cease funding for former CYP funded post in Voluntary Action Lewisham” to the Committee. Mark Drinkwater, Policy and Communications Coordinator and Tony Nixon, Director, Voluntary Action Lewisham also addressed the Committee on this proposal. During these presentations and in the discussion that followed, the following key points were highlighted:

·         The Council would always continue to have a close and positive relationship with Voluntary Action Lewisham and highly valued the work they did.

·         There was no referral to PAC on this proposal.

4.4      Geeta Subramaniam-Mooney, Head of Public Protection and Safety, introduced cut proposal COM10 “Crime Enforcement and Regulation Reorganisation”. In the discussion that followed the following key points were highlighted:

·         Members of the Committee felt more information on the potential impact of the part of the saving related to CCTV services should be obtained prior to a decision on this aspect of the saving being made. This should include consultation with partner organisations.

4.5      Liz Dart, Head of Culture and Community Development, introduced cut proposal COM11 “Hub Libraries Cuts to Staffed Opening Hours” and explained that the proposal contained 2 options. Caroline Jupp, Save Lewisham Libraries, was invited to address the Committee. Caroline tabled a document listing concerns on the proposed cuts reports, a copy of which will be included in the agenda documentation. Peter Richardson, Friends of Manor House Library, was also invited to address the Committee. In the discussion that followed the following key points were raised:

·         Members of the Committee felt that more information on the equalities implications was needed and further consultation would be important.

·         Members of the Committee commented that the proposals in their current format could lead to an unacceptable level of detriment to the most vulnerable in society.

4.6      Liz Dart, Head of Culture and Community Development, introduced cut proposal COM13 “Reduction in Arts Development and Events Funding”. In the discussion that followed the following key points were raised:

·         Alternative funding sources had been looked into but it had been very challenging to secure additional funds.

·         Hidden additional costs included the costs for policing Blackheath Fireworks and People’s Day. These costs were currently met by the Police but would be increasingly challenging for them.

·         There was no referral to PAC on this proposal.

4.7      Liz Dart, Head of Culture and Community Development, introduced cut proposal COM14 “Reduce Local Assemblies Budget”. This cut proposal had been looked at by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A copy of their referral on this and COM 12 “Cuts to Main Grants Project” was tabled, a copy of which will  included kept with the agenda documentation. Councillor Jonathan Slater, Cabinet Member for the Community Sector and Councillor Coral Howard were also invited to address the Committee. In the discussion that followed, the key points below were noted:

·         Members of the Committee felt that COM14 needed to be considered in conjunction with COM17 “Ending the Small and Faith Fund”. Liz Dart introduced the cut proposal COM17 to the Committee so they could consider both together.

·         Concerns were raised that the combined effect of the proposed cuts on small community groups could be particularly challenging for them.

·         Members of the Committee felt that the retention of some form of small grant programme, accessible to community and neighbourhood groups, was essential to building strong communities.

·         Members of the Committee were concerned not all wards would receive regular CIL money.

4.8      Liz Dart, Head of Culture and Community Development, introduced cut proposal COM16 “Cultural and Community Development Staff Structure”

·         Standing Orders were suspended at 9.20pm

·         There was no referral to PAC on this proposal.

4.9      Barrie Neal, Head of Corporate Policy and Governance introduced cut proposal RES7 “Reduce Corporate Apprenticeship Salary Budget” to the Committee.

·         There was no referral to PAC on this proposal.

4.10   Adam Bowles, Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources introduced cut proposal RES 10 “Cease Graduate Programme” to the Committee.

·         There was no referral to PAC on this proposal.

4.11   James Lee, Head of Culture and Community Development, introduced cut proposal COM12 “Cut to Main Grants Budget” to the Committee. This cut proposal had been looked at by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. As listed in paragraph 4.7 of these minutes, a copy of their referral on this and COM 14 “Reduce Local Assemblies Budget” was tabled, a copy of which will be kept with the agenda documentation. Councillor Mallory was invited to address the Committee. The following key points were raised in the discussion.

·         The Committee recognised the commitment of the voluntary sector and the challenges they were facing.

·         The Committee felt that the proposed cut of 30% was too high and there should be further consideration as to whether the scale of the cut could be reduced before a final decision was made.

4.10    RESOLVED:

The Committee resolved to advise the Public Accounts Select Committee of the following:

1.      COM 10: Crime Enforcement and Regulation Reorganisation

The Committee stated that whilst they understood the severity of the budget situation, they felt a decision should not be made on the part of this saving proposal relating to the review of CCTV Service (£161k (20/21)), without a complete assessment of the full impact of this cut. This should include consideration of how often CCTV is used to stop crime taking place as it happens and retrospectively in prosecutions, as well as the extent to which the capacity being reduced would affect residents and partner organisations.

2.      COM 11: Hubs Libraries Cuts to staffed opening hours

The Committee felt the proposals in their current form were unacceptable and further consultation was necessary before a decision could be made. A full Equalities Impact Assessment should also be undertaken. The Committee highlighted that section 9 of the budget pro-forma stated that those affected included “some of the most vulnerable in our society (who) will have been signposted to the library service by other public sector bodies such as Job Centre Plus, Central Government Departments, council services, GP etc.”

3.    COM 12: Cuts to main grants budget

The Committee were concerned that the proposed cut of 30% was too high and there should be further consideration as to whether the scale of the cut could be reduced before a final decision was made.

4.      COM 14: Local Assemblies Fund and COM 17: Ending the Small and Faith Fund

            The Committee felt that these two proposals should be considered together. The Committee stated that the retention of some form of small grant programme, accessible to community and neighbourhood groups, was essential to building strong communities. The Committee believed that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money could not achieve this and that not all wards would receive regular CIL money. As such the Committee felt a new scheme must be created that would provide funds for small groups/initiatives and that this funding should be subject to approval of Ward Assemblies to retain local democracy and accountability.