Agenda item

Resolved: that items on: income generation; the commercialisation and culture change review; community wealth building; the audit panel and financial forecasts be added to the agenda for the meeting on 18 March. It was also agreed that a briefing would be provided on the Council’s approach to asset management – in order to inform decisions about future scrutiny.

There was a discussion about the meeting with officers from the London Borough of Waltham Forest before the consideration of the substantive items on the agenda.

5.1    Timothy Andrew (Scrutiny Manager) introduced the write-up from the evidence session with officers from the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

5.2    In the Committee discussion – the following key points were noted:

·         The approach being taken by Waltham Forest was different to the approach being taken by Barking and Dagenham (visited previously).

·         Waltham Forest had taken a more ‘organic’ rather than ‘big bang’ approach to developing commercialisation and income generation initiatives.

·         Officers had been allowed freedom to take measured risks and to behave commercially.

·         The freedom had also been given for officers to try things and to fail.

·         The Committee would welcome funding for officers in Lewisham to initiate a new commercial project.

·         The Waltham Forest approach provided a focal point (through the commercial enterprise) for officers to go with good ideas. This also gave officers the freedom throughout the organisation to think more commercially.

·         Members felt that the stage had been reached in Lewisham where something needed to happen. The structures were in place to support a new commercial project and now was the time to “push the button” to make it happen.

·         The Waltham Forest approach had already delivered successful financial outcomes.

·         Councillors were not involved the direct management of Waltham Forest’s commercial enterprise. It was implied that by having that structure the organisation was able to adapt quickly and make decisions.

·         Councillors were involved in the governance at the right levels.

·         A balance needed to be reached between enabling a commercial enterprise to be flexible – and ensuring there was public accountability. It was recognised that these issues would have to be considered if any proposal came forward to set up a new commercial body in Lewisham.

·         There had to be a degree of separation between a commercial body and the Council.

·         Councillors would welcome the opportunity for officers to be more creative and innovative.

·         Culture change happened from the ‘bottom up’ as well as ‘top down’ and the two had to work together.

·         Further consideration should be given to the ways in which the Council managed its assets.

5.3    Katherine Nidd (Strategic Procurement and Commercial Services Manager) was invited to address the Committee – the following key points were noted:

·         There had also been a discussion between Lewisham officers and those from Waltham Forest.

·         Lewisham officers were impressed by the Waltham Forest approach to their commercialisation programme and the management of risk.

·         The ‘organic’ approach taken in Waltham Forest fitted with the wider culture and the set-up of the Council.

·         Lewisham’s new chief executive had initiated a change programme – in consultation with staff – much of it focused on culture and developing new ways of working.

·         It was important that income generation did not become ‘siloed’ – or detached from the wider work that was taking place in the organisation to improve ways of working.

·         The first commercialisation pilot session for service managers would be held in March.

·         Work would also take place with the new ‘change network’ to embed commercialisation into the Council’s wider culture.

·         The structures were in place to enable funding to be made available when ideas were put forward for commercial projects.

5.4    Resolved: the Committee recommended that funding be made available from the transformation budget to support new commercial initiatives. The Committee would welcome proposals as soon as possible to develop this work.

5.5    Following the consideration of the budget – the Committee considered the work programme for its March meeting.

5.6    Resolved: that items on: income generation; the commercialisation and culture change review; community wealth building; the audit panel and financial forecasts be added to the agenda for the meeting on 18 March. It was also agreed that a briefing would be provided on the Council’s approach to asset management – in order to inform decisions about future scrutiny.