Agenda and minutes

Beckenham Place Park Regeneration Update

The Chair asked whether Business Panel’s request for more involvement with key stake holders had been addressed. The Head of Business and Committee said the Mayor received the written comments of the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel and had stated he was under the impression active consultation was being undertaken. This was confirmed by Councillor Millbank. The Executive Director for Customer Services added that more could always be done.

The Chair requested that the Executive Director for Customer Services advise Panel Members where officers thought improvement could be made.

Action >>>>>> ED Customer Services

RESOLVED that the minutes of the open meeting held on 25 July 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.

None Received.

Report noted.

Report noted.

Business Rates Revaluation Support

The Head of Public Service introduced the report. The Chair asked what progress local authorities had made since the revaluation came into effect. The Head of Public Service said local authorities, including Lewisham had started the process. He added that Lewisham was already dealing with their Small Business Rates and rates relief for pubs. The Chair asked for a briefing note to include which pubs qualify for the relief and the Wards they were located.

Action >>>>>> ED Customer Service

Councillor Johnston Franklin received confirmation that the relief ceiling was £600. Panel Members were told that 178 out of 6,000 pubs approximately were entitled to the relief. The Chair said this was a very small percentage, and that would explain the representations he received from the public. The Chair thanked officers for the report.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor be noted.

London Business Rates Pilot

The Head of Corporate Resources introduced the report.

The Chair stated that members were led to believe that in the long run this scheme could adversely affect the Council, but they were now being told that there would be no detrimental effect. The Head of Corporate Resources informed Panel Members that the risk Lewisham face would be very small as this was a government initiative. He added that there should not be any detriment to the Council. The Head of Corporate Resources said by working together London Councils were promoting the right attitude.

The Chair said as this was a pilot scheme there should be an evaluation process. He asked when members should expect this, and was told that it would be in 2021. It was noted that a lot was still to be done and setting up the process would be in 2018/19, then adjustments would need to be made before the evaluation stage. The Chair asked that the Chair of the Public Accounts Select Committee be kept updated on the governance arrangements.

Action >>>>>> ED Resources and Regeneration

Councillor Mallory asked whether the governance arrangements would be in place before the pilot was launched, and was told this was the case. Councillor Mallory asked if there was any indication of what it would be and was told the intention was that one of the London Boroughs would do the administration on behalf of the others. Councillor Mallory said Members needed to be kept informed of developments.

Councillor Mallory asked if this scheme could be imposed on local authorities given the tight deadline, and was told that London Authorities were willing to get involved. It was noted that it was initiated during the June general elections and then revised in the Queen’s Speech. It was emphasised that this scheme was voluntary.

Councillor Johnston Franklin asked whether there had been any further distinction on funding, and was told there had not been any. It was noted that it had not been clarified how growth would be distributed. The Chair asked how much money was available Londonwide and was told £240m in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

The Chair informed Panel Members that this might be the right time to look at the governance of Scrutiny Committees, and the way they were set up. He said some flexibility would be needed in their structures.

Councillor Mallory said a review would be good, with recommendations for consideration by either the last Council meeting in the Municipal Year or the new Administration. Councillor Mallory said there were some political issues to be considered too especially if there was a change in the political balance  of the Council. The Chair said the Terms of References of Scrutiny Committees could be looked at too.

The Scrutiny Manager informed Panel Members that the Select Committees were currently reviewing the savings proposals. The Public Account Select Committee was scheduled to meet on 16 November and could make a referral to Mayor and Cabinet on 6 December if required.

Panel Members noted that the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee set up to scrutinise proposals from the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust relating to the mental health of older adults had agreed a series of recommendations to the Trust.

It was also noted that following scrutiny at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Healthier Communities Select Committee, the CCG has agreed to postpone its decision on the future of the New Cross Walk In Centre and extend the current contract until March so it could fully review the consultation responses and consider the suitability and effectiveness of the alternative provision in place.

Panel Members were informed that a number of Select Committees were concluding their in-depth reviews as follows:

·         Children and Young People Select Committee will consider the final report and recommendations arising from its review into the recruitment and retention of teachers at its next meeting on 11 December.

·         Safer and Stronger Select Committee’s review into LGBT provision has one further evidence session which is a telephone conference with Leicestershire County Council taking place next week. The report and recommendations will then be considered at the Committee’s December’s meeting.

·         Housing Select Committee will hold its final evidence session into types of housing provision on Thursday, 9 November. The final report and recommendations will be considered in December.

·         Healthier Communities Select Committee will be holding its second and final evidence session into social prescribing on 6 December. The final report and recommendations will be considered in January 2018.

·         The Sustainable Development Select Committee is continuing its longstanding review of the Catford regeneration plans.

·         The Public Accounts Select Committee will have an in-depth session on household budgets at its December meeting.

 The Chair of Housing Select Committee, Councillor Handley said the Committee was looking at ways to increase the availability of social housing.

The Chair of Sustainable Development Select Committee, Councillor Curran said that the response for Grenfell Towers’s inquiry was due on 15 November, he asked if this information would be going to the Sustainable Development Select Committee or Mayor and Cabinet. Councillor Curran said 60% of the safety checks had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

No confidential item was requested for discussion.

This item was not identified for further discussion.

This item was not identified for further discussion.

Meeting ended 7:50pm                                                    Chair……………….