Agenda and minutes

The minutes were agreed as a true record.

Cllr Muldoon declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 4 as a member of SLaM

Cllr Hall declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 4 as a member of SLaM

Cllr Walsh declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 4 as an employee of South Bank University (which provides training for NHS nurses)

Cllr Bell declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 4  as a member of Kings NHS Foundation Trust

Councillor Jacca was appointed to Public Accounts and Safer Stronger Communities Select Committees.

Barry Quirk gave a presentation to the Committee outlining the key areas of devolution relevant to the Council. The Key points to note were:

·         Devolution already exists in London with the London Mayor exercising devolved powers in relation to Policing, Fire, Transport and Economic Development across London

·         Further sub regional devolution needs to be understood and developed in a way that takes account of the demographics of London Boroughs.

·         The daytime population in London is 9.5 million, 1 million more than those resident overnight in London, and in the context of a total population for the rest of England of 45 million.

·         Two thirds of the Council’s activity is providing people-based services, the costs of which will rise greater than inflation. Reliance on property taxes raised solely within the borough for income would be extremely difficult.

·         In London 6 Local Authorities collect 60% of all business rates collected in London. Lewisham is in the bottom five London boroughs for total business rates collected. A large proportion of the Lewisham business rates income is from one national business which currently happens to have its office based in Lewisham.

·         Property taxes (business rates and council tax) taken on a borough by borough basis will not be sufficient in areas of high need.

·         When mapped by population and socio-economic need, Lewisham is in the top quartile.

·         When mapped by property tax and socio-economic need Lewisham is in the bottom quartile (low income, high need)

In response to questions from the Committee Barry Quirk advised:

·         Without appropriate redistribution based on need on a regional level, business rates retention will not be sufficient to replace regional support grants in Lewisham, given the high population and high levels of need in relation to other London Boroughs and the limited “headroom” for growth of income. A fair distribution is needed for those boroughs with high need but low income generating opportunities.

·         Further devolution in London is complicated across all areas, with different arrangements currently being developed across Health and Economic Development (and skills). London Councils and the Greater London Authority (GLA) have been working together to develop understanding of the opportunities and limitations

·         Lewisham is a diverse and popular borough that is a vibrant place to live.

·         Lewisham is involved in the One Health pilot to look at asset and estate management in partnership with the Health sector.

·         The STP is not part of the devolution agenda, it makes no governance changes to either the NHS or Local authorities. It is an NHS strategic delivery plan, developed by NHS officers with a small number of Local authority officers involved in some meetings. It does not address the funding challenges for Social Care that Local Authorities face.

·         In a document of approximately 30 pages, the draft STP document has approximately a paragraph or two on social care. The acute trusts have been working well together and with the CCGs on the plans in South East London, which has not been the case in other areas of the country.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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