Agenda item

Financial Forecasts 2014-15

The report was presented by the Head of Financial Services.

The Chair referred to Table 11 in the report which depicted the Capital

Programme and asked if it would be technically possible to add a line on the

Surrey Canal Regeneration Project. The Head of Financial Services said the

only currently reportable figure was the £500,000 pledged to the Sports

Foundation but that a line could be added with no numbers currently set

beside it. The Panel agreed with a suggestion from the Chair that a request

be made for a line relating to Surrey Canal to be added to future capital

expenditure reports.

The Panel also examined the growth in spending in the No Recourse to

Public Funds area and requested that good practice among comparators be

examined.

RESOLVED that

(i) the decisions of the Mayor be noted;

(ii) the Public Accounts Select Committee further examine expenditure on No

Recourse to Public Funds;

(iii) future capital expenditures on the Surrey Canal Regeneration Project be

reported in Capital Programme reports.

Medium Term Financial Strategy

The report was presented by the Head of Financial Services.

The Chair noted that overall savings of £21million had been identified as part

of the Lewisham Futures programme but details were not shown and he

asked that details on these savings areas be made available to Business

Panel members as soon as possible.

The Chair asked members to note carefully the following key dates in the

budgetary process:

September 2014 Select Committees - Revenue Budget Savings report

October 2014 Select Committees - Revenue Budget Savings report

PAC and Mayor & Cabinet - Treasury Management Mid Year report

November 2014 PAC and Mayor Cabinet - Revenue Budget Savings

 Select Committees – 2nd Revenue Budget Savings report

December 2014 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement

Select Committees – 2nd Revenue Budget Savings report  PAC – 2nd

Revenue Budget Savings Report

January 2015 Final Local Government Finance Settlement

 Mayor & Cabinet – 2nd Revenue Budget Savings Report

February 2015 National Non Domestic Rates consultation session

Greater London Authority sets the Budget and Precept for 2015/16

Notification of Precepts and Levies

PAC - the 2015/16 Budget Report

Mayor & Cabinet agrees the Budget & Council Tax 2015/16

March 2015 Council approves Budget & Council Tax for 2015/16

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Designation of Neighbourhood Forum and Area for Crofton Park and

Honor Oak Park

The report was presented by the Head of Planning and further background

was given by Councillor Morrison, who had been the originator of the

proposal.

The Chair sought clarification of the Honor Oak Park area, as defined, and

asked if persons living outside could be allowed associate membership.

Councillor Morrison reported on discussions which had taken place with the

Forest Hill Society and confirmed a facility to accommodate associate

membership had been agreed.

RESOLVED that the decisions of the Mayor be noted and the inclusion of

associate membership be welcomed.

Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document 2014

The report was presented by the Head of Planning and by a Policy Planner.

The Chair explained he had asked for the report to be examined further

following questioning made by the Sustainable Development Select

Committee. Councillor Curran confirmed potential omission of keyworkers,

verification of playspace obligations and ambiguities relating to the definition

of living space densities, had all been raised and clarifications sought.

RESOLVED that the decisions of the Mayor be noted.