Agenda and minutes

Councillor Tom Copley declared a personal interest in Item 11 as a private

rented sector tenant.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on October 3 and October

10 2018 be confirmed and signed as correct records.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting the new Young Mayor, Adam Abdullah

and Deputy Young Mayor, Nike Ajijola.

The Mayor spoke to the item and congratulated the winning candidates on

their success at the polls. He noted this would be the fifteenth year of

the scheme and he pointed to the enduring success of the Young

Mayoralty which he believed had been established as a permanent and

valued feature of the Lewisham landscape and had attracted a consistently

high calibre of successful candidates and interest, as shown by a record 58%

turn out this year of eligible voters. He noted that Lewisham had initiated a

scheme that had been widely copied both nationally and internationally.

He thanked the outgoing Young Mayor, and Deputy Young Mayor, Laurelle

Henry and Edafese Erhenede, for their service in what was widely regarded

as another successful  and very busy year, including highlights such as

attendance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The new Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor then signed their

Declarations of Acceptance of Office and an undertaking to abide by the Code

of Practice for their respective roles which were witnessed by the Acting Chief

Executive.

The outgoing Young Mayor, Laurelle Henry, addressed the meeting and

thanked the Council for the opportunities given to her during her term of office

which she regarded as a life changing experience. She said she would never

have dreamed of addressing a public assembly a year ago but now felt

confident and empowered. She gave particular credit to the support given by

the Young Mayor’s team. She wished her successors every success in their

year of office and offered to be available to give help and advice.

Mr John Hamilton presented a petition bearing about 900 names The petition

called upon the Mayor and Council to take immediate measures to ensure

that all new housing being built is suitable for existing Lewisham residents and

is made available for rent at truly affordable levels.

Councillor Paul Maslin presented a petition supported by 2,132 persons

opposing the development of 1 Creekside into an 8 storey block of flats.

Councillor Liam Curran presented a petition supported by 58 persons from

residents of Beaulieu Avenue, Longton Grove and Jews Walk requesting that

Westwood Hill be included in the Council’s Principal Road Resurfacing

programme for 2019.

1. Silver Award

The Chair received the award on behalf of the Council and invited Councillor

Kevin Bonavia to explain further.

Councillor Bonavia explained that the award was in recognition of the

Council’s work with former members of the Armed Forces and that there were

13,500 ex service personnel in the Borough to whom the Council owed a duty

of care. He thanked all the staff across the Council who had added their

diversity of experience in providing support to this sector.

2. Jai Hughes

The Chair reported that her ward in Bellingham had recently witnessed the

horrific murder of a 15 year old youth, Jai Hughes. Sadly this was the latest in

a series of such horrific acts in London and she proposed that the Council

reflect on his death and the deaths of other victims with a silence of one

minute.

All present observed a minute’s silence in memory of Jai Hughes and other

victims of youth violence.

3. National President GMB

The Chair welcomed Barbara Plant, a Lewisham employee and National

President of the GMB Union to address the meeting.

Barbara Plant thanked the Council for extending an invitation to her and

recounted her strong links to Lewisham, having been born and educated here

and then working as a Teaching Assistant and Council employee. She

recounted the strong historical links between her Union and the Labour Party.

She concluded by expressing the gratitude of her members for their later

consideration of a motion on violence in schools and the proposed adoption of

a violence at work checklist. She hoped other Boroughs would follow the lead

and example set by Lewisham.

4. No Place Like Home Video

Councillor Bell submitted a video lasting 7 minutes 44 seconds which highlighted the seriousness of the homelessness problem in Lewisham. The video had been jointly produced by the Council and Lewisham Homes.

67 questions were received from members of the public which

were answered by the Cabinet Member indicated. In the time available 29

questioners were given the opportunity to raise supplementary questions.

A copy of the questions and answers was circulated separately and can be

viewed on the Council website with the meeting papers.

Before the commencement of members questions there was sustained

disruption emanating from the Public Gallery. The Chair adjourned the

meeting for approximately 30 minutes while the Gallery was cleared and order

restored.

7 questions were received from Councillors which were answered by the

Cabinet Members indicated. A copy of the questions and answers was

circulated separately and can be viewed on the Council’s website with the

meeting papers.

Councillor Kevin Bonavia moved that the recommendation be approved and

this was seconded by Councillor Joan Millbank. Councillor Hall raised a

question about Rule J11 which was responded to by the Head of Law and it

was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that the draft amended Constitution at Appendix 3 be approved

and the changes to the Mayoral Scheme of Delegation therein be noted.

Prior to the consideration of this item, Janet Senior, the Acting Chief

Executive, notified the Chair of a personal and prejudicial interest in this item

and she vacated the Council Chamber while it was considered.

The Mayor moved that the recommendation be approved and this was

seconded by the Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Hall reported he had asked that a report be added to the Audit

Panel agenda on the financial implications arising from the recruitment and

departure of Chief Executive Ian Thomas but that he had been informed this

was a personnel matter outside the remit of the Panel. He asked if the Acting

Chief Executive could be asked to review the refusal that had prevented any

intervention by the Audit Panel. Councillor De Ryk said she would be happy to

ensure such a review was undertaken and it was then unanimously:

RESOLVED that

(1) note be taken that the Chief Executive, Ian Thomas, would be leaving the

Council’s employment and that his last day of service would be 31 December

2018;

(2) note be taken that the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration,

Janet Senior, had been granted delegated powers to act as Chief Executive

until 31st December 2018;

(3) from 1st January 2019, Janet Senior, Executive Director for Resources

and Regeneration, be appointed as Interim Chief Executive. Such

appointment will authorise the Executive Director for Resources and

Regeneration to exercise all of the functions currently exercisable by the

current Chief Executive, including those of Returning Officer and Electoral

Registration Officer; and

(4) In recognition of additional duties, the Head of Organisational

Development & Human Resources be authorised to agree an appropriate

honorarium in respect of the additional duties associated with acting as

Interim Chief Executive.

Health & Safety Committee

Councillor Moore proposed and Councillor Millbank seconded the nomination

of Councillor Best to the Committee. There being no other nominations, the

Chair declared Councillor Best elected.

RESOLVED that Councillor Chris Best be appointed to the Health & Safety

Committee.

The motion was moved by Councillor Copley and seconded by Councillor

Penfold. The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously

carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“This Council notes that there are now around 30,000 households renting

from private landlords in Lewisham, including a significant number of families

with children.

This Council welcomes the campaign to end section 21 – the clause of the

Housing Act 1988 that allows private landlords to evict tenants without reason.

We acknowledge that the threat of a no-fault eviction causes insecurity and

stress for Londoners who rent privately and can discourage tenants from

complaining about substandard housing.

We welcome the action taken by the Scottish government to restrict no-fault

evictions.

This council resolves:

•           To support Generation Rent’s campaign to abolish section 21 of the

Housing Act 1988;

•           To request that the Mayor publicly states his backing for the campaign,

            and writes to the government requesting this change in the law.

The motion, as amended, was moved by Councillor Moore and seconded by

Councillor Kelleher. The amended motion was then put to the vote and

declared to be unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

This Council notes:-

• We are currently using a large volume of single use and short term use

plastic and a plan or strategy in place to phase out its use needs to be

created

• According to recent research, highlighted in programmes such as ‘Blue

Planet II’ and ‘Drowning in Plastic’, 8 million tonnes of plastic waste

ends up in the world’s oceans each year

• There is a growing awareness and understanding of the impact and

risks posed to animal and human health through the toxic chemicals

present in plastics

• The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that by 2050, the weight of

plastic in the oceans will exceed that of fish

• The use of single-use and short-use plastic when not properly recycled

has a detrimental impact on our environment.

Lewisham Council resolves:

• That the Mayor and Cabinet be asked to consider a report on the

phasing out of the use of single and short term use plastics and in

particular dealing with the following matters:

authority by the end of this term of office – May 2022

bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws), with allowances

made for rigid straws to support those with disabilities needing

them

                        phasing out of these plastics

replace the use of such plastics at events in the Borough and

promote the use of re-useable or deposit scheme cups leading

to this being a request or condition for the obtaining a licence for

such events

as to the phasing out of the use of such plastics, as part of the

Council’s approach to recycling, and environmental issues

• In addition, the Council resolves to ensure that this message goes out

to partner organisations and commercial enterprises in the Borough. As

Lewisham Council became a Fair Trade Council, that it take steps to

become a Plastic Free Council, beginning with the phasing out of

single and short term use plastics.

This Council believes:

That Lewisham should be part of the wider movement to phase out the use of

single and short term use plastics, and in so doing, become a Council that

does not use single-use or short-use plastic wherever possible.

The motion was moved by Councillor Best and seconded by Councillor

Howard. The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously

carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

The public health grant funds vital services and functions that prevent ill

health and contribute to the future sustainability of the NHS. Local authorities

are responsible for delivering most of these services, but their ability to do so

is compromised by public health grant reductions and the broader funding

climate.

In 2018/19 and 2019/20 every local authority will have less to spend on public

health than the year before.  Taking funds away from prevention is a false

economy. Without proper investment in public health people suffer, demand

on local health services increases and the economy suffers. Poor public

health costs local businesses heavily through sick days and lost productivity .

Unless we restore public health funding, our health and care system will

remain locked in a ‘treatment’ approach, which is neither economically viable

nor protects the health of residents.

The Government is looking to phase out the Public Health Grant by 2020/21.

Thereafter, they plan to fund public health via 75% business rates retention .

Whatever the model, it is vital that local authorities have enough funding to

deliver the functions and services they need to provide. Deprived areas often

suffer the worst health outcomes, so it is also vital that areas with the greatest

need receive sufficient funding to meet their local challenges .

Lewisham Council notes that:

•           Around four in ten cancers are preventable, largely through avoidable

risk factors, such as stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight and cutting

back on alcohol .

•           Smoking accounts for 80,000  early deaths every year and remains the

largest preventable cause of cancer in the world .

•           Smoking-related ill health costs local authorities £760 million every

year in social care costs .

•           Additionally, obesity and alcohol account for 30,000  and 7,000  early

deaths each year respectively.

•           All three increase the risk of: cancer, diabetes, lung and heart

conditions, poor mental health and create a subsequent burden on health and

social care.

This Council believes that the impact of cuts to public health on our

communities is becoming difficult to ignore. This case becomes more pressing

given the Government’s consideration of a 10-year plan for the NHS. For this

reason, we support Cancer Research UK’s call for increased and sustainable

public health funding. This Council calls on the Government to deliver

increased investment in public health and to support a sustainable health and

social care system by taking a ‘prevention first’ approach. In turn, Lewisham

Council will continue to support and fund public health initiatives to the best of

our abilities - to prevent ill-health, reduce inequalities and support a health

and social care system that is fit for the future.”

^[1]DCLG. Public health grants to local authorities: 2018 to 2019.

^[1] Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Ready Reckoner: 2018 edition.

^{[1]  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.}

The motion was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor

Gibbons. The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be

unanimously carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“On the 1st December 2018 it is World AIDS Day. This day is supported by

UNAIDS internationally and the National AIDS Trust in the UK, along with

regional and local organisations.

HM Government set out its "Prevention is better than cure" health strategy on

5th November 2018. The Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock MP

states that we need to see a greater investment in prevention - to support

people to live longer, healthier and more independent lives, and help to

guarantee our health and social care services for the long-term.

However, this Council notes:

Kat Smithson, Director of Policy and Campaigns at NAT (National AIDS Trust)

said: “We welcome the Secretary of State's aim to renew the focus on

prevention within our health and care system. But, if you read between the

lines, what is being described in this strategy are those very services that

could and should be provided through the public health system that, at the

moment, cannot meet need because it has been starved of resource.

"The ambition of this strategy cannot be reconciled with the £700 million cut to

the local public health grant in this spending review period.

"We look forward to seeing more in the upcoming Green Paper on prevention

- we urge the Secretary of State to use this as an opportunity to commit to,

and invest in, public health services as a vital component of our health and

care system that has been sidelined for too long.

“Yes, we need to focus on prevention. But, there’s an obvious solution - don’t

cut the very services that do this as their bread and butter. Restore public

health funding.”

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.         Send a message of support to the National AIDS Trust on World AIDS

Day to support the campaign to End AIDS 2030

2.         Request that the Director for Public Health draft a response to the

forthcoming Green Paper asking for Public Health funds to be restored

3.         These responses be published.

Note:

“End AIDS 2030” is a UN initiative that NAT are supporting this year see:

http://www.worldaidsday.org/2018-campaign/

The motion was moved by Councillor Barnham and seconded by Councillor

Kalu. The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously

carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“This Council notes:

•           The excellent and committed members of staff working in our schools.

•           The concerns raised by workers in schools across the country

            regarding aggressive or violent behaviour from both adults and

            children. This can include teaching assistants, maintenance staff,

            cleaners, cooks, secretaries and other support personnel who can all

            face abuse, threats and aggression in the workplace.

•           The government agency responsible for workplace health and safety is

            the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines work related violence

as: “Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances related to their work.”

•           The work the General Trade Union (GMB) has undertaken to raise

            awareness of the health and safety of children and adults in schools

            and the impact violence has on the wider community.

•           The GMB has created a ‘violence at work’ checklist which includes

            workplace environment design, policies and procedures and training

            guidelines for schools to improve the protections in place to promote a

            safe working and learning environment for everyone.

This Council believes:

•           That no worker should face violent or threatening behaviour in the

            workplace

•           That violence in schools is no difference to any other health and safety

            risk and should be treated accordingly.

This Council calls for:

•           A continued awareness in schools of the risks that both adults and

children face and the appropriate mechanisms to be used when

reporting violent behaviour

This Council will:

•           Support the GMB’s campaign to prevent violence in schools”

The motion was moved by Councillor Barnham and seconded by Councillor

Kalu. The motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously

carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

“Following austerity-based ideological budget cuts made by central

Government, Lewisham Council notes:

•           Recent analysis published by the Local Government Association

revealing that local councils in England face a funding gap of almost £8 billion

by 2025. £3 billion of this black hole is on investment on spending on

children’s services. It is noted that plugging this gap would just keep services

standing still and does not include any funding needed to improve services or

reverse cuts made to date.

•           Statistics released by the Department for Education which show that

compared with 2016, England’s schools have 137,000 more pupils but: 5,400

fewer teachers; 2,800 fewer teaching assistants; 1,400 fewer support staff;

and 1,200 fewer auxiliary staff.

•           Lewisham schools’ funding has reduced by 4.8% per pupil between

2015/16 and 2018/19 at a time when costs for schools have risen, with

increases in national insurance costs and general inflation.

•           In real terms our schools have become £22.6m worse off in real terms

during this time, which means less money to spend on teachers, support staff

and all the other costs of running schools.

•           A failure to fund the new teachers’ pay award would leave our schools

even worse off to the tune of £2.9m.

Lewisham Council opposes these central government cuts which threaten the

continued provision of high quality education in our borough. 

Lewisham Council resolves:        

•           To resist the Government’s ongoing cuts to school budgets and call for

more funding to be invested in education.

•           To call on the Government to fully fund the pay increase for teachers

that is recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body.

•           To support the campaign led by the School Cuts alliance of education

unions against the cuts to education funding.

•           To call a meeting of school governors, trade unions and parents to

discuss the Council’s position on these matters and coordinate a response.

•           To lobby the Secretary of State for Education and the Chancellor for

the resources needed to give all children and young people in Lewisham the

best start in life.

The motion, as amended, was moved by Councillor Reid and seconded by

Councillor Howard. Following a contribution from Councillor Adefiranye, the

amended motion was then put to the vote and declared to be unanimously

carried.

RESOLVED that the following motion be agreed:

Lewisham council is proud to be awarded the white ribbon status from White

Ribbon UK. The White Ribbon campaign is a global movement, active across

60 countries, working to end male violence against women and children.

This council will promote the White Ribbon Principles, seek to recruit and train

Ambassadors and Champions from within its Members and staff to root out

violence and aggression against women in our society.

This council encourages all to take the White Ribbon Pledge to never commit,

excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.

White Ribbon Principles:

•           Wear a white ribbon and encourage others in the community to do the

            same.

•           Talk about the Campaign to colleagues, friends and family.

•           Encourage groups and organisations that you work with to be involved

•           Promote the Campaign in media and social media opportunities

•           Help identify other potential White Ribbon Ambassadors

•           Abide by the White Ribbon Campaign Policies

•           Understand the issue of male violence against women and girls, and

            men’s and boy’s roles in preventing it.

•           Encourage men and boys to take a stand against male violence

            against women and girls.

•           Actively oppose the gender inequalities and stereotypes and underpin

            male violence.

•           Help raise the profile and influence of the White Ribbon Campaign

            nationally and locally.

The meeting closed at 10pm