Agenda item

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny advised the Panel as follows:

·                     That some select committee dates were changed following the announcement of Queen's death.

·                     That the Council is currently in the middle of a select meeting cycle.  Sustainable Housing Select Committee and Safer and Stronger Communities Select Committee will be meeting the following week to complete this round of meetings.

·                     That the next cycle of Select Committee meetings will start with Healthier Communities Select Committee which will be meeting on 1 November.  The budget cuts will be considered by all the select committees in that round of meetings.

The Panel also noted updates about the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which met on 21 September as follows:

·                     The main item was a report on Lewisham’s response to the cost-of-living crisis.  As a result of that, three select committees - Healthier Communities, Safer and Stronger Communities and Children and Young People - will be carrying out further work on the topic

·                     That the Overview & Scrutiny Committee also established two task and finish groups.  One of those will be looking at creative and community workspaces and the other will be reviewing community gardening and allotments practise.  The investigations are now in the process of being scoped and the first meetings will take place later in the month or early next month.

Councillor Rathbone, Chair of Public Accounts Select Committee informed the meeting as follows:

·                     That because of certain recent financial decisions made by the Government, a substantial part of the Council’s budget projections no longer apply.  It was stated that officers are having to make changes very rapidly to their financial projections as the Bank of England acts on the issues.

·                     That it is a normal financial risk for the Council not receiving the Government’s financial settlement until very close to the end of its financial year.

Councillor Penfold, Chair of Housing Select Committee stated that the next meeting of the Committee will be on 12 of October 2022, and Members will consider among other things, Lewisham Homes’ Annual Report, the Service Charge Policy, and updates on selective licencing.

Councillor Lahai-Taylor, Chair of Safer and Stronger Communities Select Committee echoed the statement by the Head of Overview and Scrutiny that the equalities perspective of the cost-of-living crisis has been added to the Committee’s workplan.

Councillor Royston, Chair of Sustainable Development Select Committee stated that there has been no significant update since the last meeting, and that the next meeting of the Committee will take place the following week.

Councillor Best, Chair of Healthier Communities Select Committee reported as follows:

·                     That there will be a substantive item on the cost-of-living crisis. 

·                     That the Director of Public Health has been invited to present a report which will include information on the food justice work, and the warm hubs and spaces.

·                     That the Executive Director for Community Services will provide an update on the use of local libraries, community centres, and the work with Lewisham’s local. 

·                     It was stated that as the winter period approaches, there could be referrals of the issues to Safer and Stronger Communities and Children and Young People Select committees because they concern the health and wellbeing of residents.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Meeting closed at 8.12pm

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Chair