This week in Bexley:

Religious Education Review Kicks Off Amidst Funding Concerns

The Bexley Agreed Syllabus Conference convened this week to begin the review of the Bexley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE). The meeting marks the start of a process required by the Education Act 1996, which mandates a review no later than five years after the adoption of the current syllabus.

• Compliance Delay: The review process began in 2024, but the conference had not yet been convened, putting the council in non-compliance with the Act.
• Cost Implications: Reviewing the syllabus and adopting a commercial product could cost up to £6,000, with additional costs for supporting materials and training.
• Future Considerations: The conference is scheduled to consider proposals for the Agreed Syllabus and options for membership and working arrangements at its next meeting.

This review takes place against a backdrop of national concerns about the future of RE, as highlighted by the Bexley Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE).

Schools Forum Faces Tough Choices on High Needs Funding

The Bexley Schools Forum met this week to grapple with the growing financial pressures on the high needs block, which supports students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The meeting included a request to transfer 0.5% of the schools block to the high needs block for the 2026/27 financial year.

• Deficit Projections: The accumulated deficit at the end of the Safety Valve programme[^2] could reach £78.905m, despite mitigation efforts projected to have a benefit of £146.554m. [^2]: The Safety Valve programme is an agreement between Bexley Council and the Department for Education to manage the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.
• Cost Drivers: Factors contributing to the deficit include an increase in independent sector placements, rising costs of Bexley top-ups[^3], and more pupils in out-of-borough provision. [^3]: Top-up funding is additional money given to schools to support pupils with special educational needs (SEN).
• Intervention Impact: The forum received an update on the Safety Valve programme, noting that 2,315 children had received early intervention programmes and that the new Shenstone School building had opened, providing additional SEND places.

The Schools Forum was asked to approve the use of Central Schools Services Block funding and the historic commitment to support the local authority's continuing statutory duties and combined budgets supporting early intervention.

Religious Education Faces National Challenges, Local Schools Praised

The Bexley Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) convened to discuss national and local updates, including concerns over the removal of the Religious Education Initial Teacher Training (ITT) bursary. The meeting also highlighted the importance of RE in promoting community cohesion amidst rising tensions.

• Bursary Withdrawal: Deborah Weston OBE, Chair of the RE Policy Unit, called the decision to withdraw the RE ITT bursary devastating, warning it would seriously threaten the provision of high-quality religious education.
• Recruitment Crisis: The briefing noted that the Department for Education (DfE) has missed its recruitment target for secondary RE teachers in 13 of the last 14 years.
• Local Successes: The council received a local updates report from Joan Woodham, Head of Education Improvement and Partnerships, highlighting positive inspection results from several schools, including Christ Church and Shenstone School.
• Rights Respecting Schools: Bexley is ranked among the top ten London boroughs for schools registered with UNICEF's Rights Respecting Schools Award[^4]. [^4]: The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is an award given to schools by UNICEF UK. The RRSA recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school's planning, policies and practice. A rights-respecting school is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.
• Community Tension: A team of leaders have been monitoring the situation and logging concerns around community tensions raised by Religious groups, schools and employees.

The report also included a statement from Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE, Leader of the Council, regarding community cohesion. Councillor O'Neill said:

All of us – whether we live, work or learn in the borough – deserve to feel safe and supported. Behaviour that threatens our community cohesion is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Planning Committee Reviews Development Applications

The Planning Committee met to discuss several planning applications for development within the borough. The meeting included consideration of applications ranging from new dwelling houses to retrospective applications for outbuildings.

• Erith High Street Development: The committee reviewed an application for a part three/part six-storey building at The Old Post Office, 89 Erith High Street, Erith. The report pack stated that the public benefits of the scheme were considered to outweigh the less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the Erith Riverside Conservation Area.
• Warren Road Dwelling: The committee considered an application for the erection of a two-storey detached dwellinghouse at 8 Warren Road, Bexleyheath.
• Barnehurst Avenue HMO: The committee reviewed an application for a change of use from a residential dwelling to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 17 Barnehurst Avenue, Erith.
• Crescent Road Dwelling: The committee considered an application for the erection of a detached two-storey dwelling at 37 Crescent Road, Sidcup.
• Albany Close Dwellings: The committee reviewed an application for the erection of two two-storey detached dwelling houses at 38 Albany Close, Bexley.
• Maxwell Road Outbuilding: The committee considered a retrospective application for a single-storey detached outbuilding at 61 Maxwell Road, Welling.
• Sidcup Conservative Club Outbuilding: The committee reviewed a retrospective application for the erection of a single-storey detached outbuilding and two timber smoking cabins at Sidcup Conservative Club, Oxford Road, Sidcup.
• Blackhorse Road Dwelling: The committee considered an application for the erection of a two-storey end-of-terrace dwellinghouse at Yard Adjacent To 11 Blackhorse Road, Sidcup.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The Public Cabinet is scheduled to meet on 27 November 2025. View the agenda here.

This week in Bexley:

Council to Appoint New Leader Amidst Tribute to Outgoing Councillor

The Council is set to convene on November 5th, 2025, for a meeting that marks a significant transition in leadership. The agenda includes the appointment of a new Leader of the Council, following Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE's departure after 17 years in the role.

• Leader's Legacy: Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE's report reflects on her 27 years as a Councillor, highlighting achievements in health and wellbeing, including the preservation of the Queen Mary's Hospital site.
• Transformation Programme: The report outlines a transformation programme aimed at tackling rising costs, with a focus on customer experience, children's services, commercial income, workforce culture, and digital systems.
• New Leadership: Councillors will be asked to appoint a new Leader of the Council, with the majority group expected to nominate Councillor David Leaf.

The meeting will also include questions from the public and councillors on a range of issues, including green spaces, road maintenance, and support for vulnerable groups.

Public Concerns Raised Over Green Spaces and Council Priorities

The Council meeting will address questions from the public regarding the use of green spaces and the council's priorities.

• Green Space Concerns: A member of the public has questioned the amount of green space bulldozed during Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE's time as leader, including sites at Old Farm, West Street Park, Wilde Road, and Burr Farm.
• Healthy Streets Scorecard: Another question concerns Bexley's ranking in the London Healthy Streets Scorecard and the lack of school streets.
• Pension Investments: A question has been raised about a legal opinion sent to local councils by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign regarding pension fund investments in companies complicit in Israel's actions in Gaza.
• Council Support: A member of the public has questioned the denial of requests to support Palestine and other black majority countries, while supporting Ukraine.

These questions highlight public concerns about the council's environmental policies, investment decisions, and approach to international issues.

Violence Against Women and Girls: Council to Consider Action Plan

The Council is scheduled to discuss a motion committing the council to urgently address the epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

• Motion Details: The motion, deferred from a previous meeting, includes working with survivors, ensuring education on healthy relationships, reviewing procurement practices for VAWG services, appointing a VAWG champion, working towards Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation, and working with police.

This motion reflects the growing recognition of the need for local authorities to take action to prevent and address VAWG.

Other Matters

• The Council will receive reports from various committees, including the General Purposes and Audit Committee, Licensing Committee, Pensions Committee, Planning Committee, Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Finance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• The Council will consider a petition from local residents calling for Dalmeny Road to be made a one-way street with no access from Rydal Drive.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The Bexley Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on 10 November 2025 to discuss a safety valve update, a review of the high needs block, and the preparation of central budgets for 2026/27. View the agenda here.
• The Bexley Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is scheduled to meet on 11 November 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Bexley Agreed Syllabus Conference is scheduled to meet on 11 November 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 13 November 2025. View the agenda here.

This week in Bexley:

SEND Stocktake: Council Assesses Progress Amidst Looming Re-Inspection

The SEND Priority Action Plan Scrutiny Sub-Group met this week to review progress on improving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services in Bexley. The meeting, held on Monday 27 October 2025, focused on a stocktake of improvements made since a joint SEND Local Area Inspection in December 2023.

• Progress Noted: The report presented to the Sub-Group highlighted progress against the improvement notice issued after the inspection. Key actions and risks were tracked in Appendix A of the report.
• Five Fundamentals: Progress was assessed against five key principles: co-production, shared vision, stable leadership, high-quality delivery, and a skilled workforce.
• Speech and Language Therapy: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust will be reviewing Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) services.
• Safety Valve Programme: The report also commented on the Safety Valve Programme, where the Department for Education (DfE) provides additional funding to councils with the highest Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits[^1], in return for implementing a programme of reforms to manage high needs spending. [^1]: The Safety Valve Programme is where the Department for Education (DfE) provides additional funding to councils with the highest Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits, in return for implementing a programme of reforms to manage high needs spending.
• Re-inspection on the Horizon: With the actions from the SEND Priority Action Plan (PAP) now considered business as usual, the council is focusing on preparing for a re-inspection.

The Sub-Group also discussed a data highlight report to be shared with the Adult Social Care & Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Children Services & Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee every 6-8 weeks, aligning with submissions to the SEND IA Board.

BexleyCo's Business Plan Approved: 472 New Homes Planned

The Cabinet Committee convened to discuss and approve the BexleyCo Limited Business Plan 2025. The meeting took place on Thursday 30 October 2025. BexleyCo, the council's development company, aims to deliver a range of new homes for affordable and market sale and rent across the borough.

• Vision: BexleyCo's vision is to support the council's growth and regeneration strategies while generating financial returns, blending commercial disciplines with the values of the Shareholder.
• Ten Confirmed Sites: The business plan focuses on developing ten confirmed sites, delivering 472 new homes.
• Site Transfers: Several sites have already been transferred from the council to BexleyCo, including Old Farm Park in Sidcup, West Street in Erith, and the former Sidcup Library.
• Future Transfers: The council currently owns several other sites that will be transferred to BexleyCo after planning permission is granted and/or land issues are resolved, including Bursted Woods in Barnehurst, Lesney Park in Erith, and Manor House in Crayford.
• Financial Viability: The council will assess the viability of BexleyCo and each project before releasing funding.

The committee also reviewed guidance for councillors on declaring interests at meetings, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The Council is scheduled to meet on 05 November 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Bexley Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on 10 November 2025 to discuss a safety valve update, a review of the high needs block, and the preparation of central budgets for 2026/27. View the agenda here.
• The Bexley Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is scheduled to meet on 11 November 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Bexley Agreed Syllabus Conference is scheduled to meet on 11 November 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 13 November 2025. View the agenda here.

This week in Bexley:

Broadway Boost: Council Approves Discounted Event Licence for Bexleyheath BID

The Licensing Committee has given the green light to a 6-month event licence for the Bexleyheath Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) at a fixed fee of £10,000. The decision, made at their meeting on Tuesday 21 October 2025, aims to inject life into the town centre by empowering the BID to manage temporary traders and organise community events more effectively.

• Economic Impact: The move is designed to boost the local economy by streamlining the process for temporary events, making it more flexible and less restrictive.
• Current Costs: Previously, a temporary weekly event licence cost £1,150 per week, and temporary plot licences were £32 per day, requiring council approval.
• Council Oversight: While the BID will manage the events, the council will retain oversight on health and safety, food hygiene, generator compliance, and insurance. Monthly compliance review meetings will also be held.

The council currently generates approximately £20,000 per year from Bexleyheath BID, but the new agreement will guarantee two payments of £10,000 every 6 months, freeing up officer time. The agreement states that the fee will increase by RPI inflation each year and the fee can be reviewed annually.

Data-Driven Decisions: Cabinet Approves New Strategy and AI Statement

Bexley Council is embracing technology with the approval of a new data strategy and an artificial intelligence (AI) statement. The Public Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday 23 October 2025, endorsed the initiatives, highlighting the importance of data and AI in delivering efficient frontline services.

• Data Maturity: The council's data maturity was assessed at level three out of a possible five, with an ambition to reach level four.
• AI Principles: The AI statement sets out the basic principles for the council's use of AI tools, emphasizing that AI will assist in decision-making, not replace human decision-makers.
• Legal Concerns: Councillor Andrew Curtois raised concerns about the use of AI for legal research, referencing a case in New York where a lawyer used AI to generate non-existent case law. Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE responded that AI would not be making decisions and that human oversight would be necessary to ensure accuracy.

Councillor Curtois said:

as someone who works in law I look at page 85 and I see that we're using AI for the research or collation of information and as someone who works in law that does raise the hair a little bit you might be aware there was a case in New York recently where a lawyer used AI to research some case law and every single case that he came out with did not exist.

The council aims to use data and AI to improve service delivery, reduce duplication, and provide faster, more consistent responses to queries.

Roads Row: Council Defends Pothole Spending Amidst MP's Claims

A heated debate has erupted over Bexley's road maintenance, with the council strongly refuting claims made by Daniel Francis MP regarding pothole funding. The issue was discussed at the Public Cabinet meeting on Thursday 23 October 2025.

• MP's Allegations: Councillor Richard Diment, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, accused Daniel Francis MP of making outrageous comments in the House of Commons, putting at risk the funding the council receives from the Department for Transport (DFT).
• Council's Response: Councillor Diment clarified that the council intends to spend the full £895,000 allocated by the DFT during the year, despite figures suggesting otherwise.
• Reporting Concerns: Councillor Diment also criticized Mr. Francis's reporting of potholes, stating that it caused work that takes them away from highways, road cleansing and flight hitting issues that need to be addressed and corrected, and runs the risk of drowning out reports from our residents .

The council maintains that its roads are in better condition than those of its neighbors and that it is committed to maintaining them effectively.

Other Matters

• The Public Cabinet approved the revenue budget monitoring position for August 2025, noting a forecast overspend of just under £2.2 million.
• The Public Cabinet approved the asset management strategy for 2025-2029, providing a framework for the management, investment, and utilization of the council's property assets.
• The Public Cabinet approved the new Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy 2025 to 2030, aiming to address rising STI rates and health inequalities.
• The Licensing Committee received the Licensing Partnership Annual Update 2025, summarizing the annual performance of the Licensing Partnership and Bexley's individual performance within it.
• The Licensing Committee received an update on recent enforcement activity, including efforts to address underage sales of alcohol, compliance with firework licence conditions, and the sale of illicit tobacco and counterfeit toys.
• The Licensing Committee received a report summarizing the licences granted under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 by the Deputy Director, Strategic Planning & Housing under delegated powers.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The SEND Priority Action Plan Scrutiny Sub-Group is scheduled to meet on 27 October 2025, to discuss the SEND improvement stocktake, actions from the previous meeting, and the work programme. View the agenda here.
• The Cabinet Committee is scheduled to meet on 30 October 2025 to discuss the BexleyCo Limited Business Plan 2025. View the agenda here.
• The Council is scheduled to meet on 05 November 2025. View the agenda here.