Here are some of the key decisions taken by Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, at the meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet on 10 June 2009.
Implementation of London Living Wage
Council decided on 21 May 2008 to support the establishment of the London Living Wage, set at a level calculated by the Living Wage Unit (currently £7.60) to avoid poverty wages being paid in the capital. At this meeting the Mayor agreed a phased approach to the implementation of the London Living Wage. All Council employees already receive at least the London Living Wage.
The Mayor decided that in letting all future Council contracts, due consideration - to the limit legally allowed - will be given to whether or not a contractor proposes to pay its staff the London Living Wage.
A progress report on implementation will be brought back to Mayor and Cabinet after the end of the 2009-10 municipal year setting out the lessons learned to date and a recommendation on further development of the policy.
Bromley Road Supplementary Planning Document: Southend Village
The Mayor approved 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, and will recommend that full Council does the same.
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 be considered by full Council on 24 June 2009, and, if approved, will go to public consultation following that meeting.
Housing Select Committee – Youth Homelessness
The Mayor and Cabinet welcomed the review of Youth Homelessness by the Housing Select Committee and committed to provide a response to the Select Committee at its meeting on 1 October 2009.
Draft Homelessness Strategy and its sub-strategy on Youth Homelessness
The Mayor agreed the new Homelessness Prevention Strategy and Youth Homelessness Prevention Strategy.
Brighter Futures: Lewisham Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2009-14 set outs the key priorities as:
- preventing homelessness arising where possible and promoting housing options
- providing long term and sustainable housing
- protecting and providing support for vulnerable adults and children who are homeless or faced with homelessness
- promoting opportunities and independence for people in housing need by improving access to childcare, health, education, training and employment
- reducing youth homelessness.
Fostering Statement of Purpose
The Mayor approved the statutory Statement of Purpose for the Fostering Service for 2009-10 which sets out the service’s aims and objectives and the services and facilities it provides.
Street Drinking Control Zone (DCZ) Review
Mayor and Cabinet considered a review undertaken by Ranzetta Consulting in March 2009 of the Lewisham and Catford Drinking Control Zone (introduced in 2003) and considered next steps in relation to street drinking and the DCZ in Lewisham and Catford and in Upper Brockley Road. The meeting also heard a submission from Pat Trembath of the Sydenham Society requesting that a DCZ be implemented in Sydenham.
The Mayor agreed to:
- establish a baseline of number and locations of street drinkers in Lewisham as of April 2009
- adopt over the next six months a range of interventions (set out in Appendix A of the report) from a strategic, enforcement, environmental and treatment focus and then review their impact in October 2009
- continue with the two current DCZs, without further extensions, until the review in October 2009 is completed
- explore further options (set out in Appendix B of the report) and report back before any are implemented.
Other items
The Mayor also:
- approved mental health pooled budget arrangements with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham Primary Care Trust
- asked officers to raise with the Department of Transport the possibility of Hither Green Station being included in a future tranche of the Access for All programme to improve ramp access to platforms at the station
- noted the management report summarising the Council’s performance against key measures
- noted the Council’s final revenue and capital outturns for 2008-09.
For more details see the meeting papers.