Issue - meetings

The meeting was addressed by a resident on behalf of the local community at Achilles Street.  The Panel heard that residents were opposed to the decision at a meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet on 18 September 2019 about the Landlord’s Offer in relation to the proposed redevelopment at Achilles Street.  The representative highlighted reasons for the objection, advising that the report on which the decision was based was published late in breach of the Council’s procedures and statutory guidelines.  Therefore, residents believed that the urgency in which the proposal was considered provided insufficient time for public scrutiny, and limited opportunity for Members to properly assess the impact of the Offer on the local community.

Continuing with his submission, the representative informed the Panel that residents were of the view that consultations on the proposal were inadequate because the focus was on the demolition of existing buildings.  It was stated that the report lacked details about the number and types of housing and commercial units to be delivered.  Furthermore, information in the report about the bulk, scale and density of the proposed redevelopment was vague.  The representative sated that residents were disappointed that there was no mention in the report about how potential residents and businesses would be affected in relation to social infrastructure, and economic and environmental implications.  Thus, residents felt that the Offer would not benefit the local community because it was supportive of potential private homeowners, with a view to substantially increase profit margins for the developer.

The representative also suggested to the Panel that residents and business owners would welcome an opportunity to have real choices throughout the redevelopment process.  Therefore, residents required that options should be communicated during the various consultation phases, in order to help them gauge the impact of the redevelopment on their living conditions.

In closing, the representative added that residents’ concerns could be further alleviated with an assurance that the legal connotations to the Offer would provide clarity about social housing affordability, and levels of rent and service charges for council homes.  In addition to that, transparency about how the Offer would affect leaseholders, council tenants and those in temporary housing, including businesses would be welcomed.  Notwithstanding that, residents believed that the Panel should recommend a reconsideration of decision taken by the Mayor and Cabinet in light of their concerns, in particular that a significant amount of public money would be spent to deliver the change.

In response to questions by the Panel, the Regeneration and New Supply Manager, and the Housing Delivery Manager confirmed that there had been no breach of rules in the process, as the published report about the Offer was in accordance with legislation, and the Council’s constitutional guidance.  The Officers stated that the Council was supportive of the redevelopment of Achilles Street Estate because a substantial number of council-owned homes to be delivered would be allocated on social rent levels for families and individuals.  Thus, the Council would continue its liaisons with the developer, with a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 238

Evening and Night Time Offer – A vision for Lewisham

Councillor Millbank stated this was a welcome vision, but was concerned about the low number of participants in the consultation. The Strategic Community Safety Services Manager responded that the consultation took six weeks on line and officers spoke to various groups including local assemblies, businesses and licensees. It was noted that people felt they needed additional safety at night, especially to and from work.

Councillor Millbank asked what was being done to  provide support for young people, community safety, women’s safety, and asked about the Women’s Charter.

The Strategic Community Safety Services Manager stated that there has been a lot of involvement with Council Members, licensing premises, and officers had worked with colleagues from hospitals to establish how residents get to and from work during the night, and the provision of CCTV in public spaces. Also the Women’s Charter would be published on the Council’s website.

Councillor Codd said a few Council Members had been involved with this project, and although he would agree that there was not a very good response rate and representation of ethnicity. He said there was involvement from a lot of young people and a good representation from the LGBT group. He added that he felt additional consultation might be necessary.

Councillor Muldoon asked whether quality as opposed to quantity was the target for the data, as he thought the response number was too small. Councillor Millbank said to be successful this vision would need to be linked to other strategies like the Licensing, Planning and Regeneration Strategies. She asked what the next step was. 

The Strategic Community Safety Services Manager stated that this was a vision that would be incorporated into all of the Council’s strategies, and a timeframe would be difficult to state at this stage. The Chair thanked the officer for the presentation.

RESOLVED that the decision of Mayor and Cabinet noted.

Children and Young People Plan

Councillor Sorba, Chair of Children and Young People Select Committee stated that the Select Committee has seen the plan and Members endorsed it. He said as it would define the Council’s vision for the next five years he thought it would be useful to discuss it further.

Councillor Sorba asked officers to describe the challenges they would face in trying to achieve their objectives especially with the budget restraints faced by the Council.

The Executive Director for Children and Young People explained that the implementation of the plan would depend on several factors; the next big budget announcement from the government, the level of demand for services generated by austerity, housing circumstances as families struggle and need extra help from councils. She said local authorities would be looking to see if the government would address these issues, and Lewisham would then know whether they would achieve this. The Executive Director for Children and Young People highlighted that data had shown that child poverty was getting worse, and there were changes in health organisations.

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 228