Agenda item

Lewisham Homes Articles Amendment

The Housing Policy Partnership Manager introduced the report.

Councillor Millbank asked what the rationale was behind the change in the composition of the Board and was told that it was part of the process of nominating a Council Member to the Board, and a Councillor who is a tenant could be good nominee to scrutinise decisions.

Councillor Millbank asked what consideration had been given to potential conflict of interests, and whether this was discussed by the Board. She said this decision might give Council Members on the Board more power. The Housing Policy Partnership Manager said any conflict of interest would be dealt with by Lewisham Homes. The Housing Policy Partnership Manager said officers view was to give more power to Tenants.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed Members that Declarations of Interests would be dealt with in accordance with the Constitution of the Board. Councillor Muldoon said he was concerned by the word “instruct” used in recommendation 2 of the report as the Member’s obligation would ultimately be with the Trust. In response to concerns raised Councillor Millbank was told that although Tenants representatives received remuneration, the Council Tenant Member would not get any payment.

Councillor Hall said Council should have discussed this amendment, and asked whether a governance review took place that resulted in the amendment. He said as far as he was aware he was the only Councillor who was a Lewisham Homes tenant.

Councillor Sorba asked if this change was made for convenience and was told it was done to diversify the representatives on the Board, and to make it more flexible for Council Members on the Board. Panel Members stated that the change was not clear.

Following a detailed discussion Business Panel agreed unanimously to call-in the Mayor and Cabinet decision.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor and Cabinet be called in for the reasons stated below:

i.              Business Panel have specific concerns and agreed the call-in to enable Mayor and Cabinet to be more fully appraised by officers of the background to, and reason for Recommendation 2;

“Instruct the Council Representative to sign a written resolution by the Member of Lewisham Homes giving effect to this change with immediate effect”

ii.            Business Panel would like Mayor and Cabinet to ask officers to further clarify for the purposes of good governance and perception, practices in place to deal with any likely examples of potential conflict of interest at the Board.

Approval for Budget to start redevelopment plans at PLACE/Ladywell site

The assistant Interim Director Regeneration and Place introduced the report.

Councillor Hall asked how he would define Council Social Homes, and was

told they were homes managed by Lewisham Homes and set up at social

rents, similar to London affordable rents.

Councillor Hall asked how many of the homes would be affordable and was

told 50% would be London Affordable Rent, and rest would be market rate

sales and rentals to cross subsidise the cost. Councillor Hall stated that

London affordable rent was regarded as not affordable. Councillor Hall said

‘Council Social Homes’ was a nebulous term and should not have been used

in the open report.

A description of London Affordable rent was given by the Interim Director

Regeneration and Place following a question from Councillor Sorba.

There was further discussion about the various types of affordable housing in

both the open and closed meeting Business Panel agreed make a referral to

Mayor and Cabinet, to instruct officers to amend recommendation 2.6 on the

part 1 report to ensure both part 1 recommendations, and part 2

recommendations are identical, by replacing ‘Council Social homes’ with

‘London Affordable Rent’

RESOLVED that:

i.              the decision of Mayor and Cabinet be noted.

ii.            Mayor and Cabinet be requested to instruct officers to amend recommendation 2.6 in the part1 report, by replacing ‘Council Social homes’ with ‘London Affordable Rent’