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The Committee requested that the following comments be referred to the Public Accounts Select Committee:

·         CYP_SAV_01 – Review of Children Centres Budgets. The Committee was concerned about the associated risk of the move to the pilot hub model advocated by government only coming with funding committed for three years and the potential long-term impact of the cut on children and young people and their families. The Committee was concerned that the cut could reduce preventative support and result in more significant pressures on other budgets should peoples’ needs then escalate.

·         CYP_SAV_04 – Youth Services Budget Review. The Committee was concerned about the impact of the cut on levels of provision for children and young people in the borough and also for the staff providing these services.  The Committee was particularly concerned that the shift to focus Council support on more targeted provision, with a necessary reduction in support for universal provision, and the mitigations outlined in the proposal would make the recruitment of staff harder for providers. 

·         COM_SAV_08 – Reduction in Opening Hours at Lewisham Libraries. The Committee was concerned regarding any reduction in opening hours at Lewisham libraries considering the important role libraries played on a range of services and in particular in their part in the response to the cost of living crisis and the Council’s strategy on “Warm Welcomes”.

That subject to the addition that Councillor Webley-Brown be marked as having attended the last meeting, the minutes be agreed.

That the item on Youth First on the Select Committee work programme be moved from the January meeting to the March meeting of the Select Committee.

Councillor Edison Huyne, who was attending the meeting as a guest, declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 as he was a Council appointed member on the Board of Youth First.

That the Lewisham Mayoresses: Dawn Atkinson, Natasha Ricketts and Christina Normanto; and Jentai and Marvin from the Young Advisors be thanked for attending the meeting and for their insights and contribution to the discussion.

The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED: That

·         the Committee’s concerns about moving young children to a distance where they couldn’t continue at the same school be noted, as this had an impact on the mental health of the young children, although the committee recognised the significant pressures on the housing service;

·         the location priority policy be shared with the Committee;

·         information be provided to the Committee on which London Local Authorities were members of Capital Letters;

·         the report be noted.

RESOLVED:

·         that the report be noted.

RESOLVED:

·         that the report be noted along with the fact that the Committee still had very serious concerns about Lewisham Homes’ repairs;

·         that Lewisham Homes attend the Committee’s meeting in March 2023 to provide a further update on repairs;

·         that Lewisham Homes provide the Committee with further information on how many legal cases were being brought against them every week and how much money from their disrepair budget was being spent on legal fees and compensation.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Following consideration of the Accommodation Procurement Strategy, it was noted that whilst the Committee had not challenged any of the recommendations in this report, it had concerns as to whether these savings could be achieved.

RESOLVED: That

·         the agenda for the next meeting in January 2023 be agreed;

·         A repairs update from Housing Providers be added as an agenda item for the March 2023 meeting;

·         A Lewisham Homes Repairs update be added as an agenda item for the March 2023 meeting.

None.

Councillor Cooper declared an interest as a service manager for Community Advice Works- which provides advice and advocacy for people regarding housing matters in Lewisham.

Councillor Penfold declared an interest as an employee of the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network- which provides advice to refugees and migrants in Lewisham.

Councillor Harding declared an interest as an employee of Centre Point- a youth homelessness charity- which manages property in Lewisham.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the last meeting be agreed as a true record.

It was MOVED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to

1.    Approve the Corporate Strategy 2022-26 and note that this replaces the 2018-2022 Corporate Strategy

2.    Recommend the Corporate Strategy 2022-26 to Council for adoption.

3.    Agree to delegate any  further updates and amendments to the Corporate Strategy to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor.

The Speaker of the Council MOVED, the Deputy Speaker SECONDED and it was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2022 be confirmed and signed as a true and accurate record.