Here are some of the key decisions taken by Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, at the meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet on 11 February 2009.
2009-10 budget
The Mayor agreed to recommend budget proposals for approval by Council on 2 March 2009, which include:
- a capital programme for 2009-12 of £329.753m
- housing revenue account proposals, including:
- an increase in council home rents of 5.93 per cent
- a maximum increase of £3 a week for tenants’ service charges for Lewisham Homes managed dwellings
(The Mayor asked Council officers to present proposals for increases in tenants' communal heating charges capped at a variety of levels for consideration at the next Mayor and Cabinet meeting on 25 February 2009).
- savings across the Council’s controllable budget totalling £4.122m (in addition to the £6.449m savings approved by Council on 26 November)
- spending on new priorities of £3.175m, including over £2m to be spent on the Council’s action plan to address the economic downturn, increasing support for information and advice agencies in the voluntary and community sector, implementing a Lewisham Apprenticeship Scheme and implementing the London Living Wage
- a base budget requirement for 2009-10 of £268.251m (compared to £262.521m in 2008-09)
- a 2.5 per cent increase in the Council’s council tax element for 2009-10 (equivalent to £25.42 on a Band D bill)
- an overall increase in council tax for 2009-10 of 1.92 per cent (subject to confirmation that the Greater London Authority precept element of the council tax bill is frozen at its existing level).
Tenancy Agreement Review
The Mayor agreed to implement a revised tenancy agreement from 1 April 2009 that makes the landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities clearer. The new agreement will:
- provide clarity to tenants about what charges are included in the rent
- enable more targeted action to tackle neighbour nuisance and anti social behaviour
- help improve the environment on estates.
Rushey Green – Decent Homes through stock transfer
The Mayor agreed the appointment of London and Quadrant Housing Trust as the preferred partner for the transfer of 758 tenanted and 325 leasehold properties in the Rushey Green, Crofton Park and Lewisham Central wards. London and Quadrant have committed to spending more than £22m in the first five years to improve the condition of these homes.
Fair Playbuilder capital programme
The Mayor agreed 15 projects to receive funding in phase 2 of the Fair Playbuilder programme. The programme will see eight play areas across the borough improved or renovated at an average cost of £52,000 each in 2009-10 and a further seven areas improved in 2010-11. This is on top of six projects that were agreed in phase 1 for completion before 1 April 2009. Each project will provide improved play opportunities for children and young people in their local areas. The play areas identified for 2009-10 are located at:
- Lapwing Tower, Deptford
- Foxborough Gardens, Brockley
- Meadows Estate, Downham
- Hillcrest Estate, Sydenham
- Hilly Fields
- Blythe Hill Park
- Crossfields Estate, Deptford
- Ladywell Adventure Playground.
For more details see the meeting papers.