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Resolved: that the minutes of the meeitng on 20 April be agreed as an accurate record.

Resolved: that the update be noted.

Resolved: that the report be noted. The Committee also agreed that it would carry out further scrutiny of items relating to air quality later in the year. In particular, it would seek to comment on any future consultation on the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone.

Resolved: that the Committee’s views be referred to Mayor and Cabinet as follows –

The Committee asks that Mayor and Cabinet:

·         Highly commend the work of Kplom Lotsu, Gavin Plaskitt, Jessie Lea, Deborah Efemini, Sarah Walsh and their colleagues. The Committee believes that, whilst there is still a great deal of work to be done in delivering the Catford programme, the level of dedication, consistency of purpose and clarity of thought which has been demonstrated by these officers should be recognised. The Committee warmly welcomes the thoughtful process that has been carried out to develop plans for engagement with residents. The Committee also recognises the quality and aptitude of officers' joint work with Transport for London in developing plans for improvements to the south circular.

·         Endorses the decision to proceed with option two for the relocation of the south circular. The Committee welcomes the potential benefits of this option for pedestrians and cyclists in Catford and Members are optimistic about the potential of the relocation to enhance the vitality and character of the whole town centre- including the iconic place-shaping opportunities offered by the 'piazza' area that would be created by Option Two (as referenced in recent referrals by the committee on Catford Town Centre)

·         Tasks officers with exploring the feasibility of deploying the Common Place platform across the whole of the borough. The Committee is impressed with the level of engagement that is enabled by the platform and it requests that an assessment be carried out on whether the use of the platform across the borough could be facilitated using the local assemblies budget.

Resolved: That the draft cycling strategy be added to the work programme for the July and that the Chair be asked to make a decision about which other items to include on the agenda.

Resolved: that the responses from Mayor and Cabinet be noted.

Resolved: the Committee resolved to advise Mayor and Cabinet of the following:

Noting the confusion among residents about what is happening, the Committee recommends that the Mayor urges representatives from the Grove Park community, the ICO Health Group, the Lewisham CCG, Grove Park ward councillors, the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Older People, and the Lewisham Local Medical and Pharmaceutical Committees to meet as soon as possible to discuss the future of primary care services in Grove Park, in particular to clarify the proposals for 54 Chinbrook Road and the process that is being followed. 

Resolved: the Committee noted the information presented.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

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

the actions taken to date be noted and the report be approved for submission

to the Sustainable Development Select Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

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

(1)       the current financial forecasts for the year ending 31 March 2018 and

the action being taken by the Executive Directors to manage down the

forecasted year-end overspend be noted; and

(2)       the revised capital programme budget, as set out in section 14 with

further detail attached at appendices 1 and 2, be noted.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

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

(1)       the 2018/19 to 2021/22 Medium Term Financial Strategy be endorsed;

and

(2)       a further update be brought back as part of the savings and budget

setting process to reflect any changes arising from the Autumn Budget or

Local Government Finance Settlement.

Having considered an officer report and presentations by the Deputy Mayor,

Councillor Alan Smith, and by the Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Development

Select Committee, Councillor Mark Ingleby, the Mayor agreed that officers

develop a master plan brief to be reported back to Mayor and Cabinet subject

to recommendations relating to the preferred option for the realignment of the

A205 contained in the confidential report.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:

(1) officers should conduct initial informal consultations on the following

proposals to;

expand Greenvale School from 117 places to 210 places

expand Watergate School from 108 places to 167 places

extend the age range of New Woodlands School to accommodate KS4 pupils

(2) officers should report back to Mayor and Cabinet by the end of 2017

with the results and next steps.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that:

(1)       the financial contribution from the Council towards to the regeneration

of the park be as follows:

£1.4m from the capital programme

£180k from insurance monies arising from the fire at the homesteads in 2011

A target allocation of £200k from section 106 monies.

(2)       the medium and long term strategy with regards to the buildings in the

park be approved; and

(3)       the proposed response to the Sustainable Development Select

Committee shown in Section 9 be approved and reported to the Select

Committee.

Approved.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Mayor agreed that:

(1)       the progress update on the New Homes, Better Places Programme be

noted;

(2)       the design development and consultation which has been carried out

on the proposed re-development of 1-27 Wellington Close, including the

statutory Section 105 Consultation as summarised be noted;

(3)       Having considered the responses to the statutory Section 105

consultation on the proposed re-development of the former Somerville Extra

Care Scheme as summarised, Lewisham Homes proceed with the design

development of the scheme, and submit a planning application to deliver

approximately 25 new Council homes on the site.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Mayor agreed that:

the actions set out in response to the recommendations of Housing Select

Committee’s Mental Health Review be approved and reported to the Select

Committee.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:

(1)       the reasons for the request for delaying the implementation date from

September 2018 to September 2019 be noted;

(2)       the requested modification post determination as the statutory decision

maker on behalf of the Local Authority regarding school organisational

changes be approved whereby the implementation of the decision made on

22 March 2017 to expand Addey and Stanhope School by 2 additional forms

of entry be delayed by 1 year to September 2019.

(3)       officers be instructed to publish the details of the modification on the

council website where the original proposals were published, in line with the

statutory guidance for making prescribed alterations to maintained schools.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that there should be an initial informal consultation on the proposal to

amalgamate Sandhurst Infant School and Sandhurst Junior School with effect

from April 2018, and that officers should report back to Mayor and Cabinet by

the end of 2017 with the results and next steps.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:  

(1)       the report of the work of the Fostering Service be received;

(2)       the updated Statement of Purpose for the Fostering Service for 2017 –

2018 be approved;

(3)       the updated Children’s Guides – My Fostering Booklet and My

Fostering Guide be received.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Mayor

agreed that:  

(1)       the report of the work of the Adoption Service be received;

(2)       the review of the Statement of Purpose 2017-18 be approved; and

(3)       the updated Children’s Guides to Adoption and Adoption Support

Services be received.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Health, Well-Being and Older People, Councillor Chris Best, the

Mayor agreed that:

(1)       the outcome of the consultation as set out in section 6 and the

Equalities Analysis Assessment in section 12 be received;

(2)       the Council implements the Joint Travel Assistance Policy for people

aged over the age of 16 based on the principles published in the consultation;

(3)       a personal budget be developed as part of the individual’s assessment

of travel needs, in line with other support provided by Adult Social Care and

those eligible will be offered the choice of taking their personal budget as a

direct payment if they wish;

(4)       the Council implement a travel assessment to identify people’s

individual travel needs and an eligibility criteria to determine the support

offered by the Council;

(5)       the Council will follow the precepts of the Care Act in promoting

independence by encouraging people to travel independently where they are

able to do so safely;

(6)       the Council include travel assistance in the existing Care Act

assessment and ask how family and carers what support they can provide to

meet a person’s needs as part of a holistic assessment which will take into

consideration the carer’s own need for support and other responsibilities they

may have.

(7)       the Council will consider how other benefits and support available to

the family can be used to meet the person’s eligible needs, taking into

consideration how they are currently used.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor agreed that the Air Quality

Campaign 2017 be approved.

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

Member for Children & Young People, Councillor Paul Maslin, the Cabinet

agreed that the following person be nominated as a School Governor for the

school shown.

Sharon Long                        Beecroft Garden

Peter Fidel                             Eliot Bank and Gordonbrock Federation

Kris Hibbert                           Oakbridge Federation

Kevin Jeffrey                        Ashmead

Peter Main                             St. Bartholomew’s

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

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

the actions taken to date be noted and the report be approved for submission

to the Sustainable Development Select Committee.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor received the views of the

Select Committee as set out and asked the Executive Director for Resources

and Regeneration to provide a response for Mayoral consideration.

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor received the views of the

Select Committee as set out and asked the Executive Director for Resources

and Regeneration to provide a response for Mayoral consideration.

Noted.

Comments of the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee on the

Library and Information Service Annual Report

Having considered an officer report, the Mayor received the views of the

Select Committee as set out and asked the Executive Director for Community

Services to provide a response for Mayoral consideration.

Approved.

The Mayor declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 19 as his wife

was a nominee.

That the report be noted.

That the report be noted.

That the report be noted.

That a referral to Mayor and Cabinet be made highlighting the folloiwing comments:

1)    That the Committee highlighted the need to properly resource support for the changing role of libraries. In particular, Members acknowledged the growing need for WiFi and WiFi access.

2)    That the Committee felt that the promotion, both internally and externally, of news stories connected to libraries, must be done in an accessible way (for example, a greater use of infographics).

3)    That members emphasised the need to connect the importance of libraries to the work being undertaken by the Poverty Commission.

That the report be noted.

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 26 June 2017 be agreed as an accurate record of proceedings.

That a referral be made to Mayor and Cabinet on the Library and Information Service Annual Report as listed under the minutes for agenda item 5.

That the report be noted.

That the Chair write to the Executive Director for Children and Young People highlighting concerns raised during the meeting regarding the potential loss of LGBT youth service provision.

That a position paper be prepared for Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Members highlighting the role of the committee in relation to disproportionality across service areas.

That the responses to referrals be agreed.

Councillor Walsh declared a personal interest in item 5 as he was employed by the London Southbank University Students union.

Councillor Mallory declared a personal interest in item 6 as he was Chair of Lee Green Lives.

Resolved: that the update be noted. It was also agreed that officers would provide additional information regarding:

·         the length of time annotated private documents could be kept in the Modern.Gov application.

·         the ability of Councillors to access home printing.

·         frequently asked questions relating to the use of the Modern.Gov application.

Stephen Kitchman, Director for Children’s Social Care, presented the report.

Supplementary detail was provided in relation to questions on the plan and the committee heard that:

·         This was the quarter 3 report in relation to the Ofsted improvement plan.

·         In response to a question regarding Viewpoint progress,  officers advised that a revised questionnaire was being progressed.

·         Changes to IT meant that social workers now had smart phones and ipads to enable them to complete paperwork in any suitable confidential place, freeing up space in the office. Staff could access LiquidLogic – the social work recording system – from their ipads and also secure-link to e-case files from home. This offered flexibility to social workers as well as time savings.

·         Around 1/3 of the Ofsted recommendations were in relation to the ‘front door’. Fundamental changes had been made to initial contact, and the MASH was providing a more holistic view. Housing, schools representative (currently being advertised), and CAMHS had committed to joining the MASH but this had not yet happened.

·         A new early help team had been established.

·         Within the MASH there was an outcome for every referral.

·         The quarter 4 Ofsted improvement plan report would be presented to Committee as scheduled within the work programme.

It was RESOLVED that the contents of the report, and the extension of a small number of target completion dates as set out in the report, be noted.

Sara Williams (Executive Director for CYP), Kate Bond (Head of Standards and Inclusion) and Jackie Jones (Service Manager – School Improvement) were available to take questions.

The following was noted in discussion:

·         The secondary sector in Lewisham was experiencing a significant culture change. Nine new heads had been appointed and schools were working to build closer relationships with each other. A challenge lead with extensive school improvement experience had been in place for this academic year. Cultural change would not bring immediate results but would create a solid foundation upon which to build.

·         The borough’s primary schools were achieving very well, with all but one primary school achieving Outstanding or Good Ofsted ratings. It was noted that the Ofsted threshold for good/ outstanding had been raised and recent inspections were comfortably meeting the standard.

·         Gap analyses had been conducted to establish the reasons for the dip in KS2 results last year and officers were confident that this year’s results would be better.

·         David Sheppard, Executive Headteacher, Leathersellers' Federation suggested that individual schools were particularly vulnerable, since schools belonging to federations could combine resources and better withstand curriculum and financial pressures. He cited PLF’s rapid deficit recovery as an example of how federations were beneficial to schools.

·         Sedgehill School was in a difficult position as it was subject to an academy order but no sponsor had come forward. Around 60-100 schools nationally were in the same predicament. The council would continue to navigate the situation with the government but a quick resolution was proving challenging.

·         Secondary school results were improving slowly and in 2016 the low results from FHS and Sedgehill has been critical in putting Lewisham at the bottom of the London league table.

·         Officers did not feel that migration patterns impacted significantly on secondary results.

·         Fluctuating results reflected challenges with leadership and management. The council’s emphasis was on improving senior and middle management in secondary schools.

·         While white low income children were the lowest performing group overall, vulnerable groups varied between schools. Officers were confident that every school in the borough was ‘Ofsted-ready’ and could identify which pupil groups were vulnerable or struggling and what was being done to support them.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That Kate Bond, Head of Standards and Achievements, would update the Committee regarding Sedgehill School at the next meeting.

Emma Aye-Kumi, Scrutiny Manager, introduced the item. She invited Katie Wood to present the scoping paper for the review of recruitment and retention of staff in Lewisham schools.

The following was noted:

·         The committee was broadly happy with the scope but wanted additional emphasis on school budgets/ finances.

·         The annual report on School Budgets, currently scheduled for 7 June, should be considered jointly with the Public Accounts Select Committee (PAC) .

·         The committee wanted to reschedule the June meeting, currently scheduled for the eve of the general election. The Chair agreed to address this outside of the meeting, and to coordinate with PAC.

·         Officers felt that the item on the Lewisham Music Service – implementation of new Trust arrangements, currently scheduled for consideration at the July meeting, should be postponed until September to allow the new arrangements to be in place for longer so an accurate picture could be reported.

·         The human trafficking item that was postponed from the previous year’s work programme should be timetabled for July, subject to the external speaker’s availability.

·         There was support in principle for inviting the Mayor to attend in December, with the topic for discussion to be decided nearer the time.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the KLOE and timetable proposed in the scoping report be agreed.

2)    That the review places additional emphasis on budget/ finance issues.

3)    That an item on child trafficking be added to the work programme for July, subject to the external speaker’s availability.

4)    That the schools funding item scheduled for the June meeting be held jointly with PAC.

5)    That the Chair correspond with the committee outside of the meeting regarding potentially changing the date of the 7 June meeting.

6)    That the item on the Lewisham Music Service currently scheduled for July be postponed until September.

7)    That a session with the Mayor be scheduled into the work programme for December.

8)     That the work programme be presented to Business Panel for consideration.

RESOLVED that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

In relation to Item 8 of the minutes, regarding school funding, the Chair asked Sara Williams, Executive Director for Children and Young People’s Services, to update the committee regarding school budget deficits, and in particular about Forest Hill School (FHS).

The following was noted:

·         Sedgehill School, Forest Hill School and Prendergast Ladywell Fields College (PLFC) had received approval from the Mayor to deficits of over £500,000.

·         PLFC was on target with its deficit payback plan and was now spending within its budget in-year.

·         Sedgehill School's in-year budget was balanced and it was meeting its repayment schedule.

·         FHS had worked hard to get its budget in reasonable shape through restructuring of support staff and teaching staff. This involved redundancies, with potentially one compulsory redundancy.  Further strike action was anticipated this term.

·         Other schools had smaller deficits and all were producing or had produced recovery plans to be signed off by the Executive Director for CYP.

·         The council had arranged over 20 well-attended training sessions to support schools with budget management and to provide financial health checks.

·         The council’s financial escalation procedure had been tightened to ensure that schools were challenged and that any issues came to light early on.

·         Around 50 schools were operating an in year deficit and all had been challenged, either to show that there were legitimate one-off expenses for which they had saved or that they were addressing and inherent overspend.

·         Approximately 10 schools were carrying out major staffing restructures.

·         Schools were sharing advice and best practice on matters such as use of pupil premium funds, to ensure that funds were being used efficiently.

·         No further deficits were expected to be reported to the Mayor (ie over £500k).

·         Members were concerned that schools would find it hard to achieve improved results while making the savings required by the government changes to the funding formula.