Issue - meetings

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, Councillor Amanda De Ryk, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1)the comments of the Public Accounts Select Committee of 4 February 2020 be noted and the Mayor and Cabinet decisions on the budget report will then be taken formally with the budget update report on the 12 February.

(2) having considered the views of those consulted on the budget, and subject to consideration of the outcome of consultation with business ratepayers and subject to proper process, as required, the Mayor & Cabinet:

Capital Programme

(3) noted the 2019/20 Quarter 3 Capital Programme monitoring position and the Capital Programme potential future schemes and resources as set out in section 5 of the report;

(4) noted the significant proposed rise in prudential borrowing of more than £300m by 2020/23, primarily to fund the Building for Lewisham programme capital plans;

(5) recommended that Council approves the 2020/21 to 2022/23 Capital Programme of £551.2m, as set out in section 5 and attached at Appendices W1 and W2;

Housing Revenue Account

(6) noted the consultation report on service charges to tenants’ and leaseholders in the Brockley area, presented to area panel members on 12 November 2019, as attached at Appendix X2 to the report;

(7) noted the consultation report on service charges to tenants’ and leaseholders and the Lewisham Homes budget strategy presented to area panel members on 17 December 2019 as attached at Appendix X3 to the report;

(8) agreed to set an increase in dwelling rents of 2.7% (an average of £2.56 per week) – as per the formula rent calculations outlined in section 6 of the report;

(9) agreed to set an increase in the hostels accommodation charge by 2.7% (or £0.94 per week), in accordance with formula rent calculations;

(10) approved the following average weekly increases/decreases for dwellings for-service charges to non-Lewisham Homes managed dwellings (Brockley);

caretaking 3.40% (£0.13)

grounds 3.40% (£0.11)

communal lighting 3.40% (£0.02)

bulk waste collection 3.40% (£0.05)

window cleaning 3.40% (£0.00)

tenants’ levy 0% (£0.00)

- service charges to Lewisham Homes managed dwellings:

caretaking 5.58% (£0.33)

grounds 3.80% (£0.09)

window cleaning 0% (£0.00)

communal lighting -3.94% -(£0.05)

block pest control 7.93% (£0.13)

waste collection -42.04% -(£0.22)

heating & hot water -0.39% -(£0.04)

tenants’ levy 0% (£0.00)

bulk waste disposal 1.35% (£0.01)

sheltered housing 1.00% (£0.24)

(11) approved the following average weekly percentage changes for hostels and shared temporary units for;

service charges (hostels) – caretaking etc.; no change

energy cost increases for heat, light & power; no change

water charges increase; no change

(12) approved an increase in garage rents by 2.4% (£0.38 per week) for Brockley and Lewisham Homes residents;

(13) noted that the budgeted expenditure for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2020/21 is £225.8m, split £89.4m revenue and £136.4m capital, which includes the decent homes and new build programmes;

(14) agreed the HRA budget strategy cut proposals in order to achieve a balanced budget in 2020/21, as attached at Appendix X1 to  ...  view the full decision text for item 251

The Mayor informed the meeting that Lewisham had to deliver council

services with a budget cut of £16k, and a further £40k over the next 3

years.  He outlined the areas identified for further investment. The

Mayor thanked officers in the Procurement Team for their hard work.  It

was noted that the week was national apprentice week.

The Acting Chief Finance Officer stated that the Greater London Authority

had adjusted their budget proposals.  Officers would bring back the final

details next week, which would be submitted for consideration at the

meeting of Council on 26 February 2020.  He also advised Members that

the outcome on work relating to the business rate consultation, which

concluded on 4 February 2020, would be ready by next week.  It was

stated that although no changes were expected, officers would wait for the

final settlement. 

Councillor Best expressed her disappointment that there continues to

be a 2% increase on social care budget for the elderly.  Councillor Best

acknowledged the growing demand on service provision as people live

longer, but was of a view that Central Government should provide the

Green Paper to local authorities in order to enable them prepare a long

term financial care plan for the elderly.

Councillor Barnham said that although cash for school funding had

increased, in real terms this equated to an average cut of 3% for most

Lewisham Schools. He also said that the increased costs of providing

social care over the last two years had been challenging

Having considered an officer report, and presentation by Councillor

Amanda De Ryk, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, the

Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report and from the

options available agreed the proposals by a vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that

(1)the comments of the Public Accounts Select Committee of 4 February 2020 be noted and the Mayor and Cabinet decisions on the budget report will then be taken formally with the budget update report on the 12 February.

(2) having considered the views of those consulted on the budget, and subject to consideration of the outcome of consultation with business ratepayers and subject to proper process, as required, the Mayor & Cabinet:

Capital Programme

(3) noted the 2019/20 Quarter 3 Capital Programme monitoring position and the Capital Programme potential future schemes and resources as set out in section 5 of the report;

(4) noted the significant proposed rise in prudential borrowing of more than £300m by 2020/23, primarily to fund the Building for Lewisham programme capital plans;

(5) recommended that Council approves the 2020/21 to 2022/23 Capital Programme of £551.2m, as set out in section 5 and attached at Appendices W1 and W2;

Housing Revenue Account

(6) noted the consultation report on service charges to tenants’ and leaseholders in the Brockley area, presented to area panel members on 12 November 2019, as attached at Appendix X2 to the report;

(7) noted the consultation report on service charges to tenants’ and leaseholders and the Lewisham Homes budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 251