Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 148 KBVenue: Ground floor meeting rooms, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH
Contact: Paula Thornton and Virginia Wynn-Jones Phone: 020 7525 4395/7055 Email: paula.thornton@southwark.gov.uk; virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Natasha Ennin and Portia Mwangangye. |
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Notification of any items of Business which the Chair Deems Urgent
In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting. Minutes: The following item was identified as late and urgent item which the chair agreed to accept:
Item 10: Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Final Rent and Charges Report 2026-27
Reasons for urgency and lateness were included in the report.
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Notice of Intention to conduct business in a closed meeting, and any representations received
To note the items specified which will be considered in a closed meeting. Supporting documents: Minutes: No representations were received. |
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Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations
Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: Councillor Evelyn Akoto declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of Item 10: Housing Revenue Account – Final Rent and Charges report 2026-27. The member left the room during the consideration of this item and did not take part in the voting.
Note: Councillor Natasha Ennin had previously declared a disclosable pecuniary interest for items relating to the housing revenue account- rent and charges. Having submitted her apologies for lateness she was not present for Item 10: Housing Revenue Account – Final Rent and Charges report 2026-27 when this item was considered. |
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Minutes
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 2 December 2025. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair. |
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Public Question Time (15 Minutes)
To receive any questions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance of the meeting in accordance with the cabinet procedure rules. The deadline for the receipt of public questions is midnight Tuesday 23 December 2025. Minutes: There were none. |
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Deputation Requests
To consider any deputation requests. The deadline for the receipt of deputation requests is midnight Tuesday 23 December 2025. Minutes: There were none. |
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Social Purpose of Land Framework
To approve the implementation of the Social Purpose of Land Framework (‘the Framework’) pilot phase on four council-identified sites. Supporting documents: Minutes: Molly Harris from the New Economics Foundation was present for the item.
RESOLVED:
Decisions of the Cabinet
2. That it be noted that a revised framework will be brought back to cabinet following the pilot phase for further consideration.
3.
That the approval of any minor non-substantive
amendments resulting from its meeting and a final review by
officers on the framework be delegated to the director of planning
and growth, in consultation with the cabinet member for new homes
and sustainable development prior to final release. 4. That authority be delegated to the director of planning and growth to oversee the implementation and refinement of the framework processes, including the development of an action plan supporting the framework.
5. That the Southwark Land Partnership (SLP) be established in accordance with the terms of reference in Appendix3 of the report and authority be delegated to the director of planning and growth to finalise governance arrangements and partnership agreements.
6. To issue early notice of the intention to dispose of council’s owned land or buildings at the time of reviewing the asset management plan.
7. That an allocation of £500,000 of reserve funding towards the costs of informing and resourcing the pilot sites of the Social Purpose of Land Framework be agreed.
Decisions of the Leader of the Council
8. That the executive scheme of delegation be varied to delegate authority to the cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development to approve the details of the fifth pilot site, in accordance with paragraph 60 of the report. |
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Note: Councillor Portia Mwangangye arrived at the meeting at 11.23am. |
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Local Development Scheme 2026-2029
To adopt the Local Development Scheme (“LDS”) and note the commencement of a full review of the Southwark Plan in 2026, following the adoption of the LDS. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
1. That the Local Development Scheme (“LDS”) in Appendix 1 of the report be adopted.
2. That the commencement of a full review of the Southwark Plan in 2026, following the adoption of the LDS be noted. |
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Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Final Rent and Charges Report 2026-27
To approve the housing revenue account budget and rent setting for 2026-27. Supporting documents: Minutes: Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Evelyn Akoto withdrew from the meeting while this item was being discussed.
Note: Councillor Natasha Ennin had previously declared a disclosable pecuniary interest for items relating to the housing revenue account- rent and charges. Having submitted her apologies for lateness she was not present for this item.
It was not possible to circulate this report five clear days in advance of the meeting. Urgent consideration was required as any delay would risk breaching legal notification requirements and potentially result in a loss of income to the housing revenue account.
RESOLVED:
Decisions of Cabinet
That the following be noted:
1. The outcomes and feedback from the resident engagement events that took place during December 2025 (prior to Christmas), attached at Appendix 2 of the report.
2. The withdrawal of the concessionary garage rate for non-blue badge holders as previously agreed under individual decision making (IDM) by the cabinet member for council homes as set out in paragraph 29 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
3. That guidance on the proposed implementation of rent convergence expected to be announced in the Autumn Statement (26 November 2025) was delayed and expected to be announced in January 2026.
That the following be approved:
4. The rent increase of 4.8% (based on September 2025 Consumer Price Index plus 1%) for all directly and tenant managed (TMO) housing stock held within the council’s housing revenue account (HRA).
5. The rent increase of 4.8% for the council’s shared ownership stock as set out in paragraph 21 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
6. The increases to tenant service charges, comprising estate cleaning, grounds maintenance, communal lighting and door entry maintenance as set out in paragraphs 22-23 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
7. The increase in sheltered and flexi-care housing service charges as set out in paragraph 24 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
8. The disaggregation of the combined rent and service charges for supported hostels and the increase for both in line with CPI+1% as set out in paragraphs 25-26 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
9. The increase in garage charge rates as set out in paragraphs 27-28 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
10. The freezing of heat network charges for 2026-27 at existing levels, with the exception of the borough-wide metered charge for new homes, which will be reduced as set out in paragraphs 30-44 of the report with effect from 6 April 2026.
Decision of the Leader of the Council
11. That authority be delegated to the cabinet member for equalities, democracy and finance in consultation with the cabinet member for council homes to implement the government’s proposals on rent convergence with effect from 6 April 2026. |
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Note: Councillor Natasha Ennin arrived at the meeting at 11.45am. |
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The Council Tax Base for 2026-27
To approve the council tax base 2026-27 Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
1. That the council tax base for the year 2026-27 as 111,464.6 (112,357 in 2025-26) band D equivalent dwellings (Appendix A of the report) be approved.
2. That the council tax collection rate for the year 2026-27 as 96.50% (96.50% in 2025-26) be approved.
3. That the proposed continuation be approved of the:
· Council tax discounts, exemptions and premiums as summarised in paragraph 8 of the report · Discretionary relief as per section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 summarised in paragraph 9 of the report and · Council tax reduction scheme administered under section 13A(1)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
4. That authority be delegated to the strategic director of resources in consultation with the cabinet member for equalities, democracy and finance and monitoring officer for any minor and consequential amendments to the council tax reduction scheme policy. |
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Gateway 3 - Variation Decision: Parks Grounds Maintenance Contract Extension
To approve the variation of the grounds maintenance contract. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the variation of the grounds maintenance contract with Quadron Services Limited, now trading as Idverde U.K Limited, for a four-year period from 3 October 2026 with an estimated annual cost of £3.289m and subject to the contract provision as set out in paragraph 20 of the report, making a total contract value of the extension period £13.156m, and a total estimated lifetime contract value of £42.5m be approved. |
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Senior Resources Leadership Team Structure
To approve the proposed changes to the resources senior leadership structure. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
2. That the creation of the following new posts be approved: · Director of commercial partnerships and investments · Director of digital and resident experience.
3. That it be noted that the strategic director of resources will be leading a process to incorporate the two new director level posts into the resources senior leadership team structure as part of a wider reorganisation. 4. That the authority be delegated to the strategic director of resources to progress recruitment to new director-level roles. |
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Exclusion of the press and public That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 of paragraph 10.4 of the access to information procedure rules of the Southwark Constitution.
The following is a summary of the decisions taken in the closed part of the meeting.
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Minutes
To approve as a correct the closed minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2025. Minutes: The closed minutes of the cabinet meeting held on 2 December 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the chair. |
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Gateway 3 - Variation Decision: Parks Grounds Maintenance Contract Extension
Minutes: The cabinet considered the closed information relating to this item. Please see item 12 for the decision.
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