Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillors Joe dromey and Joan Millbank declared personl interests as

Lewisham Homes leaseholders in Item 10.

Councillors Joe Dromey and Joan Millbank both declared personal interests in

Item 10 as Lewisham Homes leaseholders.

Approved.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on October 4 2017 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

None.

None were raised.

Noted.

The Deputy Mayor observed there had been no slippage since the last report.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Cabinet agreed that:

(1) the Business Rates Revaluation Support Scheme (Revaluation Support)

be approved in accordance with the Council’s powers under section 47 of the

Local Government Finance Act 1988;

(2) the scheme be agreed for this financial year only, i.e. from 1 April 2017 to

31 March 2018 and a further report be presented to the Mayor and Cabinet

in 2018 detailing the proposed schemes for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21

once the actual scheme take up and cost is known for 2017/18;

(3) the 2 schemes announced in the March 2017 budget (Support for Pubs

and Supporting Small Businesses) be approved pursuant to the Council’s

powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988; and

(4) the s151 Finance Officer be authorised to implement the three schemes

detailed so that the agreed discretionary discounts for business rates can be

awarded in compliance with the scheme criteria.

The Head of Law advised the Cabinet that the legal implications and equality

provisions were the same as shown in the Public Space Protection Order item

and other reports appearing on the agenda.

Officers stated there were currently unable to confirm if the administrative

grant attached to the scheme would be enough to cover costs. Officers were

able to confirm the provisions relating to betting shops were not open to

challenge, as this was a Lewisham Council scheme.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Cabinet, for the

reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the Business Rates Revaluation Support Scheme (Revaluation Support)

be approved in accordance with the Council’s powers under section 47 of the

Local Government Finance Act 1988;

(2) the scheme be agreed for this financial year only, i.e. from 1 April 2017 to

31 March 2018 and a further report be presented to the Mayor and Cabinet

in 2018 detailing the proposed schemes for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21

once the actual scheme take up and cost is known for 2017/18;

(3) the 2 schemes announced in the March 2017 budget (Support for Pubs

and Supporting Small Businesses) be approved pursuant to the Council’s

powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988; and

(4) the s151 Finance Officer be authorised to implement the three schemes

detailed so that the agreed discretionary discounts for business rates can be

awarded in compliance with the scheme criteria.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Deputy Mayor,

Councillor Alan Smith, the Cabinet agreed that the addition of No.7 & 8 Bell

Green gasholders to the Local List be approved.

The Head of Planning reported a late representation had been received from

the landowner’s agent raising various concerns about the scheme and the

potential effect on a pending planning application. In response she advised

the Cabinet that a local listing would be a consideration to be taken into

account when determining any application but that it did not preclude

development or ensure that the gasholders could not be removed.

Annabelle McLaren of the Sydenham Society addressed the Cabinet and said

a petition to save the gasholders had attracted 650 signatures. She outlined

the historical and architectural significance of the gasholders and urged that

they be listed. She was supported by Councillor Chris Best who believed the

gasholders to be an important  part of the area’s social and cultural heritage.

Councillor Best acknowledged that local listing would not prevent other

opportunities to uplift the locality.

In reply to the debate the Deputy Mayor stated that while the proposals had

the backing of the Cabinet, his personal background as an engineer led him to

conclude the steps to list a no longer fit for purpose piece of equipment was

unnecessary, especially as a similar structure had already been listed on the

Old Kent Road.

Having considered an officer report and presentations from the Sydenham

Soviety and by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Cabinet, for the

reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that the addition of No.7 & 8 Bell Green gasholders to the Local

List be approved.

Item withdrawn.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda without being considerd.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Cabinet agreed that the

Council be recommended to support the proposal to create a London

Business Rates pool based on the principles set out in the London Councils

proposals, with a preference for Option D, as set out within paragraph 6.7 (i.e.

greater weighting to “needs” and “population” (each 30%) with equal

remaining weightings of 20% for “incentives” and “investment” pots, subject to

clarification on the details still outstanding, in particular:

 that any London pool will be protected by a no detriment guarantee;

 on the detail of how the 100% devolved business rates plans from

government will operate and the timing for their introduction;

 of the impact of the fair funding review and arrangements for conversion

from pilots to permanent arrangements (including when and how revaluations

will be conducted); and

 that there is unanimous agreement from all London Boroughs on how the

pool will operate at set up and enable individual authorities to leave if they

wish to.

The Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration confirmed this was

intended to be a pilot proposal and could not go ahead until every London

borough had agreed to take part.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Resources, Councillor Kevin Bonavia, the Cabinet, for the

reasons set out in the report:

RESOLVED that the Council be recommended to support the proposal to

create a London Business Rates pool based on the principles set out in the

London Councils proposals, with a preference for Option D, as set out within

paragraph 6.7 (i.e. greater weighting to “needs” and “population” (each 30%)

with equal remaining weightings of 20% for “incentives” and “investment” pots,

subject to clarification on the details still outstanding, in particular:

 that any London pool will be protected by a no detriment guarantee;

 on the detail of how the 100% devolved business rates plans from

government will operate and the timing for their introduction;

 of the impact of the fair funding review and arrangements for conversion

from pilots to permanent arrangements (including when and how revaluations

will be conducted); and

 that there is unanimous agreement from all London Boroughs on how the

pool will operate at set up and enable individual authorities to leave if they

wish to.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Policy and Performance, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Cabinet

agreed that the report be noted.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Policy and Performance, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Cabinet agreed that:

(1) the performance of Lewisham Homes against its targets be noted; and

(2) the Business and Delivery Plan for 2017-20 be approved.

In praising the overall performance of Lewisham Homes, Councillor Millbank

also highlighted a couple of concerns raised by her constituents and was

assured by a representative of Lewisham Homes that these would be

investigated subsequent to the meeting.

Having considered an officer report and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Housing, Councillor Damien Egan, the Cabinet, for the reasons

set out in the report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the performance of Lewisham Homes against its targets be noted; and

(2) the Business and Delivery Plan for 2017-20 be approved.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet

received the views of the Select Committee as set out and asked the

Executive Director for Community Services to provide a response for Mayoral

consideration.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the views of the Select Committee as set out be received

and the Executive Director for Community Services be asked to provide

a response for Mayoral consideration.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet

received the views of the Select Committee as set out and asked the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration to provide a response for

Mayoral consideration.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the views of the Select Committee as set out be received

and the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be asked to

provide a response for Mayoral consideration.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet

received the views of the Select Committee as set out and asked the

Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration to provide a response for

Mayoral consideration.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Chair of the

Public Accounts Select Committee, Councillor Maja Hilton, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the views of the Select Committee as set out be received

and the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration be asked to

provide a response for Mayoral consideration.

The meeting closed at 6.56pm