Agenda item

Please note that these minutes are incomplete due to loss of Wi-Fi at the meeting

Councillor Peter John attended OSC for his annual interview as council leader.  The chair invited him to make brief introductory comments.  Councillor John spoke about the challenge of the council budget, given constraints on local government finance, the spending review and risk of distribution of funds away from London, the housing crisis, but noting that councils cannot build at the level regional or central government requires.  There were major infrastructure projects which may unlock ability to deliver more housing, for example the Bakerloo line extension and a pedestrian/cycle bridge but it remained to be seen what Transport for London budgets can deliver.  On violent crime, he said that the police have brought in additional resources as has council for example investing in CCTV.  His view was that taking funding out of crucial areas such as youth services since 2010 was a significant factor.

Committee members asked Councillor John about the resident involvement review,

delivery of housing, TfL proposals to cut bus routes, regeneration, changes at Lewisham Southwark College and its potential impact on the jobs and skills agenda, Dulwich Hamlet, the night time economy around London Bridge, how to reduce cars, build quality in new housing schemes.

The leader undertook the following:-

1. To provide a written answer to OSC on the total number of Right to Buys from 2012 to date.

2. To arrange a conversation with Cllr Humaira Ali re the impact of the night time economy on residents in her ward

3. To supply a written answer to OSC on the Council’s recycling targets, how they are set and met, including the variance year-on-year.