Agenda item

RESOLVED: The 5 high priority items for the Committee to consider in detail this year are agreed as: Enforcement, Local High Streets, Modern Roads, Waste Strategy and Employment. Further initial scoping of how these matters will be scrutinised will be considered in September, when further details of the Lewisham Future Programme timetable may also be available.

Those matters in the draft work programme that are not considered high priority at this time, to be dealt with by way of a brief update report to the September meeting, other than: Bakerloo Line extension, Flood Strategy consultation, Lewisham Central Opportunity Site and Heritage and Tourism, all of which are to be considered in brief at the most appropriate point over the course of the year.

Salena Mulhere introduced the report and invited members to discuss and agree a work programme for the year.

The Chair advised the Committee that it was important that the work programme:

·         focused on matters of a high priority,

·         allowed sufficient time to consider the priority topics agreed in a suitable amount of detail

·         prioritised pre-decision scrutiny to ensure the maximum possible influence of scrutiny

·         left sufficient space to effectively scrutinise the rolling programme of savings that was anticipated later in the year.

The Committee then discussed the draft work programme and a range of suggestions. They key points to note from the discussion were:

·         The implementation of the pledge to become a 20mph borough can be reviewed as part of pre-decision scrutiny, so that scrutiny can inform the development of an appropriate policy and associated plans for implementation. This should be done as part of a wider review of “modern roads” as outlined within the report to ensure that all relevant issues to road safety, including improving the borough for cyclists, the lack of “Boris bikes” in Lewisham and improving air quality can be considered holistically.

·         What the Council can do to support and develop thriving local high streets should be reviewed in detail by the Committee as there are a range of issues across a number of the high streets in the borough. Specifically a review should cover, the outcomes and learning from the Portas pilot and the pop- up Catford Canteen, the role and impact of both “chain” shops and independent shops, the ability of the Council to influence, shape and support vibrant high streets through planning and enforcement and it’s role as a landlord in some instances, including supporting/developing the “meanwhile usage” of vacant units

·         A review of enforcement should be carried out, appropriately timed in relation to informing consideration of any proposals brought forward by the Lewisham Future Programme, to take a holistic look at enforcement in Lewisham, including, planning enforcement, licensing enforcement, noise and fly tipping enforcement.

·         The role of the Council and partners locally in supporting the development of and access to employment opportunities, including the apprentice programme being delivered by the Council and partners should be considered by the Committee at some point this year

·         A review of the Waste strategy should be carried out, appropriately timed in relation to informing consideration of any proposals brought forward by the Lewisham Future Programme, to take a holistic look at waste management in Lewisham

·         All other suggested items should be covered by way of a brief update report to the next meeting, apart from the Bakerloo Line extension, Flood Strategy consultation, Lewisham Central Opportunity Site and Heritage and Tourism, which should all be placed on the work programme to enable an update to be received at the most appropriate point over the coming year.

RESOLVED: The 5 high priority items for the Committee to consider in detail this year are agreed as: Enforcement, Local High Streets, Modern Roads, Waste Strategy and Employment. Further initial scoping of how these matters will be scrutinised will be considered in September, when further details of the Lewisham Future Programme timetable may also be available.

Those matters in the draft work programme that are not considered high priority at this time, to be dealt with by way of a brief update report to the September meeting, other than: Bakerloo Line extension, Flood Strategy consultation, Lewisham Central Opportunity Site and Heritage and Tourism, all of which are to be considered in brief at the most appropriate point over the course of the year.