Agenda, decisions and minutes

None were made.

None were made.

Approved.

RESOLVED that the minutes of Mayor & Cabinet held on March 11 2020 and

the Mayoral meeting held on March 25 2020 be confirmed and signed as

correct records.

The Clerk reported on the approval of the Single Equalities Framework.

The Head of Business & Committee reported on the Business Panel’s

approval of the Single Equalities Framework which had been considered by

the Mayor on March 25. He stated an assurance regarding the Safer Stronger   Communities Select Committee’s tabled comments had been sought. The

Head of Business & Committee advised the Cabinet that the usual practice

was to require officers to prepare a report for their consideration and

subsequent reporting to the Select Committee.

The Mayor confirmed he was happy to follow accepted practice and asked

officers to prepare a response.

RESOLVED that officers be asked to prepare a response to the comments of

the Safer, Stronger Communities Select Committee tabled on March 25.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the jobshare

Cabinet Member for Culture, Jobs & Skills, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Mayor

and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) the broad package of support to business and residents set out together

with the specific recommendations indicated below be approved;

(2) Across all areas of income collection for the next three months note the

Council’s general approach be noted and endorse the following be endorsed:

:

a.            Generate invoices based on existing agreements and charges

unless specifically waived;

b.            Hold the sending of any reminders for payments due on bills

raised; with communications emphasising payment flexibility for

business those struggling to pay and not referencing

enforcement action;

c.            Invite all customers, businesses or residents, to contact the

Council early to discuss any financial difficulties they may be

facing as a result of Cod vi19;

d.         Offer flexibility to vary payment schedules to waive charges for

            up to three months and reset future payments to recover the

            monies due thereafter.

d.            Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Housing,

Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Acting

Chief Finance Officer to scope the recommended options,

implement processes and eligible accessibility criteria.

(3) the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment in

consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer be authorised to introduce

temporary top-up to emergency loans to support families with unexpected

Covid-19 bereavement costs, to bridge the circa 7 week delay in obtaining the

£1,000 DWP ‘funeral expenses payment’; this is subject to the outcome of the

current all Borough’s representation to DWP to reduce delays in processing

applications.

(4) the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment in

consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement

the following proposals as part of a comprehensive package of support to help

protect Lewisham business and jobs:

(5) For Council commercial tenants - if requested by the tenant and having

checked on a case by case basis that they have availed themselves of other

available government support, to:

a. At least defer all commercial rents due up to a 3-month period - essentially

terms would be agreed to recover the rent over a longer period.

b. Allow flexibility for officers to discount or forego commercial rents due for

small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs with fewer than 250 employees,

and a turnover of less than £50 million) who have not received business rates

relief or grants, voluntary groups and charities – initially - up to a 3-month

period,

c. Consider in June on whether to defer or forego rent for a further quarter for

businesses that - still remain vulnerable to imminent closure.

At an estimated cost to the Council from loss of income of up to £800k.

(6) For commercial waste customers - where appropriate for those not trading

(e.g. excluding supermarkets), agree an initial three-month free-period on

annual waste collection charges from the 1 April 2020; and if requested, defer

payments for 3-months for SMEs who are still trading (e.g. shops)  ...  view the full decision text for item 305.

The Mayor offered some introductory remarks thanking Councillor Dromey

and the officers involved in formulating the proposed support package. The

Mayor acknowledged that the impact locally of the global Covid-19 pandemic

was unprecedented. He reported on efforts to involve local businesses in

devising appropriate support packages to sustain the local economy during

the crisis.

The report was then presented by Councillor Joe Dromey. He outlined the

package of support measures put in place to support local businesses at

significant cost to the Council. He had received confirmation that existing

budgetary provisions allowed the expenditure to be made but that the course

of action undertaken was based on the understanding that Government would

reimburse Councils which had offered support. Councillor Dromey and other

Cabinet members expressed concern that the Government might be backing

away from the undertakings they had given on March 16. The Cabinet

decided that they should share their concerns with the three local MPs and

press Government to deliver on their promises to ensure local councils were

properly reimbursed for their outlay.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the jobshare

Cabinet Member for Culture, Jobs & Skills, Councillor Joe Dromey, the Mayor

and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by a vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the broad package of support to business and residents set out together

with the specific recommendations indicated below be approved;

(2) Across all areas of income collection for the next three months note the

Council’s general approach be noted and endorse the following be endorsed:

:

a.            Generate invoices based on existing agreements and charges

unless specifically waived;

b.            Hold the sending of any reminders for payments due on bills

raised; with communications emphasising payment flexibility for

business those struggling to pay and not referencing

enforcement action;

c.            Invite all customers, businesses or residents, to contact the

Council early to discuss any financial difficulties they may be

facing as a result of Cod vi19;

d.         Offer flexibility to vary payment schedules to waive charges for

            up to three months and reset future payments to recover the

            monies due thereafter.

d.            Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Housing,

Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Acting

Chief Finance Officer to scope the recommended options,

implement processes and eligible accessibility criteria.

(3) the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment in

consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer be authorised to introduce

temporary top-up to emergency loans to support families with unexpected

Covid-19 bereavement costs, to bridge the circa 7 week delay in obtaining the

£1,000 DWP ‘funeral expenses payment’; this is subject to the outcome of the

current all Borough’s representation to DWP to reduce delays in processing

applications.

(4) the Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment in

consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement

the following proposals as part of a comprehensive package of support to help

protect Lewisham business and jobs:

(5) For Council commercial tenants - if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 305.

Agreed.

RESOLVED that in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local

Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to

Information)(England) Regulations 2012 and under Section 100(A)(4)

of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded

from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds

that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined

in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act,  and the public

interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in

disclosing the information

6.         Home Park Allocation of S106 monies as part of the Council's

Precision Manufactured Homes Programme.

7          Smarter Technology Phase 2 Project Equipment Rollout.

8.         Permission to Extend Youth Services Contract.

9.         Permission to extend current Specialist Short Breaks contract –

Ravensbourne Project.

10.       Permission to extend current Children & Young People's

            Personalised Care and Support Framework Agreement.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Mayor, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that the allocation of a stated of

Section 106 contributions received by the Council from the Planning

agreements set out be approved to provide affordable and wheelchair housing

delivery in the borough at Home Park.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Mayor, the Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by a vote

of 10-0:

RESOLVED that the allocation of a stated sum of Section 106 contributions

received by the Council from the Planning agreements, as set out, be

approved to provide affordable and wheelchair housing delivery in the

borough at Home Park.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for Democracy, Refugees and Accountability, Councillor

Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) a stated spend be approved on the Laptops, PC, Monitors and supporting

items necessary for Smarter Tech Phase 2

(2) the order be placed with Shared Services using existing arrangements as

set out.

In presenting the report, Councillor Bonavia supported the urgent

requirements for equipment necessary to support home working.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for Democracy, Refugees and Accountability, Councillor

Kevin Bonavia, the Mayor and Cabinet, for the reasons set out in the report by

a vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) a stated spend be approved on the Laptops, PC, Monitors and supporting

items necessary for Smarter Tech Phase 2

(2) the order be placed with Shared Services using existing arrangements as

set out.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) an additional extension to the current Youth Service contract with Youth

First from 01/08/2020 to 31/03/21 at a stated maximum cost be approved;

(2) the provisions around pensions and redundancy liability provided by the

Council for the existing contract are maintained for the period of the extension

be approved; and

(3) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for CYP to agree

appropriate terms in particular any changes to the existing terms and

conditions for the extension relevant to Covid 19, such as open book

accounting, the right for the Council to clawback unspent monies and ability to

bring the extension period to an end early

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet, for the reasons set out in the report by a vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) an additional extension to the current Youth Service contract with Youth

First from 01/08/2020 to 31/03/21 at a stated maximum cost be approved;

(2) the provisions around pensions and redundancy liability provided by the

Council for the existing contract are maintained for the period of the extension

be approved; and

(3) authority be delegated to the Executive Director for CYP to agree

appropriate terms in particular any changes to the existing terms and

conditions for the extension relevant to Covid 19, such as open book

accounting, the right for the Council to clawback unspent monies and ability to

bring the extension period to an end early

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that the contract with

Ravensbourne Project be extended to provide overnight, holiday and

weekend provision of specialist short breaks from 1 September 2020 to 31

August 2021 at a total stated cost of overnight, holiday and weekends.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by

a vote of 10-0

RESOLVED that the contract with Ravensbourne Project be extended to

provide overnight, holiday and weekend provision of specialist short breaks

from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021 at a total stated cost of overnight,

holiday and weekends.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that the current Children &

Young People’s Personalised Care and Support Framework Agreement be

extended for a period of 24 months from 01/04/2020 to 31/03/22.

In presenting the report, Councillor Barnham confirmed alternatives of spot

purchasing would be costly and commencing a new procurement would not

be practical.

Having considered a confidential officer report, and a presentation by the

Cabinet Member for School Performance and Children’s Services, Councillor

Chris Barnham, the Mayor and Cabinet for the reasons set out in the report by

a vote of 10-0:

RESOLVED that the current Children & Young People’s Personalised Care

and Support Framework Agreement be extended for a period of 24 months

from 01/04/2020 to 31/03/22.

The meeting closed at 6.39pm.