Issue - meetings

Resolved: to incorporate the changes requested by the Committee into the 2017-18 work programme; to consider alternative dates for the meetings scheduled to be held in June and July in order to take account of pre-election period restrictions; the scrutiny of the Lewisham future programme savings proposals and the intention to jointly scrutinise an item on school budgets with the children and young people’s select committee. It was also agreed that: a scoping report would be received, setting out possible key lines of enquiry for a ‘household budgets review’. Finally, the Committee agreed to move the usual start time of the meeting to 7:30pm.

6.1      The Committee discussed the work programme for 2017-18, the following key points were noted:

·         Officers would consider alternative dates for the Committee's next meeting in order to avoid the pre-election period and school holidays.

·         Meetings in the pre-election period tended to focus on the essential business of the Council.

·         The Committee's usual start time would be moved to 19:30 but this might be varied by the Chair on occasion in order to accommodate agendas that were very full.

·         The Lewisham future programme savings proposals would be considered at the Committee's meeting in July alongside the medium term financial strategy.

·         Items would need to be moved to accommodate the proper scrutiny of savings proposals.

·         The intention would be to consider the item on school budgets alongside the CYP select committee.

·         An update on income generation would be considered at the Committee's next meeting.

·         An item on PFIs would be considered as soon as possible.

·         The consultation on business rates and fair funding was not likely to be available until July.

6.2    The Committee also discussed the potential scope for its in-depth review:

·         There were proposals for reviews on private finance initiatives, income generating arms-length companies/investment vehicles, and the cost of living.

·         It was agreed that a scoping report would be produced for a review of household budgets in Lewisham. It was proposed that the scope included potential lines of enquiry about the following:

o   Pressures on households in Lewisham, including increases in the costs of transport; caring and essential items.

o   The impact of inflation and pay restraint on Lewisham households.

o   The varied impact of financial pressure on different demographics/households in Lewisham.

o   The impact of Council policy on different households.

·         It was proposed that the Committee would look at changes over a ten year period and, if possible, produce projections for the coming years, in order to inform Council policy.

·         It was noted that one of the difficulties was about the availability of Lewisham specific data at a micro level. It was highlighted that focusing issues at a micro level might produce lots of anomalies.

·         The Committee was mindful of the amount of time it had available to carry out the review.

·         It was noted that the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee would consider a presentation from the Chief Executive on the impact of demographic changes in the borough.

Resolved: to incorporate the changes requested by the Committee into the 2017-18 work programme; to consider alternative dates for the meetings scheduled to be held in June and July in order to take account of pre-election period restrictions; the scrutiny of the Lewisham future programme savings proposals and the intention to jointly scrutinise an item on school budgets with the children and young people’s select committee. It was also agreed that: a scoping report would be received, setting out possible key lines of enquiry for a ‘household budgets review’. Finally, the Committee agreed to move the usual start time of the meeting to 7:30pm.