Content

This
Council:
 
1.1 
- Notes that at its meeting on 17 October 2024, Cabinet agreed in
principle to sell the Old Dover Road Car Park in Blackheath
Standard, the Charlton Village Car Park, and the Abery Streetcar
Park in Plumstead, as part of the first phase of the
council’s Asset Review. 
 
1.2 
- Notes that we are a well-managed council, but to remain
financially stable, so we can continue to provide the frontline
services that residents deserve, we must make the best use of the
land and the properties that we own. Our priority is to ensure we
get the best possible results we can under market conditions and
deliver good value for money to benefit all our residents across
the entire borough.
 
1.3 
- Notes that the last Conservative government cut core funding to
the bone for councils for 14 years with funding for Greenwich cut
by 53% in real terms compared to 2010 – those cuts equate to
£517 less for us to spend on council services per person. 14
years of Conservative austerity has meant we have had to constantly
do more with less.
 
1.4 
- Notes that this in turn has resulted in Greenwich council having
to take tough decisions to balance its books. That after 14 years
of underfunding by the previous Conservative government, spiralling
costs, and fast-rising demand for services from residents in need,
the strain on current borough budgets is enormous.
 
1.5 - Notes that while we are
in a relatively strong and stable fiscal position compared to other
boroughs, that is only because we have taken the tough but
financially sound decisions that were necessary to keep the council
solvent. Councils all around London are facing a financial tsunami
of slashed income, rising costs, increasing demand for adult and
children’s social care and ever-growing costs for temporary
housing. We will do everything we need to ensure that frontline
services that residents rely on are protected and that includes
ensuring we make the best possible use of the land and properties
that we own.
 
1.6 
- Notes that the plans of disposal of assets cited are the
inevitable results of decisions made by the previous Conservative
government’s 14 years in power, including:
 
·       
That the policy allowing Councils to raise revenue
for frontline services by disposing of surplus assets was
implemented by the former Conservative Chancellor George
Osborne
·       
That research by the IPPR found that between 2010
–2023 around 75,000 public assets, worth about £15bn,
have been sold by English councils in order to plug holes in their
budgets, – and that’s due to decisions made by
successive Conservative governments that deliberately under-funded
and under-financed local government.
 
1.7 – Notes
that:
 
·       
All of the car parks on the asset disposal list
mentioned will remain in use until they are sold and the outcome of
any disposal may not result in a change of use of the car
parks.
·       
The council has a track record of this activity as
it has undertaken similar initiatives at other car parks without
any economic impact on local businesses.
·       
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has committed to
supporting local businesses to ensure we have a thriving, growing
local economy. That the council recognises the incredibly vital
role that small businesses have in our community, that they are the
backbone of our local economy and that the council have implemented
several initiatives to help local small businesses thrive,
including but not limited to:
o  
The Inclusive Economy Strategy: This strategy
focuses on strengthening the economy; developing an entrepreneurial
and innovative business environment; and attracting new high-value
businesses to diversify the economy while supporting existing
strengths.
o  
Business Support Programmes: Over 800 SNE’s
have accessed locally funded programmes creating new jobs and
protecting existing jobs. The council has established a series of
business breakfasts, including ‘Meet the Buyers' events which
saw over 150 businesses attend to meet suppliers.
o  
The Greenwich Living Wage campaign: The number of
London Living Wage accredited businesses has risen by 54% since the
scheme was launched. This initiative has benefited over 24,000
workers and significantly raised wages for 7,474 of the
lowest-paid.
o  
The Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB)
programme: This has supported over 1,200 residents into jobs in the
past year and managed over 600 vacancies with local
employers.
o  
Celebrating Business Achievements: The Royal Borough
of Greenwich proudly hosted the 7th annual Best of Royal Greenwich
Business Awards. This brought together over 350 businesses,
celebrating their achievements and fostering a sense of community
and collaboration among local entrepreneurs.
 
1.8 - Notes that this council
welcomes that there was an improved financial settlement delivered
by the new Labour government compared to previous Conservative
government settlements. This has helped the council to remain
financially stable and to balance its budget.
 
1.9 
- Resolves to ask the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member
for Finance, Resources and Social Value to write a joint letter to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Deputy Prime Minister that
includes the following:
 
·       
Commending the work that the new Labour government
has done to stabilise local government financing after 14 years of
austerity imposed on councils by the previous Conservative
government.
·       
That they ensure that future local government
finance settlements are sufficiently increased to give Councils the
financial flexibility they need to not have to rely on asset
disposals to balance budgets and ensure that frontline services are
resourced.
·       
That the next local government finance settlement is
set over several years to allow councils to strategically plan
their budgets for the future.