Agenda item

To consider any deputation requests.

The report had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept this item as urgent as two of the requests had been received in line with the council’s constitutional deadline for the receipt of deputation requests.

With regard to the deputation request received after the constitutional deadline from the Ledbury residents project group, the chair agreed to accept it as urgent, as a late and urgent item (19a) on the Ledbury Estate was on the agenda for this meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That it be noted that the deputation request from SGTO (Southwark Group of Tenants Organisation) was withdrawn for this meeting.

2.  That the deputation requests from Southwark Disablement Association (SDA) and Ledbury Residents Project group be heard.

Southwark Disablement Association (SDA)

The spokesperson for the deputation addressed the meeting and outlined a number of comments as follows in respect of item 17: Gateway 1 – Procurement Strategy Approval: Additional Care at Home Provision for Adults:

·  The view that care for vulnerable people is best met by local small and medium sized enterprises (SME). It was felt that as part of the procurement process local organisations tend to lose out to larger organisations

·  Query on how the council expect providers to offer permanent contracts to its care workers

·  The view that supplementary providers are essential in maintaining the required level of provision of care in Southwark

·  A request that the council consider contracting the additional care at home provision in the same way it has already successfully commissioned four supplementary providers, subject to annual review of performance before renewing the contract the following year.

Councillor Jasmine Ali, cabinet member for children, schools and adult care responded to the issues raised by the deputation and confirmed that she would be happy to meet with the deputation, along with relevant officers.

Ledbury Residents Project Group (RPG)

The spokesperson for the deputation addressed the meeting to outline a number of concerns in respect to Item 19b: Ledbury Towers Arup Structural Survey report as follows:

·  How the extra works will impact on refurbishment options.  There was widespread support for refurbishment from existing residents and former tenants with the right to return

·  The works proposed will mean a reduction in size of the homes on higher floors, and steel beams inside the existing walls

·  How the impact of changing the internal room sizes fits in with leases granted to leaseholders.

The RPG have requested clarity from the council on the following:

·  How long it will take to come to a decision based on this new information

·  That the reopening of the option appraisal will only include the Towers, and the red line boundary will be unchanged from the one used in 2018

·  A commitment that there will be at least as many council homes at the end of this process on the site of Ledbury Towers and the rented homes will be council homes for council rent

·  Likely costs for tenants and the rent and service charge levels in new homes with new homes offered to right to return tenants at the same rent and service charge as their Ledbury Towers homes

·  Right to stay on the estate for both tenants and leaseholders, and an idea of council tax levels in new homes

·  The offer to leaseholders taking into account the likely loss of amenity recommended in the Arup Report.

Councillor Kieron Williams, cabinet member for housing management and modernisation, responded to advise that the ongoing consultation and conversation would continue with local residents.