The Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday 23 September 2026 will consider a range of important topics, including the financial outturn for treasury management, proposed reforms to planning committees, and amendments to pension fund governance. Members will also discuss a petition regarding the Save Lewisham Shopping Centre and consider two motions on climate adaptation and parental leave.

Save Lewisham Shopping Centre Petition

A petition titled Save Lewisham Shopping Centre is scheduled for consideration. The report pack indicates that the Council's current Petition Scheme has specific requirements for a petition to be considered valid, including a name, valid address, and signature for each supporter. The report notes that the Monitoring Officer would ordinarily be required to reject the petition as invalid under the current scheme, but there is a desire to allow this petition to be debated. The Council's Constitution, which governs how decisions are made, is being reviewed in relation to this matter.

Treasury Management Outturn and Mid-Year Review 2026/27

The Council will review its treasury management outturn for the financial year ending 31 March 2026 and receive a mid-year update for 2026/27. This report, which aligns with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities, will cover the Council's economic update, interest rate forecasts, investment portfolio, and borrowing strategy. The report highlights that the Capital Programme forecast for 2026-30 has increased significantly, and the Council's operational boundary and authorised limit for external debt have not been breached. The projected return on investments for 2026/27 is expected to be lower than the previous year.

Planning Committee Reform

Significant reforms to planning committee decision-making are proposed, stemming from new national arrangements introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. These reforms replace locally determined referral thresholds with a mandatory national scheme of delegation. The report outlines that categories of planning applications falling within Schedule 1 must be determined by officers, while those in Schedule 2 are subject to a statutory gateway test before committee referral. The current Lewisham arrangements, which include referrals based on the number of objections or member objections, will be replaced. The proposed model is to establish a single Planning Committee, supported by a Strategic Planning Committee for major applications, reflecting an anticipated reduction in committee business. The report details proposed amendments to Article 9 and Part 3 of the Council's Constitution, including the introduction of a Gateway Assessment Protocol and Form to ensure decisions are made transparently and lawfully.

Amendments to Pension Investments Committee and Pension Board Terms of Reference

The Council is asked to approve amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Pension Investments Committee and the Pension Board. These changes are necessitated by recent government pension reforms, including the Pension Schemes Act 2026 and associated regulations. The Pension Investments Committee will be renamed the Pensions Committee to better reflect its broader responsibilities, which now encompass administration and governance alongside investment management. A key change is the inclusion of a non-voting Independent Person on the committee, a legislative requirement. The Terms of Reference for both bodies have been updated to ensure compliance with new legislation and statutory guidance, with a focus on clarity regarding responsibilities, membership, and operational procedures.

Motions

Two motions are scheduled for consideration.

The first, Climate adaptation, biodiversity and river health, proposed by Councillor Robin McGhee and seconded by Councillor Shireen Asaw, declares an urgent need for climate adaptation, biodiversity recovery, and the restoration of river health. It calls for the Mayor and Cabinet to consider how these issues can be integrated into Council policies and strategies, including climate resilience, biodiversity net gain, tree planting, and the protection of the Thames, Ravensbourne, Pool, and Quaggy rivers. The motion also requests reports on adaptation spheres of influence, investment needs, and opportunities for partnerships, as well as a review of options for strengthening the protection of mature trees and exploring a Rights of Nature framework.

The second motion, A Family-Friendly Lewisham - Better Parental Leave, proposed by Councillor Andre Bourne and seconded by Councillor Oana Olaru Holmes, highlights the importance of parental leave for the wellbeing of parents, children, and families. It notes recent government changes to parental leave rights and proposes that the Council review its existing maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and neonatal care leave policies. The motion aims to strengthen provision for all parents and families, ensuring inclusivity for diverse family structures and promoting greater equality between parents. It calls for a review of the Council's parental leave offer, including financial and workforce implications, and for engagement with trade unions and employees.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting will also include standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, the minutes of the previous meeting, and declarations of interest. Members will have the opportunity to ask questions, both from the public and from fellow councillors. Additionally, there are scheduled discussions on changes to committee membership, a minor amendment to the Scheme of Delegation to clarify matters reserved to Council, and the appointment of a trustee to the Deptford St Paul Charity.