Announcements and communications
Congratulations were extended to two members of Lewisham’s community who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Elizabeth Sidwell, Chief Executive of Haberdashers' Aske's Federation, received a CBE for services to local and national education.
Douglas Lawson, Chairman of Governors at Lewisham College, received an OBE for voluntary services to further education.
Petitions
The following petitions were presented to Council:
- Turkish Supplementary School presented by Cllr Pattisson calling on the Mayor to fund a new building for use by the whole community.
- A petition from 496 residents in Forest Hill presented by Cllr Peake asking the Mayor to refurbish the toilets in the Horniman Play Park and for the swings, which have been removed, to be replaced as soon as possible.
Pre-audit Statement of Accounts 2008-09
Council approved the pre-audit Statement of Accounts including the Annual Governance Statement for 2008-09 and its submission to the Audit Commission for external audit.
Bromley Road supplementary planning document: Southend Village
Council agreed to approve the draft Bromley Road supplementary planning document (SPD): Southend Village, and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal for statutory public consultation, in accordance with the Statement of Community Involvement.
The SPD covers the part of Bromley Road where it meets the junctions of Beckenham Hill Road, Southend Lane and Whitefoot Lane. The purpose of the SPD is to set out a vision for the area, develop its sense of place and guide future development in the area.
The SPD will now go to public consultation.
6-42 Blackheath Road: delegation of planning decision
Council agreed to delegate the Council’s function as local planning authority in respect of the determination of planning application Registered Number DC/09/70895 to the London Borough of Greenwich.
The planning application had been submitted to the Council by the St James Group in respect of land at Deal’s Gateway, 6-42 Blackheath Road. The site of the proposed development lies predominantly in the London Borough of Greenwich. However, a small part of the site representing 9.6 per cent of the site area is within the Lewisham borough boundary. Part of each of the two residential wings of the proposed development would be within Lewisham.
The Deputy Mayor undertook to seek assurances from Greenwich Council that in the event that Lewisham residents had planning concerns, these would be fairly represented at Planning meetings in Greenwich by Brockley ward councillors.
Amendment to Constitution: Scrutiny of Crime and Disorder Issues
Council agreed to amend the Constitution to reflect amendments made under Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 and relates to the introduction of regulations effective from the end of April 2009.
Updated Financial Regulations for inclusion in the Constitution
Council agreed to approve the updated Financial Regulations for adoption into the Constitution. The Council’s financial regulations were last updated in July 2007 and the amendments made will ensure continued clarity about the financial accountability of staff and ensure they are fit for purpose.
Motions
The following motions were agreed:
- This Council recognises the Government’s commitment to tighten UK borders and introduce new monitoring and assessment systems into the immigration process; notes the Home Office assessment that at least 500,000 irregular migrants currently live and work in Britain; acknowledges the contribution of irregular migrants to our national economy and to our diverse local communities; regrets that irregular migrants are not accounted for in the allocation of funding to Local Authorities; supports the London Citizens’ Strangers into Citizens campaign for the one-off regularisation of long term irregular migrants; encourages other Local Authorities to support the Strangers into Citizens campaign and urges the Government to adopt the Strangers into Citizens proposal for an earned right of residence subject to and in accordance with the tests applied to other migrants.
- Council notes the election of an extremist as Mayor of Doncaster.
It also notes that a danger of the elected Mayoral system, which vests immense power in the hands of one person and can lead to an abuse of power damaging to minority communities and interests.
It calls on the Mayor to refer the issues of the relative duties and powers of Mayor and Chair of Council to the Constitution Working Party for discussion, with the request that they make suitable recommendations to the Council for consideration.
For more details see the meeting papers.